the first grumpy japanese person!!

Well, it has taken over a week for us to encounter the first grumpy and unhelpful japanese person!  We have all been met with such kindness and helpfulness so I guess it was time we experienced some good old-fashioned Western hostility as opposed to hospitality!  We were in Kamakoura trying to find the hiking trail to the Giant Buddha and our requests for help were not met well.  Anyway Big B was there waiting for us and very nice he was too.  Three of us intrepid gals walked over the hill through the mosquito infested woods with only four rice crackers as sustenance and only just made it to the Buddha.  It was absolutely boiling hot and sticky too.  The most enormous butterflies, black with feathery wings and also giant swallow-tails.  Lots of insect noises but everything very well-hidden so nothing to see or photograph.  We had to brave the giant spiders to find a loo "au naturel" only to find a beautiful, clean public loo literally round the corner.  Kept meeting ROH people in Kamakoura all day.  It is so weird to go on the public transport or out of town and keep bumping in to people you know.  How often does that happen in London?  Everyone seems to have had a fantastic day off and the trip to Fuji was a huge success with the old chap showing himself magnificently!  It was a long day out but everyone has been overwhelmed by the experience.  Lovely Gavin went bird-spotting (not of the extra-chorus type) but didn't see much so he is off with Simon Keenlyside soon to a bird sanctuary to find some proper birds!  Hope he gives us some photos.  A small party went to Nikko which sounded fab and the Famous Five went to Kyoto on the 6am train and had a wonderful day.  They were lucky enough to spot 3 Geishas out for a stroll and were able to take some really amazing photos.  Close-ups of the make-up from front and also back of neck were very interesting.  Hey it is only midnight and the spelling oll korrect tonite.  X