tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536386292963094352024-03-19T20:34:33.064+09:00Around the world in 3 languagesI started my trip on August 25, 2011. I will travel around the world for about one year. I am not going to plan anything, but I won't make use of airplaines, and will travel only by boat, bus and train. I shall try to write a blog at least twice a week. I will write them in English, Japanese or Dutch. I might also write stuff not related to my trip, concerning literature, video-games, movies or even something completely different instead.Rinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461500771340620051noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753638629296309435.post-32594308665866659922012-05-29T19:06:00.002+09:002012-05-29T19:06:39.905+09:00Mae Lana 洞窟<i>May 29, 2012. Written in Penang, Malaysia.</i><br />
<br />
Mae Lana 洞窟<br />
<i> </i><br />
まず最初に、しばらくブログを更新しなかったお詫びをします。実は2月頃から、小説のアイディアが思い浮かび、それ以来はそちらに力を入れております。今後とも以前ほどたくさん更新はできないかもしれませんが、とりあえずは気まぐれにときどき書きますので、今後ともよろしくお願いします。<br />
<br />
それはそうと、今から約一ヶ月前、フランス人の友人と二人でバイクで北タイを回った。パイ市とメーホンソン市のちょうど間に位置するMae Lanaという名の洞窟を訪れた。この洞窟で見たもの、感じたものを簡単ではあるが、今回紹介したいと思う。<br />
<br />
洞窟にはこれまでもあれこれと入ってみたものの、Mae Lana洞窟ほど本格的なものは初めてだった。タイ最長の洞窟であるだけあって、中は20キロ以上続いているという。だが、なんといってもこの洞窟の魅力はまったく観光地化されていないところである。それは洞窟であり、華やかなに輝かされたディスコーのような観光地ではない。<br />
<br />
この洞窟までたどり着いたのは良いが、ガイドなしの入洞は禁止だ。洞内は迷路になっているわけで、ガイドなしで生きて帰ってこられる可能性はごくわずかだからだ。<br />
コースは4つあった。2時間コース。4時間コース。6時間コース。それから15時間コース。15時間コースに挑戦したい気持ちはなくもなかったが、何しろ友達は9日間しかタイにいないわけで、たかが洞窟で15時間をつぶすわけにもいかないということで4時間コースを選んだ。<br />
<br />
20分ほど続く下りの山道を、ガイドの後姿を眺めながら歩いた。途中で短刀を取り出して邪魔になっている木々を切りながら進んでいる。一方の手にはタバコを持っている。ハードボイルドだ。<br />
<br />
しばらくすると、水がサラサラと静かに流れる小さな川があった。川はそのまま洞窟の入り口に流れ込んでいた。岩を登ったり下りたりしながら、入洞した。ガイドにヘッドライトを手渡された。これぞ本格派洞窟探検!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WW0rARk_pvRoM71fA7-WazcVLOwmDn33ohqAwQnk6vtZHKYUcMMvFqs6QnPxG_BAXNmD0grvvfsZFb4TvOhaPewoLUPagyyrWMFo4WOV1IUz00hLqEKdMwXbA3Hki0RINNXlhqoAHSU/s1600/IMG_0384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WW0rARk_pvRoM71fA7-WazcVLOwmDn33ohqAwQnk6vtZHKYUcMMvFqs6QnPxG_BAXNmD0grvvfsZFb4TvOhaPewoLUPagyyrWMFo4WOV1IUz00hLqEKdMwXbA3Hki0RINNXlhqoAHSU/s640/IMG_0384.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
ちゃんとした道はないので、へそ辺りまで来る水の中を歩いた。洞窟内は静かだった。言うまでもないが、ヘッドライトがなければ辺りは真っ暗だ。辺りを見回してヘッドライトで照らせたりしていると、綺麗に輝いている岩や氷柱が見えた。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmDzgy-MEIHAIR5C4wGnSqHnYAMBQY8ee-4jllfpSddQoTPpipaqghZRNZ589Da-n8ynW8d3NUXxU8Tguo3QOkKD56YgfeIpIupTc1voJUkjJKyQ96xJYnhUDvRIOUCfeJhw73NBq93o/s1600/P1100901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmDzgy-MEIHAIR5C4wGnSqHnYAMBQY8ee-4jllfpSddQoTPpipaqghZRNZ589Da-n8ynW8d3NUXxU8Tguo3QOkKD56YgfeIpIupTc1voJUkjJKyQ96xJYnhUDvRIOUCfeJhw73NBq93o/s400/P1100901.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
途中に、いろいろと分かれ道があったが、ガイドは何の戸惑いもなくどんどん進んでいった。途中の岩を登ったり下りたり、天井が恐ろしく低いときはしゃがんだりしながら進んだ。崖もいくつもあり、橋のように機能している細い板の上を注意深く進んだ。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqccTj-9POomEnWGDtpvTjvuRNB-rIorYlsI1HzOt3kmwmfveTbAS0hrLm3GB6fmowWgAa2w1yf_AVkxt55tmuUWWyGhYJYYI53RZd9q1AhHYqvMvvWYxiunKy_ydA1rVt9_KdkIEWujc/s1600/P1100921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqccTj-9POomEnWGDtpvTjvuRNB-rIorYlsI1HzOt3kmwmfveTbAS0hrLm3GB6fmowWgAa2w1yf_AVkxt55tmuUWWyGhYJYYI53RZd9q1AhHYqvMvvWYxiunKy_ydA1rVt9_KdkIEWujc/s640/P1100921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
30分ほど歩くと、ガイドは上を指差した。天井はとても高かったが、上に数え切れないほどたくさんのコウモリが飛んでいた。その後もひたすら頭上に数多くのコウモリが舞っていた。何度か、頭に触れたり身体にぶつかったりもした。<br />
<br />
遠くに、小さな小さな赤い光が見えた 。洞窟の虫が作っている光のようだ。何のためにそんなことをするかは不明。<br />
それ以外の洞窟内の生き物はといえば、たまに蛙らしきものがぴょんぴょん辺りを飛び跳ねているのが目に入ったり、ゴキブリのような虫や蜘蛛が岩の上を這ったりしている。<br />
<br />
おそろしく広々した空間にいると思いきや、次はまた数多くの氷柱の下をしゃがみながら進んでいる。<br />
<br />
またしても、ガイドが上を指差した。氷柱と氷柱の間に、コウモリの巣があって、赤ちゃんのコウモリが眩しそうにこちらを見ているではないか。<br />
<br />
大きな岩の上に水が滝のように流れていた。ガイドはこれをなんともなさそうに登った、しかも口に終始タバコを口に銜えている。相当なれている様子だが、僕と友達は泥まみれだし、必死になんとかついてきていた。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNTQJbcO1UkfwXYyLGRTJGhY-bbz35stQuw7Eh2U_PLMWR5XCiO8yz_LnsuZ8SD9Y4dOxgWtLlJ7k9V4TVNr9PTIVtlWVRxRZ_YHO8f40C5Y0t3M9OaL9q0svnj3i9cMhBaobvzhpK80/s1600/P1100925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNTQJbcO1UkfwXYyLGRTJGhY-bbz35stQuw7Eh2U_PLMWR5XCiO8yz_LnsuZ8SD9Y4dOxgWtLlJ7k9V4TVNr9PTIVtlWVRxRZ_YHO8f40C5Y0t3M9OaL9q0svnj3i9cMhBaobvzhpK80/s640/P1100925.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
この水が流れている岩の上に、ガイドはしゃがみこんで、われわれを呼んだ。小さな魚が泳いでいた。一見すればどうということのない小魚だが、これは洞窟にしか生息しない小魚らしい。真っ暗な洞窟で生息するこの小魚には、眼がないのだ。確かに暗闇の中で生活する生物に眼は不要だが、実際に眼のない魚を見ると、かなり不思議な気がしてくる。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofFpHRcOuopsUoPhiibC5sptX30dgWSAKpFcusmnbGyEsD5YwMd2xj58vob9QRdCF-_sXUChJqvfkPq6CVyCurZqurmeqs3a8cRrEIOEptUnNnab8jYUl_IAtKpW9cPJEY-EakHIrt34/s1600/P1100913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofFpHRcOuopsUoPhiibC5sptX30dgWSAKpFcusmnbGyEsD5YwMd2xj58vob9QRdCF-_sXUChJqvfkPq6CVyCurZqurmeqs3a8cRrEIOEptUnNnab8jYUl_IAtKpW9cPJEY-EakHIrt34/s400/P1100913.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
さらに進むと、本当の滝が見えてきた。洞窟のど真ん中にある滝だ! 滝の水は大分冷たかったが、せっかく来たからには水浴びせずに帰らないわけにはいかない。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7V4PUvrumJ9YYK5udKOXhYFB5PuclA_E7RoCIqpIBrl_ECFZSa1bhCQm9yuZ9y3toe9XConOe1CK2FTH7dgugP4b-dZ9RpjIiAW5zrdfTG6MQr7QJK5fWtt5YBp60rFVgJ5nPEua6rX0/s1600/P1100918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7V4PUvrumJ9YYK5udKOXhYFB5PuclA_E7RoCIqpIBrl_ECFZSa1bhCQm9yuZ9y3toe9XConOe1CK2FTH7dgugP4b-dZ9RpjIiAW5zrdfTG6MQr7QJK5fWtt5YBp60rFVgJ5nPEua6rX0/s320/P1100918.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
さて、4時間コースはここまでで、あとは逆戻りすれば良い。だが、そうは言っても、2時間ばかりかかる、登ったり下りたりしゃがんだりの帰り道だ。<br />
<br />
滝を力ずくで登っていると、同じように滝の流れに逆らって進んでいるエビのような生物を発見。だが、このエビにはちゃんと眼がついていた。<br />
<br />
4時間の洞窟探検の後にまた外の明かりを見ると、違和感を感じた。国境を越えて、文化も生活スタイルも違う国へやってきたような違和感だ。だが、それは未知の国ではなく、いつだったか、昔生活したことのある慣れ親しんでいる国だ。<br />
<br />
追伸 <br />
<br />
一緒に15時間コースに挑戦してみたいという命知らずがいれば、ぜひご一報ください。僕はやってみたいと思います!Rinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461500771340620051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753638629296309435.post-72366588090625935672012-05-11T17:50:00.002+09:002012-05-11T18:07:50.640+09:00A bike tour through Northern Thailand.<i>May </i> <i>11, 2012. Written in Bangkok, Thailand.</i><br />
<br />
