同床異夢？

5月31日（土）晴

中国第3の都市・北京はいたる所で工事中。市の中心部は高層ビルの建築ラッシュ。観光地でも駐車場、トイレ、レストラン、花壇などの整備中。八達嶺の万里の長城の正面に「1つの世界、1つの夢」と五輪ピック向けのスローガン。夜間はライトアップされますが、時々停電もあるそうです。近い将来発電用の風車が林立する日が来るかも。

カンボジアの停電

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Same bed, different dream
Sat. May 31 : fine

There are lots of places under construction in Beijing, the third biggest city in China. The center of the city building of skyscrapers is booming. The car parks, the public toilets, the restaurants, and the flower gardens in sightseeing areas are under construction, too. We saw the sign about the Olympics, “One world, one dream” in front of the Great Wall at Hattatsurei. The place is lighted up in the night but there’s sometimes blackout. You might see a lot of wind mills there some day.

blackout in Cambpdia

地震と五輪

５月３０日（金）曇

朝の運動のために浜離宮、そして築地の魚河岸へ。今日も寿司を食べました。隅田川を隔てた対岸に地震で崩壊したような不気味な塗装のツイン・ビル。その前を「五輪ピックを東京に！2016年」と横断幕を掲げたフェリーボートが横切ります。今夜は成田に泊まり、明日は北京へ移動です。

成田ヒルトン

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Earthquake and Olympic
Fri. May 30 : cloudy

As my regular morning exercise I walked to Hama-Rikyu and Tukiji Fish Market today. I had sushi today, too. I saw scary twin buildings that were painted as if they had been destroyed by some earthquake opposite the River Sumida. A ferry boat that had the banner saying, “We welcome the Olympics in Tokyo 2016” passed away. I’m staying in Narita tonight and flying to Beijing tomorrow.

Hilton Hotel Narita

築地の場内市場

５月２９日（木）雨

築地の魚河岸で食事をしようと思ったら場内市場か場外市場へ。どちらにも狭くて、暗くて、薄汚れた、雰囲気がいいとは言えない食堂がたくさん並んでいます。ゴミ運搬車がほこりを上げ、作業車が走り回り不潔で危険。市場に直結しているのだから新鮮で美味いのでしょうか？昔は値段も安かったけど今は市場より遠い食堂より高い。場内には吉野家1号店もあります。

シドニーの魚市場

台湾の魚市場

吉野家豪州1号店

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The inside market of Tsukiji
Thu. May 29 : rainy

If you want to have lunch in Tsukiji Fish Market, go to the inner market or the outer one. There are a lot of narrow and dirty not nice restaurants in both markets. The garbage trucks run kicking up the cloud of dust and the service vehicles run near around, so it’s filthy and dangerous. Do those restaurants serve fresh and tasty food as they are directly connected to the Market? It used to be reasonable but it’s now even more expensive than the restaurants located in farther areas. There is the first shop of Yoshino-ya in the inner market.

Sydney Fish Market

fish market in Taiwan

the first Yoshino-ya in Australia

勝鬨（かちどき）のピンはね橋

５月２８日（水）快晴

竹芝桟橋に建つインター・コンチネンタル・ホテル20階の僕の部屋から隅田川と勝鬨橋が見えます。日露戦争の勝利に沸く1905年に築地と月島を結ぶ勝鬨の渡し舟が開通。勝鬨橋は1933年着工、1941年完成。跳ね上げ橋ですが橋の交通量増大のため1970年以降は開かずの橋に。しかし1973年には電機制御機器の全面交換を実施し、役人と産業界でしっかり税金をピンはね。橋の左側は築地の魚河岸、そして浜離宮です。

タワー・ブリッジ

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Rip-offing Katidoki Bridge
Wed. May 28 : fine

I can see Sumida River and Katidoki Bridge from my room at Intercontinental Hotel that locates on Takeshiba Pier. The Katidoki Ferry Boat connects Tsukiji and Tukishima started in 1905 when Japanese were excited about the victory in Japanese-Russo War. The bridge was started building in 1933 and completed in 1941. It was a flip-upping bridge but it became a none-opening bridge in 1970 due to the increase of the traffic volume on the bridge. Nevertheless, all the electrical control system was renewed in 1973 and the government officers and the industrial merchants ripped off a lot of tax. There is Tsukiji Fish Marcket on the left side of the bridge.

