November 9 -- Kyoto -- Deer Park -- Geisha

---

November 9th - Kyoto
Today we were off to Nara Park, stopping first at the Gekkeikan Okura Museum, where they explained the process of how to make Japanese Sake. This distiller has been making sake for over 400 years. One thing that I found interesting was that the best sake was only 500 yen more than the next best. Naturally I bought a bottle, unfortunately after sharing a couple of glasses I will have to leave a half full bottle in the room; the maid can have a good day. When we got back on the bus they had small sealed cups of sake for us; no way as good as the best so we gave them to waoman on the bus (she collected about 10 and didn’t make it to dinner - no the sake had nothing to do with it she said that she won’t come to dinner before she got the sake). You won’t get this back in North America. Onward to Nara Park and a visit to the Todaiji Temple, noted for being the world’s largest wooden structure with its Great Buddha, Deer Park and Kasuga Shrine with its thousands of stone lanterns. At the Kasuga there were two small girls dressed in kimonos that had just completed a ceremony. Talk about cute!

In the evening we had a Shabu Shabu dinner, similar to a fondue. The principal difference was that we had a Geisha show and then they helped us with the cooking and poured some of our drinks. It takes 5 years of training to become a full Geisha. This was followed by Japanese Drum Show. Needless to say I turned my hearing aids off.

---

Photos

Deer Park
On the way to Nara. If we think we have busy interchanges look at this one.

Deer Park
The Todaiji Temple is the world's largest wooden structure.

Giant Buddha
This is the world's largest bronze statue of Buddha.

Giant Buddha
The Buddha is over 49 feet high.

Todaiji Temple
There were two stutues of Buddha like this on each side of the giant Buddha. Junior would have been in excess of 30 ft high.

Todaiji Temple
There were 2 guardian statues similar to this. Two when you pasted the gates towards the Temple and two within the Temple.

Todaiji Temple
This little girl had just completed a cermony at part of the Temple grounds that are crwoded with lanterns.

Todaiji Temple
Some idea of the number of lanterns.

Geshia Dinner
Absolutely no expression appeared on the geshia's face. She was 17.

Geshia Dinner
Mare as a Geshia and myself as a Samurai

Drummers
Even though the hearing aids were off I found them better than some of the drummers that I had heard at Board of Trade events in Toronto.

Drummers
I don't think I will ever make it as a drummer.

Comments

[Len]

Memories
Your comments on Kyoto bring back memories of my visit there in 1996. I was in Tokyo on business and was then entertained for a full week-end by some "generous" investment bankers in Kyoto. We stayed in a very high end ryokan where we had an 18 course meal sitting on the floor. I also remember walking up a street filled with shops and souvenir kiosks on the way to the biggest wooden temple in the world. Thanks for rekindling these memories and continue with the blog. Len

[Kelly]

OMG
Hey Mom and Dad! Wow! You guys look like you're having a blast. Amazing how different the world is huh? I never doubted you would be having a blast. I'm impressed with the Sake, it's strong stuff. Oh, my bars are getting fixed by the way by the same company who did it before. Thought that would make you feel better. Miss you tons and love your blog Dad! Kel