Kyoto, Nara, Osaka . . . oh my!

In two days, Reuben, Travy, and I have managed to hit three of the top tourist destinations in Japan. Reuben is visiting from Seattle and Travy had yet to see The Largest Bronze Buddha in the World, Housed in the Largest Wooden Building in the World, so we decided to make it a weekend of destinations. On Friday night, we took the train to Kyoto, where we drank sake with Taka and Hillary before bedding down on thick, comfortable futons. The following morning, we set out for Nara, which is about forty-five minutes from Kyoto. In Nara, we managed to see The Largest Bronze Buddha in the World, Housed in the Largest Wooden Building in the World, wander the scenic gardens, gape at the ancient pagodas, admire the view from a temple perched over the city, and feed the (not so) tame deer. We ate some meat-on-a-stick to tide us over, then hopped a train to Osaka. After spending an hour underground trying to navigate our way out of the death-cave that is Osaka Station, we finally managed to breath fresh air and check-in to our hotel. We gave ourselves an hour to rest, then headed out in search of Indian food, which we savored for as long as possible. Actual spices! In the food! It was unbelievable . . . The next day, we woke up early and took the train across the city to Osaka Castle (a 1931 re-build, complete with a glass elevator), then another train to the Osaka Aquarium to see the whale shark and watch the otters float around on their backs, then to the Suntory Museum, to cultivate ourselves by viewing the Dali exhibit there. We managed to make our way back to Osaka station, where Reuben and I enjoyed HUGE bowls of ramen, then spent another thirty minutes in search of the exit to the death-cave. Today, I am exhausted and sore, but I can die happy knowing that I've seen The Largest Bronze Buddha in the World, Housed in the Largest Wooden Building in the World (twice!).