A bike tour through Northern Thailand.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6KmKUehGCZ8eCxPcynE7Va9shXNWG3wj-179dVO5bldFpSN4hAkiF2ao1UvkQrskkKePupfSCbz5W9GWNMmUSonUxIDuTHh9pV6-UyZBKEk4iP9xWjjBx8Tq3WsdmbZZs_D0GZWtM0s/s1600/IMG_0351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6KmKUehGCZ8eCxPcynE7Va9shXNWG3wj-179dVO5bldFpSN4hAkiF2ao1UvkQrskkKePupfSCbz5W9GWNMmUSonUxIDuTHh9pV6-UyZBKEk4iP9xWjjBx8Tq3WsdmbZZs_D0GZWtM0s/s640/IMG_0351.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<i> </i><br />
From Northern Thailand's main city Chiang Mai, we (Nicolas and I) took the bus to a small town called Pai.<br />
We imagined ourselves a rural and small local town, especially because we read that the town has only 2000 inhabitants. But, as soon as we arrived and left the bus, we realized that there must be almost the double of tourists compared to the town's inhabitants. Literally everything was tourist orientated. Which doesn't mean that it was not a nice cozy town, but it was undeniable that it was fake. A mother was making her little girl sing English Christmas songs. Now, of course it is awkward to sing such a song in this period of the year, but that was not the problem. Children in a small town in the deep mountains of Northern Thailand normally are just not supposed to sing English songs.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9DynfkZ2WedpPia5GKaZEQxPly_GC7wB3W7rlKCFR26sw1KF8WrdfxU7Yk9K9QdJn8a_g87ISCjErwvRvqvYUl4pHziNcKfSv29-fjfRCzGIoRXFKIZriPZVh1l3LLtkh8meIlu5JLo/s1600/IMG_0340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9DynfkZ2WedpPia5GKaZEQxPly_GC7wB3W7rlKCFR26sw1KF8WrdfxU7Yk9K9QdJn8a_g87ISCjErwvRvqvYUl4pHziNcKfSv29-fjfRCzGIoRXFKIZriPZVh1l3LLtkh8meIlu5JLo/s640/IMG_0340.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
After spending a night at Pai, the next day we departed on our adventure. For the next 5 days we were going to cover about 700 kilometers by bike. The bikes we had rented in Pai only cost 100 Bat (250 Yen or 2 Euro 50) a day which is nothing, but it was the fuel which was most expensive. These bikes seem really addicted to that liquid, and on a full day of biking we would have to refill for at least 3 times.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaa59uJznTztxUVoukyJHBi06-Lx69DFLG7cfA_kNC7qKgP5EZ_ehU3stEOkor_8uUyC_FY5nD7OFdliT90LL0QudJFvSXW8WOVb565Gx1BvBr7QMPpZ98DgDbUPuw86ZU2_lfqoxW1YU/s1600/P1100857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaa59uJznTztxUVoukyJHBi06-Lx69DFLG7cfA_kNC7qKgP5EZ_ehU3stEOkor_8uUyC_FY5nD7OFdliT90LL0QudJFvSXW8WOVb565Gx1BvBr7QMPpZ98DgDbUPuw86ZU2_lfqoxW1YU/s400/P1100857.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
That being said, we had an amazing time on our bikes, racing through the mountains, forests, passing waterfalls and caves. The scenery would often change drastically. Sometimes it would be like a tropical forest, the other day it made Nicolas remember Southern France's countryside. But whatever kind of scenery it would be, it was all amazing non the less. I especially liked one tree with very bright red leaves, which would show its face once in a while.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmtUZGtYJb5_hQhZexMu4dH2CcFWjGtKAGebq0Wdklv_xuK6LFyKx80k-9otdgzRXp0SiHWHlnJZX8-yhh36VTWEyuZL1UAe7p6TCiRtYPH3s2l6ht0J-G60XUxm7DKl54ZVLJJ1DpjY/s1600/IMG_0407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmtUZGtYJb5_hQhZexMu4dH2CcFWjGtKAGebq0Wdklv_xuK6LFyKx80k-9otdgzRXp0SiHWHlnJZX8-yhh36VTWEyuZL1UAe7p6TCiRtYPH3s2l6ht0J-G60XUxm7DKl54ZVLJJ1DpjY/s640/IMG_0407.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
On the first day, we did a 5 hour expedition inside the "Mae Lana Cave" which was definitely one of the highlights of my trip so far. I will write more detailed on this in a next post (in Japanese, muhaha!) so stay tuned.<br />
After becoming completely dirty and exhausted from the cave, we found a small eatery in the middle of nowhere. Funny enough, there were 2 western guys sitting there that had just their lunch. After departing Pai, we had hardly seen any foreigners, but sometimes you see a few hardcore backpackers. They were from the United States, but were both living in Asia. One of them had lived in Thailand before, and spoke fluent Thai. The other one was teaching English somewhere in the cold north of China. They mentioned a waterfall that was supposed to be close by, but with the car they had rented they were not allowed to enter. After having some simple and cheap noodles, we took them on the back of our motorcycles, and tried to head to the waterfall, but there were some Chinese asking for a ridiculous entrance fee.<br />
"Even when I leave the place they still try to scam me!" the English teacher said.<br />
We headed back to the restaurant, said goodbye to them and continued on our tour.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaft4CDtcB3uOwqj4TOWDiPa5OQVeWVZdO3knU6utmbuOszRILUCLPxK729XKeLH3Tg0Y8XGKSAyJeWI1x7kf-yekm1UdHl2h4VocJpcwwI6BwnXcF5smnAtG0H6-HIxH5QkdFk2xEFVY/s1600/P1100872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaft4CDtcB3uOwqj4TOWDiPa5OQVeWVZdO3knU6utmbuOszRILUCLPxK729XKeLH3Tg0Y8XGKSAyJeWI1x7kf-yekm1UdHl2h4VocJpcwwI6BwnXcF5smnAtG0H6-HIxH5QkdFk2xEFVY/s640/P1100872.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
After another 3 or 4 hours, we arrived at a city called Mae Hong Son. It was supposed to be the capital of the province, but expect no more than a small village. There were not too many foreigners here either. We found ourselves a cheap motel for the night with the name "Pen Porn House".<br />
The place had no internet, so once we left for dinner, we hoped to find a restaurant with wifi. To our surprises, there was wifi at a simple local restaurant, so we decided to eat there. It was not very crowded, and the lady gave us a seat at the second floor. We were the only ones at the second floor. For the simpleness of the restaurant, the food and service were really good, and most importantly the lady was really kind. With a real smile on her face, she often came upstairs to look if we had everything we needed. After finishing dinner, Nicolas and I used the place as if it was our home. I moved to another table to write a bit on my blog, while Nicolas was walking around in the room while skyping. When the lady came upstairs again to look at us, she laughed and told us to feel as if we were at home, which we had already been doing.<br />
<br />
