Nara

Well the typhoon passed by uneventfully (which was a bit disappointing) and we've had mostly sunshine since. Spent two days exploring more of Kyoto, which is a very chilled city. Went to the mountains outside Kyoto yesterday to visit a monkey sanctuary where the monkeys roam free around you. If you want to feed them you have to go inside a hut, where the monkeys are free and you're the ones behind bars.
Today we were in Nara, at the world's largest wooden building which housed one of the world's largest bronze statues (Buddha). The surrounding park had deer (considered messengers of the Gods) roaming free, and more feeding opportunities.
We're still waiting for the 'surreal' Japan experience we were warned about. So far everything's been fairly easy and relatively familiar. Train and road signs are subtitled in English, and we've not eaten anything too odd yet (Kim and I braved the raw octopus in a food hall and I've discovered a liking for eel). They even drive on the left.
Ee tiki mas!