ガラパゴス・グルメ

8月31日（火）曇

和食がミシュランで高い評価。しかし和食が特別旨いわけでもなさそう。日本を旅したＯＺは「日本にはまともな食べ物がない」と言います。ケアンズ市内の和食店も客筋は日本人だけ。ＯＺは生魚、焼き魚、ラーメンは食べないし、箸を操るのは無理。和食がヘルシーであることは認められても、世界の食卓に上るのは無理かな？

和食店苦戦

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Galapagos gourmet
Tue. August 31 : cloudy

Japanese food is evaluated highly in Michelin. But it doesn’t mean Japanese food is quite tasty. OZs who traveled Japan say “There are no decent dishes”. The class of customer at Japanese restaurants in Cairns is only Japanese. OZs don’t eat raw fish, grilled fish or ramen. They cannot handle chopsticks. Japanese food is noticed healthy but it is hard to adopt it onto worldwide menu, isn’t it?

Japanese restautants' uphill battle

アングロ・サクソンは味音痴？

8月30日（月）雨

英国人は衛生第一、味は二の次。大英帝国は世界の７つの海を支配。食事で贅沢は言いません。植民地で現地調達した食材は、何でも十分加熱。その名残なのでしょう。ステーキは焼き過ぎ。スパゲッティは茹で過ぎ。魚は何でもディープ・フライ。味よりも栄養と衛生が大事なことは理解できますが、豪州にはこんなに優秀な食材があるのに勿体ない。

フィッシュ＆チップス

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Do Anglo-Saxons have sense of taste?
Mon. August 30 : rainy

To English the hygiene of food has more priority than taste. The British Empire ruled 7 seas. They were never extravagant about food. In their colonies they sourced local food material and heated everything amply. Perhaps it is their habits from then. Stake is over-done, spaghetti is over boiled and fish is all deep fried. I can understand the nutrition and hygiene are more important than taste but what shameful when there are so much nice food materials in Australia.

fish'n chips

Uggのブーツ

8月29日（日）雨

ミスコン第3位になった豪州代表が世界大会で着用しようとしたUggのブーツに内外から非難の声。Uggのブーツにはウジの発生を防ぐために羊の臀部を剥ぎ取った皮が使用されていて、残虐行為にあたるとのこと。それよりミスコンのほうが問題だと思うけど。Uggは「ウジ」ではなく「アグ」と読みます。

羊の断尾

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Boots from Ugg
Sun. August 29 : rainy

The Ugg boots of that the Australian representative of Miss. Univirse who got the third prize was thinking about wearing have became the target of criticism both domestically and internationally. Ugg boots are made of sheep skin cut from the hip to prevent of worms parasite and it is considered to be the act of brutality. I think beauty contest is bigger problem than that. Ugg is pronounced “agoo”, not “ujee”.

sheep tail cut

ポート・ダグラス

8月28日（土）快晴

シティーから北へ約70キロ、人口4000人。1877年港町として創建されましたが、1911年サイクロンで壊滅状態。この20年間で国際的リゾート地に発展。街は穏やかな漁村の魅力と、洗練された世界的な観光地の両方の要素をあわせ持っています。レストランが多く、シーフードが種類も豊富で美味との評判ですが、僕はそうは思いません。

場違いリゾート

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Port Douglass
Sat. August 28 : fine

It locates 70km north of Cairns and its population is 4,000. It was built as the port town in 1877 but it was destroyed by cyclone in 1911. During the last 20 years it had developed to become the international resort spot. It has both elements of simple and calm fishing village and worldly famous sophisticated resort town. It has a reputation of having a lot of restaurants and plenty kinds of delicious sea food but I don’t think so.

out of position resort spot

ジェームス・クック大学（JCU）

8月27日（金）曇

キャプテン・クック・ハイウエー沿いの熱帯雨林にあるJCUケアンズ校は僕のアパートから車で10分。現在の学生数は約3,500人ですが今後5年間で学生数を5,000人まで増やす予定。現在キャンパス内に100人収容可能な学生寮を建設中。海洋探険科やコック養成科ができたら僕も入学してもいい。

ＪＣＵ

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James Cook University (JCU)
Fri. August 27 : cloudy

It takes 10 minutes by car from my apartment to JCU that is surrounded by the tropical rain forest that goes along with Captain Cook Highway. They currently have 3,500 students and are planning to increase the number to 5,000 within this coming 5 years. The dome that has 100 capacities has being built in the campus. If they offer the ocean exploring faculty or the cook cultivation faculty, I will think about entering JCU.

