Kaiyukan and curry.

Jen negotiated with the local Post Office this morning, as we need to send some accumulated souvenirs home prior to moving on from Kyoto (space in our backpacks is as sought after as Tokyo real estate). The lovely lady at the Post Office initially wanted a complete financial breakdown of each and every item (there are dozens of things), but Jen managed to persuade her (she looked horrified, the poor thing) to accept an approximation of a few groups of objects.

This off-loading of loot meant we set off for the Osaka Aquarium (called the Kaiyukan) a little later in the day. Invariably, we encountered School kids in uniform out and about in groups. Perhaps the reason they go to school on weekends is that they are never in class during the week. They have been a constant presence in Kyoto during our stay here. I guess the place is made for class excursions. One particular group of enterprising youngsters approached us and asked some fairly hard-hitting questions (ie 'Where are you from?' and 'What is it like there?'). Hopefully we made the place sound sufficiently interesting and were at least partially understandable - they wore expressions combining polite-respect and confusion. Lily sprung them taking a sneaky photo of us from across the road after we made our farewells. I'm sure that we were just a chance for them to brush up on their English skills, but find the thought of us ending up as a class poster report somewhat hilarious/terrifying. 

We took the JR line to Osaka, and then on to Bentencho (sounding suspiciously like a kids cartoon), from there taking the Subway to the Aquarium. 

Kaiyukan is located near what was the worlds largest Ferris Wheel for a time, as well as Japan's lowest mountain (I don't even know what that means). I managed to control my anguish over not having enough time to go up in a over-sized tin can on a giant wheel - over 100 metres into the air. Besides, it was another windy Osakan day.

Martins (right) with obligatory school kids out of class.

Kaiyukan is one of Japan's largest aquariums, and is really well set out. It displays discrete sections of the Pacific Rim in their own tanks, and circles around the very large central display tank. How large? Large enough to fit a whale shark amongst other things. You start at the top of a five-storey building and gradually walk down a 600-700 metre ramp in the process. 

A Sea-otter (mutant-green
thanks to the lighting).

What seems to a a fairly contented
Sea Lion

Green Iguana
 - not looking particularly green
(perhaps he should borrow the otters lighting).

Whale Shark and friends

The second half of said Whale Shark

Moray Eel - always look a bit grumpy, don't they?

Part of the way through Kaiyukan, we called into an in-house cafe for a bite to eat. The two bigger kids opted for ice-cream, while the rest of us took on a pancake in the shape of a fish (cute right?). The thing labelled a 'pancake' was reminiscent of sodden bread-crust, covering a bean-paste centre. An acquired taste.

Go with the Ice-cream.
Trust me.

Kawai Clown Fish

Turtles were a hit with Joshie

Purdy-looking harbingers of fiery pain.

Obligatory gaping maw group shot.

A final photo of the star attraction.

The over-crammed bus on the way back to our apartment reminded me strongly of the sardines at Kaiyukan in Osaka. The apparently distressed bus driver kept beeping a buzzer to announce his frustration prior to closing the rear door (where you enter the bus) - narrowly avoiding bisecting a number of commuters on each occasion.

We picked up some Indian for dinner this evening (much to the delight of the owner and the dismay of our children). Their Rogan Josh had some serious heat.

Josh fared much better today - and is back to his boisterous self (hooray). Tomorrow sees us take a peek at the ancient capital of Nara - and perhaps a deer or two.