Kyoto, Nara & Deer Sashimi (Raw Deer)

Apparently the god of the area here in Nara came down the mountain on a white deer so all of the wild deer here are sacred and wander around freely, mooching food from the tourists.

Mia and I took the morning Kyoto Sightseeing Tour. It was pouring so we all got soaked. Nijo Castle (Tokugawa Shogun's Kyoto Residence), The Golden Pavillion (Kinkakuji), and the Emperor's Kyoto Palace. I think I've been to these five or six times now...

On the way back to Kyoto we stopped at Nara Stn to drop off a seven member family from India. Thank God! They have been so damn noisy the entire time... talking on their multiple communication devices... wow. This morning there was a different Indian family and the parents let the daughter and young son run around playing, chasing, pushing in and out of the crowds... I was not particularly impressed with their parenting efforts.

We visited Nara in the afternoon and are heading back to Kyoto for the end of the tour. Then a tea ceremony tomorrow and home to Tokyo.

Todaiji in Nara houses the largest wooden structure in the world...

The bronze Buddha inside is huge...

Todaiji burned several times in its 1250 years of history... and was rebuilt based on the fancy of the times so the structure changed. There was one gate that escaped the ravages of wars and it is still standing as originally built 1250 years ago.

Big breath... wow... 1 2 5 0 years in the past and still in use...
All in all it was a great tour and I enjoyed being Mia's papppparrrrazzzzzi again.

I guess we won't be dining on raw deer tonight...

I love you!
Cam