Nara

So, it's been a while since Japan and if you have facebook you've probably already seen all of these pictures, but I thought I would finish the post anyway.

These pictures are from a town called Nara that we went to on day two. People refer to it as a small town and it did kind of have that feeling, but wikipedia would indicate that it actually has a population of three hundred and some thousand. Wikipedia also indicates that it was formerly the capital of Japan and that is part of the reason there are so many beautiful temples and such there.

Nara is famous for its deer. They kind of just wander about pooping on temples from what I can tell. No fear. They will chase you down the block in a herd if they catch you holding a deer cookie. Many crying children running from hungry deer. Very entertaining.

Also: the parasol is totally back. I'm ready.

To escape the sun and the hungry deer we stopped and enjoyed some free iced green tea in the shade.

Pictures from all of the temples and shrines we visited.

Josh and I wandered around the old part town.

Then we stopped and ate ramen. Japanese ramen is a whole different beast from Maruchan.

Sated.

Our hostel was also a lovely old building surrounded by beautiful trees.

All and all a lovely little city.

Osaka

So, I went to Japan.

Here are pictures.

Day One: Osaka



I wish we had stayed at the neon-Christmas Love Motel.



Or in the rainbow awning Love Motel.



Or eaten ramen at the Dragon ramen store.



Or sampled the plastic crab.



But instead we walked. In the sun, which was a big improvement over perpetualraintownkorea. Things in Japan are brightly colored.



Vending Machine Town! What convenience.



I liked this giraffe.



After wandering around neontown for a while, we headed to Osaka Castle to experience the culture and such.

It had a moat!



Culture.



I really wanted to wear a real kimono, but tragically, this is the closest I got.



The water that makes you all zen healed. Or gives you parasites depending on your luck.



Shinto gates abounded!



Josh is only maybe as intimidating as this samurai.



I think these tablets and papers were for making wishes.



Some more culture.



Then it was back to neontown to try to find some dinner.



and admire the lights.



After like way too much deliberation we settled on okonomiyaki for dinz. It was a pancake with seafood and green onions covered in a barbequeish sauce and sprinkled with dried fish flakes. It wasn't nearly as bad as that description makes it sound.



Lanterns by the river!!!



And our very lovely, clean and not as expensive as everyone makes Japan sound hostel room.

Rainraingoaway.

The weather in Seoul has awful. Like horrible. Check the news.

I missed the really bad weather because I was in Japan, but here is a picture of the rain that I had to walk through while shopping by Ewha University.



And Jiyoung and I enjoying some goulash in the dark all wet and rainy.