Nara

After a traditional Japanese breakfast of rice and picked vegetables (yes, really), I headed into Nara to visit the sites that make Nara Japan’s first World Heritage Sight - and no doubt face the throngs of tourists and schoolchildren who have the same idea.

First was Todaiji Temple, which houses the Dobaitsu, or Great Buddha. The Temple is the largest wooden structure in the world. It was originally built in around the 8th century but burnt then down. The building you see now is rebuild, at 2/3rds the original size, and it's still the largest in the world! And what do you put inside the largest wooden structure in the world? Well obviously the largest bronze Buddha statue in the world, naturally!

The Dobaitsu in Nara

Afterwards I strolled around Nara Park, where deer wander freely. It is believed that the deer are the reincarnation of the monks who lived in the temples around Nara, so the deer are treated with respect and allowed to do basically anything they want! Perhaps the coolest thing about having reincarnated monk-deers wandering around, is if you show the deer food, it will bow at you. NO JOKE! This quickly became one of my favourite things to do, until the deer got tired of bowing and chased me around the park for the food with which I was taunting him.

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