On the second day of our trip, before leaving Mae Hong Son, we first made a brief visit to the towns temple located next to a lake. We had some simple lunch, and then were ready to go. We wanted to pay a visit to a town were a Long neck tribe lives, but somehow took the wrong way. I have heard that you pay an entrance fee there nowadays and that the place has pretty much lost all of it's authenticity, so I didn't care so much.<br />
<br />
We found a small road that was leading to the top of a mountain.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfzOp7SLFU-7ZEMMRBKkKaI33Ws_IiHkCHgwCG_tCoGsKlThjSrz4y7BpggVTMkmISdnQyT2FJk7pOMjGzxew1s8BzR9WgclW0TZi10md6lqyrT8Xj5htX1LQzZX4D7coZFm6lv114lo/s1600/P1100972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfzOp7SLFU-7ZEMMRBKkKaI33Ws_IiHkCHgwCG_tCoGsKlThjSrz4y7BpggVTMkmISdnQyT2FJk7pOMjGzxew1s8BzR9WgclW0TZi10md6lqyrT8Xj5htX1LQzZX4D7coZFm6lv114lo/s640/P1100972.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We took this road because it said "Left for the microwave" on a traffic sign before it. Let's see what kind of microwave this could be! On the way, we found many huge crop-fields, but strangely enough there was not a single laborer around. Was it maybe not the right season? On the top of the mountain, we found a small small village. This was really a place were tourists usually don't come. Although most people did have cars, life here seemed still very primitive. Kids were holding chickens, a small pig was walking around in someone's garden and people's houses were built primitively with simple pieces of wood. A microwave was going to be hard to find here. In front of a certain house, a grandma was cooking loads of meat and rice. Wouldn't it be interesting if we could join the lunch here? With the guide book Nicolas had brought, we tried to explain that we were hungry. They somehow seemed to understand, but didn't invite us inside. A girl carrying a baby (probably the only one in town that speaks a little bit of English) told us to follow her. She took us to a small old shop, probably the only place to buy food in town. We had some snacks, and ate this in the front of the shop.<br />
"Do you think they know a lot about Swedish contemporary art here?" Nicolas asked.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGGspx6ZOHY56GlZDzqDWLKhK13ebVYasRRMyClyhF5A1aa_TPU5444Pv3kwuZ4tyrRG6V7K7IFoAlD3ncd9e-dJUhttULhy6y7PYAkfRvYNsU2RmfRpl5iufLxbDJ8RlbOdODUzR2jY/s1600/P1100986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGGspx6ZOHY56GlZDzqDWLKhK13ebVYasRRMyClyhF5A1aa_TPU5444Pv3kwuZ4tyrRG6V7K7IFoAlD3ncd9e-dJUhttULhy6y7PYAkfRvYNsU2RmfRpl5iufLxbDJ8RlbOdODUzR2jY/s640/P1100986.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
After eating our snacks, we saw a lady entering her house, and asked if we could take a look inside. The lady was cooking rice, and in the back a boy was sitting on an old table. No microwave to be seen.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7KTsgxglyVSrnYwmKgo4oQnU1MseXzszjtVFFfQQH_VmZaQu9saz0pSO-Nbe15-WmLSkeRBxM1hKnUCi5ddyLjm3HJYl6WGu6d_JbI8NBj8eD_TVNzq_pMJr4YAo2bnV0We6qCxaV0w/s1600/P1100998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7KTsgxglyVSrnYwmKgo4oQnU1MseXzszjtVFFfQQH_VmZaQu9saz0pSO-Nbe15-WmLSkeRBxM1hKnUCi5ddyLjm3HJYl6WGu6d_JbI8NBj8eD_TVNzq_pMJr4YAo2bnV0We6qCxaV0w/s400/P1100998.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We left the town, and went on with our trip. On the way, we found a place on the riverside to have a swim. It had been so hot! I was dying to take a fresh dive. But once in the water, I started to worry. What if there was a crocodile swimming in this water? It looked exactly like the kind of river in which you would find one. Quit that nonsense, Nicolas said, and I forgot about it and decided to just have a nice swim. But then, all of the sudden, I saw bubbles in the water, coming closer little by little. I pointed at it to Nicolas. We both swam back to the riverbanks as fast as we could. Back on the land, we had another good look at it. It were just some small fish.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbxEJfHGJAUq9OcjRXu36rBdo89WfKxlq8vlA7g3H-gnObh_Mh6YjGSmHLOdJ7Dk8svoFyJPSWEsoPKAKevxFNvyAtIsmQVAAFPjHBo93tTM8WBbIw8T4nPmOxakmUXCvsjhORpW_9NY/s1600/P1110006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbxEJfHGJAUq9OcjRXu36rBdo89WfKxlq8vlA7g3H-gnObh_Mh6YjGSmHLOdJ7Dk8svoFyJPSWEsoPKAKevxFNvyAtIsmQVAAFPjHBo93tTM8WBbIw8T4nPmOxakmUXCvsjhORpW_9NY/s640/P1110006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Later that day, we found a huge waterfall in the middle of nature. It was a complete jungle out there, and there was no one around at all. About our adventures at this waterfall, I will write detailed in another post ( in Dutch, muhaha!) so stay tuned!<br />
<br />
It was starting to get pretty late by then. We had to hurry on to the next town for a bed. But on the way, it started to rain like cats and dogs. We were only wearing shorts and a t-shirt, and were cold and wet like crazy. On the way, we found a small roof with a bench to hide from the terrible weather. After a while, a local family came to hide as well. We all climbed as high as possible to stay away from the rain.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2mrYOYKXM7Y1D1sdW0GobjCFvtesRbNXSQZAfhqGbKerC843zVU1-yZrVVILdRtaS55fCBmOfoV5Td9OObSUc0s1VbUczSpEQsBIBSUoakhCay89eX7bQ9L_yDugppxhKQhVfNhcBKk/s1600/P1110033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2mrYOYKXM7Y1D1sdW0GobjCFvtesRbNXSQZAfhqGbKerC843zVU1-yZrVVILdRtaS55fCBmOfoV5Td9OObSUc0s1VbUczSpEQsBIBSUoakhCay89eX7bQ9L_yDugppxhKQhVfNhcBKk/s400/P1110033.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
After something like 15 minutes, the rain got a bit less. Time for us to move on. But we had to be careful. The roads were very slippery because of the rain. On the way, Nicolas fell with his bike once, but gladly seemed to be unharmed.<br />
<br />
The rain became worse again. But if we would stop to hide again, it would become too dark before we would arrive at the next town. While getting completely soaked, we headed on and on. Just when we were about to die because of this terrible weather, we found a small cottage saying "Coffee house homestay".<br />
