buddha of health

Buddha outside the Diabutsu-den

After a few days in Kyoto, we headed to Nara. All the guide books deem Nara to be a haven of tranquilty, but that was not to be our expierence, as this apparently was the week ... the school kids go on field trip. All of them. It was madness they were everywhere, sweet in thier little uniform short pants and yellow caps, but chasing us down none the less with grubby pencils and cameras, on a quest to practice english, and document the act for thier teachers. After the first afternoon, we actually got up early, and were waiting at the entrance of the Diabutsu-den at 7:30 am, but they were there, massing under the instruction of their bull horn equipped guides. Despite the shrieking children and round the Buddha relay races it was impossible not to be impressed by the Diabutsu, apparently the largest bronze Buddha (cast in 749 !) inside the largest wooden structure in the world. Click here for a more insightful account on McSweeney's. Just out side the massive doors, there is a humble and well worn Buddha, thought to cure you if you rub him in the right place, which is to say, where it ails you.