Nara

but are you singing?

with Mary and Ross...at Horyu-ji temple...founded in 607..the oldest temple in Japan..

in front of Todai-ji temples Daibutsen-den hall...the largest wooden structure in the world..rebuilt in 1709 (due to fire) just 2/3rds of the original!

on another day...

one of two Nio guardians carved in the 13th century..

Ross squeezed through...mmm but is he ensured of enlightenment? apparently this hole is the same size as one of the great buddah's nostrils...nice!

The Daibutsu (Great Buddha)

checkin out the visitors..

I had a fun two days with Ross and Mary as we visited Nara. It rained...the rainy season was taking its revenge after being late in arriving! We caught some good food...tried to squeeze into one room but the Landlord was having none of it, actually we were lucky not to have been locked out! I managed to reach over the counter and grab our key...we had some good and lively conversation and saw some sights.

Ross and I had seen Coldplay the night before and stayed at a pretty new Youth Hostel..Ross managed to nab someone elses made-up bed...which provided a great deal of mirth late at night...and a few apologies..when the guy came back into the room...He had everything so neat and put away you would not have known anyone was staying there! although in hindsight...the made-up bed and pillow on the Tatami were a slight giveaway...good memories Rossco! We visited Ross's cousin who is a ceramics artist the next morning..wow He has done some very nice stuff! Then we made our way to Nara and wandered around looking at temples and deer and hooked up with Mary for dinner. It poured most of the day sunday...Ross and Mary went hiking up a hill...my ankles were swollen so I passed...we then found our way eventually to Horyu-ji temple.