Maitri mania in Kyoto - visiting our baby niece





Maitri Aurora Pool with her Dad, Justin.  At 10 months of age, Maitri was already enjoying literature...




...and music.




Justin, Mayumi, and Maitri cross a bridge in Uji, a town with a history of green tea cultivation.





Strolling around Byodo-In in Uji, a temple that appears on one of the yen coins.




Strolling down a picturesque riverside path in Uji.




Maitri had a great time shaking the overhead rings on the train.  After this discovery, she would reach up for the rings every time she rode a train.  Neighboring passengers were split between amusement and pretending not to notice.




Colorful edibles in a covered market street in the Sanjo area of Kyoto.




More colorful food - this time an elaborate bento box John received at a conference (Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution) held just across town from Justin and family in Kyoto.




A colorful lizard darts across a moss garden.




Pond view at Eikan-do.




Geisha photo shoot at Shimogamo Shrine.




Riding the train again.




Getting fanned in the summer heat always gets a big smile from Maitri.




Eying exotic plants at the Kyoto Botanical Garden.




Dinner with Grandpa Hayashi.




Maitri makes a face for the camera (maybe expressing her view on diaper-changing?).




Maitri is a very accomplished peek-a-boo player.




Amanda and I climbed over the mountain between Kurama and Kibune.




We looked at restaurants in Kibune that are suspended over the river, but the $200 dinner price urged us onward.



 
Almost ready for a drum set - Maitri's frying pan jam session.




We traveled to Takao on the outskirts of Kyoto and climbed up to this temple at Jingo-Ji.




Jingo-Ji also offers the fun of tossing small clay disks off a cliff.  Reported to relieve bad karma for the tosser.




Green tea in hand, Amanda got a nice throw off as well.




We walked along a streamside trail toward Kiyotaki.  As we paused for lunch, this Tiger Keelback snake swam and slitered on by.




This temple at Daigo-Ji was decorated buy childrens' art.




Amanda at a pond at Daigo-Ji, plus a turtle (lower right).




Maitri seemed nearly ready to walk on her own.  For now, she likes to have help from Aunt Amanda.




Maitri engrossed in one of her favorite pastimes - watching Yo Gabba Gabba, a popular young kids' show created by members of one of her Dad's favorite ska bands.




Another of Maitri's hobbies is removing items from containers and scattering them - including laundry, toys, and especially newspapers.




Taking in a light festival near Nijo castle, where glowing blue orbs floated down a canal.




Amanda with more blue orbs and bamboo "Christmas trees".




Justin and Maitri with big colorful things.




A well-earned nap.