Nara Overlook

Mark and I checking out the Nara scenery about five minutes before it started pouring rain. Have you ever seen a pregnant lady run? Entertaining, I tell you, very, very entertaining.

Really Big Buddha

This is the Really Big Buddha for which the Really Big Wooden Building was built. It's too bad we couldn't get close enough to add some scale to the picture... but it is really big.

Big Temple

Here are Mark and I outside the big temple. If we understood correctly, this is the largest wooden-frame building in the world, even though it is currently only two-thirds its original size.

Moving On...

The boys are about to enter the big temple that is another one of Nara's claims to fame.

Making Friends

"You know, I ate your cousin..."

In Hot Pursuit...

The deer are in hot pursuit of Mark and his crackers...

Mike Teasing the Deer

"Polly want a cracker?" Vendors sell little crackers that you can feed to the deer. Shortly after this picture was taken, the deer gained the upper hand. Head-butted by six deer all at once - and these weren't gentle nudges! - Mike gave up the goods and the deer got the crackers. ;)

Nara

One of the first weekends that Mark was here, we made a trek down to Nara, one of Japan's historic cities. Nara is known as one of the centers of Japanese Buddhism (something we hadn't realized before) and for its "tame" deer. These deer are apparently considered messengers of the gods, and are allowed to roam freely throughout the city center. Freaky little critters. Mark still thinks that deer are nice here.