Tower Bridge

浜離宮

５月２７日（火）快晴

ネパールがいよいよ王制を廃止します。日本も皇族より年金・健保・介護を大事にしないといけないのでは？浜離宮は将軍家の鷹狩場に1654年に作られた大名庭園。またの名は浜御殿。明治維新の皇室奪取を経て戦後は一般開放。海につながる潮入りの池は満潮と干潮とで趣が異なります。ボラ、ハゼ、ウナギも泳いでいます。汐留の高層ビル群に囲まれた興醒めな借景庭園。写真後方の1番高いビルがインター・コンチネンタル・ホテル。

千鳥が淵

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Hama-rikyu
Tue. May 27 : fine

At any moment now the monarchy will be abolish in Nepal. Shouldn’t we pay more attention on the pension, the health insurance, and nursing care than that on the royal family in Japan? Hama-rikyu is a feudal lord’s garden that was built as the hawk hunting field for the tycoon in 1654. The other name is Beach Castle. The Royal family deprived it at Meiji Restoration and opened it to public after the Second World War. The landscape at its high tide differs from that of low tide because the lake joins to the sea. There are mullets, gobies, and eels swimming in the lake. It’s the turnoff borrowed landscape garden that is surrounded by skyscrapers of Shiodome. The highest building seen in the picture is Intercontinental Hotel.

Chidoriga-fuchi

シラウオの踊り食い

5月26日(月)曇

むつ市の甥の歯科医院で歯の定期健診。十和田から片道2時間。途中の町で顔見知りの漁師たちがシラウオを売っていました。踊り食いなんて気持ちが悪いのでトライしたことはありません。「弱虫」とからかわれ、結局食べる羽目に。シラウオは200円。ホタテの串焼きとホヤの田楽は400円。シラウオは2度と御免ですが、ホヤは絶品でした。

オドリは大抵キモい

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Swallowing ice fish alive
Mon. May 26 : clowdy

I had a dental check at my nephew’s dental clinic in Mutsu. It locates 2-hour away from Towada. Some acquainted fishermen were selling ice fish on the way to Mutsu. I’ve never tried swallowing ice fish alive as it is weird. They played a joke on me calling me “a coward” and finally I ate it. The ice fish was $2 and skewered scallops and sea squirts were $4 each. Ice fish was so bad that I would never try again but the sea squirts were exquisite.

Dance is weird.

康楽館

5月25日(日)雨

十和田湖は青森県十和田市と秋田県小坂町に抱かれています。小坂鉱山の発見は江戸時代の1867年。1907年には東洋1の大鉱山に発展し、山間の町は人口3万人、電気・水道が完備した不夜城に。1990年廃坑後はPCや携帯から貴金属を回収する世界1の都市鉱山に転進。鉱山労働者の娯楽施設として1910年に建設された日本最古の芝居小屋で下町歌舞伎を見物。

康楽館

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Korakukan
Sun. May 25 : rain

Lake Towada is surrounded by Towada city of Aomori-ken and Kosaka town of Akita-ken. Kosaka mine was discovered in 1867, Edo era. It developed to the biggest mine in Asia by 1907; the towns in the mountains became the Great White with the population of 30,000 and full supply of the electricity and the tap water. After well abandonment in 1990 it has changed to the world biggest city mine that recycles precious metals from PCs and cell phones. I watched Kabuki from downtown at the Japanese oldest playhouse that was built as the amusement facility for miners in 1910.

