ミラミラの滝

3月31日(火)快晴

ケアンズは背後に世界最古の熱帯雨林、前にグレートバリアリーフ。2つの世界遺産が隣接するのは世界でここだけ。熱帯雨林の面積は青森県とほぼ同じで100万ha。クイーンズランド州最高峰の2つの山、無数の川と滝があります。中でも観光客に人気なのがシダやヤシに囲まれたミラミラの滝。日本の滝と違って神格化されていないので皆さん滝つぼで泳ぎます。熱帯雨林の小道から突然ビキニスタイルの女性が飛び出して来るので驚きます。

バロン大滝

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Mira Mira Falls
Tue. March 31 : fine

Cairns has the world oldest tropical rain forest on its back and Great Barrier Reef in its front. This is the only place in the world that 2 world heritages are neighboring together. The area of the tropical rain forest is 1 million ha and that is same as Aomori prefecture. There are 2 mountains that are the highest in Queens Land and numerous waterfalls in there. Above all the most popular spot for the tourists is Mira Mira Falls that is surrounded by ferns and pine trees. Being different from Japanese ones Australian falls are not deified and people swim in the basin of the waterfall. You will be surprised by bikini style ladies that jump out from the path in the tropical rain forest.

Barron Falls

熱帯雨林の空中回廊

3月30日(月)快晴

熱帯雨林にはヘビやその他の有毒の動植物が多いので地上の探検は危険。大勢の観光客が下草を踏みつけると熱帯雨林も破壊されます。環境に優しいツアーは空中散歩。ケアンズには熱帯雨林を上空から眺めながらキュランダに至るロープウエイと、いくつかの空中回廊があります。最近できたマムー回廊はアクセスも容易で短気は損気の旅行者向け。林が疎で比較的日当たりが良いためか蝶が沢山見られます。

スカイレール

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Air corridor in tropical rain forest
Mon. March 30 : fine

As there are a lot of snakes and other poisonous animals and plants in the tropical rain forest, going there on the ground to explore is dangerous. If many tourists stepped on the grass, the forest would be destroyed easily. Eco-friendly tour is air walking. Cairns has a ropeway that convey the tourists to Kuranda watching down the rain forest. There are also several air corridors. Mamu Corridor that has been completed recently is easy to access and convenient for the short-stay tourists. The forest is thin and sunshine reaches relatively easily, so you can see a lot of butterflies there.

sky rail

危険な操り人形

3月29日(日)快晴

大道芸人の音楽や演技に足を止めたら、投げ銭なしで立ち去るのは豪州ではルール違反。親が子供に1ドルを入れるように渡します。投げ銭は金貨(1ドル以上)と決まっていて銀貨は失礼。寄付でもチップでも銀貨は厳禁。小浜氏から更なる景気刺激策を要請された豪欧が拒否。自由放任経済の米国にはもともと失業者対策も公的な医療保険制度もなかったのです。背景が違います。日本は外需頼りで内需がない。だけど米の操り人形のままでいいのかな？

チップ

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Dangerous puppet
Sun. march 29 : fine

It is rude to go away without leaving tips after you stopped in front of the street performers in Australia. Parents give their child $1 to throw in. The tip coin should be gold (more than $1) and a silver coin is rude. Silver coins should not be used for donations or tips. Australia and EU refused Mr. Obama’s proposal of further economical stimulus policies. Originally there was no unemployment policy or public medical insurance system in the US. The backgrounds between 2 countries are completely different. Japanese economy relies on only external demand but internal demand. Is it OK to stay as an American puppet?

tip

フリーマーケット

3月28日(土)快晴

週末にあちこちの公園でフリ－マーケットが開催されます。主催者の市役所や町役場に2000-3000円くらいの出店料を払えば誰でも1日店主。アルコール、タバコ、薬物、銃器の販売は禁止。古本、古着、骨董品、手工芸品、花卉、野菜、果物、手作りのジャムやケーキ、自称芸術家の絵画や彫刻、陶器、ガラス製品などが並びます。ホットドッグやアイスクリームなどの軽食屋も出店し、アマチュア・バンドや大道芸人が雰囲気を盛り上げます。

ユミのフリーマーケット

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Free market
Sat. March 28 : fine

Free markets are held in the parks here and there at weekends. Anyone can open a shop for one day after paying $30-50 to the council, the organizer. Selling alcohol, cigarettes, drugs and guns is prohibited. At the market they sells old books, old clothes, antiques, handiworks, flowers, vegetables, fruit, home-made jam and cakes, paintings and carvings by amateur artists, potteries, glass wares and others. There are also some fast food shops for hot dogs or ice cream, and some amateur bands and street performers boost the mood.

