Hello faithful readers!
As time has gone on and Jorden and I have become accustomed to our life here in Japan, it's become harder and harder to keep this blog current. We're no longer surprised when we see octopus tentacles in our grocery store, or Shinto priests in full regalia riding bicycles on their way to work. We're used to the cute things our students say, and quirks and hiccups of living life in a place where we're still working hard to understand the language.
But, our time in Japan will soon be at an end. As you've probably heard, Jorden and I will be returning to the States on July 23rd, which by my account is about 10 days away.
So, to wrap up our time in Japan, I've decided to do a daily series: Daniel's Top 10 Experiences in Japan!
Without further delay, here is part one:
Number 10: Nara in the Fall (November 2013)
My old friend from high school, Hans, made a trek out to Japan to visit us in the fall of 2013. We set off for Osaka and Nara, about a 4-hour train ride from our home in Ishikawa prefecture. We spent the first day in Osaka, seeing the castle and exploring the modern, neon-lit streets. Osaka's been described to me as "the less-classy Tokyo," and I definitely agree with that statement. It's got all of the metropolitan hustle, infrastructure, and buildings.... but with more of a casual, sloppy vibe. We sat down for Thanksgiving Dinner in an Izakaya, or Japanese pub, and clanged our beer mugs together before feasting on fried balls of octopus (expat life...) We visited the Osaka aquarium, and rode a huge ferris wheel with views over Osaka Bay.
But the best part for me was our journey to Nara, the ancient capital of Japan. It's peppered with temples, shrines, and parks -- and crawling with hundreds of semi-domesticated deer, all of which have had their antlers sawed off due to their propensity to head-butt tourists in an effort to get snacks. In November, the trees were beginning to erupt in reds and yellows. We walked for most of the day, with clouds threatening rain and deer threatening our pockets. We saw the Great Buddha, countless temples, and a few amazingly manicured gardens, made even more spectacular by the falling leaves.
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| At the temple of the Great Buddha. The building is enormous! |
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| Stopping at a tea shop during our walk. |
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| One of the infamous Nara deer, looking for a handout. |
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| Hans and I enjoying Nara in the fall. |
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| Jorden impersonating a deer. |
That's all for now - thanks for reading, and be ready for Part Two!
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