There are deer (sika deer) roaming free all over Nara Park, this entry is dedicated to the deer of Nara. They are friendly and you can feed them with special deer crackers you can purchase at the park. Also the deer are considered to be messengers of the gods and used to be deemed sacred but are now national treasures.
Since I love animals I very much enjoyed being surrounded by cute deers.
Of course they need love and kisses too, not only deer crackers. Thank You cute deer of Nara! Arigatou! ❤️
The other day we took a roadtrip to Nara Park which is in Nara City. It took about seven hours to get there by car.
Good Morning beautiful Japan!
It is Golden Week in Japan and many people are off because it is a national holiday. The weather is fully cooperating and it is gorgeous outside. And another thing I have to say is that there is lots of green here as in trees, plants, flowers. Even in Tokyo amongst the buildings. I will say it again.....Japan is beautiful.
The steering wheel is located on the right side in cars and you drive on the left-hand side of the road.
Welcome to Nara Park.
We started at Tōdai-ji Temple (Great Eastern Temple) a World Heritage Site and VERY impressive.
Inside the Big Buddha Hall you find Buddha seated (15 meters tall) with a Bodhisattava on each side.
Many more shrines and so much to see at this place. Nara Park is easily a full day adventure from the time the park opens until it closes. LOTS to see.
Hand rinsing areas for upon entering the shrines.
The Kasuga-taisha shrine.
I feel extremely grateful that I got to see this AMAZING place. Seriously....amazing! Again, so grateful. Domo arigato gozaimasu!
And since it is Golden Week here in Japan the Japanese too are enjoying time off. Nara Park had lots of school children visiting and I got approached by this group of cute and giggling students from Kyoto conducting an English practice assignment. I got asked where I am from (another galaxy of course), how I like Japan (I ❤️Japan), my favorite Japanese food (dessert) and my favorite anime (I said Hello Kitty, although she is a character and not an anime).
I enjoyed a true connoiseur style coffee tasting experience at Koffee Mameya Kakeru. I picked the Signature Koffee Mameya Course which involves three steps.
The baristas here wear white lab coats and are true professionals at their craft. First a cold brew and a cold brew mocktail. Some chocolate from Peru.
I commented on the beautiful glass ware and was told that it was especially designed for the place.
Then a milk brew (they had a delicious oat milk) and a milk brew mocktail with a slice of amazing bread from a special bakery.
The grind used for the third step - the pour over. I had the candy raspberry coffee.
This experience is a rare one of a kind treat for coffee lovers!
I have done some sightseeing since I have been in Tokyo. Went to a couple of Shinto shrines located in the city. The Meiji Jingu shrine surrounded by a forested area. There are many trees and plants here in the middle of the city. I love it.....so beautiful.
Yearly sake barrel offerings.
A haiku (so I was told).
Lanterns.
You rinse off your hands before entering the main area. I think you should rinse/wash the left hand before the right and then rinse your mouth as well as in symbolizing the purification of body and mind upon entering but I did not do all of that. I did rinse my hands though.
A place where you can write down prayers and wishes for the Gods on little wooden plaques (ema in Japanese) and hang them up. Reminded me of the Temple at Burning Man, same concept.
A Shinto-style traditional wedding was happening.
I also visited the Tomioka Hachiman shrine. A gorgeous red gate (torii) seperates the holy ground and the secular world.
The handwashing area adorned with a couple of phoenix birds.
Guarding the entrance to he shrine, a couple of lion-dogs (komainu). Here is one of them.
I was up all night between Wednesday and Thursday because I had a flight to catch at 7 40 am.
Never had a sorghum cinnamnon latte before. Bye Portland.....!
And HELLO to the Land of The Rising Sun - Japan! After so many years of wanting to visit I finally made it here.
I am staying with my brother in Tokyo in Sasazuka. I managed to exchange dollars to yen, get a bus ticket and hop on a bus from Narita airport to Shinjuku where my brother met me. Not at all difficult.
After dropping of the suitcases at his place, I changed clothes and freshened up a bit then we headed out and did some sightseeing, yes I had to see Shibuya with that famous crosswalk (Shibuya Crossing). Everybody is very orderly here, that was one of my first impressions. I got a latte (see below) and we walked around.....It is late here in Tokyo (I can't belive I am here!!!) when I am writing this and I am in bed, it's been a long day. About to sleep. More on Japan later.
Talking about strip clubs is kind of fun and interesting, at least I suspect that people find it kind of interesting so let's check out some more strip club stuff......
Like little notes in the dressing room like this one. NO lotion ok! Basically do not apply lotion before going on stage. Like do not apply lotion during your shift at the club. Some clubs do not want you to put on lotion before your shift (at home getting ready for work) but I doubt most dancers pay much attention to that. The pole gets slithery from the lotion and if the lotion gets on the stage too then the stage gets slippery and that can mean a broken ankle.
The average height of a stripper heel is like seven inches. So you do not want a slippery stage.
Sometimes I get messages on bills. Perhaps others do as well where they work, do you get them too? Like this one, never met the guy before but he wanted me to text him. He was nice and polite but no I did not text him. Honestly.....I am too tired to engage with guys OTC (outside of the club), I really enjoy quiet alone time and time with friends I already know. If the strip club was like a dating app I would have more dates lined up than I would know what to do with. I would have to schedule the dates for months. It is nothing personal but I am simply not interested unless you are Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch (I have nicer hair than Jerry Hall after all) or Damiano David. Why Bill and Rupert? Well......I could help them distribute their wealth.
There are many animals in need and other areas in the world that need improvement. Plus I need some pampering as well, like a full day at a really good spa.
Ever wondered what a vending machine at the strip club might have to offer?
All kinds of fun stuff! Check it out.....from top to bottom. Dove deodorant, something called "lashblast" which is a kit containing mascara, eyeliner and a powder, then some CUTE outfits (one size fits most I assume), tampons, another mascara this one by Rimmel, then some stuff I am not sure what it might be.
Fake lashes and eyelash glue, more mascara, panties, pole grip (a great invention especially for the pole dancers) lighters, gum, babywipes and lastly snacks.
If you one day wake up and decide you want to try dancing but don't know where to start.....go in to the strip club and head to the vending machine. Pick an outfit, get some mascara, fake lashes and eyelash glue, a bottle of pole grip and some baby wipes and you are on your way to to earning hat first million. Something like that. Or if you are a guy and you suddenly remember that it is your significant other's birthday in the midst of having a lap dance with some hottie......fret not!
Calmly walk over to the vending machine.....get the lashblast, two outfits and bag of cheetos then go home and make your lady love happy.
