毒ガス発生中

4月30日（水）快晴

果物の王様ドリアンはケアンズ周辺でも栽培されています。樹高20ｍにもなる常緑高木で、100－200個の棘のある巨大な実をつけます。内部は5室に分かれ、各室に2－3個の種子があり、種子周囲のクリーム状の部分が可食部。シンガポールのエスプラネードにあるオペラ・ハウスの愛称はドリアン。今話題の硫化水素などの臭いが強烈なため、公共建造物、ホテル、公共交通機関への持ち込みは禁止。日本では危険な洗剤、入浴剤、農薬が野放し状態。

シンガポールの地下鉄

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Poisonous gas is erupting
Wed. April 30 : fine


The king of fruits, the durian is also raised in the suburbs of Cairns. They are evergreen trees that grow 20m-high and each tree bears 100-200 big and spiny fruits. Inside of the fruit has 5 rooms and each room has 2-3 seeds. You can eat the creamy part around of the seed. The opera house on the esplanade in Singapore is called “Durian”. Durians are prohibited to bring into the public buildings, hotels, and public transportations as their smell including hydrosulfate is very strong. So many dangerous detergents, bath agents, and agrichemicals are being uncontrolled in Japan.

subway in Singapore

鴨居の端ののぞき窓

4月29日（火）快晴

温泉はユミを誘い出す口実で、本当はカモノハシ見物に出かけたのです。テーブル・ランドのユングブラという1890年にできた奥地の鉱山に向かう旅人のための宿場村。この村外れを流れる川にカモノハシが生息し、観光客はのぞき窓から観察できます。水の輪の中に僕たちが見たのは亀だけ。主役の賀茂野橋蔵は朝夕しか登場しないとのこと。この村は歴史的建造物も多く落ち着いた雰囲気のコテッジやレストランがあるので、次回は泊り込みでのぞきに来ます。

絶滅危惧種

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Peep window
Tue. April 29 : fine


Actually going to the hot spring was only an excuse to take Yumi out to watch platypuses. Yungburra in Table Land was the post station village built in 1890 for inland mines. Platypuses are living in the river that runs the end of the village and the sightseers can watch them through the peep windows on the wall. We saw only some tortoises on the water ring. We were told that the leading characters, platypuses make an appearance only in the morning and evening. There are a lot of historical buildings, chic cottages, and restaurants in this village. We will come again to peep on an overnight tour.

endangered species

ヒクイドリ

4月28日（月）快晴

温泉の帰りに近道を通ったら森の中でヒクイドリに遭遇。人を恐れずカメラを向けても逃げません。野生種は色が鮮やかです。去年に続いて2度目のご対面。野生のヒクイドリは世界に2000羽だけ。と言ってもケアンズ周辺にしかいないのですが。テーブルランドでは貴金属、宝石、水晶、化石を産出します。ヒクイドリも鳥というより恐竜に近い生きた化石。「平和の祭典」、「アマチュアリズム」は化石。ＩＯＣは汚輪ピックの政火を食い物にする利権集団です。

ヒクイドリ

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Cassowary
Mon. April 28 : fine

We bumped into a cassowary when we were taking a shortcut in the forest. It faced us fearlessly and didn’t run away even when I took out my camera. Wild cassowaries have fresh colors. That was the second time to see the species after we did last year. There are only 2,000 cassowaries in the world. They live only near Cairns, though. Table Land yields precious metals, jewels, crystals, and fossils. Cassowaries are rather living fossils than birds. “Peace festival” and “amateurism” are also fossils. IOC is the power-hungry group that rips off Olympic torch.

cassowary

インノット温泉の砂金風呂

4月27日（日）快晴

ピラミッド・パワーのたたりで僕もユミも膝に力が入らず、階段を降りることができません。不自由な脚でアクセルを踏んで200ｋｍ離れたテーブルランドのインノット温泉へ。この小川では昔砂金が取れたそうです。秋たけなわですが熱帯に紅葉はありません。十和田では障害馬のユーコンを時々湯治に連れて行きましたが、僕は温泉が苦手。川風呂や砂風呂は素朴で風流というよりも、清潔じゃないし落ち着かないし情けない。プールやジャグジーやシャワーのほうが僕には向いています。

入るな温泉

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Gold dust bath in Innot hot spring
Sun. April 27 : fine

Yumi and I have no more power on our knees and we cannot descend stairs. We might be cursed by Pyramid Power. Stamping the accelerator with lamed legs we headed for 200km-away Innot hot spring in Tableland. Long time ago people used to dig gold dusts in this brook. Although it’s the peak of fall we cannot see autumn leaves in the tropical mountain. When I was in Towada I used to take my obstacle horse, Yucon to hot spring sometimes but I don’t like hot springs. River side hot spring and sand hot spring are not rustic or artistic but they rather lack of hygiene, unsettled, and pitiable for me. I prefer swimming pool, Jacuzzi, or shower.

