and then 3 laps around and through the temple. this meant through thousands of spectators, a large pool of water on the temple grounds, past a shrine (for a brief prayer) and up onto the temple platform itself. i forgot my contacts, so i did this all blind, with these crazy gaijins at the reigns. i blame the length of my fundoshi on my lack of vision (and abundace of beer and sake)...what the hell?!