Koraku-kan

何でもアリ

5月24日(土)晴

1年振りの十和田市では市民病院が新改築。病院は新しくなったけど産科医、小児科医、麻酔医が不在。ソフト・ウエア不在のハード・ウエア。市民の反対を押し切って近代美術館も先月オープン。日本の道100選にも指定されている官庁街に美観を損なう巨大「赤」アリが出現。市の財政はアリジゴク状態なのに。選挙でお世話になった土建屋さんへの恩返し？

十和田市民病院

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Ant you OK?
Sat. May 24 : fine

The civil hospital had been rebuilt in Towada where I visited for the first time in the past year. Although the building has become new there are no gynecologists, pediatricians or anesthetists. It’s the same as the hardware exists without any software. The Modern Art Museum was also opened last month overcoming the opposition. An ugly gigantic ant has appeared on Governmental Street that is assigned as one of the best 100 roads in Japan. On the other hand, the municipal finance is desperately in red like being caught by an anteater. Is it a kickback to the developers that helped them in election?

Towada Civil Hospital

東京まで5881ｋｍ

5月23日（金）快晴

中国の地震はかなり深刻な様子。五輪ピックは中止して被災者救済に全力を挙げるのが良識かと思います。たかが運動会じゃないですか。本日の午後日本に飛び、月末に北京を訪問します。近所の交差点に「東京まで5881ｋｍ」という矢印が立っています。ケアンズー成田間は7時間。冬物の服はあまり持っていません。青森の夜は寒くはないですか？

東京まで8831km

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5881km for Tokyo
Fri. May 23 : fine

Chinese earthquake seems to be quite serious. I think Beijing Olympic Game should be canceled and we should put all our effort to help the victims. The Olympic Games is only a sports festival, isn’t it? I’m flying to Tokyo this afternoon and then to Beijing late this month. There is a signal saying, “5881km for Tokyo” on the intersection near from my apartment. It takes 7 hours from Cairns to Tokyo. I don’t have enough winter clothes. Isn’t it cold in Aomori at night?

8831km for Tokyo

ヨーク岬

5月22日（木）快晴

木曜島から船で1時間半揺られてヨーク半島へ。4輪駆動車で未舗装の山道を1時間半、徒歩30分で豪州大陸最北端のヨーク岬へ。森の中には沢山の青いランの花が咲いていました。野生の豚も見ました。豪州では野生化した水牛、豚、馬、鹿、山羊、ラクダなどが群れを作っていて、水牛や豚は人を襲うので注意が必要です。

アメリカ大陸最南端

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Cape York
Thu. May 22 : fine

We cruised for 1 and a half hours from Thursday Island to York peninsula. Droving 4WD on the unsealed road for 1 and a half hours we walked for 30 minutes to Cape York, the northernmost of Australian Continent. On the way in the forest a lot of blue orchids were in bloom. We also saw some wild pigs. There are troops of wild buffalos, pigs, horses, deer, goats, and camels in Australia. You need to be careful with them as buffalos and pigs often attack people.

southernmost of American Continent

大物釣り

5月21日（水）快晴

アラフラ海はビーチも海水も美しいのにワニがいるので遊泳禁止。しかし大物釣りのメッカ。金曜島の真珠の養殖いかだの上から釣り糸を垂らすだけで、アジ、バラクーダ、シイラ、キス、サヨリ、ボラ、サワラなどがヒットします。本日の午前中の僕の釣果は50cm級のサワラとシイラ。ウミガメも悠然と通り過ぎて行きました。

キスとアジ

イリエワニ

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Big-game fishing
Wed. May 21 : fine

Although Arafura Sea has beautiful beaches and transparent salt water, swimming is banned as there are crocodiles. It’s a Mecca of big-game fishing. Only casting your line into the ocean from the ladder in the pearl farming you can hit horse mackerels, barracudas, queen fish, sillagos, garfish, mullets, and king fish. I’ve gotten a good fishing in this morning, 50cm of king fish and queen fish. Turtles calmly passed over.

sillagos and horse mackrels

salt water crocodile

金曜島の晩餐

5月20日（火）快晴

1770年トレス諸島の英国領を宣言したキャプテン・クックは通過した曜日を島々に命名。東から西へ火曜島、水曜島、木曜島、金曜島が並びます。アラフラ海の真珠養殖場は今では、金曜島の日本人経営のカズ・パール・ファーム1箇所だけ。社長のカズさんと3人の日本人ワーホリが家畜を飼い、野菜・果物も作り、自給自足の生活を送っています。白蝶貝は阿古屋貝よりずっと大型で、産出する真珠もずっと上質。貝柱の刺身もアワビに似た味です。

