Kamakura

Kamkura was the old capital of the Minamoto clan. They ruled from here for two centuries, away from the distracting and corrupt Kyoto.

These guys took shifts at drumming very loudly. Alice thought it was great. They were playing at the main Shinto shrine in Kamakura, the Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu. I had a brilliant idea to cycle around the small town, so we had hired a couple of bikes, one with a kiddy seat. However, Bek was less than Tour de France material and had worn a skirt to boot. So we only cycled to this one place and then cycled back to the shop.

I didn't want to tell the priests that someone had toilet papered their sacred tree. Japanese kids can be so cruel.

I also saw a chipmunk or squirrel or something. I mean it definitely wasn't a possum. I proceeded to take fifteen photos of it, all blurry except this one which makes it look like a plaster replica.

Next stop was KFC, er... a traditional Japanese sushi bar and then the Daibutsu, or Great Buddha. It's great because it's a huge bronze statue and it's buddha because everything is buddha. This buddha is an Amida buddha,the buddha of infinite light and life. Amida is mainly concerned with overseeing the buddhist afterlife, the "pure land" where the enlightened go to shoot hoops or something.

I liked this picture the best, showing off his ventilation hatches. It's hot work sitting in the sun all day saving everyone and being made of bronze. He used to be housed in a hall until a tsunami washed it away.

In case he needs to get up and go to the bathroom, his sandals are located nearby. Or if he need run from a bonfire thoughtlessly lit by a tourist unaware of the Japanese people's distinct aversion to spontaneous arson.

We also visited Hase-dera, a temple with a nine metre high wooden Kannon Buddha. Kannon sees all and hears all, so prayers are his main concern in the earthly realm. The Hase-dera Kannon has eleven faces, one regular face and ten others to signify the ten stages of enlightenment. If you want something, Kannon can make it happen.

Unfortunately you can't take a picture of Kannon, seeing all leaves you more susceptible to camera flashes or something. I suppose he doesn't want to miss anything. Anyway, here are some more Jizo.

We also visited a souvenir shop / weapons shop. They had postcards and nunchaku, statues and rifles, wooden carvings and crossbows. I suppose it makes sense to have an armoury next door to ten temples. They had shuriken, Freddy Krueger claw gloves, pikes, caltrops and smoke grenades. Just in case the monks get uppity.