Yumi's free market

日の丸トイレット

3月27日(金)快晴

近年北海道や長野にOZスキー客が目立ちます。日本初体験でOZが驚くのが温泉とトイレ。熱過ぎてOZには入れない水着着用禁止の温泉、そしてシャワー・トイレ。何か裏があるのでは？男性用ブラや女性用褌がもてはやされるお国柄、油断はできない。構造が複雑で不潔そう。温かい便座もOZには違和感。ハイテク・トイレには賛否両論ありますが、ネズミの額ほどのトイレの狭さは不評。

もう8年もスキーを滑っていない

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Japanese toilet
Fri. March 27 : fine

Recently there are a lot of ski tourists from Australia in Hokkaido and Nagano. The first few things they get surprised when they come to Japan are hot spring and the toilets. The hot spring is too hot for OZs and it is also prohibited to bathe with the swim suit. And does the toilet have a shower? That’s suspicious. Bras for men and sumo the loincloth for women are popular in this country. Stay alert. The structure is so complex and they look filthy. The warm toilet seat doesn’t bring any comfort to OZs. There are pros and cons about the high technical toilet but the narrow bathroom is unpopular anyway.

I've never been skiing for 8 years

インドハッカ

3月26日(木) 快晴

オスカーを総なめにした「スラムドッグ・ミリオネア」を見るとインドのエネルギーに圧倒されます。先日東京・御岳で夜明けからインドハッカの鳴き声。鳴き声が良いので愛玩用に輸入された個体が逃げたか、故意に放されたか。花蜜、果実、昆虫、カエル、トカゲ、他の鳥の卵を食すので、生態や農業に多大な影響を与え豪州では駆除の対象にされています。日本でもヤマガラ、シジュウカラ、ウグイスが席巻されるかも。

インドの漁師

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Common myna
Thu. March 26 : fine

Seeing “Slum dog Millionaire”, that swept the Oscars, you will be overpowered by Indian energy. The other day when we stayed in Mt. Mitake common mynas started singing from dawn. As they sing nicely they were imported as pets, and then some of them flew away or were released on purpose. They eat honey, fruit, insects, frogs, lizards, or eggs of other kinds of birds. Since they give a strong bad influence on ecology and agriculture they are one of the creatures they should be exterminated in Australia. They might wipe out varied tits, great tits, and bush warblers in Japan.

Indian fishermen

幼稚な日米の政治

3月25日(水)快晴

小沢党首の政治資金問題で国会から政策論議が消え、またぞろ議員の資質や品格問題。国民は嘆き、役人はほくそ笑む。小沢辞任となれば後継はジャスコ岡田か鳩山兄。宰相人事はバカ騒ぎ。半世紀前自由党と民主党に分裂して醜い権力争いをした吉田茂と鳩山一郎。その確執を引き摺る麻生首相と鳩山兄弟。米国民もブッシュとクリントンの権力のたらい回しに辟易。日米ともに北朝鮮以下。

ハイエナの子はハイエナ

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Childish Japanese and American politics
Wed. March 25 :fine

The problem of political fund misused by Mr Ozawa, the head of Democratic Party has expelled political discussion from the Diet and emerged the quality and the dignity of the representative again. People grieve and the government officials glee. If Mr. Ozawa resigned, the successor would be either Mr. Okada from Jusco or Mr. Hatoyama, the elder brother. The Prime Minister election is a fuss. A half century ago Mr. Shigeru Yoshida and Mr. Ichiro Hatoyama hideously competed over power as the heads of Liberal Party and Democratic Party. Prime Minister Aso and Hatoyama brothers are dragging the feuding. American people are bored with power runaround between Bush family and Clinton family. Japanese and American politics are both in lower levels than North Korean’s.

