Bowing deer

Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto is Japan’s ex-capital. Unlike Tokyo, the city isn’t a modern, technological extravaganza. It’s has more of a traditional feel and has retained or resorted many of its iconic temples and shrines. The most impressive of these was the Golden Pavilion temple, set among an immaculate garden and lake, the gleaming temple was one of – if not the most – impressive temple we’ve seen on our travels… and we’ve seen a lot of temples.

We also took a trip to the bamboo forest which looked like a scene from “crouching tiger, hidden dragon.”

One of our favourite days took place just outside Kyoto in a place called Nara – the ex-ex-capital of Japan. This place was amazing. Filled with incredible shrines and home to the worlds largest wooden structure – containing a 14 meter tall Bronze Buddha – we were immediately impressed. On top of this, the experience was made even better by the fact that 1500 deer live in this city. The deer – all wild – wonder freely around, sleeping by shrines, playing in parks and slumping on pavements like cute tramps. We – Kerry - was desperate to feed the deer and quickly purchased food for them. The deer here have been trained, or learned, to bow to tourists before receiving food. It’s an interesting experience to have a deer walk up to you, take a bow, and wait for its reward. Of course, if you don’t immediately comply then they resort to gently ramming you with their antlers, biting your clothes and searching your pockets – or, in Kerry’s case, up her skirt.