next up, three enjoyable and eventful weeks in Japan based in the coastal city of Kobe, where we spent much of our time with brother Lincoln and sister Julia. We made several trips up to the tops of the picturesque, forested mountains which overshadow urban Kobe and Osaka, via two cable cars routes, both of which swing gently over the dramatic, unspoilt slopes.
Two trips up to the trails at the top of Mount Mia were both memorable, for various reasons; one saw us caught in a torrential downpour of a wall of rain which turned the only road into a fast-flowing river and the trails into gushing, brown waterfalls. While trying to shelter beneath the trees (with lightning very close...), we were visited out of nowhere by an elderly buddhist gentleman, who gave us local candy, was excited to talk with us in broken English (due to his self-confessed 'I love foreigner complex'), and showed us photos on his camera of 'japanese tomcats fighting' before bidding us farewell and disappearing into the trees.
Trying to hitch the short distance up to the cable car station proved to be a test of endurance in the relentless storm, but after countless cars ignored our sodden, mud-coated frames, a young couple of good samaritans finally pulled over and allowed us to make a serious mess of their back seats (those previously spotless Miffy cushions becoming a shadow of their former selves). Bless them both, wherever they may may be....
While waiting for the cable car to resume service (after a lengthy storm and lightning provoked delay) our buddhist friend briefly re-appeared, took our photo, talked some more and then wandered off along the path; one minute he was there, the next, only a black tomcat was present. As devotees of Miyazaki films, we'd like to think that perhaps our mysterious friend was in fact a feline spirit, and the photos he'd shown us previously were, in fact, self-portraits......
Another trip up to the peaks, this time further north and with L & J for company, was beautiful - not least for the meandering trail back down, which brought us to perhaps the most perfect tiny bar / cafe in the world, overlooking a double waterfall and hidden in the lush canopy.
More from Japan to follow)
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