Nara Day 2

A quick update since I'm about to go out to look at pretty lights again. Woke up early to head out towards Sakurai. Got off at Makimuku stop to see the Hashihaka kofun which was disappointing and I got bitten by many evil bugs. Then ended up following this historical hike trail which would have been nicer if it weren't boiling out and if I weren't developing a blister. Saw another kofun (accidently) called Hokenoyama kofun which had a layout of the burial chamber since most of the mound was gone. Saw another round kofun and then ended up at a famous shrine. I had lunch in a little restaurant nearby - higashi somen which is somen (cold noodles) on ice with mushrooms and seaweed. It was as refreshing as everyone tells me it is. Was trying not to die from the heat at this point since all my water was being lost as sweat. I swear I spent more money on drinks then anything else today.

Got to Sakurai, but discovered museum was closed so rather than just go look at kofun, I headed back into Nara with the plan of going tomorrow morning. I hit up Horyuji temple instead which is really old and very cool looking, plus lots of buddist treasures. It had this cool dragon theme going with wooden dragons winding their way around pillars and stuff. Then headed back into the city and took a very expensive taxi so I could see the famous Todaiji temple before it closed.

The hall there is huge, and the buddha inside is enormous. Very cool though now all other buddhas will seem a little inadequate. I'm heading back there now to see it lit up at night.

I'm dead tired but there's no point in wasting the night. And it only occurred to me five minutes ago that tomorrows my birthday and I'm going to spend it biking around the countryside looking at kofun... That sounds about right;)

Probably won't be able to get online in Kyoto so later all!

Nara Day 2

A quick update since I'm about to go out to look at pretty lights again. Woke up early to head out towards Sakurai. Got off at Makimuku stop to see the Hashihaka kofun which was disappointing and I got bitten by many evil bugs. Then ended up following this historical hike trail which would have been nicer if it weren't boiling out and if I weren't developing a blister. Saw another kofun (accidently) called Hokenoyama kofun which had a layout of the burial chamber since most of the mound was gone. Saw another round kofun and then ended up at a famous shrine. I had lunch in a little restaurant nearby - higashi somen which is somen (cold noodles) on ice with mushrooms and seaweed. It was as refreshing as everyone tells me it is. Was trying not to die from the heat at this point since all my water was being lost as sweat. I swear I spent more money on drinks then anything else today.

Got to Sakurai, but discovered museum was closed so rather than just go look at kofun, I headed back into Nara with the plan of going tomorrow morning. I hit up Horyuji temple instead which is really old and very cool looking, plus lots of buddist treasures. It had this cool dragon theme going with wooden dragons winding their way around pillars and stuff. Then headed back into the city and took a very expensive taxi so I could see the famous Todaiji temple before it closed.

The hall there is huge, and the buddha inside is enormous. Very cool though now all other buddhas will seem a little inadequate. I'm heading back there now to see it lit up at night.

I'm dead tired but there's no point in wasting the night. And it only occurred to me five minutes ago that tomorrows my birthday and I'm going to spend it biking around the countryside looking at kofun... That sounds about right;)

Probably won't be able to get online in Kyoto so later all!