クック・タウン

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A dinner in Friday Island
Tue. May 20 : fine

Wednesday Island, Thursday Island, and Friday Island line from east to west. There is only one pearl farm, Kazu Pearl Farm that is managed by Japanese on the Arafura Sea now. The boss, Kazu and 3 Japanese working holiday makers are living self-sufficiently, raising cattle and growing vegetables and fruits. Their pearls have quite high quality because their white butterfly shells are much bigger than Akoya oysters. Sashimi of their shells has similar taste to that of abalone.

Cook Town

緑の丘の黒い武器

5月19日（月）快晴

第2次大戦中日本軍はダーウィン、ホーン島を空爆。ホーン島にゼロ戦の残骸も残されています。トレス諸島の中心は人口5000人の木曜島。グリーン・ヒルの山頂にはロシア・日本の侵略に備えた砲台が名残をとどめます。後方に見えるのは金曜島。街外れにはアラフラ海の真珠採りで命を落とした日本人・マレー人・諸島民の墓地があります。古い墓は100年以上経ているので、壊れたり傾いた墓石も目立ちます。

ケアンズの開拓者霊園

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Black weapons on Green Hill
Mon. May 19 : fine

Japanese army had an air raid on Darwin and Horn Island in the Second World War. There is a ruin of Zero Fighter on Horn Island. The center of Torres Islands is Thursday Island that has 5000 of population. There are batteries on the top of Green Hill that was once prepared for preventing from the invasion by Russia and Japan. The island seen on the background is Friday Island. There is the cemetery of Japanese, Malay, and Islanders who were killed in pearl hunting on the Arafura Sea. As the older tombs are more than 100 years old many gravestones are damaged or leaned.

Pioneers' Cemetary in Cairns

トレス諸島民

5月18日（日）快晴

豪州には2つの先住民がいます。トレス諸島民はパプア・ニューギニアから渡って来た海洋民俗。南太平洋の島々と似た文化を持ち、ジュゴン、ウミガメ、魚を主食とする漁労民族です。アボリジニよりはるかに体格が良く、現代社会への適応力も持ち合わせています。ヨーク半島とトレス諸島の住民の80％は諸島民。少数派の白人や日本人、マレー人たちと共存しています。

トレス諸島

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Torres Islanders
Sun. may 18 : fine

There are two groups of indigenous people in Australia. Torres Islanders are maritime people from Papua New Guinea. They have the similar culture to South Pacific Islanders and they are fishing people whose staple food is dugongs, turtles, and fish. They are much bigger and more adaptable to the modern society than Aborigine. 80%of inhabitants of Peninsula York and Torres Islands are islanders. They coexist with miner people such as White, Japanese, and Malay.

Torres Islands

ヨーク半島

5月17日（土）快晴

ケアンズの北は人がほとんど住んでいない広大なヨーク半島。空路800ｋｍ、1時間40分、豪州大陸最北端のヨーク岬へ。陸路は決死の覚悟が必要です。岬の更に北はトレス諸島。ユミのマッコーリー大学院の卒論が「トレス諸島民の民俗」。日本人真珠貝採りを取材した司馬遼太郎が「木曜島の晩餐」を書いています。隣のホーン島は対日ニューギニア戦の前線基地だったので飛行場があります。大物釣りのマニア以外には訪れない未開の地です。

クック・タウンまでは舗装道路

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York Peninsula
Sat. May 17 : fine

North area of Cairns is the vast York Peninsula where few people inhabit. We flew 800km within 1hour and 40minutes to Cape York, Northernmost of Australian Continent. If you want to go there by car, you would need to make a desperate resolution. There are Torres Islands north of the cape. Yumi wrote about “the folk custom of Torres Islanders” as her graduation thesis. Ryotaro Shiba who had researched Japanese pearl hunter wrote “The dinner in Thursday Island”. Horn Island, the next island has an airport as it was the front base in New Guinea battle against Japanese army. It is the undeveloped region where no one visits except manias of big-game fishing.

sealed road until Cook Town