"don't bathe" hot spring

ピラミッド山

4月26日（土）快晴

豪州最高峰は2229ｍのコシオスコ山。ケアンズの50ｋｍ南にバートル・フレール山という豪州第2の標高1622ｍの山があります。昨日アンザック・クッキーを担いでその北にある922ｍのピラミッドの登山。アキレス腱断裂以後初めての登山です。登山口から山頂まで3ｋｍ。急峻で足場の悪い岩だらけの登山道。登りは快調に2時間半、しかし下りは3時間を要しました。膝の関節が壊れたようになって帰宅。

コシオスコ山

ピラミッド

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Pyramid Mountain
Sat. April 26 : fine

The highest mountain in Australia is 2,229-high Mt. Kosciuszko. The second one is 1,622m-high Mt. Bartle Frere that locates 50km far south of Cairns. We climbed Pyramid Mountain that locates its north bringing Anzac cookies with us. It was the first mountain climbing for me after my Achilles tendon fracture. The distance between* its bottom and the top is 3km. The path was steep and ragged. It took 2 and half hours to crime and 3 hours to descend. We returned home as if our knee joints were destroyed.

Mt. Kosciuszko

Pyramid

暁の暗い式典

4月25日（金）快晴

本日は国民の祝日。午前5時、豪州全ての街で戦死した兵士を弔うアンザック・デーの式典が行われます。僕が毎朝ジョッギングをしているエスプラネードにも勲章を下げた大勢の老軍人たちが結集。これは日本の靖国神社、忠魂碑、戦友会とまるで同じ。年寄りが大勢集まるとろくなことはありません。アンザック作戦は、アボリジニの隔離政策、サトウキビ・ガマガエルの導入と並ぶ豪州の3大政策ミス。進軍ラッパも聞こえます。2つの大戦で素朴な豪州の若者が大勢死にました。

アンザック記念碑

アンザック同盟

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Dawn Service
Fri. April 25 : fine

Today is an Australian national holiday. Anzac Day ceremony that is to mourn the soldiers who died in the war is held at 5:00am in all the communities in Australia. A lot of old soldiers who wore medals gathered at Esplanade where I jog every morning. It’s just the same as Japanese Cheep Country Shrine, Rats and Foxes Monuments, or Retired Soldier League. It is not a good idea that lots of old people gather. Anzac operation is one of the biggest political mistakes in Australia, lined up with isolation of Aboriginal people and introduction of sugar cane toads. They are sounding the march. Countless naive young Australians were killed in the 2 World Wars.

Anzac Memorial

Anzac Treaty

豪州の政火リレー

4月24日（木）快晴

日本経済が坂道を転落中の22日、超党派の役立たず国会議員62人が靖国神社に参拝。馬鹿の1つ覚え「何は無くとも愛国心」。そして本日、豪州首都キャンベラの汚輪ピック政火リレーでもチベット独立派の妨害デモと愛国的中国青年たちが衝突。ヤクザな興行師・ＩＯＣの心配をよそに明日のアンザック・デーのために大きなニュースにはなりません。明日は豪州の愛国心を高揚させる年間最大のイベント。愛国心は他国民への殺意の美化。（photo by SMH)

三島由紀夫は男でござる

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Olympic torch riley in Australia
Thu. April 24 : fine

On April 22 when Japanese economy was rolling down, 62 all-party useless MPs visited and worshiped Cheap County Shrine. They have the fool’s single idea, “nothing but patriotism”. Today Politic torch riley was held in Canberra, Australian capital city. Tibet independence group and Chinese patriot group crushed there. Although punky show manager, IOC worries about its bad influence, OZs were indifferent. It is because tomorrow is Anzac Day, the biggest event which enhances Australian patriotism. Anyway, patriotism is the beatification of the intention to kill foreign people.（photo by SMH)

tough gay, Yukio Mishima

ラッキー・カントリー

4月23日（水）快晴

原油価格が上昇して欧米に暗い影。一方で産油国は莫大な外貨を溜め込んでいます。折からブラジルで世界最大規模の海底油田を発見。そして21日、世界最大の島国、資源大国の豪州は国連と協議のもと大陸棚など国土を250万平方キロ拡大。これは日本の国土の6.5倍。そのエリアの石油や天然ガスの埋蔵量は数値で表示不能なほど膨大とのこと。豪州は運が良過ぎて気味が悪い。決して歪んだ大国にはなって欲しくないけど。

