Southern Fried Sushi: Laurie in Japan: A Day in Nara

So I got up real early this morning to go meet Alex at Korien so we could meet Becky at Shin-Fukushima. It was real dismal and rainy...

But we decided we were going to go, rain or no.

We sat next to a high school student learning English. We didn't find out until near our stop, but we had fun talking to her until she got off.

Though it was raining on and off, the countryside was beautiful! And the rain cooled everything off so it wasn't as hot.

We finally made it to Nara! This is the station we got off at.

Then we walked the long stretch to Kofukuji Temple to see the five story pagoda.

We were all hungry and there was much debate as to where we should eat...

So we finally decided on a Japanese Burger place...

The menu...

Becky and Alex got the Teriyaki Burger.

Mine was... interesting. The bun is made from rice. Inside is veggies...

"Drink Drank"

A whistle we found at a souvenir shop...

Mother Deer and fawns crossing the street in front of the Kofukuji Temple steps.

Kofukuji Temple.

Five story pagoda!

Then we decided to walk to Todaiji Temple.

Deer!

A lot of deer lined the walkway to Todaiji Temple and they were even inside it in the courtyards. They are considered messengers of the gods.

Smart Deer...

"There's where my glasses went..."

Blind Deer...

Only in his left eye...

Todaiji Temple straight ahead.

The Buddah Hall is the largest wooden building in the world. And it houses the world's largest bronze statue of Buddha.

Burning incense at the entrance.

The Buddha is 50 ft tall. That's almost ten times my height....

Other statues and Japanese national treasures on display...

THis hole on one of the main beams is apparently the same size as one of the Buddha's nostrils. They say if you pass through the hole, you "will be blessed with enlightenment in your next life"... or something like that. A whole bunch of people were squeezing through it.