Tourist's 24hr bender on board wrong bus
A JAPANESE businessman danced all night and missed his flight after he boarded a party bus instead of the airport shuttle.
Zenko Kajiyama, 32, of Tokyo, was hoping to catch an evening flight from Edinburgh to London Heathrow for a meeting the next day.
The bus he wanted would have dropped him at Edinburgh Airport.
But instead, he found himself touring the city's pubs and clubs on a luxury double- decker party bus.
Mr Kajiyama was at Waverley station trying to find the airport bus stop when he saw people boarding a silver coach marked Club Class.
The 45-seater bus was actually booked for a mobile birthday party.
But Mr Kajiyama misunderstood the revellers when he asked them if they were going to the airport.
He said: "It was called Club Class and I thought that meant it was the bus that went to the airport.
"It was very smart inside."
The party bus was staffed by red-uniformed "cabin crew".
Mr Kajiyama said: "I have very much difficulty understanding how people speak in Edinburgh.
"I like the Scottish people very much, but their voices - it is difficult and strange to my ears.
"I did not understand the people on the bus. They were celebrating and having a good time, and they just nodded their heads when I asked if they were going to the airport.
"A funny man smiled and said, `Yes, yes'. He was very friendly but - how do you say - cheeky.
"They lifted my bags onto the bus, sat me down and I was very pleased with myself. But then the bus stopped and everyone went into a bar.
"I thought that was strange, but I was enjoying myself too much. They all asked me to join in their party.
"I got confused - maybe a little drunk. I do not drink alcohol often.
"Then I looked at my clock on my hand, too late. I missed my aeroplane.
"At first I was very angry. I felt stupid. But I was enjoying the bus - I have never been on such a thing before.
"So I stayed for the whole night because it was funny. And the girls were very pretty too.
"I was not lucky with them, I am sad to say. But I did do lots of dancing to the music - great.
"They should have karaoke too on the bus, then it would be perfect.
"One person even let me stay on his couch for the night."
Mr Kajiyama took a taxi to the airport early next morning.
He missed his meeting, but he said: "I will be telling my friends that the one thing they must do if they come to Scotland is go on that bus. It's great."
Bank clerk John Douglass, who was celebrating his 25th birthday on the bus, said: "No one can really remember who said `Yes' to poor Zenko.
"We were glad to have him. We'd had a few drinks and so no one questioned why he was on the bus."
Alex van Klaveren of On A Roll Entertainment, who run the Club Class bus, said: "Some of the passengers might have been having a bit of a joke at Mr Kajiyama's expense, but they all ended up best friends.
"Any time Mr Kajiyama wants to come onto the party bus again, he can come for free."
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