Sam and Mike at Osaka Castle |
At Todaiji-temple (Nara Buddha) |
By Jake, Sam, Chris, Mike and Allison
Last night everyone spent time with Kyoto Host Family.
Tuura- Well I went with my family to the hot springs, it was amazing. I went and had two different kinds of saunas. For the actual hot spring it was fake but it was outside all the same. There were separate pools that were as follows: A super cold pool, a whirlpool minus the 360 degree sitting design, an awesome shallow pool that my host father called the sakura pool the water was red/pink color, I do not know how it was colored that way. There were long rows to sit and wash yourself, a couple showers and this interesting cubicle that shot one intense jet of warm water I used it like a massager. Oh, and in the sweat sauna room there was a large tv that many men were watching soccer on.
Next someone will talk about Oosaka Castle.
Sam-Mike-Chris: Osaka has many colorful and enormous trees. There was one castle. It looked elaborate and grandiose. Once I walked into a door. Behind Mike laid three wise tigers. "Hath" it breatherened? Forlo! "Never" everworld. Sometimes things don't groove, so let's put all our biscuits in one jar. Okay?
Now back to Osaka Castle. The great green roof and golden fish can be seen from quite some distance away. The most impressive sight, however, was as you ascended the hill, came around a corner and BAM huge all-consuming castle in your face. After reaching the base we coughed up 600 Yen and went to the top of the castle via elevator. The view was pristine. The nice sunny weather allowed for good visibility. As you descend the stairs, returning to the base, each floor exhibits lots of info about samurai, secret exits, castle history, etc.
Allison says that downtown Oosaka is very busy with lots of shop of food. They like their food. There were CD shop and two huge shoe shop with three floor each. Wow!! Ali got four CD for the price of 2 new releases. Good deal!! more walking then bus to the Daibutsu. Big Nara Buddha. Wow!! There were lots of deer. Legend says that deer are connected to the gods so only deer can hear what they say. Had to watch step. Inside there was big big Buddha. His eyes seemed to follow you. Lots of history explanation. The Buddha nostril is a square hole (the size of statue's nostril) cut out of a wooden pole, if one can go through hole to other side you have good luck. Ali, Chris, Katie, Nagai-Sensei and Jake (?) went through Buddha nostril. Good luck for them! Yay! Two people buy unsharpened sword. Ali and James. very exciting. Matt bought practice wooden sword. Yay!! Everbody samurai.
James: The Nara Buddha is bigger than the Kamakura Buddha, but not by much. I got to go inside the Kamakura Buddha.