ハッピー・カントリー

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Lucky country
Wed. April 23 : fine

As oil price has increased EU and the US has been becoming gloomy. On the other hand oil-producing counties have been holding massive foreign currency. Brazil has found the undersea oil field of the world biggest scale by chance. Also on April 21st after the discussion with the UN the biggest island country in the world, Australia, the raw material kingdom extended 2,500,000 km square of the continental shelf. Its dimension is 6.5 times larger as that of Japanese. The estimated amount of oil and natural gas is too immense to be shown in numbers. The rich becomes richer, the poor becomes poorer. Australia is rather being weird than being lucky. I hope it never becomes a deformed power.

happy country

ワニ牧場

4月22日（火）快晴

三位一体入江のマングローブ林に豪州最大のワニ牧場があります。ワニ革は腹部の1ｃｍ四方が5,000円ととても高価ですが、天然のワニは捕獲禁止。ここでは数万頭のワニが飼育されています。皮は装飾品に、肉は食用に、血は薬品用に売られます。ワニの寿命は50年。一度に50個前後の卵を産みます。青森のミンク牧場ではイワシを餌にしていましたが、ここのワニは鶏が餌です。

とんでもないワニ

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Crocodile farm
Tue. April 22 : fine

There’s the biggest crocodile farm in Australia in the mangrove forest of Trinity Inlet. Crocodile belly skin is very expensive. A 1 cm square is $50. Catching natural crocodile is prohibited. In this farm a few 10,000 crocodiles are raised here. The skin is sold for bags, the meat for food, and the blood for medicine use. The life expectancy of a crocodile is 50 years. A crocodile lays 50 eggs at one time. The feed of minks in Aomori was sardine and it is chicken for crocodiles here.

jumping crocodile

入江クルーズ

4月21日（月）快晴

ケアンズは150年前に湿地を埋め立ててできた街です。シティーの西には奥行きが10ｋｍもあるトリニティー（三位一体）入江があり、中央には東京都中央区と同じくらいの無人のアドミラルティー（海軍）島があります。この島も入江の周囲もマングローブ林で、その先はアボリジニ居住区。マングローブ林にはワニや色々の鳥や蝶が住んでいます。魚影も濃いので市民の手軽な釣り場。入江巡りの観光船は軽食つき2時間で6,000円。

ケアンズ・マリーナ

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Inlet cruise
Mon. April 21 : fine

The city of Cairns was developed as the landfill from the swamp 150 years ago. There is a 10km-deep Trinity Inlet in the western area of City which has a desert island, Admiral Island that is as large as Chuo-ku in Tokyo. Both the island and the inlet are surrounded by the mangrove forest and the farther area is aboriginal district. It is the habitat of crocodiles, a lot of different birds, and butterflies. Citizens enjoy quick fishing there as there are plenty of fish. 2-hour inlet cruise including a light meal is $60.

Cairns Marina

ブラック・アンド・ホワイト

4月20日（日）快晴

日本語の「白黒」は英語では逆に「黒白」。「紅白」は日英共通だから日本語の言い回しのほうが少し変かな？ケアンズにタクシー会社はブラック・アンド・ホワイト1社しかありません。セダン、マイクロバス、身障者用ワンボックス・カーなど99台を保有。1号車から100号車まであり、13号車は欠番。豪州はＰＣ利用が発達しているので1度自宅にタクシーを呼ぶと、2度目からは名前を告げるだけで迎えに来ます。初乗り250円、電話呼び出し100円追加。豪州は時間外や休日の最低賃金が高いので、タクシー運転手の月収は軽く50万円を越えるそうです。

シドニーのタクシー

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Black and white
Sun. April 20 : fine

Japanese say “white and black” but it is “black and white” in English. Japanese way must be a little odd because “red and white” has the same order in both languages. There is only one taxi company in Cairns, Black and White. They possess 99 cars in total, sedans, microbuses, one-box car for disabilities, and others. The car numbers are from 1 to 100, and number 13 is missing. As usage of computer is highly developed in Australia, if you once order a taxi to your house it they come by just telling your name from next time. The starting fare is $2.50 and calling taxi to home by phone is charged additional $1. The monthly income of a taxi driver is over $5,000 as the minimum wage for working overtime and on holidays is quite high in Australia.

