He's carved into the mountainside, as you can see. He has a very pleasant ocean view too.
There is a trail leading up the side of the mountain (it's really just a very very big hill) in a zig zag path past many Arhat (person who has obtained enlightenment) statues.
This fellow was over looking a walking path about 30 feet below.
This one looks inspired by China-inspired by Indian Buddha things.
At the top there was a great view of the surrounding area, the ocean is to the left of this picture, you can see it in the top left corner a bit.
And here's a photo of the place where Ryan and were just standing in the photo above.
We then went to the ropeway station and bought tickets to ride the cable car down. Right in the station a man was selling the most wonderful dango (basically rice that's really smushed together and made into little balls on a stick). It was flavored sakura (cherry), potato and plain (just rice). Yum!
Then we rode a cable car that was about the length and width of a VW Beetle down the mountain.
I bet you thought our date was over? NO! After our pleasantly exhausting climb up the mountain we stopped on the way home to eat at an (Japanese) Italian buffet. Nice atmosphere!
Instead of drinks after dinner, we went to an Oxygen bar to get rejuvinated. Yes, we're wearing nose plugs. I'm hooked into lime, mint and watermelon flavored/scented oxygen; Ryan's were mountain berry, pina colada (how do I write a tilde?), strawberry, and...something else. We could turn each scent on and off as we liked. Pretty fun!
the end.
10 comments:
holy cow your hair is getting long. loves it!
that is one skinny buddha!! speaking of GIANT buddhas, did you hear about the one in afghanistan? it was really interesting 'cause you could see the history of the country in the statue - everyone who conquered it and controlled the land changed it a little. kinda like that chinese/ indian buddha. anyway, then the taliban blew it up. my history professor actually got choked up when he told us that. lazda. what a cool guy.
ps. did you have mint and lime at the same time? wouldnt that be like drinking orange juice and then brushing your teeth???? eee!
mint and lime was actually really good! I had them all going for quite a while.
I was surprised.
Yeah, the buddhas in Japan are generally skinnier I think. Darumas are always Chubby though ^_^ he he. I think Japanese culture is more prone to adapting foreign things to their own style so it's usually interesting to see how their culture affects incoming things. Full plumbing squat toilets are another interesting thing of how they took something from the West (our plumbing style and ceramic toilets) and adapted them to their standard (hole in the ground toilets) and made porcelain (spelling?) holes in the ground, ie. squat toilets.
No, I haven't heard of the one in Afghanistan~I should read up on it. That would be super interesting to see.
Oh yeah--hair stuff--Yeah--I'm just about ready to cut it to chin length--to get off all the died stuff my natural color is long enough and it's so shiny and healthy...
Rice on a stick must be their form of marshmallows! I really enjoy your blog, laurie, I can tell your a teacher (^:^)
they DO look like marshmallows! i didnt notice the fire before either! :-D
I guess that's true--the marshmallows thing--that was the first time I've seen 'em roasted like that. OOHhh yum.
Normally they sell them in stores in boxes, coated with red bean paste (tis sweet) or sweetened soy sauce. Their soy sauce is not salty at all by the way!
I have never been to an Oxygen bar, I wonder why we don't have them in the US?
Hey, I love the pictures! I was just going through my old messages and descoverd your BLOG. Now I see that I have some catching up to do. I am glad to see that you two are doing well over there though. Tell Ryan I say "Hail!"
-Your one and only Viking friend.
LARS! Yay and happiness! Are we right are we right?
Oh we miss you how are you?!!? How is Erica?
Yes, it is I!
I just sent you an e-mail, let me know if it does not get through.
Lars
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