We were saved! A cute old couple gladly invited us inside, and told us to first have a nice hot shower. After that, they cooked some nice fried rice and an omelet for us while we were watching Thai television. A cheerfully smiling guy with long hair was singing a happy song, while trying to dance with a beautiful girl. The girl seemed to be in for this, but her angry mother next to her was not allowing her to dance. The guy then tried to cheer up the angry mother. It seemed hard to succeed, but he kept trying and trying, but even at the end the mother would not show a single smile. The song somehow matched perfectly with the atmosphere of the living room.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSZg7oiKw8E3OkAs8kl1_ed9D5R7bXAbSbFvdAJ9jkb0qMQItNZ_Hun5ZcoqW1d_kNC-7ixNGZCA3KsnZUKV3cyjXhOm5IDZIe7jzALA4xnPrKk-qhsskbeTanIUXUZHDy-mshX1kZjc/s1600/P1110037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSZg7oiKw8E3OkAs8kl1_ed9D5R7bXAbSbFvdAJ9jkb0qMQItNZ_Hun5ZcoqW1d_kNC-7ixNGZCA3KsnZUKV3cyjXhOm5IDZIe7jzALA4xnPrKk-qhsskbeTanIUXUZHDy-mshX1kZjc/s640/P1110037.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
There was no wifi at "Coffee house homestay". The rain had stopped now, so I made a small tour around to see if I could find a place to use wifi, but without luck. When I came back, Nicolas laughed and said "I guess driving around in search for wifi in the middle of nowhere somewhere in Northern Thailand in the middle the night was a bit too ambitious".<br />
<br />
The 3rd day, we decided to try and make it all the way to Chiang Mai. It was only another150 kilometers more, so that shouldn't be too hard. On the way we bought some Lychee, and ate some while driving our bikes. We found another waterfall, this time not in the middle of nowhere, but with a parking lot and a restaurant positioned next to it. There was a path next to the waterfall leading somewhere, so we decided to climb our way up. It was further than we had imagined. A huge staircase seemed to be leading somewhere, but it was a terrible job to climb all the way up in this incredible heat. When we finally arrived at the top, it turned out that it was just another parking lot.<br />
"Huh, all this sweat for nothing?" I said.<br />
"Not for nothing. Now you lost a few more pounds"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFo0duffU5CtCdj786bn1uByUoVJeHYjhle2WzPhIkfDS0NwP58XpVOFEAh0p9aD7hXF5Ta-cY4afJQThwfUuopkKKI5_6H4kPG9H7DV1szCofgijl220epqChtDfk7HMWA7BPpd0WFs/s1600/P1110045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFo0duffU5CtCdj786bn1uByUoVJeHYjhle2WzPhIkfDS0NwP58XpVOFEAh0p9aD7hXF5Ta-cY4afJQThwfUuopkKKI5_6H4kPG9H7DV1szCofgijl220epqChtDfk7HMWA7BPpd0WFs/s640/P1110045.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
After having a huge fish for lunch, we headed on to Chiang Mai. This day was so incredibly hot, that we wanted to arrive and rest at a cool room as fast as possible. On the way, there was a "Gahesha museum". Ganesha being a god with an elephant shaped head, originally from India. We decided to have a look, but once we arrived we were so exhausted that we just sat down on a bench in the shadow, and didn't feel like looking around anymore.<br />
"I wonder if they have wifi here" Nicolas said, and to our surprises there was. In some small elephant god museum in Northern Thailand, I was chatting with people from over the whole world. The world has really become a strange, strange place.<br />
<br />
After about an hour of wifi, we decided it was time to have a look at the elephant gods. There was a collection of Ganesha statues from all sorts of counties. It was interesting to see how each country has a slightly differently shaped Ganesha. Nicolas explained me about the story behind Ganesha.<br />
Ganesha, a young boy was lying in bed with his mother. Father came, and mistook Ganesha for a guy cheating on his wife. He cut off the head of Ganesha.<br />
"No honey! You are making a mistake! This is our son" mother said. But it was already too late. In total panic, father searched for another head to replace. The first head he found was an elephants head... Well, I guess it's better than nothing!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwb_tuzqvDBZIIcQU4yoeP5wotSyUWEOF6Pu2BGhCs3OGerUiyy1OCuNsFFNwEY8eKVuO39RXHlaRAKukIBc1SOypvYTG5HeIsjDlg_iLa2T5tO5bvSpqnZ25ITHl9BaTGZGzkMujSJI/s1600/P1110057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwb_tuzqvDBZIIcQU4yoeP5wotSyUWEOF6Pu2BGhCs3OGerUiyy1OCuNsFFNwEY8eKVuO39RXHlaRAKukIBc1SOypvYTG5HeIsjDlg_iLa2T5tO5bvSpqnZ25ITHl9BaTGZGzkMujSJI/s400/P1110057.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
We arrived in Chiang Mai in the early evening. We found a comfortable and cheap hotel, and headed out for barbecue food in the night.<br />
<br />
The next day, we were both so tired and sun burnt that we decided to take it easy. Nicolas had his beard shaved at a local barber, I had my first real massage in my life, and we drove around by bike through town.<br />
At the massage parlor, we were told to change into special uniforms for this massage. It seemed that we had made a mistake, and that I was wearing the small sized uniform that were meant for Nicolas while he was wearing my large sized uniform. The ladies that gave the massage seemed to find this hilarious, and would often suddenly burst out laughing while giving the massage. That being said, I have never been someone who enjoys massages, and going to my first real massage parlor didn't really change that. But, having a real Thai style massage was a worthy experience non the less.<br />
<br />
On the last day of our trip, what we had to do was bring back our bikes back to Pai, then take the bus back to Chiang Mai and take the night train back to Bangkok. On the way back to Pai, we had lunch at some fashionable cafe that served it's rice shaped in a heart piece.<br />
In the last few kilometers, I tried to brake in a curve, but the bike suddenly slipped and I fell. Until now, no problems at all and in the last few kilometers this. Luckily I was unharmed and able to go on, but a few minutes after that, while driving straight and slowly, I tried to brake once more, and again the bike slipped. This time my arms and legs were full of scratches, and I had a really deep wound on the side of my right foot. After 700 kilometers with no problems, 2 accidents in the last 10 kilometers! There had to be something wrong with the brakes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKkTSPX_CgGUBP6On0EajzlDFsPyT6VQTvZJv5ANjqEydfeHbX5NsNTUgxQubsAotAa0Z3V7Yi3Mt79l6zccF8jTJo9fSvmldL9UdfsFDZ31aTZyOzs9drF2iplrC0CBt-XZ3CsXHEVM/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKkTSPX_CgGUBP6On0EajzlDFsPyT6VQTvZJv5ANjqEydfeHbX5NsNTUgxQubsAotAa0Z3V7Yi3Mt79l6zccF8jTJo9fSvmldL9UdfsFDZ31aTZyOzs9drF2iplrC0CBt-XZ3CsXHEVM/s400/DSC_0040.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