ＪＣＵ

巨大クック像

8月26日（木）曇

シティーからポートダグラスに向かう道はキャプテン・クック・ハイウエー。その起点付近にある高さ15ｍのジェームズ・クック像。これはクルミ割り人形ではありません。撤退したバック・パッカー（安宿）が客寄せのために建造したものだとか。誰が出資したのか今年ペンキが塗り替えられました。

等寸大クック像

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Big Captain Cook
Thu. August 26 : cloudy

The motorway that connects City and Port Douglass is Captain Cook Highway. Close to its starting point is 15m-tall James Cook statue. This isn’t a nutcracker. It was built to attract customers to the backpacker’s that has been shut up. Someone donated and it was repainted this year.

real-sized Captain Cook

ヒラリーのクルミ割り人形

8月25日（水）快晴

ビルの浮気が発覚した後、米国で発売された面白グッズ。その後ヒラリーがオバマと大統領候補争いを演じて再ブレーク。こちらは両脚の間にクルミを挟んで割る構造。クリントン夫妻はポートダグラスに滞在したこともあるので、ケアンズ市民は親近感を持っています。ただ今入ったニュースで、タイガー・ウッズは離婚が確定。

ポートダグラス

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Hillary nutcracker
Wed. August 25 : fine

Funny toys that were sold after the disclosure of Bill’s unfaithfulness in the US; several years later when Hillary competed with Obama for the candidate of the presidency they broke again. This nutcracker has the structure that cracks nuts by putting them between both legs. As Mr. and Mrs. Clinton have stayed in Port Douglass Cairns the citizens feel strong affinities with them. According to some breaking news Tiger Woods’ divorce has been agreed.

Port Douglass

クルミ割り人形

8月24日（火）快晴

ドイツ発祥の伝統工芸品で、王様や兵士などの形をした高さが30－50ｃｍもあるクルミを割るための木製のおもちゃです。背中の取っ手を上げると人形が大きく口を開けクルミを噛み砕きます。重税を課す王様や兵士が憎かったのか、人形はどれも可愛げのない顔をしています。

ギリシャの衛兵

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Nutcrackers
Tue. August 24 : fine

They are the traditional crafts from Germany, 30-50cm tall wooden toys shaped in kings or soldiers and they are used for cracking nuts. If you raise the handle on the back of the nutcracker it opens its mouth widely to crack nat. People then must have hated kings and soldiers who lay heavy tax because all the toys have ugly faces.

Greek guardsmen

ロシア・バレー

8月23日（月）快晴

久しぶりにバレーを鑑賞。チャイコフスキーの3大バレーの1つ「クルミ割り人形」。クリスマス・イブの夜、時計が12時を打つとハツカネズミとくるみ割り人形の戦争が勃発する誰でも知っているお話。えっ、知らない？3大バレーも知らない？他に「白鳥の湖」と「眠れる森の美女」です。

白鳥

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Russian ballet
Mon. August 23 : fine

After a long time of break we went to see the ballet, one of the three big ballets, “The Nutcracker”. It’s the famous story known by everybody. At the night of Christmas Eve when the clock hits twelve the war between mice and nutcrackers starts. Oh! Don’t you know it? Don’t you also know the other 2 most famous ballets? They are “Lake of Swans” and “Sleeping Beauty”.

swans

中ぶらりん議会(hang parliament)

8月22日(日)快晴

豪州総選挙の集計は死に票を少なくするために複雑な手続きが必要。結果が出るまで3日ほどを要します。どうやら与野党とも過半数を獲得できない見込み。緑の党や無所属議員との政策協定による多数派工作が活発。どちらが首相になっても、鼻が高いか耳が大きいか程度の差しかないかな？

国会議事堂

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Hang parliament
Sun. August 22 : fine

In order to reduce the number of wasted votes the counting of Australian election needs complicated processes. We have to wait around 3 days to know the results. Apparently, neither running nor opposition parties got the majority. The maneuvering to win the majority by an agreement on policy with Greens and Independents has become active. I don’t think there is such a big difference between two candidates for the prime minister – that will be as slight as whose nose is taller or whose years are bigger.

