It's not quite Splash Mountain, but here is a popular ride inside the Daibutsudan building. It's a small square hole carved into a huge wooden tree trunk that kids can climb through. I saw one kid get stuck, and his parents had to pull him out crying and traumatized. Once freed, the kid quickly put his hands over his eyes and cried "hazukashii" or I'm so embarrassed.

Here is one of the four directional gods seen in the back of the building. His name is Tamonten and he is the guardian of the Northly direction (he is really the only directional guardian who matters). They didn't even bother to put up statues of the other three in Todaiji Temple.

By comparison to the Daibutsudan, here is a wooden Buddha figure from the Edo Period (it has no doubt been restored). He looks a bit like Skeletor don't you think? It is said that if you rub a part of Buddha's body, the corresponding part on your body will be healed. I wanted to rub his head and get all of Buddha's cosmic enlightenement, but I couldn't reach that high. I had to settle for his left knee.

Here are the nifty umbrella lockers found outside the Nara National Museum (you get a genuine locker key and everything...only in Japan). If you see an unidentified and potentially hazardous umbrella, you are advised to notify the nearest museum security official immediately.

Here is a giant ceremonial prayer bell used to call the kamisama to witness. I stood under it and screamed like a lunatic, but didn't really get a neat echo effect. Darn.

We climbed up a hill and went into one of the buildings in the Todaiji Temple complex where they usually do fire juggling demonstrations at night. This is the view of the entire Todaiji Temple complex (with all the different buildings) as seen from that height.

Here is a view of the "go-jyu no to" or five level pagoda in the compound of Todaiji Temple. There is one giant wooden tree column that runs through the entire pagoda and anchors deep into the ground for stability. They say that in the Edo period, these pagodas used to be as many as 30 stories high!

Here is what is called a round house on our gaijin maps; actually it is an octagonal building that used to store library materials.

Here is a fountain with a statue of Gyoki, a celebrated Buddhist monk, right outside of the Nara Train Station.

It was super hot today in the Kansai area, so this dude is taking a quick dip to cool off.

Bambi here thinks that my dangling Gizmo cell phone strap is a delicious 150 Yen special deer feeding cracker pack. He will soon try to eat it.

This guy isn't interested in posing for the picture because he knows that I ran out of the 150 Yen special deer feeding cracker packs.

Here are some deer relaxing in the sun in the Nara Deer Park.

Nara is famous for its deer park (Shika Coen), so here is a basket full of fuzzy antler headbands you can buy, just in case you wanted to look like a complete "hen na gaijin" (idiotic foreigner).

Here's a big bear outside of an apartment complex - I don't quite know why he's there. Boy, do the Japanese ever love their cute characters.

Look what I found in one of the buildings at Kyodai.

Here are some entirely random sinks devoid of any bathroom in the middle of a lecture hall at Kyoto University - just in case you wanted some spontaneous cleansing before class.

Here is another picture of the Kamo River taken en route to the nearby Aoi Matsuri. I really like the floating stones in the middle that people use as a bridge.

A small splash of color in an otherwise drab matsuri. Nothing says "I'm not dead yet" like a novelty-sized basket of fake flowers.

Here is the Hime (Princess) in her personal transport. My Japanese teacher later told me that the coveted role of Princess is played by the daughter of a rich and prominent family. My teacher was careful to point out that it would be, "difficult" for an ugly girl to be a convincing princess.