wanderingsensei1's Photobucket Kobe-Nara album media

Went to Nara for a day. Wandered around and saw lots of cool stuff. Like Mr. Lion.

wanderingsensei1 — Sun, 28 May 2006 09:05:49 MDT

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Went to Nara for a day. Wandered around and saw lots of cool stuff. Like Mr. Lion. - CIMG1713.jpg

In case you\'re clueless (like me), Nara is about 30 min southeast of Osaka (by train).

wanderingsensei1 — Sun, 28 May 2006 09:02:54 MDT

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In case you\'re clueless (like me), Nara is about 30 min southeast of Osaka (by train). - f3bb09de.jpg

It\'s famous for its huge park with a large number of temples, shrines, and other really, really old stuff. Okay, well, the beer wasn\'t so old, I think.

wanderingsensei1 — Sun, 28 May 2006 09:02:53 MDT

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It\'s famous for its huge park with a large number of temples, shrines, and other really, really old stuff. Okay, well, the beer wasn\'t so old, I think. - c70ad22f.jpg

It was a hilly park, so I got good exercise as I wandered around.

wanderingsensei1 — Sun, 28 May 2006 09:02:52 MDT

wanderingsensei1 posted a photo

It was a hilly park, so I got good exercise as I wandered around. - 8f2695df.jpg

It was nice to spend an afternoon meandering at my own pace. I even visited the Nara National Museum, but couldn\'t take pics.

wanderingsensei1 — Sun, 28 May 2006 09:02:51 MDT

wanderingsensei1 posted a photo

It was nice to spend an afternoon meandering at my own pace. I even visited the Nara National Museum, but couldn\'t take pics. - 1ac7c32a.jpg

That rainbow colored thingy is the end of a bell people can ring as part of their worship.

wanderingsensei1 — Sun, 28 May 2006 09:02:50 MDT

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That rainbow colored thingy is the end of a bell people can ring as part of their worship. - 8da26559.jpg

The park was peaceful. Ornately carved water fountains abounded, and there was even a complimentary \"free rest room\" where weary visitors could take a nap on tatami mats.

wanderingsensei1 — Sun, 28 May 2006 09:02:49 MDT

wanderingsensei1 posted a photo

The park was peaceful. Ornately carved water fountains abounded, and there was even a complimentary \"free rest room\" where weary visitors could take a nap on tatami mats. - 86d65314.jpg

At one temple, I bought a fortune for 100 Yen. \"no Luck\" it told me. \"It is not a good time to travel,\" it said. for love: \"The person you seek will not be found\". Great.

wanderingsensei1 — Sun, 28 May 2006 08:58:12 MDT

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At one temple, I bought a fortune for 100 Yen. \"no Luck\" it told me. \"It is not a good time to travel,\" it said. for love: \"The person you seek will not be found\". Great. - CIMG1701.jpg

Stone lanterns, and a deer looking for tasty snacks from saps like me. I paid 150 Yen for \"deer crackers\". They slobbered on my hand. Scarily, I liked it.

wanderingsensei1 — Sun, 28 May 2006 08:58:11 MDT

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Stone lanterns, and a deer looking for tasty snacks from saps like me. I paid 150 Yen for \"deer crackers\". They slobbered on my hand. Scarily, I liked it. - CIMG1699.jpg

Why does everybody want to look INSIDE the bell? I wanted to ring it with them under there.

wanderingsensei1 — Sun, 28 May 2006 08:58:10 MDT

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Why does everybody want to look INSIDE the bell? I wanted to ring it with them under there. - CIMG1698.jpg

Cool statue representing former location of a pagoda destroyed a long time ago (Okay, so I\'m not so good at remembering dates).

wanderingsensei1 — Sun, 28 May 2006 08:58:09 MDT

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Cool statue representing former location of a pagoda destroyed a long time ago (Okay, so I\'m not so good at remembering dates). - CIMG1695.jpg

Suppoedly, if you rub this statue where you have an ailment, you will be cured. Unfortunately, it was so big, tourists could only reach its feet. I hope their feet ached.

wanderingsensei1 — Sun, 28 May 2006 08:58:08 MDT

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Suppoedly, if you rub this statue where you have an ailment, you will be cured. Unfortunately, it was so big, tourists could only reach its feet. I hope their feet ached. - CIMG1694.jpg

Inside this HUGE building were many HUGE statues, some over 1000 years old.

wanderingsensei1 — Sun, 28 May 2006 08:58:07 MDT

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Inside this HUGE building were many HUGE statues, some over 1000 years old. - CIMG1691.jpg

Replacement heads for statues. It\'s never good to lose your head, but just in case, here is plan B and C.

wanderingsensei1 — Sun, 28 May 2006 08:58:06 MDT

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Replacement heads for statues. It\'s never good to lose your head, but just in case, here is plan B and C. - CIMG1687.jpg

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wanderingsensei1 — Sun, 28 May 2006 08:58:05 MDT

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wanderingsensei1 — Sun, 28 May 2006 08:58:03 MDT

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So Nara is famous for this \"Big Buddah\". The picture doesn\'t show it, but it\'s HUGE.

wanderingsensei1 — Sun, 28 May 2006 08:58:02 MDT

wanderingsensei1 posted a photo

So Nara is famous for this \"Big Buddah\". The picture doesn\'t show it, but it\'s HUGE. - CIMG1677.jpg

it was at least three stories high. Built in 700 or so AD, it had been destroyed twice over the centuries and always rebuilt.

wanderingsensei1 — Sun, 28 May 2006 08:58:01 MDT

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it was at least three stories high. Built in 700 or so AD, it had been destroyed twice over the centuries and always rebuilt. - CIMG1669.jpg

Once, it\'s head fell off and was destroyed. Luckily, they had spares. I wouldn\'t want to be the guy standing UNDER it at the time, though!

wanderingsensei1 — Sun, 28 May 2006 08:58:00 MDT

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Once, it\'s head fell off and was destroyed. Luckily, they had spares. I wouldn\'t want to be the guy standing UNDER it at the time, though! - CIMG1667.jpg