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Tommy | Furui Peeji | Kaite Kudasai | Edie
Nara 06/03

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We had a wonderful time visiting Nara Kouen, a park covering several square miles in the heart of Nara, in which deer roam freely. The deer are quite tame, although they can become a bit agressive when offered food (something we know from personal experience).

Sarah feeds the deer senbei (rice crackers)
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Aren't they cute?

Tommy helps Sarah
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Isn't this fun?

The deer begin showing their not-so-cute side
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Help! We're under attack!

Tommy especially enjoyed watching and even petting the deer---and made quite a cute deer himself in some antlers we bought from a vendor. He was a hit with the Japanese schoolgirls. In fact, we weren't the only ones who took his picture that day! The only thing that seemed to concern Tommy, though, was the deer droppings. He asked us over and over why the deer poop on the ground instead of in the potty (perhaps he was jealous)!

Luke and Tommy pet the deer
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Not a great picture, but isn't Edie a sweet deer?
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Tommy and Sarah leave Todaiji, a Buddhist temple
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We ended the afternoon in Nara with a visit to Todaiji, a Buddhist temple complex. The building behind Sarah and Tommy is the largest wooden building in the world and houses an enormous statue of Buddha (49 ft tall). To learn more about Todaiji and see a picture of the statue, just click on the picture.