Tis a cold one here on the great island of Japan, but beautiful! I must say, it is definitely worth seeing a place in different seasons because it completely transforms into a whole new world.

We're filming another episode of Animal Planet's Caught in the Moment — Japan style.

Well, the food is the same here, though most of the time I have no idea what I am eating, but that is the fun of it. If it isn't TOO fishy tasting, I love it. (Can't say that for the rest of the crew — hee hee!) Breakfast of dried fish and some wobbly jelly thing and miso soup, followed by some sprouts doused in stringy juicy goo, and we are off filming.

We just left "snow monkey" land and now are on the north island of Hokkaido to film the lovely Japanese cranes, eagles and whooper swans (or as we call them in Wyoming, the trumpeter swans). Also, we were at an amazing snow sculpting festival, and our pics look out of this world.

It is freezing, and the landscape reminds me of Riverton. Strange to be so far away, and it looks so familiar minus the Japanese symbols everywhere and the lack of cowboy hats. At least Tristan and I are used to the winter.

The monkeys were amazing — they do have the life. We hiked a half-hour on a snowy path, dragging the gear on tiny plastic sleds (in various fluorescent colors) to a funny warming hut — the home of the Monkey Spa. And there they all were, dressed in their winter coats just enjoying the steamy waters with their faces red from the heat. Little ones holding tight onto snowballs and the older ones squabbling reminds me of a regular day in a public bath.

I was jealous (as we were freezing) and we did contemplate jumping in to join, but there were a few monkeys "monkeying" around and the fear of a new monkey flu (or something worse!) kept us out. My Japanese is coming along brilliantly — I can actually count to 10 and say around five words. Aren't you all impressed?

JUST REMEMBER THE BUDDHIST TEACHING

Mee saru
Kika saru
Iwa saru

(Hint: Three little monkeys, each one staying somehow away from eeevillllllll)

A quick note to say we are very much alive and filling our lives with more and more wonder!

Haiku of the Day: Old Man Monkey
A gnarled finger
Grasping life, evolution
Passing icy time

KAMPAI — to life, the world and many more adventures!

Love,
Vanessa

and all the little Japanese SARU ("monkey")