JAPAN, Nara - Todai-ji Temple

As we exited the Nara Train Station

we noticed a group of people,

dressed in various traditional Japanese

outfits, were gathering in front of the 

building pictured below.

When we asked what 'event' was going on

no one, including the natives, knew.

When we finally found someone with an answer

we were told it was a parade of descendants

honoring their ancestors buried in 

the shrine up the hill.

We jumped in a taxi and rode to Todai-ji temple.

A Buddhist temple.  It is the largest 

wooden building in the world and houses the

world's largest bronze Buddha.  It is also headquarters

to the Kegon school of Buddhism.

Deer - messengers from heaven -

roam freely here.  We had several follow us.

The temple is HUGE.  When you compare the 

building to the people below it, you can

see how extreme the size difference is.
It's difficult to believe this temple
dates back to 728.

A TRULY INCREDIBLE place!!