Shinkansen Japan's Modern Dragons

The Shinkansen, also known as bullet trains, are like mighty dragons snaking across the Japanese landscape. The best deal for tourists coming to Japan is the wonderful JR rail pass, ten times more useful than a Euro pass, good for most local destinations as well as high-speed travel across Japan. Not only does it pay for itself in two quick rides, but it is an amazingly efficient, comfortable and quickest way to travel around Japan. These flying dragons travel at speeds of around 210 km/h and one of the regular local lines Carries 151 million passengers a year which makes the b.c. ferries system seem a little like the train around Disney Land but without the pirates, the dancing mice or splash mountain... However, the way this train moves it does make it seem like a small world after all.

trick horse

This trick horse would have got more autographs than both the real Stallone or Willis with his stand looking all cool with one leg up or making the talking face. Except he was working for carrots instead of autographs, On the other hand may be he was laughing at me for paying the 50 yen he was getting for 2 carrots. Or may be he thought he was giving us the snarling face to scare us into giving him more carrots instead of eating us and the trainer only said it was the happy face.

Real movie stars

As much fun as it was hanging around and signing autographs with Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallon, Aja preferred to track down and have her picture taken with her favorite Japanese actors...the Power Rangers from the 2000 series and the Powder Puff Girls... go figure ... I guess it is more fun saving the world before recess.

Ron the movie star

Here we are in a Japanese film studio with Ron. You may remember Ron from such movies as 'The Island' with De Caprio or 'Cutthroat Island' with Geena Davis... however to these Japanese students visiting the film studio he was more like Sylvester Stallon, so being the great actor he is, Ron got into character and signed their autograph books accordingly. I tried for a few moments to pass myself off as Bruce Willis but then realized how hard it is for a famous movie star to move around without being bugged by adoring fans, so I went back to being myself pointing out where Sylvester Stallon was hiding...

Todaiji

Todaiji ("Great Eastern Temple") is one of Japan's most famous and historically significant temples and a landmark of Nara dating back to when the capital of japan was moved to Nara in 784

The Todaiji houses Japan's largest bronze Buddha statue (Daibutsu), and is the world's largest wooden building, even though the present reconstruction of 1692 is only two thirds of the original temple's size.

A popular attraction of Todaiji is a pillar inside the temple which has a hole in its base the same size as the Daibutsu's nostril. It is said that those who can squeeze through this opening will be granted enlightenment in their next reincarnation. Looks like I will have to keep trying for enlightenment here and now as no amount of weight loss will get me through that nostril. As for Aja, she could have made it but didn’t want to try... so how is that for enlightenment?

Stone lanterns

Kasuga Grand Shrine in the city of Nara, in Nara Prefecture, Japan was established in 768 A.D. and rebuilt several times over the centuries, it is the shrine of the Fujiwara family. The interior is famous for its many bronze lanterns but to me the coolest thing is the many stone lanterns that lead up the shrine. It gives the feeling of old Japan and its ancient traditions and the walk is all that you can expect from a Japanese garden forest.

Deer

The path to Kasuga Shrine passes through Deer Park where the tourist guide claims tame deer roam free. After being swarmed when feeding the the monkeys, fish and elephants of Thailand we were looking forward to petting and getting up close and feeding the deer of Japan. All the tourist guides went on about the 'tame' deer so we laughed at the sign warning us about the deer until we were swarmed by chip crazy pushy deer after their crispy snack. In Canada the deer would be quickly made into roasts and delicious sausage but it seems in japan, where they eat seaweed, and all manner of raw seafood they have not gotten the taste for venison. The deer around the shrines they are protected and are somewhat of a tourist attraction as long as you don't mind getting the odd bite, butt, kick or being knocked down for your chips.