Jumpin' Giant Salamander!!

Yep, not only did we see one of these things in the wild, but I actually grabbed its tail and dragged it out for viewing. Ok, it took a few tries, as it would move a bit and I would freak out, but I touched it!!

We were at a BBQ by a waterfall for a JET thingy. Tempted by the water, I walked in. Tania's kids were telling me there was a weird water monster by the rock-- looking down, I could see a bizarre-looking rock. Oh, not a rock. The tail of a Giant Salamander. Being the animal freak that I am, I couldn't just leave it... Yes, I have a problem. We all know that. Anyways, the sucker was over 3 feet long!! When they say "Giant" they're not fooling. For all of you who image Japan as a delicate country filled with smallish people and smallish creatures, well... the creatures are huge! I am willing to bet that Mothra was no special effect. Seriously, the fauna in this country are out of control.

I was so thrilled to see this, as we'd heard about the salamanders. As we don't drive, I figured we wouldn't get a chance to see one. Love being wrong!

In other creature news, I got 7 mosquito bites in one evening. I itch. It stinks.