ラマ８世橋/ Rama VIII Bridge

前国王を偲んで2002年に竣工したラマ８世橋。バンコクの中心地からやや上流にかかる、斜張橋。そのシルエットはチャオプラヤ川に架かる数多くの橋の中でも最も美しい橋だと思う。バンコク中心部を出発するディナークルーズの多くも、この橋を過ぎたところでＵターンして中心部に戻っていく。

This bridge named Rama VIII built in 2002 for memorizing former King. This cable-stayed bridge is locating slightly upstream from down town Bangkok. I believe this bridge is one of the most beautiful bridge over the Chaopraya river in Bangkok. Many diner cruses which start from piers in downtown return to their home after passing under the bridge.

けぶる夕日/Sunset in haze

スモッグなのか埃なのか、最近のバンコクはすこし煙った天気が続いている。チャオプラヤ川越しの夕日もぼんやりと霞んですっきりしない。

Recent weather in Bangkok is hazy by smog or dusts, I am not sure. Sunset over Chaopraya looks vague in hazy air.

カマキリ/praying mantis

カマキリが１９階のアパートの窓にしがみついている。風に乗って舞い上がってきたのか、壁を登ってきたのか。窓の光に引き寄せられる小さな虫を捕まえにきたのかもしれないが、こんな高いところで獲物がそれほど多くいるとは思えない。次の日にはいなくなったから、あまり良い狩場ではなかったのだろう。

A praying mantis clings to window of my room on 19th floors. It might come by flying with upward wind or by climbing up on wall, I am not sure. It might come for preying small bags which are attracted by window light in night, but I don't think so much targets are coming such a high place.
It must not be a good hunting place, since it disappears next day.

バイク/ motor bike

渋滞が多いバンコクでは、市内移動にバイクが大活躍。横のり、３人乗り（時には４人乗り）、大きな荷物を挟んでと様々な乗り方で利用している。また、オレンジ色のベストをつけた、バイクタクシー（モーターサイ）は市民の足。ヘルメットを着けないで乗っている人も多く、日本人の目から見れば、もう少し安全面に気を使っても良いのではと思ってしまう。特に子供に対しては。

Motor bike is very useful and casual tool since continuous heavy traffic jam in Bangkok. Riding sideways, triple (sometimes quadruple), with huge luggage, people are using bakes very freely. Drivers with orange jacket are motor bike taxi drivers; motor-cys and very popular in Bangkok. I can see many riders without helmets and I can not help wondering they should consider safety matters much more particularly for children

紙飛行機教室/ paper airplane workshop

某航空会社主催で「そらいく」と称して環境講座と紙飛行機教室が本日（１月１９日）バンコク市内で開催された。名人から紙飛行機の折り方が学べるということで、多数の日本人親子が参加した。飛距離型と滞空型の２種類の紙飛行機の折り方や飛ばすコツを教えてもらい、子供だけでなく、童心に帰った大人も自分の折った紙飛行機の出来栄えに一喜一憂。飛行機から撮った珍しい写真を使った、現役パイロットによる環境教育も興味深く、航空会社らいしい社会貢献活動で半日楽しませてもらった。

Today, a paper airplane workshop for kids and parents was provided in Bangkok by a Japanese airline company. The workshop was combined with seminar for global environmental issues under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity “Sora-iku”. Many Japanese family joined the workshop for expecting direct instruction by master of paper airplane. We learned procedure and tips of holding two types, as say long distance and long staying, of paper plane. Not only kids but also adults were very excited by knowing the performance of their own works. A lecture relating global environment issue by a captain using remarkable pictures taken from airplanes was also very attractive. I can enjoy a half-day program which was very well-arranged CSR reflecting nature of airline company.