taxi in Sydney

ブラック・バード

4月19日（土）快晴

日本で定番のスズメもカラスも豪州では外来種であまり見かけません。ゴミが無いせいか街にカラスはいません。豪州にはオウム、マグパイ、ワライカワセミなど気性の激しい鳥が多いので、郊外のハイウエーでひっそりと動物の轢死体を食べて生き長らえています。シティーにはオナガテリカラスモドキという美しく輝く黒い鳥が朝夕100羽前後の集団で, 黒い稲妻のように地面すれすれを猛スピードで飛び回ります。時には車に衝突して即死。あまり速く飛ぶのでデジカメでの撮影は困難。黒鳥はブラック・スワンと呼ばれ、郊外の湖沼に住んでいます。

オナガテリカラスモドキ

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Black bird
Sat. April 19 : fine

Sparrows and crows that are common in Japan are quite rare alien species in Australia. The reason why there are no crows in the cities is probably because there is no rubbish. As so many aggressive birds such as parrots, magpies, and kookaburras are in Australia crows live secretly in the suburbs eating carcasses on the highways. Hundreds of beautifully shinning black birds, metallic starlings fly skimming the ground of the City road in the morning and evening. Sometimes they crush to death into cars. They are too quick to shoot by the digital camera. Another black birds that are called Black Swans live on the lake in the suburb.

metalic starling

座礁イルカ

4月18日（金）快晴

いつものようにプロムネードを走っていると夜明けの波打ち際から5ｍの地点に座礁イルカを発見。イルカは集団行動を好みますが沖に仲間は見かけません。どうやら1人で夜遊びをしていて遊泳禁止の看板が見えなかったようです。遠浅海岸に迷い込んで進退窮まっています。エクササイズ中の市民が大勢見守る中、エンデバー君はどうにか沖に戻っていきました。

浅瀬も割りと平気なはずだけど

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Wrecked dolphin
Fri. April 18 : fine

When I was running on Promnade as usual in dawn I found a dolphin that was wrecked 5ms away from the surfside. Dolphins usually stay in groups but I didn’t see any company at the offing. It might had enjoyed night life and overlooked the notice board, saying “don’t swim here”. He lost his way and got stuck on the shallow beach. Being cheered up by lots of exercisers Mr. Endeavor finally went back to the offing.

I heard they are OK on the shallow beach

ブラック・マウンテン（黒岳）

4月17日（木）快晴

クックタウンの街外れにある黒い岩山。遠目には炭鉱のボタ山のように見えますが、近付くと1つ1つの岩が大きいので驚きます。昨日の座礁鯨岩サイズが無数に積み上げられているのです。25,000万年前に硬いマグマが地表に突出し、大気で冷却された表面が亀裂・崩壊してできた山です。現在でも高温の日ににわか雨が降ると爆音を上げて岩が割れるそうです。国立公園に指定されていますが、観光客で黒山の賑わいとはいかないようです。

クックタウン・ツアー

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Black Mountain
Thu. April 17 : fine

It’s the black rocky mountain that locates on the outskirts of Cook Town. It looks like the coal waste hill from long distance but if you once approach the mountain you will be surprised by the size of each rock. Countless number of wrecked whale rocks you saw yesterday is being piled. 250,000,000 years ago solid magma erupted to the earth’s surface and it was cooled down by the air. And then, its surface was cracked and broke down to make the mountain. Even today when there is a shower on the day with high temperature the rocks explode making a loud noise. It’s not crowded even though it’s designated as a national park.

Cook Town tour

座礁鯨岩

4月16日（水）快晴

エンデバー（努力）号はクックタウン沖の珊瑚礁で座礁し、手漕ぎの救命艇に曳航されて岸にたどり着きました。食料や木材を得るためにアボリジニに衣服やガラス玉や鉄鍋などを与えても全て捨てて帰っていくのでクックは「物欲に溺れない気高い民族」と航海日誌に記し、本国で嘲笑されました。6週間の滞在中、同行していた科学者たちは動植物や鉱物を収集しました。豪州には砂岩や礫岩のような柔らかい堆積岩が多いのですが、写真のような立派な火山岩もあります。

本気なの？座礁鯨対策

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Wrecked whale rock
Wed. April 16 : fine

Being wrecked on the reef of the Cook Town offing, Endeavor was towed by the paddling lifeboat to the shore. The crew gave aboriginal people clothes, glass balls, and iron pans so they could keep enough food and wood but they never took them home. Cook wrote in his logbook “they are noble-minded people who aren’t acquisitive” and he was laughed at. During those 6-week stay the scientists accompanied collected a lot of kinds of animals, plants, and minerals. Although most Australian rocks such as sandstones or conglomerates are soft, you can see the magnificent volcanic rocks like the ones in the photo.

Are you serious? How to manage wrecked whales.