Buddha, deer and lanterns
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
Our first task in the ancient capital of Nara was to find some breakfast. So like the sensible people we are we went to the tourist information to get a map and ask where the cafes are. We had the ‘cafe street’ enthusiastically pointed out to us and off we went…
Unfortunately it took us more than half an hour of walking to find even one cafe (!) but the croisants were good. We then headed out to the park area to meet the local sacred deer. And there were many, and they were everywhere.
Todji temple was staggering; it is the worlds largest wooden building and it had to ne because it housed a 750,000kg bronze Buddha statue coated in 150kg of gold leaf. From there you can wander through the park to the shrine with 3000 lanterns leading up to it.
Next stop from Nara was and is Osaka. And believe me I have heard nothing but great things. Can’t tell you much cause I have only been here thirty seconds, but I did notice one important difference from the rest of Japan. In the railway stations the people stand on the right hand side instead of the left. I would like to think that that displays a rebellious streak that will become evident over the next three days =)