My right foot hurt pretty bad, so once we arrived in town Nicolas helped me straight to the hospital. He was very helpful and nice enough to bring the bikes back and buy a bus-ticket in the meantime. Of course I don't like being injured, but still, a look inside a hospital in Northern Thailand was an interesting experience. Things were pretty well organized, and different from more modern countries, there was hardly any waiting time. I got a few injections near my right foot's wound which hurt terribly, but except from that things seemed to be OK.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I was able to walk without problems, and Nicolas helped me back to the bus-station. The only problem was that I was not going to get a nice bed to recover. In a night train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, wounds don't heal so well...<br />
I guess I will have to take it easy for a while to recover these wounds. Hopefully after that I will be able to practice Muay Thai!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4eSCktHBxCDTzvAD1jBiNCrfgcv-6_7YDpzLXHIbATWeMuheGXvSDydOJPh-5BBGL4mrkUpPDHFHKc-MPS3GZSddNpKTYlESpNUzdXkxKF0iaHA3cku_J65tXsRzGoDhHVA4wNskIAw/s1600/DSC_0041(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4eSCktHBxCDTzvAD1jBiNCrfgcv-6_7YDpzLXHIbATWeMuheGXvSDydOJPh-5BBGL4mrkUpPDHFHKc-MPS3GZSddNpKTYlESpNUzdXkxKF0iaHA3cku_J65tXsRzGoDhHVA4wNskIAw/s400/DSC_0041(1).JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />Rinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461500771340620051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753638629296309435.post-87229983462346289342012-05-07T17:03:00.000+09:002012-05-07T17:03:15.884+09:00One day in Bangkok with Nicolas.<i>May 7, 2012. Written in Bangkok, Thailand.</i><br />
<br />
One day in Bangkok with Nicolas.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1A5MmJ7F0lhXDVnLG9NCDu88Pu6P8NpkjFt9lsDy2w0Onts5yL1MOvT6VDRwGwvJu-IYamb2pHN0tPQtUvQbQ6zVZ26nnPSVQIODog5-WW-8yVMkgCycgcdo6e11P8KxYThfn9kxuqg/s1600/IMG_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1A5MmJ7F0lhXDVnLG9NCDu88Pu6P8NpkjFt9lsDy2w0Onts5yL1MOvT6VDRwGwvJu-IYamb2pHN0tPQtUvQbQ6zVZ26nnPSVQIODog5-WW-8yVMkgCycgcdo6e11P8KxYThfn9kxuqg/s640/IMG_0168.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Some of you might still remember my adventures in Hong Kong at my French friend Nicolas's apartment. Since then, 4 months have past. Sometimes, it really shocks me when I realize how long I already have been on the road.<br />
<br />
That being said, Nicolas came to Thailand for 9 days to go on adventure with me. One of the best things of traveling is making new friends and seeing them again, so I was happy to see him safely arrive at the airport. Except for having become a bit bold (!) , he had not changed much. While catching up on things, we headed to the hostel I had booked for us. This hostel is about the cheapest you can find in Bangkok, but there is a reason for that. The place is located right next to a club that booms loudly until late in the night. Luckily though, Nicolas seemed to be so tired he fell asleep anyway. While writing on my novel, I waited until the same would happen for me, but that took until 5 in the morning.<br />
<br />
The next day, we decided to head for northern Thailand in the evening, so there was only one day for him to explore Bangkok. Together, we took the boat for transport to first have a look at Bangkok's vibrant city center. The city is full of huge malls and shops, and can look so advanced that it can almost make you think you are dealing with one of the worlds strongest economic powers.<br />
"Oh my god, Asia is becoming so rich!" Nicolas said.<br />
<br />
Then, we took some local buses, and visited temples in the old city center. After 7 months of traveling, I am pretty much "templed out", and to be honest had not visited any of Bangkok's famous places yet, but I was glad to do some of them with Nicolas. One of the temples was build on top of a huge spiral staircase. From the top of this, there was a nice view on the city's skyline. Bangkok is really a huge city, full of skyscrapers. It seems like I had been underestimating Bangkok a little bit. By the way, the city seems to have 6 million inhabitants, which is a tenth of the country's total population.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNJLCE5MMdiHlb1nTW3pgWbSLQ_S66QXgXJZbaEVRPPG4sq4xSCtuBA5J7w3NWxTLXZFpLCysu8msrTn7O4NWqMRZNrywRN0IiICQLwOvZOmiGFs7VzbrBgbl0rYvQSkH9AnqkQL_f-g/s1600/IMG_0286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNJLCE5MMdiHlb1nTW3pgWbSLQ_S66QXgXJZbaEVRPPG4sq4xSCtuBA5J7w3NWxTLXZFpLCysu8msrTn7O4NWqMRZNrywRN0IiICQLwOvZOmiGFs7VzbrBgbl0rYvQSkH9AnqkQL_f-g/s640/IMG_0286.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
After having dinner at one of the big malls, we headed to the bus center to take our night bus to Chiang Mai. After all this concrete jungle, it is now time for some real jungle!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvV8Tg5OJVVUgDFzb0qYZvV5Fhh5XXsPWkCAPO4ZntZdtA6OnoijdqPdPAY336NSJ9HeiVmkUdFmvnsbI7VcxpLTvSBVpcQ-mx1mqenp64lzeu9u4rtBAGprT6VXvwfbgRQHM01j12Ig/s1600/IMG_0303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvV8Tg5OJVVUgDFzb0qYZvV5Fhh5XXsPWkCAPO4ZntZdtA6OnoijdqPdPAY336NSJ9HeiVmkUdFmvnsbI7VcxpLTvSBVpcQ-mx1mqenp64lzeu9u4rtBAGprT6VXvwfbgRQHM01j12Ig/s640/IMG_0303.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Rinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461500771340620051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753638629296309435.post-9139413296505353042012-05-07T16:43:00.001+09:002012-05-07T17:07:50.474+09:00Again no noodles.<i>May 7, 2012. Written in Bangkok, 2012.</i><br />
<br />
Again no noodles.<br />
<i> </i><br />
Ok, this time I was going to get my Japanese noodles! I took the bus again, this time knowing for sure that I was on the right one. I also knew the name of the stop I had to go out. But was I really going to be able to recognize it? Maybe I had already gone to far? Yeah, It might be a better idea to go out here. In case I was wrong, I could always take the subway from here.<br />
<i> </i><br />
While walking the streets, I noticed that I was not at the right place after all. It was probably close, but I should have waited another 2 or 3 stops.Oh well, I will just walk around for a bit, and then take the subway somewhere.<br />
