Serenity Now in Nara

Currently sitting in Nara, Japan's first capital. It was nice to get out of Kyoto which was basically like a bigger version of Victoria which is why I was not to fond of it. Nara is also a big tourist centre but the atmosphere is a lot more calm and peaceful and smaller. There is some really old temples and shrines including some statues of Buddha's from the 8th century which are stunning. I fear though I have lost all of my four years of university when looking at the art, I know I learned all the names of the iconography but I have no idea what it is. At least I can appreciate it all??

There is the Nara Park which has a lot of deer running around and you can buy them food and feed them. Some will even bow to you before you feed them. However they are wild animals so there ended up being a lot of crying kids because the deer will bite slightly and chase you when you are hiding food from them. I had to fight off one after I had finished my lunch because it went into my purse and tried to take the plastic wrapper. So I had to fight it so it wouldnt eat the plastic.

Anyways there is also a shrine to Kasuga Taisho with 1000 stone lanterns lining the pathway up to the shrine, and then there are 1000 bronze lanterns around the shrine area. It was very peaceful as it is right along the base of the mountain and you can walk through the area and be in the protected primeval forest. Its very serene.

There is a pond in the town with turtles in it, except I feel really bad because they end up eating a lot of popcorn and waste that people throw away. There is more covered markets with all kinds of souveniers and food stalls and I may get fat really soon because the food is so good and so reasonable.

Luckily there are lots of cherry blossoms out and they are so beautiful. The weather is nice but there is a pretty cool breeze.

My back is starting to hurt from sleeping in Japanese Inn's on the floor on only cushions and from the rice filled pillows. I cannot wait to get back to the creature comforts of my own bed again. But alas I will quit my complaining.

I am looking forward to moving on to Kumamoto and being with family again. It was nice to be on my own but Mizuho tells me about the meals I have to look forward to. miss you all. lots of love.