I am not a Buddhist. Actually, I am not really anything. Agnostic, I guess. But if someone stuck a gun to my head and said “Pick an organized religion, doubt-monkey!” (and it could happen) then Buddhism would be on the short list. On a recent trip to Japan, I was genuinely awed by the Great Buddha of Kamakura.

Though it took us so long to get there (by bus!) we couldn’t go inside the Buddha (apparently it is hollow and you can get all up in there, but only before sunset), it was still nice just to sit and contemplate it. According to our guidebook, it’s the second-largest bronze Buddha in Japan, but frankly it’s first in my heart.

Also, we bought some Buddha-branded butter cookies there that were a big hit back home. Most of the religious/tourist sites in Japan have gift shops. Is that normal? Man, I hope so. I’d buy Christ the Redeemer snickerdoodles in Rio, and am sure no visit to Mecca would be complete without baklava squares.