While waiting in front of a traffic sign to cross the roads, someone suddenly approached me.<br />
"Hi there Rine"<br />
It was Man, my friend from Hong Kong/U.S.A. I had been traveling with him in Guilin and Shanghai before. I knew that he arrived in Bangkok one or two days before, and we had agreed on meeting somewhere soon, but what a coincidence to just bump into him like this. He was walking the streets with a Japanese woman.<br />
"Where are you going?" he asked me.<br />
"Well, I was going to have some noodles at this...."<br />
"Life is too short to have noodles, come with us"<br />
"Uhmm..Ok!" So, no noodles after all huh.<br />
<br />
Man was showing around his Japanese friend, a 29 year old girl that was also traveling around the world.<br />
"Ever heard of the sewage boats?" Man asked me.<br />
"The sewage boats?"<br />
"Yeah, locals in Bangkok use them for transport. C'mon, I'll show you."<br />
I'm not sure if it was actually the sewage, but in a very dirty narrow river, there was a pier with many locals waiting for the boat to come.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6xMEvcYkKgFw6b9Zlhcfb7XzyDdiIdgaWyaly-_W_OJqxx97YXrwDlPTqKlNNugpq7NZTQaUOtUIEMSagi6vjSDlrLGJS6BnsMzHruOMhupY2QMDd1OeGVIT-3ryxr-yRNwaFgoHnPs/s1600/P1100820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6xMEvcYkKgFw6b9Zlhcfb7XzyDdiIdgaWyaly-_W_OJqxx97YXrwDlPTqKlNNugpq7NZTQaUOtUIEMSagi6vjSDlrLGJS6BnsMzHruOMhupY2QMDd1OeGVIT-3ryxr-yRNwaFgoHnPs/s640/P1100820.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
The boat was full of locals that appeared to be using this boat as their daily transport, but not a single foreigner. A long cloth was raised to prevent people from getting wet. Because the boat was sailing on high speed, this was highly necessary, and even with this cloth you would sometimes get wet.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKKeMfkbBrO3uzn5nZZuejB-fGiUNr4ywxQzi5sLIExGvZTwOQTExTo8KReyNE0HgACgrsSdi7PLbD0987M4bo7LPiDdzOr4S48uDCqnWwJgMePTWGx1GZI9UKNg70e2JjlTQ665sMuQ/s1600/P1110132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKKeMfkbBrO3uzn5nZZuejB-fGiUNr4ywxQzi5sLIExGvZTwOQTExTo8KReyNE0HgACgrsSdi7PLbD0987M4bo7LPiDdzOr4S48uDCqnWwJgMePTWGx1GZI9UKNg70e2JjlTQ665sMuQ/s320/P1110132.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We went of at some random pier, and walked the streets to the most nearby subway station from there. It was pretty far, and before we knew it we had walked about 30 minutes. We took the subway to "Asok", and had dinner at a huge mall that was themed as if it was an airport. With the escalators you go to your next "destination". Each floor was a different city. Paris, Rome, Tokyo, Istambul, San Fransisco, etc. At a huge Thai style food-court in San Fransisco we had dinner. It might not have been the Japanese noodles I was eager to eat, but it was good local food non the less!<br />
<br />Rinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461500771340620051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753638629296309435.post-26480463074049165362012-05-07T01:25:00.000+09:002012-05-07T01:25:01.000+09:00ジャパニーズ・バンコク<i>May 6, 2012. Written in Bangkok, Thailand.</i><br />
<br />
ジャパニーズ・バンコク<br />
<i> </i><br />
ラオスで出会ったバンコク在住の日本人Kさんとバンコクで再会した。Kさんは以前にもアフリカに2年ほど住み、今はバンコクで日本語教師をやっている。海外でたくさんサバイバルなことを経験しているだけに、いろいろと刺激的なストーリーを持っている。<br />
<br />
待ち合わせしたのはCenterpointというバンコクのかなり大きなモール。一部が伊勢丹になっており、日本のコスメティックメーカーや洋服ブランドを販売している。また、最上階には紀伊國屋書店があり、書物の品ぞろいは日本の書店にも負けないくらいだった。多くのバンコク在住の日本人に混ざって、僕は妙な視線を感じながらしばらく立ち読みし、本を数冊買った。<br />
<br />
この最上階はフードコートになっており、Kさんと夕食を取った。ココイチや吉野家や8番ラーメンやミスタードーナツと、ここにも日本の店が並ぶ。僕らは大戸屋に入り、店員にもらったおしぼりでおっさんらしく顔を拭いてからメニューを見た。大学生の頃、サークル仲間とよく大戸屋へ行っていたのでメニューが懐かしかった。昔いつも「ばくだん丼」という納豆・とろろ・オクラ・生卵・まぐろから成り立つ、ねばねば系のどんぶりを食べていたのを思い出し、久しぶりに食べたくなったので注文した。Kさんは同じように昔を懐かしむように、彼がよく食べていたという大戸屋ランチを注文した。<br />
<br />
サービスの冷たい緑茶はとても美味しく感じた。海外にはいろいろと美味しいジュースがあるが、甘みのない食事とよく合う飲み物はなかなかない。<br />
<br />
料理が運ばれると、Kさんが頼んでいたのと違うものがやってきた。店員は詫び、すぐに料理を下げた。しばらくして、日本人の店長がやってきた。<br />
「お客様、本当に申し訳ございませんでした」と店長は頭を深く下げながら言った。<br />
人がこんなにも丁寧に詫びる姿を、かなり久しぶりに見た気がした。そういう意味では、日本というのは本当に極めて特徴的な国だな、と改めて思った。<br />
<br />
食後、店を出るとKさんと一緒に電車に乗り、Phrom Phong駅で降りた。ここには多くの日本人が住んでいるらしく、日本人向けに経営されている店も多い。たとえばだが、駅前には日本となんらの変わりもない古本屋さんがあった。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dRtCIXW82EpDehssTfJJUAWkm1aZXsJJNlN1r9k3nFDMsvo8g2MPc9o_974LJ5jdKsAdI9DL9JfZHs0dNt8nryPQ0EY52TPKhEMr5bawO1yx0gDspKo7oymxA25hy0E1kyEtzFTNQ9o/s1600/P1100751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dRtCIXW82EpDehssTfJJUAWkm1aZXsJJNlN1r9k3nFDMsvo8g2MPc9o_974LJ5jdKsAdI9DL9JfZHs0dNt8nryPQ0EY52TPKhEMr5bawO1yx0gDspKo7oymxA25hy0E1kyEtzFTNQ9o/s400/P1100751.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
さきほど紀伊國屋で買った本がもっと安い値段で売っているのではないか! 失敗した! その他にはマンガレンタルショップがあったり、日本人が経営する居酒屋やラーメン屋さんがあったり、それから日本人向けのスーパーまであった。このスーパーの中を二人で覗いてみたのだが、そこには本当に日本のスーパーにあるありとあらゆる商品が並んでいた。ポムジュースもあればごはんですよもあればディリーヤマザキの食パンもあればおかめ納豆もある。また、北タイのチェンマイで日本人が作った日本米も売っていたり、手作りの弁当やに握飯などもきれいに並んでおり、閉店前だから割引のステッカーが貼られていた。<br />
<br />
まるで最初から旅に出なかった錯覚に陥りそうになった。<br />
<i> </i>Rinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461500771340620051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753638629296309435.post-12352927680787109412012-05-03T22:54:00.002+09:002012-05-03T22:54:33.451+09:00Bangkok's buses<i>May 3, 2012. Written in Bangkok, Thailand.</i><br />
<br />
Bangkok's buses<br />
<br />
In Tokyo, there is this noodle-place called "Taishouken" I used to enjoy going a lot. After more than 7 months of traveling, my rule of only eating local food has loosened a bit up. I really start missing Japanese food. A good bowl of Taishouken's quality "Tsukemen" would be more than welcome for a time, instead of my daily Thai's superhot<i> </i>red curry.<br />
<br />
I looked up the place on the internet, and asked the staff at the hostel how to get there.<br />
"Bus 53, sir!" <br />
Ok, sounds fair enough. All I have to do is make sure I know which stop I have to get off at.<br />
Finding the bus itself was easy. There is a huge bus stop close to my hostel, and Bus 53 was stopping there. Bangkok's buses have it's fair bit of problems though. First of all, there is no timetable or whatsoever. You just wait in front of the bus stops hoping that at some point your bus will come. Obviously, the buses that go to the main locations of the city pass by very often, but if you are heading for a minor destination prepare for waiting at least half an hour. Secondly, the buses directions are only written down in Thai, and the bus stops have no names and are unannounced. Moreover, ofcourse there is no aircondition in the bus. A couple of small ventilators try hard to cool down the bus, but with the terrible outside temperature of 40 degrees celsius or more gives them a hard job.<br />
