We took the kids hiking today. G asked where we were going. I told her we were going up the hill. She was like, no, where are we going TO? And I elaborated and told her we weren't really going anywhere, we were just hiking. (The trail did go somewhere but I knew we weren't making it all the way to the destination.) I really don't think she believed me at all when I told her that lots of people enjoy hiking for fun and exercise. She gave me the eyes when I said that. Like she wasn't buying it.

We did have fun though and the kids did great. You have to suit up around here to leave the house. Sunscreen and bug spray. Hats and sunglasses. Long pants to avoid bug bites. The standard mom kit has expanded to include ice/cold water or frozen juice boxes that melt while we're out. Snacks for carb loading. Bug repellant and itch relief medicine... It's always tough to get out the door when you have little kids isn't it?

The bug spray is somewhat of a phenomenon around here. You can just be hanging out chatting with someone having an engaged conversation and without breaking eye contact or missing a beat they can reach into their bag to grab their bug spray and just start applying it. And by using body language alone they ask if you need some or maybe glance around to see if anyone standing around looks interested in getting a squirt before they put it away. And that's that. It's like pulling out the Altoids or applying chapstick (except I suppose you wouldn't offer to share that). Bug spray is a standard addition to everyone's kit, mom or not. They also have "mozzie" patches over here that a lot of the kids wear. It's a sticker that just goes on your clothes. I need to try those. I meant to buy them today actually and writing this right now just reminds me that I forgot. "Mozzie" as in "skeeter" by the way. Those crazy Brits and Aussies with their funny English!

Speaking of bugs, I saw a very pregnant woman today with legs that were as bad as mine were when I got attacked by that swarm of sand fleas last month. I felt so bad for her! I find it difficult to buy and take/apply this medicine here with zero English on the package. I can't imagine how leery I'd be if I was pregnant. I guess it's not like there's zero English. My favorite itch relief medicine has a Romanized name (as in it's not in characters). It's called Mopidick and it says it's "Made in Japan". Other than that it's ALL characters.

I bought new fruits for the kids to try today. A dragon fruit and a package of mangosteens. A dragon fruit is most similar to a kiwi maybe. But it looks like a hot pink pineapple on the outside and the inside is white with tiny black seeds. Mangosteens are sort of textured and flavored like a plum. But they have a much thicker skin almost like a husk. And the fruit is sectioned like an orange. It looked like garlic. Tasted like a plum. There's mangosteen juice available at the grocery which would be the easy way out. Like buying pomegranate juice because a pom tastes so delicious but it's almost (almost!) not worth the effort.