バンコクの花市場；パーククローン/ Flower market; Pak Khlong

チャオプラヤ川に架かるメモリアルブリッジ近くの花市場パーククローンは24時間営業だが夜のほうが賑わうらしい。花屋さんが仕入れに来る卸市場のような機能も持つが一般観光客が行っても十分楽しめる。最高級の品質を望まなければ、40本前後のバラが８０バーツはかなりお得。

Pak Khlong flower market, located near Memorial bridge over Chao phraya liver, opens 24 hours but seems much exiting in night time. It functions wholesale markets for which many flower retailers and traders to come to purchase their goods, but consumers or tourists can also enjoy shopping. If you don't need high-end quality flowers, THB 80 for 40 roses is very attractive.

フカひれスープ /Shark fin soup

中華街の一角でフカひれスープを食べる。３～4人前で３００バーツは日本では考えられないくらい安い価格だが、こちらではやはり高価な食事。ぐつぐつに温まったスープに生のもやしと香菜を入れるのがタイ風？

I tasted a shark fin soup Yaowarat Road in China Town. Price of one cup of soup, 3-4 persons can taste by one cup, THB 300 is remarkably cheap by Japanese sense, but it still considerably expensive in here. You can put raw beansprout and Paxi; coriander into boiling soup, it could be Thai style?

BTS車両ドア故障/Out of function on a door of BTS; Sky train

バンコク自慢、最新鋭のBTSスカイトレインが駅で、突然動かなくなった。どうやらドアが故障したらしい。しばらくすると鉄道の人が乗り込んできて、手馴れた様子でドアを一つ手で閉めシールで封印し、そのまま発車。その間、約5分。ある意味臨機応変だが、この程度の故障は日常茶飯事か？

A cutting-edge BTS sky-train in Bangkok suddenly stopped at one station. It could be a out pf function on a door of the train. In a few minutes, car conductor or repair man of train company got into the train. He shut the door by hand and put on a seal on the broken door with practiced manner.
I did not need to wait over five minutes.
It looked so flexible way and as usual.

象の背中から/ From elephant back

世界遺産アユタヤでおきまりの象のり体験。象専用歩道を象に揺られてゆっくり進む、車よりずっとゆっくりだが、視線はずっと高くて気持ちいい。

Just ten minutes walk on an elephant back for tourist at famous World Heritage city Ayutthaya.
Walking slowly along sidewalk for elephant. Much slower than car but much higher place, it was very comfortable experience.

衛兵の行進/ March of the Guard

国王妃誕生日（タイでは国民全体の母の日）の前日、王宮に行ったら偶然にも衛兵交代の儀式に遭遇。王妃誕生日を前日に控えての特別な儀式なのか通常の交代式かは判らなかったが、少しラッキーな気持ち。

When I visited Royal palace the day before Queen's birthday; it is also Mother's day for all Thai nationals, I happened to across a ceremony of changing the guard of the palace. I don't know which was special ceremony for Queen's birthday or as usual marching. Any way I can feel something lucky.

プーパッポンカリー/Poo Pad Pong Karee

カニの卵カレー炒め。店によって味付けは少しずつ異なるが、グリーンカレーやレッドカレーに比べると、味がまろやかなこともあり日本人の人気も高い。美味しいのはいいが、つい会話が途切れてしまうのが難点。

Fried whole crab with eggs and curry powder. Since it is not so spicy compared with Green curry or Red curry, many Japanese people loves it tastes are a little bit different restaurant by restaurant. I also love it very much, but only one thing I hate is it makes table very quietly

.

ヴィエンチャンのツゥクツゥク/Tuk Tuk in Vientiane

ヴィエンチャンのツゥクツゥクはバンコクのに比べ、少しのんびりした感じ。バンコクのツゥクツゥクは進行方向に向かって座るのに対し、ヴィエンチャンのは横向きに座る。上がヴィエンチャン、下がバンコク（写真が悪くてすみません）。

Tuk Tuk in Vientiane looks a little bit easygoing comparing it in Bangkok. You need seat parallel to moving direction, but in facing direction in Bangkok. Top picture is of Vientiane and Bottom is Bangkok, sorry not so good picture.