But, if you are traveling the backpacker style, things like this are no big deal. Getting lost is all part of the experience, and waiting for hours seems to be normal in South East Asia.<br />
<br />
What is a bit less acceptable though, is what happens if you take the bus during the rush hours. And, sadly, Bangkok's traffic is pretty much in a rush hour the whole day. I am not being sarcastic if I say that if you know the way, it is usually faster to walk then to take a bus. But then again, I don't know the way, so I don't really have a choice, and it is way too hot to go and find your own way by foot. I am also not joking if I say that it is nothing special to find a huge line in front of a traffic light so far you can hardly see the light itself, and have to wait for at least 10 minutes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLD9lq6Y-lwn89tkXWgajI3ntNzJTwneB_rAQ8kwTjWGWiZRA9tsP90nJN_ciq_91LnWlGDUlWkoNWkpXwYFOJK-VfyOnRy-0NeZEoaKsv5R2yuvSXk8IDv6LUBripkfXQEaFzDAn3fP8/s1600/P1100718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLD9lq6Y-lwn89tkXWgajI3ntNzJTwneB_rAQ8kwTjWGWiZRA9tsP90nJN_ciq_91LnWlGDUlWkoNWkpXwYFOJK-VfyOnRy-0NeZEoaKsv5R2yuvSXk8IDv6LUBripkfXQEaFzDAn3fP8/s640/P1100718.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Knowing all these facts, I made sure to take my time and left the hostel at 4, hoping that I would be able to eat my noodles at dinner time. It first took nearly half an hour for my bus to arrive. After entering the bus, I was hoping for the road to be a little bit less crowded than usual, but no. The bus would only move bit by bit, and stopped countless times in front of huge lines. The streets were so filled with cars, that it was almost impossible to see the road.<br />
After one hour, there was still not much progress. I was hoping that I had at least come half way, but another hour later, it felt like I was still in the same neighbourhood.<br />
<br />
At around 6:45, I suddenly noticed something weird. I recognized this area. Wasn't it the area of my hostel!? Oh yeah, there was my busstop!<br />
I was back at the beginning. I decided to give up and go back to the hostel and have some food at the hostel's restaurant. No Japanese noodles for me today.Rinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461500771340620051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753638629296309435.post-52735645210079025272012-05-01T14:03:00.000+09:002012-05-01T14:05:23.580+09:00彷徨う異邦人5 バンコク編<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"><i>May 1, 2012. Written in Chiang Mai, Thailand.</i> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";">彷徨う異邦人5 バンコク編</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"> 着いた夜に見つけた宿は居心地がよく、本当のところは宿を変えたくなかったが、値段が高いのでさすがに何泊もできない。ところが、朝寝坊してチェックアウトの時間をすぎてしまい、とりあえずもう一泊してから移動することにした。</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"> 重いバックパックを背負いながら宿を探すのも大変だし、今日という一日を、新しい宿探しに当てよう。ネットで調べると、バックパッカーが集うことで有名なカオサン通りがあるらしい。ところが、カオサン通りの付近にはまだ地下鉄の駅がないので、バスで行かなければならない。どうせ時間があるし、今日は歩いてみようではないか。そんなわけで、</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho";">40<span lang="JA">度近い温度でバンコクのめちゃくちゃな街を歩いた。汗をかきながら重い足を引きずって歩き、途中で何度も道を聞きながら進んだ。そこで気づいたことが一つ。タイ人――少なくともバンコクの人――は英語の平均レベルがアジアにしてはかなり高め!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSGX51-6tS8EBbFMbQfhAlzotfYW_Z5KsFwae1MEeGBe5K8ifXfwMcXPPSUox4oatr04EzRtiXSs3rK9fBod4XFKZAM8BPO-A4nsuzNXDj-sx57e5yZeMVg7jbCl4-I4aof26Mut69LE/s1600/P1100745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSGX51-6tS8EBbFMbQfhAlzotfYW_Z5KsFwae1MEeGBe5K8ifXfwMcXPPSUox4oatr04EzRtiXSs3rK9fBod4XFKZAM8BPO-A4nsuzNXDj-sx57e5yZeMVg7jbCl4-I4aof26Mut69LE/s640/P1100745.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"> 今日まで泊まっている宿は街の中心にあり、多くの高層ビルが立ち並び、ビジネスマンが街を歩き、その中にはリッチは外国人のサラリーマンも多い。バンコクも大分進んでる街だなー、と思うが、進めば進むほどどんどん街はめちゃくちゃになっていき、汚くなっていき、臭くなっていく。</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"> </span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho";">15<span lang="JA">分ほど歩くと、</span>Siom<span lang="JA">駅までたどり着いた。これは東京で言うと渋谷みたいな場所らしく、大きなデパートや派手な繁華街が伺える。また、日本人専用の「夜の街」もあり、カラオケからピーサロンまである。</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"> ずっとまっすぐに進み続けると、あたりは少し静かになり、なぜかスポーツ用具屋さんが集中している通りに出る。ゴルフ専用の店もあれば、ムエタイの店もあれば、トロフィーやメダルを売っている店もある。バンコクの人たちは、スポーツが好きなのだろうか? そういえば、ときどき公園や広場などで、タイ式のフットバレーボールを行う人たちがおり、とても派手なキックを披露している。まるで少林寺サッカーみたいだ!</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"> その後も、ひたすら同じものを売っている店が並ぶ。家具屋さんが並ぶ地区とか、仏像を売る店が並ぶ地区とか。思うのだが、同じ地区で同じものを売ると、いったいどうやって商売がなりたつのだろうか? 自分の店にしかないものを売ってはじめて、商売がなりたつのではないのだろうか?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQZgfL7SvtrxTU2xfSnvFt0-GvcA9xX_OeY9Jz7yrICBu2BTHyP2dhdDoK2L9Uq4hyWSvOVtHFaetqpk9mnq076YM3sGEBPliZqmQkEGY2bTSRXTOsxWxV_b2TRpAJjdYgUwahr8_ixw/s1600/P1100659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQZgfL7SvtrxTU2xfSnvFt0-GvcA9xX_OeY9Jz7yrICBu2BTHyP2dhdDoK2L9Uq4hyWSvOVtHFaetqpk9mnq076YM3sGEBPliZqmQkEGY2bTSRXTOsxWxV_b2TRpAJjdYgUwahr8_ixw/s640/P1100659.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"> ちなみに、このあたりは中華街みたいだ。店の看板は中国語になっているものが多いし、人の顔も中国人っぽくなっている。進んでいくにつれて、食堂が増え、美味しそうにチャーハンやラーメンを平らげる人たちを見ていると、僕もそろそろ何かを食べようと思う。だが、一人だと店は入りにくいし、もう少し歩いてからにしよう、と決め続けていると、気がつくともう食堂も見かけなくなった。</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"> 大きな広場に出て、お寺と城らしきものを見かける。セブンイレブンで道を聞くと、そのまままっすぐに進むように言われた。まっすぐに進むように言われ続けて、もうかれこれ</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho";">2<span lang="JA">時間近くたつ。本当にいつかたどり着くのだろうか? もう汗だくだし、そろそろ疲れてきた。</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"> ちなみに、タイはセブンイレブンが非常に多い。そして、なぜか店の前にかならずコインを挿入しないといけない体重計が置いてある。ちょうどダイエット中だし、便利だ。しかし、まだまだやせなければならない!がんばろう!今日は昼飯をぬきにするぞ!</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"> 広場をすぎると、外国人がどんどん増えた。こりゃもしかして、目的地のカオサン通りにたどりついたのだろうか? 派手な格好をする外国人ばかりだ。タトゥーを入れてる人とか、ビキニ姿の金髪女性とか、大きな腹を丸出しにして歩くデブとか、いったいどんな下品な場所だ、カオサン通りは!?</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mlUAg_g8Oq5yHw9RvKk-JU9RLbo4e_UcjjQTxKviALQ73g6MBHnB8kULMXmfJcxA6nLHb09e2GgYbLyhPnvMOwslLu_CVZRMMZv22_91FEHaqQ26DMiIfwRcsHdzvklO-t9dwbf52m0/s1600/P1100666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mlUAg_g8Oq5yHw9RvKk-JU9RLbo4e_UcjjQTxKviALQ73g6MBHnB8kULMXmfJcxA6nLHb09e2GgYbLyhPnvMOwslLu_CVZRMMZv22_91FEHaqQ26DMiIfwRcsHdzvklO-t9dwbf52m0/s640/P1100666.