Do go: If you like temples, deer and being harassed (by deer.)
Also go: If you like taking photos of stone lanterns.
Having been to Nara to see the fire festival a few nights before, I had only seen the city in the dark or near dark. It didn't stop me being told off by a monk for taking this photo. I'm not sure why he was telling me off though, I just finished taking the photo, humbly said sorry and then left. The paparazzi survives to strike again.
I also made a nice friend who could show me around the next time I went. I hope I didn't startle him with my flash. It will teach him not to be so nosy in the future.
This is the same place but in the day time. It is a different deer, although it could be the same one on a bad day.
Safety first:
There were two lovely little gardens a short walk away from the main park where the swarms of deer and tourists are. One of them was 600 yen to enter, the other was free for foreigners. Guess which one we went in. It would have been nice to see when all the flowers are out but never mind.
Nara is special because it was the first real capital of Japan and has some really old temples. It also boasts the largest wooden structure in the world, housing Japan's largest Daibutsu (Big Buddha.) Unfortunately when these things are inside its always impossible to get a good photo as it's so dark, but I tried. It was awesome (I don't like using that word, but I mean it in the "I was in awe" sense.)
I have forgotten who this is but I like his style anyway. Or is it a she? I'm not sure.
I made another friend:
And an entire harem...
In the park, much nearer the station, you can buy special crackers for the deer to eat, but I wanted to save mine for later so I could treat the deer who live further away. They were much less demanding until you hold out the crackers when they started off.
Fed up of lanterns? There are more coming but for a break have a look at this lovely photo. It is everyone's wishes for love. I want to meet someone nice etc etc etc.
And back to the lanterns.
The deer here were totally different- they didn't even want my crackers really. I also tried bowing to them and these ones bowed back- obviously due to higher standards of respect.
That's another post to cross off my list. There are still many more to come.
Safety first:
There were two lovely little gardens a short walk away from the main park where the swarms of deer and tourists are. One of them was 600 yen to enter, the other was free for foreigners. Guess which one we went in. It would have been nice to see when all the flowers are out but never mind.
Nara is special because it was the first real capital of Japan and has some really old temples. It also boasts the largest wooden structure in the world, housing Japan's largest Daibutsu (Big Buddha.) Unfortunately when these things are inside its always impossible to get a good photo as it's so dark, but I tried. It was awesome (I don't like using that word, but I mean it in the "I was in awe" sense.)
I have forgotten who this is but I like his style anyway. Or is it a she? I'm not sure.
I made another friend:
And an entire harem...
In the park, much nearer the station, you can buy special crackers for the deer to eat, but I wanted to save mine for later so I could treat the deer who live further away. They were much less demanding until you hold out the crackers when they started off.
Fed up of lanterns? There are more coming but for a break have a look at this lovely photo. It is everyone's wishes for love. I want to meet someone nice etc etc etc.
And back to the lanterns.
The deer here were totally different- they didn't even want my crackers really. I also tried bowing to them and these ones bowed back- obviously due to higher standards of respect.
That's another post to cross off my list. There are still many more to come.
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