ビアラオ/ Beer Lao

国名がそのままビール名になっているビアラオ。その名前のとおりラオス国民からは国民ビールと相当大きな支持を得ているようだ。

Beer Lao name is coming directly national name. It seems many Laotian people love this beer very much, doesn’t it?

メコン川/ Mekong River

中国に源流を持ち、ミャンマー・ラオス国境、タイ・ラオス国境、カンボジア、ヴェトナムを流れ南シナ海に流れる国際河川。雨期のためかなり増水しているメコン川を、ラオスの首都ビエンチャンから眺める。国境を海でしか持たない日本人には、国境河川と聞くと少しワクワクするけど、現地の人にとっては特に何の変哲もない光景なのだろう。

Typical international river which originated in China, run through border of Myanmar, Thai and Lao and run through Cambodia and Vietnam. Overview from Vientiane, Capital of Lao, the liver has plenty of water since middle of monsoon season. For me as Japanese has no inland border with neighboring countries, to see international border liver is a little bit exciting. However for people living here the scene might be common picture as usual.

スパ/SPA

ひょんなきっかけでスパなるものに行った。興味が無かったわけではないが、行くことはないと思っていた。行って見ると意外と気持ちいい。特にフェイシャルトリートメントは、期待度が低かっただけに、大満足。次いつ行くかは判らないが、中年男性でも一度は行く価値はあると思う。

I tried to visit a Spa with unexpected reason. Honestly, it is not true I have no interest, but I was wondering I have no chance. I realized it was pretty good. Particularly facial treatment for which I did not expected so much but result was surprisingly satisfactory. I don't know when I will go next time, but I can recommend it would be valuable even for middle age men to visit it once

バンコクビール3種/Three famous brand beer in Bagkok

バンコクで人気のあるビールは、シンハー（獅子）、チャン（象）、それにレオ（豹）の3種。なぜか全て動物がシンボル。長年王者であったシンハーが、安いチャンに王座を奪われ、子会社で弟分の安いレオを作って巻き返しを図っているのだとか。５０バーツを挟んでの動物界にも負けない厳しい戦い。

Three beers in Bangkok
Popular beer brands in Bangkok are Singha (Lion), Chang (Elephant) and Leo (Leopard). All three brands use animals as symbols. Shngha used to be a king of beer but cheaper Chang becomes dominant in these days. So, Shingha establishes his child company which produces cheaper younger brother brand Leo. Severe battle can be seen between 50 THB in beer world which might be much tougher than natural world.

バンコクの日本の薬局/ Japanese Drug store in Shopping mall in Bangkok.

最近出来たショッピングモール内に日本の薬局がやって来た。しかも北海道に拠点を置く薬局。日本の薬も買えるかと期待して行ってみた。化粧品や雑貨の日本製品は豊富だが、薬は残念ながら品揃えの中にない。薬の販売には法律の登録が必要なのだろう。

New Japanese drug store is opened in a shopping mall which is also recently opened in Bangkok. This drug store chain is very famous in Hokkaido. I went there with high expectation if I could buy Japanese drugs in this drug store. I could find plenty of Japanese cosmetics and miscellaneous goods in the shop but could not find drugs. It might be relating rigid drug registration in laws.

入国管理の長い列/ Long cue to Immigration

タイに入る前にバンコクの空港で長い列で待たされる。しかもタイ人の列に比べて外国人の列は明らかに長い。これは忍耐を必要とする微笑みの国に入るための最初の試練？

Before entering to Thailand, you need to wait in long cue to immigration at airport in Bangkok.
Besides, a cue for foreigner seems much longer than that for Thai people. It might be a first ordeal to enter to amazing smile country but neccessary to be patient.