After yesterday, I knew that I needed some fun today.  My next train trip was to Nara, about an hour outside of Kyoto.  Two of the best things I did on this trip was ending in Kyoto (more my style) and seeing Hiroshima earlier while staying Kyoto (allowed for happier moments at the end of the trip. 

 

I boarded the train fairly early for a vacation.  Then young girl got on and started flipping the seat backs to the direction the train was headed in.  Yes, I am easily amused, but I had never seen that and I hate trains where I ride backwards.

 

It looked like some more rain today and the remains of the cyclone was closing in on Japan, but off to Nara.

 

 

So what is in Nara, besides more shrines, pagodas, and temples?  Deer!  The park for all the buildings is about a 15 minute walk from the train station, but as soon as you get there you see what it is known for.  I thought there would be a few deer, but I was wrong.  Buddhists believe the deer are the spirits of ancestors.  They have a sweet life of being fed pancake like things.  I shortly realized protected deer still process pancakes the same ways as American deer and I was second guessing my choice of sandals, but I was a least watching where I walked where some definitely weren't.

 

This dude had the right plan, go to the source.

 

Back to other reason why I was here, Todai-ji Buddhist Temple, originally built in the 700s. It was at one time the largest wood structure in the world and houses an enormous sculpture of Buddha.  I was impressed with the gate, as bambi kept head butting my butt. She didn't understand English either, so she didn't get what I was saying about her TN cousins. 

 

Anyway, I am not absolutely obsessed (to my lazy degree of obsession) with the 4 heavenly kings.  The are the 4 Buddhist Kings of the cardinal directions.  Could you imagine walking up on something like this in say the year 850?  Oh, I think I will come back when the deer, and the not the kings, are watching.

 

After walking through the gate, you see the temple.  This is easily one of my favorite pictures I have ever taken.  Look at the size of the people at the door and the green of the grass.  I know I talk buildings a lot, but this one is one to relish.

 

After you walk in, there is the Buddha statue as promised.  The head fell off in an earthquake once.  I am sure that let to some interesting dinner conversation.

 

More of the kings....

 

Again, the detailing is phenomenal.

 

They even have a place where you can crawl through a column.  No, I skipped this.  I don't think it was made for Americans, that like beer, ice cream, etc...

 

There have been a lot of buildings and structures around the world that I appreciate, but only a handful that I am truly in awe of and hold a special place with me.  This temple is now easily one of them.  I spent about 90 mins exploring it and even bought the niece some socks with deer on them.

 

No ice cream for you fat boy!

 

Other structures around the park.  It really was a good Sunday, at least I think it was Sunday.

 

After spending the majority of the day at Nara and the park, plus having some really good tuna, I realized my days were numbered in Japan.  I quickly tried to head to Arashiyama area of Kyoto, but my sight seeing was about to be cut short.  I was used to rain at this point and I kind of dodge the drops by jumping in stores and snacking or whatever, but this one ended up being different. It absolutely stormed for a good 45 mins.  After giving up on seeing anymore sights, plus they were closed and it was dark, I started my trek back to the train station to go back to central Kyoto.  It had rained so much that it was over my ankle in the streets.  Was this a sign that I didn't need to worry about the deer?  I got to the station and the trains were stopped because of flooding on the tracks.  After another hour or so delay, I finally trekked back to my British Pub, then ice cream, then dinner.  What can I say, I am single and on vacation.

 

Overall, it was such a great day and I was surprised that I had not had a rain out before now, but it was only an hour or so of wasted time.  Days are fleeting though.