Nara

Ok, I'm catching up on some really overdue blogging here...

While Mum and Dave were here, we went on a trip to Nara. This was actually my second trip to Nara, but I didn't get around to blogging about it the first time either, so I guess I'd better get my act together.

Nara was the capitol of Japan before Kyoto, which was the capital before Tokyo, and is famous, among other things, for its population of deer. From memory, there have been semi-tame deer in the city for over 1000 years. Last time we went to Nara, it was spring, and the deer were moulting. This time, however, they were in full splendour.

They own the streets...

We decided to feed them. To be honest, I'm not sure that I'd do that again. The greedy beasts know not to bother the food sellers, but as soon as the food changes hands, mobbing occurs. They attack from all angles, desperate to be the one who gets the food. They're not aggressive as such, but not above using a determined nudge with their (hard, bony) antlers to encourage a handover of edibles. I also got a light nip on my belly for moving a cracker out of reach. Still it was a good experience.


The most famous building in Nara is the Tōdai-ji temple. At 57m by 50m wide, it's the largest wooden building in the world. However, despite it's immense size, it was last rebuilt in 1709, after being destroyed by fire (like every other wooden building in this country, it's been rebuilt numerous times), and is only 2/3 the size of the previous rendition.



Of course, it wouldn't be enough to just be the biggest wooden building in the world. Inside, is the world's larges bronze Buddha statue, along with a number of other impressive statues.

Also inside the hall is a pillar with a hole in it, supposedly the same size as the Daibutsu (Big Buddha)'s nostrils. If you can climb through it, apart from being really skinny, you will also, according to tradition, achieve enlightenment in the next life. Thus Hunter is enlightened, but Lucy felt extremely claustrophobic, and chickened out.

Leaving the Nara Park, I found further confirmation of what I already believed. Deer are bottomless pits. Yes, those flowers are on a shrine...

What, me eat those flowers...? Well, they taste so good!