The Deaf Anthropologist Goes to Japan: Back to Nara

So, back to Nara. If I could have only one day in Japan, it would be in Nara. It is a small city the size of New Orleans with beautiful little temples scattered everywhere, lovely parks filled with the aggressive deer, and a 60+ foot tall Buddha in one of the most tremendous temples I have ever seen. The giant Buddha (left) is the largest in Japan. In the 8th Century, the emperor of Japan ordered the copper Buddha (which was then larger) to help with smallpox and a drought.

Apparently, the temple housing the buddha is one of the largest wood structures in the world. It is breathtaking with its high ceilings and airy architecture. The photo does not do it justice.

In front of the temple is an incense urn that seems to be at all of the temples. You light the incense and wave the smoke over you to ward off illness. We lit some and waved it on ourselves and on Carlitos. David, I have to say, was a bit of an incense hog. Just "me, me me" with the incense smoke. I, however, thought of my child first and waved it on him and then myself... just like the flight attendants tell you to do with the oxygen mask.

A side view of the giant Buddha. Sorry for the dark photos.

Monk's stairs up to a landing above the temple. They must have nice tight buns if they climb those stairs all day.

Buddha giant hand

Buddha flanking the large Buddha. There are two like this.

Another beautiful temple with Pagoda.

Our room at the Ryokan. Three futons in a tatami room. Carlos thought it was party time and wouldn't go to sleep. I literally had to threaten him with a time out (the logic only makes sense to a 20 month old) and stand over him while he went to sleep. Each time he picked his head up, I brought up the old "time out" word and he put it back down...eventually falling asleep again. He then got up at 4:30 in the morning and would not go back to sleep...