We got a late start out of the hotel, knowing we only had one spot on our docket for today. Nara. Nara was the capital of Japan before Kyoto and Kyoto was the capital before Tokyo. Thanks to the internet, Nara has become famous for the socialized deer in Nara Park. In return for a special cracker you can purchase at the park, the deer will bow to you. However, once the deer know you bought the crackers, the hound you, follow you, surround you and yes, even nip at you. Ask me how I know.
From the train station we took a bus for about 5 mins (which would've easily been a 15 minute walk) to Nara park and immediately saw a LOT of deer! Yes, we purchased a stack of crackers (made from rice bran and flour) for 300 yen ($2.00) and almost immediately I was surrounded by eager, hungry deer. I wasn't fast enough in dispensing them and got my pants and shirt nipped at a couple of times enough that I felt it but it wasn't outright painful. They were just telling me, hey lady, hand over the crackers and nobody gets seriously hurt. LOL. I found, though, that I could stick the crackers in my bag and they didn't know I had them. I could show them empty hands and they left me alone. Mom fed the deer, Leo fed the deer and Kenji fed the deer. They bowed to each of us. We got to pet them, too. Their fur felt coarse, like horse hair. I could feel their spines. We had a lot of fun spending time with them, but after 1 stack of crackers and getting nipped at a couple of times, we were done.
From Nara park we took a bus to Todai-ji Daibutsuden (pronounced: toe-dye-gee die-buht-soo-den) which is the location of the Great Buddha statue, the world's largest bronze Buddha. Seated, it is more than 49 feet tall. The Great Hall in which it resides is a magnificently large structure. Several times throughout it's history the building has been destroyed by fire. The current structure built entirely of wood, dates back to 1709. There are 4 statues guarding the Great Buddha. They each face a different direction, guarding the Great Buddha from possible attackers coming from any direction.
We spent probably an hour walking around the Great Buddha, taking it in from all angles and all the others guarding him. At one spot I saw, and heard, a commotion and giggles. I went to see what was going on and saw children and small teenagers crawling through a tight tunnel carved in the base of one of the enormous posts holding the Great Hall up. Some folks had to be pulled through by friends while small children wriggled through easily. Not quite the activity I would've expected to see in this sacred space, but people were having fun with it.
I found a spot to sit and wait for the others that had slats in the wall open to the outside and there was a wonderfully cool breeze. I was in heaven! I sat about 2 minutes before a staff member came and told me I wasn't allowed to sit there. That seems to be a recurring theme in Japan. Anywhere I find a spot to sit, I'm shoo'd away. It happened a few times at the Expo, too, with an explanation of "Staff Chair!" I think they want visitors to just keep moving and not get comfortable. Which is unfortunate because I was enjoying the angle I had on Buddha *and* the breeze at the same time. *sigh*
Near the exit there was a place where folks who had previously purchased "Stamp passports" could get the stamps (not postal type stamps, but rather ink pad-type stamps) "signed" by an official with what looked like paint and a paint brush, using typical Japanese strokes over the stamp. It was quite beautiful. In that same area were items for sale such as Buddhist prayer beads and charms that were labeled for specific desires such as good health, long life and good business.
We began our exit from the Great Hall and out of the compound. As with any good Disney attraction, there was a gift shop on the way out. LOL. I've been able to resist all the tchotchkes so far on this trip, but I saw a cute little deer plushie and a Nara magnet. Then I saw some beautiful porcelain sake cups. They are all coming home with me. Then we passes 2 or 3 more counters and I saw a better deer plushie. *face palm* Oh well. Live and learn.
As we walked back towards the bus we encountered more deer along the path who were eager to know if we had crackers for them. We did not. We crossed paths with a sweet Mama and her baby. We sat down at what we thought was the bus stop as it was where we had gotten off the bus. I opened Google Translate and typed "Does the bus go to the train station?" so that I'd have it ready when the bus came. When the bus pulled up and away from where we were sitting I hurried over and showed my question to the attendant and he said nei (no). He then told me to go around the building and turn right then right again to get the bus to the train station. We did so and found it easily. After a short wait we got on the bus and passed the deer in Nara Park and were back at the train station. Since Nara is the final stop on this line, there was a train waiting when we got to the platform. We got on and were grateful for seats!
Kenji suggested that since we hadn't had lunch yet (breakfast was late) that we stop at the Osaka train station where we'd have to change to the subway and find a place to sit down for dinner. That sounded much nicer than something from 7/11. Hai, kudasai (kuh-de-sigh) (Yes, please)! There was already a pitcher of ice water on the table and the server brought us each a cup of ice water. Nice! We pursued the menu (which she was kind enough to provide in English) finally settling each on on something different. She had earlier indicated that there was a button on the table that we were to push when we were ready to order and she would come back. Unfortunately, the items Kenji & wanted were sold out. He tried to order something else and it was explained that ALL items including any kind of fried chicken was sold out. Drats. He ended up ordering spicy dan dan noodles, which he declared not as spicy as the spicy ramen from our local ramen shop. I had regular old ramen and Mom had similar, but hers was "Plenty of Vegetables" ramen, since she's been missing produce while we've been here. Leo got a chicken stir fry that came with soup and rice. We were all satisfied and ready to get back on the subway for our last leg of the day's trip.
Mom & I wanted to stop at 7/11 and pick up another single serve bottle of wine for each of us for the evening. Kenji tagged along and found a drink and pudding cup. Leo went ahead on to the hotel, which is literally around the corner. The matters of beginning to prepare to leave tomorrow (Sunday) to move to Kyoto brought us to do more laundry, but there was only 1 machine available, so by the time Kenji's & my laundry was done and dried for a 2nd time there wasn't time left to do Leo's, so I offered to start it early in the AM when I woke up.
Off to sleep and my ankle pain kept me awake far longer than I would've liked, despite the ibuprofen. Typing this now on Sunday AM as we are in final prep to leave the hotel in a half hour and go get lunch in Osaka to kill time before getting on the subway then train to Kyoto, since we can't check in to the hotel there til 3 pm.
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