Buddhism is Very Deer to Me: Kyoto Day II

Captain's log, stardate 2533.7 or June 7, 2008

NOTE: THAT IS NOT AN ACCURATE STARDATE SO PLEASE DON'T FLAME MY COMMENTS PAGE YOU PICARD FANATICS! (I speak as if I have actual readers ne?)

We awoke on the 7th rather early, roughly 6 o'clock to be more precise. After discussing the day's plans, the Valley chan and I decided that we had an important priority to see to. We were both suffering from massive Starbucks cravings, but fortunately there was a Starbucks built into our hotel! After indulging in our rather caffiene filled habit, as well as wondering why a woman in a kimono was at Starbucks so early, we went about our way to Nara.

Nara is famous for the Todai-ji temple, which is itself famous for a Buddha the size of Britney Spears' growing psychosis. It took a bit of time, but we managed to get on the train to Nara with no problems. However, as the time passed on the train, the Valley and I slowly drifted off to sleep. This proved a problem because when we awoke, we weren't sure which station we had just stopped. Added to the fact that from where we were sitting we could not see one of the signs telling us the stop. But the Valley and I put our brilliant detective skills to work to determine our stop. It sounded something like this:

DPN: Do you know where we are?
Valley: No...but lots of people are getting off the train
DPN: LOOK THERE, THOSE GAIJIN ARE GETTING OFF THE TRAIN!
Valley: ALL THE GAIJIN ARE GETTING OFF THE TRAIN!
DPN: GO GO GO!

That in a nutshell, is how we determined we were in Nara. I know there are people out there wondering how two Americans can call others gaijin (a term used to reference foreigners in general, which would include us). Well its simple for me really; even though I haven't lived here long, I feel as though I've been here long enough to feel comfortable and at home. I'm not JUST some tourist who is in Japan for a week. I know that sounds arrogant, and it really is, but its just how I felt at the time. Besides, Valley and I were attempting to blend in using our skills at looking asian...

Anywho, we decided that since following the other foreigners had worked to get us to Nara, why not just stalk these people all the way to Todai-ji?! So the trek began following a pair of people from France. We eventually found a series of temples and a pagoda, which we hoped to be Todai-ji. Alas, it wasn't, but it was still very beautiful to see. Also, there were many deer roaming around amongst the people. Nara is known for its high population of deer, and they are left free to wander around! Valley and I decided that feeding the deer would be fun, so we bought the special deer approved cookies and immediately all the deer in the area came rushing for us.

It would have been cute was it not for this one deer who decided the best way to get the cookies from me was to repeatedly headbutt me to the ground, and then keep going until I fed him. Fortunately for the deer, my one weakness is the pressure of deer horns jamming into my liver several hundred times, HOW DID IT KNOW?!



The Valley's experiences at feeding the deer were much less violent, but just as disturbing. While very tranquil, the deer had collectively left a rather suspicious looking stain on the Valley's shirt. Perhaps there was a deer equivalent of President Clinton in the bunch ne?



We did eventually make it to Todai-ji, and after causing a scene by flamboyantly jumping up into the air, an action which drew the attention and cameras of many other tourists, we beheld the work of art that is the Daibutsu. It is truly awe inspiring, and I wish that I my travel companion and I could have come up with something more enlightened that, "I bet he's pretty well hung". But alas, we could not, and the previous statement made for a good laugh so...

Not much to say about the rest of the night, we walked around Kyoto, talked, learned that Kyoto shuts down about as early as a elderly farm town in New Hampshire, and spent the rest of the night at Mr. Doughnut. All in all, a great second day.
Ganbatte,
-DPN