single photos please tell me how i can get a better scan!!

i took this picture using fuji provia 100, and it looks okay under a

lightbox (though i'm pretty new to slide film), but the colors in

this scan look like something from a paint by number coloring book,

especially the wooden column and the trees. i'm wondering if i can

get a better scan, given the equipment i have.

i scanned this picture using my new minolta dimage scan dual ii, a

pentium3 laptop with a standard usb connection, and the software that

came with the scanner. i've tried the vuescan that everyone talks

about, but it doesn't seem to make that big of a difference. i've

also tried different file sizes as well. i'm not sure if the

settings that i'm using are the right ones. which should i be using?

btw, the picture was taken in nara, japan, home of the largest wooden

buddha in japan. deer roam freely in the national park where the

buddha is located, and a park tour guide was showing me how she can

make the deer bow, simply by raising her fist.

thanks for your help,

peter