Diet

選挙で政治は変えられるのか？

8月21日(土)快晴

政府が人民の意志に反する政治を行った時、人民の武装や革命の権利を憲法で保障する国もありますが、多くの国では選挙で為政者を変えなさいと説きます。税金の支払いを拒否したら？「日本の警察は君を守ってあげないし、選挙もできないよ」と言われました。僕はもともと無政府主義者。選挙に行ったことはありません。

日本の警察は平和が嫌い

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Can we change the politic by election?
Sat. August 21 : fine

When the government performs anti-people administration, some countries guarantee the right of people’s arm or revolution under constitution but many countries persuade to call election and change their administrators. What if you refuse to pay your tax? I was said “You would neither be protected by Japanese police nor vote”. I am originally an anarchist. I’ve never voted.

Japanese police never likes peace

減税と小さな政府

8月20日(金)快晴

明日は総選挙。保守連合の公約は・・・。教育にも医療にも年金にも社会福祉にも最低限度のお金しか使いません。難民は引き受けないし、高速インターネットもやりません。役人の数を減らし、減税をします。見上げた心掛けです。大衆迎合主義の蔓延する某国も見習うべきです。写真は保守連合のアボット党首。ライフセーバーで露出派。

4年前の総選挙

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Tax cut and small government
Fri. August 20 : fine

Australian general election takes place tomorrow. The pledge of Conservative Coalition is as following. We will only use the minimum amount in education, medicine, pension and social welfare. We will never accept refugees and we never fulfill high-speed internet. We will reduce the number of public officials and also taxes. It’s such an admirable attitude, isn’t it? Certain country in which populism walks abroad must follow their footsteps. This is the photo of Mr. Abbott, the leader of Conservative Coalition. He is a lifesaver and a exposer.

general election 4 years ago

iPadを買ったけど

8月19日(木)快晴

iPadを購入しましたが、閲覧可能な日本語の書籍は青空文庫の230作品くらい。金額だけを見れば日本の電子書籍の国内市場規模は500億円と世界一。そのコンテンツの大半はiPadでは配信禁止のアダルト系アニメ。ベネディクト曰く「日本の文化は恥の文化」。「菊と刀」はポルノの象徴？これでいいのか、日本のメディア。(photo by nekoburo)

デバカメ孤島

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Although I bought iPad…
Thu. August 19 : fine

I bought an iPad and I can browse no Japanese publications except 230 books published by Aozora Bunko. Just comparing the numbers, Japanese domestic e-books return is world’s No. 1 with $6.3M. But most of the contents are adult animations that are prohibited to be distributed on iPads. Benedict said “Japanese culture is the culture of shame”. Are chrysanthemum and sword the symbol of porno? Are Japanese media OK with this?

peeping Tom's islands

ジュゴン

8月18日(水)雨

日本語名は海牛ですが、象に近い草食性の哺乳類。ジュゴンは熱帯アジアを中心に世界で約10万頭が生息。うち8万頭が豪州、残り2万頭が他の30余りの国々に少数ずつ分布。日本では乱獲と開発により現在では50頭以下。ケアンズ周辺の海にも多数生息。同じ海牛の仲間のマナティーは北米と南米に2万頭。ともに絶滅危惧種。

モンキーマイア

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Dugongs
Wed. August 18 : fine

They are called “sea cows” in Japan but they are actually herbivorous mammals, close kinship to elephants. There are 100,000 dugongs living in the world, mainly in tropical Asia. 80,000 of them live in Australia and other 20,000 lives in other 30 countries in small numbers each. As a result of the reckless hunting and development there are less than 50 remains in Japan. Many dugongs are living in the sea around Cairns, too. 20,000 manatees, the same group with dugongs are living in North and South America. Both of them are endangered species.

Monkeymia

イルカ

8月17日(火)快晴

日本語では海豚。クジラ目の小型ハクジラ類の総称。一般に体長4ｍ以下のクジラはイルカと呼ばれ、それ以上のものはクジラと呼ばれます。上下の顎に多数の歯があり、多くは口の先が嘴のようにとがりイカや魚類を捕食。日本では害獣扱いで毎年2万頭以上捕獲され、豚肉ではなく鯨肉として売られています。

イルカの見える家

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Dolphins
Tue. August 17 :fine

They are called “sea pigs” in Japan. The dolphin is a general term of small toothed whale of whale order. Generally, the whale that is smaller than 4m is called a dolphin and bigger than 4m is called a whale. They have a lot of teeth on upper and lower jaws. Most of them have sharp ends of their mouths just like bills and they catch squids and fish to eat using them. In Japan they are treated as noxious animals, caught more than 20,000 a year and sold as whale meat, not pork.

A house from where you can see dolphins