deer

There are deer everywhere in Nara. In pre-Buddhist times they were considered to be messengers of the Gods. Now they roam free, waiting for tourists to buy packets of shika-sembai(deer biscuits). They are pretty tame...

Also at Nara we saw Todai-ji temple, a huge wooden building which is home to a huge statue of the Daibutsu Buddha. Behind this is a wooden column with a tiny hole through its base. A queue of people (mostly children) was waiting to squeeze through, which would ensure that they attained enlightenment. I didn't think I would get through, but with a pull from Sarah on the other side, I emerged unscathed (and enlightened, presumably..)