Kyoto

[Deutsch] There is something about Nara that creates something magical. There are many lanterns that are placed on it’s paths to the temple. Sometimes a hole was punched through the rice paper, sometimes they are untouched. Sometimes you see a bush with lots of papers that are folded and tied to it. Probably prayers or lucky charms. As we walk through this place we encounter wild deer that live here. You cannot spot a deer with

its horn as they were cut down. Who knows what kind of injury you’d bring home if it weren’t so. Outside there are visitors that are still feeding deers en masse. Some are afraid and run away because they can’t cope with the many deers that come running over when they see that cookie. I decide it’s a better idea to pet a deer without bribing him with a cookie. They are very calm and don’t seem to bother when you do so. If you’re spending enough time inside that deer forest you will spot deers that bow for you. “WOW, what was THAT??” I ask my friend in horror. “They are bowing because they want a cookie!” says my friend. I am struck by wonder and it seems that I can’t cope with bowing deers. I am pulled out of my tiny world filled with habits and daily routine and I can’t grab what I just saw. I am so fascinated by this country. 

Before entering the shrine, my friend tells me that we are going to wash our hands. So we walk over to this well and use some kind of bamboo scoop to wash the left hand first and switch to watch the right hand. After that you wash your mouth with that water. “What is this good for?” I ask. “You wash to be clean, before you pray. Then you enter the shrine.” she tells me.

The deerpark looks like any other zoo from outside. But if you go inside you quickly figure out that it is a place that it is a holy for people - if you remember Chihiro from the movie entering that weird place: yes, that’s how I felt too. It is so quiet here, so many wild animals are passing you everywhere you go and there are soo many shrines. This place has something, that I cannot describe. It’s different to see these people are actually at peace with these animals.

Nara deer park is a place where I understnad what it means to be isolated from "earthly things" to focus on yourself, focus on inner peace. 

If you like animals this is a place where you can have a chance to pet a deer or to give him a cookie. It is quite an exerience mixed with a touch of a religious experience (or not). You can take a stroll through the park and you'll probably spend a day inside. Every souvenir is covered in deer illustrations wherever you spot some: Keychains, Cookies, T-shirts. I thought it was quite an experience to have a deer bow in front of me. At the end of the tour I spotted a sign that said that the deers can knock you down sometimes or bite you (only if you threaten them). But by the time I spotted it, it was already too late. Oops..