手長エビの炭火焼/ Charcoal grilled fresh water prawn

長さ３０～４０ｃｍもある淡水手長エビ（スカンピ）の炭火焼。川の合流点にあたり、川に囲まれたアユタヤの名物料理。少し辛めのソースをつけてエビの甘みを楽しむ。大きさによって４００バーツから６００バーツ、大きなものは１，０００バーツになるものも。写真のものは５００バーツ（だったと思う）。

Charcoal grilled fresh water prawn,Scampi, which is about 30-40cm long. This is a popular dish in Ayuthaya which is at meeting point of rivers and surrounded by rivers. You can enjoy sweet meat of prawn dipped in slightly hot sauce. Price of one piece is from THB 400 to 600, sometimes reaches THB 1,000 depends on size. The price of the dish in picture was THB 500, I suppose.

クワィ川鉄橋・戦場に架ける橋/ The Bridge on the River Kwai

映画 戦場に架ける橋の舞台となったクワイ川に架かる橋と泰麺鉄道。川を渡る鉄橋の景色も良いが、木造の橋げたを軋ませながら、崖沿いの線路を列車がゆっくり進むのもちょっとスリリング。山一つ隔てればミャンマーという山岳地帯を、ゆっくり走る列車からの車窓から見える田園風景も、バンコクの喧騒を忘れられ気持ちいい。

A bridge is very well known by famous movie “The Bridge on the River Kwai”, it was built during the world war II for constructing a Burma-Siam railway. The scene of the bridge over the river is wonderful but riding on a train running slowly on creaking girder by the cliff is much more exciting. A scene from window running through mountain area near border with Myanmar makes me free from noisy life in Bangkok.

仔豚の丸焼き/ Roasted baby pork

年末に、日本から来てくれた気のあった友人たちと、豪華に仔豚の丸焼きを注文。北京ダックのようなパリッとした皮を具のない小さな中華饅頭のようなものと併せて食べる。値段も少々高価（THB 2,200)で、10人ぐらい集まらないとなかなか注文できない。ビールが進んで困ってしまう。

Thanks for good opportunity many Japanese friends visited my house using New year holidays, we could order a gorgeous whole roasted baby pork. We enjoyed crispy skin like Beijing duck accompanied with small Chinese buns without fillings. Since it is a little bit expensive; THB 2,200, we can not order without at least around ten members. I could not stop drinking beer with this dish.

落語バンコク公演の前売り券/ Advance ticket for Japanese comic story show in Bangkok

本日（1月12日）、3月に開催される有名落語家のバンコク公演の入場券が発売された。海外ではめったにない機会の上、某航空会社主催で料金が格安（300バーツ）ということあり、すごい人気で入場券は直ぐに売り切れ。少し早起きして並んで良かった。3月の公演が今から楽しみ。

Advance ticket for a show of popular “Rakugoka”, Japanese traditional comic storyteller, which will be planed on 2nd of March 2013 in Bangkok was sold today. Such a show is very precious opportunity for Japanese who lives in abroad and admission fee is remarkably low, THB 300, since Japanese airliner sponsored the show, therefore ticked was instantly sold out. I was very lucky to get tickets since I waked up a little bit earlier. I am very looking forward to seeing a show in March.

バリのダンス/ Dances in Bali

バリには、バロンダンス、レゴンダンス、ケチャックダンスといったヒンヅゥー教に関連したダンスが多くあり、私たちのような観光客も気軽に鑑賞できる。観光客向けとはいえ、その目や指、腰の特徴的な動きには神や自然への敬う気持ちが込められているのが感じられる。ヒンヅゥー教は、日本人にはあまり馴染みがないが、案内してくれたガイドさんの目が大きくて、その分、ダンスが身近に感じられた。

In Bali, tourists like me can easily enjoy many popular dances such as Barong, Legon, Kecak these are relating Hindu. These are played in facilities for tourists, even so I can find their respect to Gods and natures in their each movement in their eyes, fingers and hips. I am not so familiar with Hindu, but I can feel their dances closely because of very attractive big clear eyes of our tourists guides.