hyena's child is hyena

高速道路

3月24日(火)快晴

日本でやっと高速道路の料金が値下げ。日本ではハイウエイ（高い道）、豪州ではフリーウエイ（只の道）。 郵政も高速道路も多くの不透明な外郭団体を抱え、ハイエナ役人たちの利権のあさり場になっています。国でも地方でも税金や年金や公的保険料の半分は役人に食い物にされています。外廓団体をすべて民営化すれば、健全な経済が刺激され、国民の消費は増え、内需が拡大します。日本の不況の元凶は官僚主導体制です。

有料道路ボイコット

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Motorway
Tue. March 24 : fine

Eventually, Japanese motorway tolls will be cut. Motorway is called highway in Japan and freeway in Australia. Japan Post Office and Japan Highway Office have lots of suspicious affiliate companies where stingy government officers hunt right and money. Both national and local government officers devour half of the tax, the pension fee and the public insurance fees. If all the affiliate companies are made private, sound economy will be stimulated, national consumption will be increased, and domestic demand will be expanded. The main factor of Japanese depression is bureaucratic dominating system.

boycott against tollroad

かんぽの宿青梅

3月23日(月)快晴

一山100億円でオリックスにかんぽの叩き売り。これに鳩山弟が噛み付いて人気は上々。AIGの100億円ボーナスに米議会が90％の課税を決定。どちらも本質をわきまえない人気取り政策。目の前の100億円をケチったら、すぐさま10兆円の損害を蒙ることは明白。衆愚政治では経済危機を克服できません。10兆円を食い物にしているのは米国の金融詐欺師たちと日本の天下り役人たち。鎮痛薬投与ではなく外科手術が必要です。

かんぽの宿十和田

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Hotel Kampo Oume
Mon. March 23 : fine

Japan Post Office is trying to sell a mount of Hotel Kampos with $100M to Orix Corporation. Is it a slaughter sale? Mr. Hatoyama, kid brother made a strong objection against it and he got a great population. American Council decided to charge 90% tax on AIG’s $100M bonus. Both of them are based on populism policy neglecting essential problems. If they stinted $100M now, obviously $10B damage would follow. Populism never overcomes financial crisis. The people who devour the $10B are financial swindlers in the US and government officials with golden parachute in Japan. You need surgery operations against them but pain killers.

Hotel Kampo Towada

オジギソウ

3月22日(日)快晴

先日東京に行って気付いたのはTVタレントが老けたこと、無表情になったこと。老いることは仕方がないけど、日本の大人には素直で明るい笑顔がない。やっぱり都会はストレスが多いのかな。最近青森でも通学路に「知らない人とは話さない」という看板。豪州では知らない人同士でも挨拶を交わします。エスプラネードの散歩では20人以上と義務や商売用ではない最上級の笑顔でご挨拶。芝生には雑草のオジギソウが咲いています。

御辞儀草

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Humble plant
Sun. March 22 : fine

What I found out about TV talents when I went to Tokyo the other day were that they became older and stonier. Aging is a natural rule but Japanese adults don’t seem to have friendly and cheerful smiles. There is a lot of stress in the cities, I wonder. Recently, there are signs saying, “Never speak to strangers” on school roads even in Aomori area. OZs exchange greetings with even strangers. I give greetings with my best smile not for duty or business purposes to more than 20 people during my walking on Esplanade. Humble plants, a kind of weeds bloom in the grass.

humble plant

クモユリ

3月21日(土)快晴

年中花をつけ香りが良いのでエスプラネードに限らずケアンズの街中に植栽されています。和名はササガニユリ(細蟹百合)、学名はヒメノカレス(姫の彼す？)。細蟹姫は竜宮の乙姫の親戚で、別名が織姫。姫の彼は天の川の向こうの遠距離恋愛の牽牛の彦星。クモユリはカリブ海原産の外来園芸種。蜘蛛の脚は8本、蟹は10本なのに細長い花弁は6本なのが残念。思い切ってタコユリに改名ほうがいいのでは？

大王蟹

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Spider lily
Sat. March 21 : fine

As spider lilies bloom every season and smell good they are planted not only on Esplanade but everywhere in Cairns. They are called Thin- crab lilies in Japan and Hymenocallis in Latin. Princess Thin- crab is a relative of Princess Otohime’s in Dragon’s palace and her another name is Princess Shokujo( Vega). His lover is Kengyu(Altair) beyond the milky sky. Spider lilies are from Caribbean islands. Unfortunately, they have 6 long petals despite spiders have 8 legs and crabs, 10 legs. I think it is better to change their name to octopus lilies.

