Having seen Malaysia last year was some help to me in not being too culture-shocked on this, my first visit to Japan. Though very different countries they are far enough from a visitor from the West to appear almost similar.
My immediate impression, though, after leaving Kansai airport and on the journey to Nara, was the dryness. Everything seemed to be burned brown. Only later did I find out that this is their dry season.
First of all, rest. After that fourteen-hour flight nothing else mattered. Then a tour of Nara. A lovely city after the industrial sprawl of Kyoto. Saw a most impressive 5-storeyed temple, the Todaiji, as well as that 26-ton bronze bell that I've often seen pictures of. Also other imperial temples, all dating from the seventh to thirteenth centuries.
In a nearby park a large herd of deer was pestering tourists - or so it seemed to me. Not quite so! It was gently explained to me that deer are animals favoured by the gods here and so are treated with respect. I could see that they fully appreciated the fact, as they looked at me closely and nudged my pockets with their moist noses!
On my first day here, very tired, but pleased and curious to know more before work starts.
My immediate impression, though, after leaving Kansai airport and on the journey to Nara, was the dryness. Everything seemed to be burned brown. Only later did I find out that this is their dry season.
First of all, rest. After that fourteen-hour flight nothing else mattered. Then a tour of Nara. A lovely city after the industrial sprawl of Kyoto. Saw a most impressive 5-storeyed temple, the Todaiji, as well as that 26-ton bronze bell that I've often seen pictures of. Also other imperial temples, all dating from the seventh to thirteenth centuries.
In a nearby park a large herd of deer was pestering tourists - or so it seemed to me. Not quite so! It was gently explained to me that deer are animals favoured by the gods here and so are treated with respect. I could see that they fully appreciated the fact, as they looked at me closely and nudged my pockets with their moist noses!
On my first day here, very tired, but pleased and curious to know more before work starts.