We got a free trip to Nara this weekend! One of the elective classes was going, but it was "fundatory" for everyone else. Which is fine by me. Sorry it's taken me so long to update this...And actually, now I have to talk about both of these weekends. Anyway.
Nara was a lot of fun and I want to go again! We went to Todaiji and saw a LOT of deer. That's all we did. Well, and look at shops and stuff. Todaiji holds the Daibutsu, which is the biggest statue of Buddha. It was absolutely amazing to see in person and I'd definitely go again so I could stare at it in awe longer. Here's some pics:
Nara was a lot of fun and I want to go again! We went to Todaiji and saw a LOT of deer. That's all we did. Well, and look at shops and stuff. Todaiji holds the Daibutsu, which is the biggest statue of Buddha. It was absolutely amazing to see in person and I'd definitely go again so I could stare at it in awe longer. Here's some pics:
The above basically sums up Nara, actually: lots of deer, and Todaiji. And tourists.
The above is the actual building Daibutsu is in.
If you couldn't tell, the above is Daibutsu. On either side, not seen here, are boddhisattvas. Boddhisattvas are basically people who are in the final stage before reaching nirvana, but they've stayed behind to help others reach nirvana. Buddhism a lot more complicated, though, so if you're interested (and it is interesting) I recommend taking a Buddhism class.
The below is the boddhisattva on the left side (left when you're facing Buddha). The one below that is on the other side.
The below is the boddhisattva on the left side (left when you're facing Buddha). The one below that is on the other side.
This was a rather decrepit statue of either Buddha or a boddhisattva. Yes, it's wearing a raincoat. The story behind this is that if some part of you is wounded or hurts, touch that part of the statue and you'll be healed. Also, inside there's a pillar with a hole in it that's supposed to be the size of one of the Daibutsu's nostrils, and if you can fit through it, you'll have luck for the rest of your life, or something like that. So about half of the JCMU students managed it...I didn't want to try, though.
Below is some pics of the deer that literally wander the sidewalks and everywhere else, except for the streets. They're always looking for food handouts, and you can buy "senbei" from the various people standing around. You can actually pet the deer, they're very docile, except if they think you have food. Then they'll almost kind of stalk you and keep trying to get at the food. They're not usually really mean, just annoying. Like when my friend and I were attempting to sit and eat our ice cream. They're all about the size of large dogs, actually.
Below is some pics of the deer that literally wander the sidewalks and everywhere else, except for the streets. They're always looking for food handouts, and you can buy "senbei" from the various people standing around. You can actually pet the deer, they're very docile, except if they think you have food. Then they'll almost kind of stalk you and keep trying to get at the food. They're not usually really mean, just annoying. Like when my friend and I were attempting to sit and eat our ice cream. They're all about the size of large dogs, actually.
Below is a rather amusing sign we came across.
The above is a normal sight, at least when they discover you have food...Oh, and then they actually bow to you, kind of. Please, by all means, visit Nara! They have so many cute things in the shops, too; it's a good thing we ran out of time just as my friend and I were about cave and buy a bunch of adorable deer souvenirs.
Last week was fairly uneventful, I think. And then this last Saturday we had a field trip for my Buddhism class, which means we went to Kyoto and visited the temple called Nishi-Honganji. The other temples and shrines I've been to have all been beautiful and amazing, but for some reason this one was really beautiful and awe-inspiring. Maybe it's because we had a tour guide that told us tons of stuff about it. Well, so basically after we went there, we kind of split into two groups and I ended up with the one that went with the professor, who's really fun, and we went to a Japanese tea and sweets shop. It was a bit expensive, but I think it was worth it. I had to leave before everyone since I have a host family and I hadn't been able to tell them I'd be late coming back, but then, I don't drink and they all went to a pub type of thing, and then I guess an anime shop and an arcade and then a traditional Japanese arcade, so I would've liked to gone to everything but the pub, I guess. Still, the time I had there was still tons of fun! So, here come the pics. Oh but first, there are some pics I can't post online because they're national treasures, so...sorry.
Last week was fairly uneventful, I think. And then this last Saturday we had a field trip for my Buddhism class, which means we went to Kyoto and visited the temple called Nishi-Honganji. The other temples and shrines I've been to have all been beautiful and amazing, but for some reason this one was really beautiful and awe-inspiring. Maybe it's because we had a tour guide that told us tons of stuff about it. Well, so basically after we went there, we kind of split into two groups and I ended up with the one that went with the professor, who's really fun, and we went to a Japanese tea and sweets shop. It was a bit expensive, but I think it was worth it. I had to leave before everyone since I have a host family and I hadn't been able to tell them I'd be late coming back, but then, I don't drink and they all went to a pub type of thing, and then I guess an anime shop and an arcade and then a traditional Japanese arcade, so I would've liked to gone to everything but the pub, I guess. Still, the time I had there was still tons of fun! So, here come the pics. Oh but first, there are some pics I can't post online because they're national treasures, so...sorry.
This is a rather large temple, so I don't have pics of each and every building. This is just the first one we went in. We went into two different halls and saw the guest rooms and noh theater stages in the national treasure section, which I unfortunately can't post pics of. Well, we couldn't take pics of the inside parts of it to begin with, but the gardens and the theaters were beautiful.
A beautiful ceremonial gate in the above pic. And the sign explaining it below.
The next few images are from a part of the temple people can't see unless they're in a tour group, and only once a year for some type of ceremony or festival, I think. I did ask if I could post these pics, and permission was thankfully granted!
The above bell is I think they said the oldest part of the temple (which, like many other temples and shrines) has been burned down multiple times, in various parts.
If you can see the stairs at the base of the building farther to the left in the above image, those used to be the only way to access the building all those centuries ago, but it was so inconvenient to only get in by boat that they built bridges, one of which can be seen on the right.
And below is the Japanese tea and sweet I got at the shop at the Kyoto station for a much higher price than I would've liked. Still, it was really good. The tea is actual Japanese tea, and you're supposed to eat some of the sweet and then sip the tea, thereby balancing out the bitterness of the tea with the sweets. And I'm sure lots of you know, but Japanese sweets aren't nearly as sweet as American sweets, which I think I prefer. I don't think I'll be able to eat sweets when I get home. Which could be a good thing. Also, apparently I like tea, even the thicker, actual Japanese tea.
I think that's it for now. I don't have any plans for this week yet. Oh, but I did make more friends on the Kyoto trip! Let's see...Well, I've signed up for quite a few things again (JCMU frequently posts things you can sign up for on this one board in the academic building). I'm pretty sure there was something else...Oh, just on a side note, the weather has finally cooled off! For the last couple of nights, I've actually been chilled both walking back home and just sitting in my room with the window open. I like this, though; I prefer the cold. Granted, I am from the UP (for those of you who sadly don't know, the UP is the Upper Peninsula of Michigan; people often don't even know we exist).
I think that really was it, though. Though maybe I'll finally make a post explaining the airports and stuff more, along with what to pack or not pack. Coming soon: a detailed insight on what to bring or not bring with you!
I think that really was it, though. Though maybe I'll finally make a post explaining the airports and stuff more, along with what to pack or not pack. Coming soon: a detailed insight on what to bring or not bring with you!