Day 1 - Warm Welcomes

It's about 34 degrees C in Nara today, which is certainly a bit of a change from Sunny Dunedin. Today was mostly spent inside though, with an opening ceremony for the course, including speeches from various important people associated with the centre, and a visit to the vice-governor at the Nara Prefectural Government Offices. They have incredible views of the World Heritage Sites based in Nara, and are kind enough to open their roof-top up to the public for taking snapshots of the Primeval Forest and the stunning Todaiji Temple (which I will write more about when I actually make a visit).


In the evening we had a opening reception dinner at the Royal Nara Hotel, the food was very good... ....mmmm very very good with lots of sashimi, sushi, karaage, katsu, and immaculate looking desserts. Oh, and I can't forget to mention my first Japanese beer in Japan itself! after all these years drinking Asahi in kiwiland it is no longer export-priced! in fact it is under $2 a bottle and available in vending machines. I learned how to toast in Japanese, and how to say when I have had my glass filled enough times (I also worked on 'thank you' and 'sorry/excuse me' earlier in the day).

All in all it was a very nice way to start this course.