king crab

気になる木

3月20日(金)快晴

エスプラネードを散歩していると直径20cmもある白い花が落ちています。15mの高木の枝の先端につく4枚の花弁と長い雄蕊の花。海水浴中の老人クラブのメンバーに名前を聞いても「ホワイト・フラワー」とか「ビッグ・フラワー」と頼りない返事。日本で最大の花木の「ほうの木」や泰山木（たいさんぼく）に葉は似ていますが、花は全く違います。図書館の植物図鑑で調べても名称は不明。

豪州泰山木

世界1大きな花

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Curious tree
Fri. March 20 : fine

I found some white big flowers that had their diameters of 20cm on the ground when I was walking on Esplanade. They have 4 petals and long stamens and bloom at the top of their branches on 15m high tree. I asked the name to some members of the senile swimming club and they unconfidently answered, “They are white flowers.” or “They are big flowers.” The leaf is similar to Japanese cucumber tree or mangnolia but the flower is completely different. I went to the library to check but I haven’t found the name yet.

mOZ angnolia

world's biggest flower

豪州の小型カマキリ

3月19日(木)晴

アパートの空中庭園で見かけた体長3cmのカマキリ。日本の小型カマキリはコカマキリ、ヒメカマキリ、ヒナカマキリの3種。ほとんどのカマキリは雌が雄より大型なので変な命名です。世界にカマキリは2000種、豪州には1000種。OZに正確な名前を聞くのは野暮。「ただのカマキリだよ」とか、「昆虫だろう？」、「バッタも知らないのか？」はまだいい方。「ヤモリの仲間さ」、「ヤシガニの子供に決まっているじゃないか」等々。

豪州カマキリ

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Australian tiny mantis
Thu. March 19 : fine

I found a 3cm long mantis at the air garden in our apartment. There are 3 kinds of small mantis in Japan; small mantis, princess mantis, and chick mantis. They have strange names because most female mantis is bigger than male. There are around 2000 kinds of mantis in the world and 1000 live in Australia. It is useless to ask OZs to give you the precise names. Some better answers are; “It’s just a mantis”, “It’s an insect” or “Don’t you know a cricket?” Sometimes they answer, “It’s a kind of gecko”, “It’s a child of coconut crab” and so on.

OZ mantis

空中庭園

3月18日(水)晴

僕のアパートはどの階もエレベーターから玄関までは外気に面した吹き抜けの空中回廊。回廊の片側には花壇があり花木や観葉植物が茂っています。この空中庭園に小鳥が巣を造ったり、小型の蝙蝠が潜んでいたり、色々な昆虫が住んでいます。嵐が来ると回廊も水溜りができることもあるけど、5階にいながら玄関を出ると緑の環境。日本の動植物はほとんど名前を知っていたけど豪州産はＯＺに聞いても分からない。

鳥の巣

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Air garden
Wed. March 18 : fine

In our apartment the air corridor with brow-by both side leads you from the lift to the entrance on every floor. There are some shrubberies of flowering trees and leafy plants on the one side of the corridor. Birds make nests, small bats hide, and various insects live in the shrubberies. Sometimes the storm makes puddles on the corridor but we can enjoy green circumstances in front of our entrance in spite of living on the fifth floor. I used to know almost all the names of animals and plants living in Japan but some of Australians are difficult to find out what they are even if I ask OZs.

bird nest

カンガルーは芝生が好き

3月17日(火)快晴

ケアンズから車で1時間の高原の街・マリーバにはカンガルーの名所が2箇所。御影石谷（グラナイト・ゴージュ）ではロック・ワラビーが餌付けされているし、街のゴルフ場が夕方には500頭のカンガルーに占拠されます。しかしそんな遠くに行かなくても我が街・トリニティー・ビーチのポロ競技場にも朝夕200頭のカンガルーが結集します。家から徒歩15分なので朝の散歩コースの1つです。

ワラビー

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Kangaroos love grass
Tue. March 17 :fine

There are two famous places for kangaroos in a highland town, Mareeba where it takes 2 hours from Cairns by car. You can feed rock wallabies at Granite Gorge. 500 kangaroos occupy the golf course in the town. But you don’t need to go that far because 200 kangaroos gather at the polo ground in our town, Trinity Beach every morning and evening. It takes 15 minutes to get there from my house on foot, so it is one of our morning walking courses.

warabee