Nara

Some people when traveling hire private guides to get them places on time, with historical information, and translates. Sort of makes things flow easier. I met a French couple leaving Koyasan on the train with one of these guides. I asked if I could follow them to Nara, which made my navigation a lot easier. I could just sit back and follow them instead of having to pay sharp attention. I'm terrified to get lost, but I've been doing pretty well so far. :) anyway I bid them goodbye at the Nara train station put my backpack in a coin locker an headed over to the tourist info office. There a lovely old man who spoke great english gave me a map, circled things I should see, and told me how to get there. These tourist info sites have been very helpful.

So while waiting for the bus, the woman sitting next to me suddenly asked if I was a tourist. She spoke good english as well. I told her I was and the purpose of my journey. She teared up. Apparently her sister died the month before, so she was felling particularly sensitive. I wish I ha been on point and that my bus hasn't just arrived because I would have liked to have given her a mom marble as I think she would have brought her solace. Hmmmm I will send her loving thoughts instead.

Nara Park is full of tame dead that you can fed and pet.

I also have funny video of feeding the deer. They are wild and will nibble at your clothes, and eat your papers, and if you have any food they want some.

The Nandaimon Gate is the entrance to to Todaiji Temple area.

The temple itself has a pre-entrance.

On either side inside this entrance art some formidable figures.

The temple was awe inspiring.

Inside is Japan's largest Buddha. It's made of bronze with two golden figures on either side and a warrior in the rear. I hope you can get the scale and grandure of this place.

I also took a brief look at Kasuga Taisha Shrine. It was nice just to walk through the park and eat some green tea ice cream too.

On to Kurashiki a suburb of Okayama, where on the train I learned some manners and that they even have a web site sanctioned by Japan on proper manners. Haha we need this in the US.

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On the final morning I had made arrangement for two things. One to receive fire prayers for family for myself. And two was a Senzokuyo in the form of a Gappai for my mom. The monks will pray for the repose of mom once a month for a year.

 I also have video of this which will have to be posted later, but here are a few more explanations.

Here's the monk that did the prayers. I gave him/ the monetary a marble. It's on the table in front of him.

Domo arigato gozamashita

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In the early morning there are prayers by the monks that we are invited to watch and participate minorly. The chanting cymbals and bowl ringing was trace like. At one point during the chanting we were able come up to an alter bow and put paunch of good smelling stuff on the a burning ember. After the prayers we could walk around the alter and bow to the icons. I have video of this which I will also have to add later. 

We the walked over to the fire ceremony. On the first day I just watched but on the second I partook, but more on that later. After the fire ceremony breakfast and then an all day hike in the woods.

Koyasan was a monetary for men. So woman wishing to pay homage could hike a path that ha seven points from which they could view the important buildings. Its also compared

To a lotus flower encircling the mountains. It's called the Nyonindō Woman Path. 

Toucan see the spire on top on one of the pagodas here.

There was aside path to one of the ruins of a shelter for the women. 

I got curious and went looking for it. It was in total about a 2 hour diversion. I saw no one. It was serene. I just kept practicing the "ah" sound and breathing. Until I came upon this.....

I went down and the trail continued and I heard water. Curiosity..... I found beauty

On either side of the bridge which sway a tad when I walked on it ( a little unsettling)

This seemed like an unbelievably perfect spot for some ashes.

And then a butterfly danced in front of me, so I said, "hi mom". 

On the last leg of this all day hike I spotted a statue with its back to the trail in a small stream. Curiosity again thought this time only 5 minutes.

I mean who is this guy? And why does he have two fangs one up one down? And how come such beautiful flowers are growing at his feet?

Needless to say I as exhausted, so my evening consisted of too much dinner and a short stroll for digestion and sound sleep. The morning awaited prayers for mom.

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After the massive dinner I needed a walk for sure. So Raffa and I went to stroll around the Okunoin. It's a cemetery and sacred area with over 200,000 gravestones and memorial pagodas. For imporatant historical figures to commoners. Most old but some new. There was one from Nissan that was a shrine with its logo on it which made it kinda funny.

This is called a stupa with 5 parts representing: earth, air, fire, water, and space. There were many if these in the cemetery. 

There was some pretty impressive figurative sculpture.

And some characatures.

Almost looks like a young Yoda.

And let's not forget the Buddha

And the goofy Nissan shrine

And some had obviously been there for a very long time.

It started to get dark. Making picture taking futile, but the frogs started to sing. Incredible! Something between a creaking door and song. Well it seems that I will have to upload the video when I get to a computer. But here's a frog we noticed while walking though I don't think he was one our our singers.

And then something incredible happened that neither of of knew was possible. Over our heads we heard the angry chittering of squirrels so we looked up only to see the squirrel leap body splayed ears flapping 25 feet to another tree! Our mouths were agape!  We stood there for a while watching them leap tree to tree and then as we were walking out one flew not 10 feet over our heads! No pictures because it was too dark but totally amazing!

We continued to the far end and we came upon Kobo Daishi Gobyo (mausoleum of kobodaishi). it is surrounded by 1000 year old cedars and a stream.This one was lit up with a ton of lanterns. So beautiful.

A closer look

And this is Raffa. He is from Mexico City, but is going to Paris France for grad school in the fall. Mom had always wanted to get back to Paris as well. She went to boarding school in France as a young child. Raffa generously agrees to bring one o the marbles there with him and leave it somewhere special. He will send me a picture when he does. So mom guess what, you get to go back to France too.