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"> カオサン通りを歩いていると、とにかくいろんな人を見かける。でも、共通していえるのはどれも下品であること。ここは無国籍地だ。それも、下品な無国籍地だ・・・・・・。</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"> つきあたりに、「レインボーホステル」というインド人が経営しているホステルがあり、一泊</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho";">150<span lang="JA">バーツ(</span>350<span lang="JA">円くらい)だった。これほど安いところは、このバンコクにはなかなかない。予約してからまた店を出た。</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"> さて、ここからまた戻らなければならない。どうするのか!? また歩く? ちょっと遠すぎるなー。と、とりあえず、どうすればよいかよくわからないまま、結局また歩き始めた自分に気がつく。ダメダメ、このままではもたない。ということで途中で適当にバスを拾って、乗った。どこか地下鉄の駅までたどり着けば降りよう!</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"> バンコクは魅力的な街だが、大きな問題が一つ。交通機関がめちゃくちゃだ! 道は必ずと言っていいほどに大渋滞し、ちょっとした距離でも</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho";">1<span lang="JA">時間かかったりする。だから、道を知っていれば、バスを使うよりも歩く方が断然に早い。だが、僕は道を知らないのだ・・・。</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"> バスはしばらくの時間、川沿いに進んだ。信号待ちがほとんどで、景色を見るのにもさすがに長すぎる。途中のバス停に多くのタイ人が乗り降りし、外国人はあまり見かけない。また、お金持ちっぽい客も見当たらない。バスは安いがあまり効率的ではないので、お金持ちはあまり使わないだろう・・・。と、言いたいところだが、地下鉄がまだ行き届いていないところまではどうやっていくのだろう? ヘリコプター!? パラシュート!? いやいや、タクシーだろう・・・だけど、スピードでいえばタクシーも大して変わらない。</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVFmP5p1l8khNTiwqjyCrkBkoRMJuhzomBlalBkIVGzHKNYl7HMShXiyDaPbmVjhbwtF_Gxgdt1ppu-mAG_wps46lvaAJe-7tEsBJM-poZ4549NI0x-roko9Ela4wxYb58Aj8PSb7s80/s1600/P1100718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVFmP5p1l8khNTiwqjyCrkBkoRMJuhzomBlalBkIVGzHKNYl7HMShXiyDaPbmVjhbwtF_Gxgdt1ppu-mAG_wps46lvaAJe-7tEsBJM-poZ4549NI0x-roko9Ela4wxYb58Aj8PSb7s80/s640/P1100718.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"> </span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho";">1<span lang="JA">時間半くらいして、やっとのことで地下鉄の駅っぽいところまで出てきたので、そこで降りた。だいぶん町外れのようで、大きな体育館が一つ建っていた。僕はそこから電車で一気に</span>Siom<span lang="JA">まで戻った。僕のすぐとなりに、日本人とタイ人女性とのカップルが座っており、日本語で話していた。バンコクは日本人が多いようだ。</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"> </span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho";">Siom<span lang="JA">に到着すると、安い食堂でカレーライスみたいなものを食べて、日本人向けの「夜の街」を少し見てから宿まで歩いて帰った。何時間も歩いた長い一日だった!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSRfAflhGB3nR_ULOm3mri5Z3-O6NgNMw8YJ-02sl4bgXvAtnJuPNYQlJrkXlO2RaRjOrouCoSL7VB85aofdL-aGnZix1X7sSUeiSbGKvTFZ_aevm6ffzx-NWnfkg40BI8moLxGtgSt8/s1600/P1100683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSRfAflhGB3nR_ULOm3mri5Z3-O6NgNMw8YJ-02sl4bgXvAtnJuPNYQlJrkXlO2RaRjOrouCoSL7VB85aofdL-aGnZix1X7sSUeiSbGKvTFZ_aevm6ffzx-NWnfkg40BI8moLxGtgSt8/s640/P1100683.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"> 翌日はチェックアウトして、バックパックを背負って「レインボーホステル」へ向かった。</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho";">20<span lang="JA">キロ以上の重さのバックパックだから、今日はさすがに歩かないでおこう!まずは地下鉄でどっかの駅(名前は忘れたが)まで行ってから、ボートに乗った。バンコクにはバスや電車の他、ボートで移動する手段がある。安いし、川沿いの景色が楽しめるし、それに渋滞もないのでバスより早い! これからはボートで移動しよう! しかも、なぜかこのボートは観光客が多く、無料でガイドがついていた。ラッキー!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1KrtaONZe9jIH3WxrAUS_ED4NsVH0Q1_7uK-rXLHoY6mbq41_Jyt-i7B8EymgxKQqX2jWhZcZxoVDCgZHeAA89hKKmKvuPyS_yN6OROa_Z9b-d8i2KmSbvWO4FPUL50xbYJoyb6l1z4/s1600/P1100696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1KrtaONZe9jIH3WxrAUS_ED4NsVH0Q1_7uK-rXLHoY6mbq41_Jyt-i7B8EymgxKQqX2jWhZcZxoVDCgZHeAA89hKKmKvuPyS_yN6OROa_Z9b-d8i2KmSbvWO4FPUL50xbYJoyb6l1z4/s640/P1100696.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"> カオサン通りでボートを降りて、ホテルまで歩いた。しばらくは下品な無国籍地カオサンにいます!</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"></span></div>Rinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461500771340620051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753638629296309435.post-32812357530702226322012-04-23T06:51:00.003+09:002012-04-23T06:51:38.798+09:00そうだ! いきなりバンコクへ行こう!<i>April 21, 2012.</i><br />
<br />
そうだ! いきなりバンコクへ行こう!<br />
<i></i><br />
ラオスに約2週間滞在した後、そろそろ次の国、タイへ移動しようと、ある日起きてなんとなく決めた。まだまだラオスは見飽きたわけではないし、近いうちにもう一度訪れてみようとは思う。だが、とにかく食文化の貧しいラオスを少し休憩したいと思った。タイへ行けば、きっと旨いものが食べられる! グリーンカレー、トムヤム、ヒアー・アイ・カム!!<br />
<br />
ラオスのタケックから、バスでメコン川を橋で渡ったさっきがもうタイだ。バスに乗る前に、バス停でラオスのお金を使い切ってしまおうと、いりもしないものをたくさん買ったのはいいが、出国の際にお金がいるみたいで、少し面食らった。<br />
「お金がないです」と言うと、タイバットでもいいと言われたが、残念ながらタイバットもまだない。通してもらえないんじゃないかと心配だったが、結局は無料で通してもらった。ありがとう!いりもしないものを買って得した!<br />
<br />
タイ側まで行ったのは良いが、びっくりするほど何もない町で、重いバックパックで町をふらふらしていると、こんなところで一泊したくないという心境がどんどん強くなった。そこには誰もいなく、何もなかった。この際、とりあえず一度バンコクまで行ってしまってもありのでは!? しばらく大都会に来てないし、そろそろ人混みが懐かしくなってきた頃だ。<br />
<br />
そうくれば、とりあえずはバス停まで戻らなければならない。そこにはスーツケースを転がせているサラリーマンがいた。タイ人の顔をしているが、本人曰く自分はオーストラリア人らしい。まあ、大変結構ではないか。彼は今からラオス側へ行こうとしているらしかった。<br />
「ここから、バンコク方面へ進むにはどうしたらいいんですか?」と訪ねてみると、それならとりあえずコンケーンまでのバスに乗って、明日また旅を続けるといいらしい。<br />
<br />
そうやって、僕はとりあえずコンケーン方面のバスに乗って、夜遅くに到着した。<br />
それは大分にぎやかな町で、屋台が多く出ていた。ここならまあ、一泊くらいしてもいいだろう。あたりで安めのホステルを見つけて、夜遅くまでNHKWorldのニュースを見ていた。ニュースを見るなんて、何ヶ月ぶりだろう・・・・・・。<br />
<br />
翌日はすぐにまたバス停まで行き、今度はバンコク方面のバスに乗った。この日もバスに乗るだけで終わったわけだ。どういうわけか間違えて高級バスに乗ったみたいで、可愛いサービスガールが水とおやつをくれた。この水と美味しくもないクッキーのせいで、きっと倍くらいの値段を払っているのだろうが、まあたまにはこういうこともある。<br />
休憩場のコンビニをじっくりと見てみた。どんなものを売っているのだろう。もち米バーガーなんか美味しそうじゃないか。ちなみにタイにはセブンイレブンが多いようで、その意味でもラオスよりは大分進化している様子が伺える。<br />
<br />
8時ごろにやっとバンコクに到着した。市内は車が大混雑して、着いてからバス停までたどり着くのにさらに一時間少々かかった。さすがは大都会。人混みもすごいようで、発展途上国っぽいめちゃくちゃな雰囲気が漂う。こういうの、結構好きだ。<br />
<br />
前もって調べたホステルまでローカルバスで行った。久しぶりの大都会を眺めながら、一種の安心感に浸かった。旅人にとって、たまにはたくさんの人々が行き交う大都会に来てみないと、世の中がまだ動いているということをついつい忘れてしまう。<br />
<br />
バス停で降りてから、ホステルを探しながらバックパックを背負いながら長い時間歩いたが、どうしても見つからなかった。僕という人間はまあまあのできだと思うが、方向音痴なところだけはどうにもならないようだ。途中で英語の流暢なタイ人に「大丈夫ですか」と訊かれ、一緒に探してもらった。優しく微笑む親切そうで小柄な人だった。さすがは微笑みの国、タイだ。男のおかげで無事にホステルを見つけて、久しぶりに楽しそうなホステルに来た。値段がネットに書いてあったのよりも倍くらい高いのは少し参ったが・・・・・・まあ一晩くらいは仕方ない。明日になったら、また移動しよう。 <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NnMXtCURykKAkZoH6ieTuXgl-DPx-bmLSNarBSPiv8s40FCppJytH9Qyz4HQF-_peGz7dcvbeOs-_e03K6-dTz5fwmjIEZqXDtlOhI5msIzaCeAJXiO0R1LdmV-9cXXrp_VRHX50tpk/s1600/P1100646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NnMXtCURykKAkZoH6ieTuXgl-DPx-bmLSNarBSPiv8s40FCppJytH9Qyz4HQF-_peGz7dcvbeOs-_e03K6-dTz5fwmjIEZqXDtlOhI5msIzaCeAJXiO0R1LdmV-9cXXrp_VRHX50tpk/s640/P1100646.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Rinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461500771340620051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753638629296309435.post-33813828977685791032012-04-20T07:19:00.001+09:002012-04-20T07:19:27.346+09:00スイカと大雨<i>April 19, 2012.</i><br />
<br />
<i> </i>スイカと大雨<br />
<br />
旅立ってから、バイクに乗る機会が多くなった。というか、旅立つ前はバイクに乗ったことなんかなかったし、旅立ってからもずっと無免許で乗っている。最初の方は何回か事故ったこともあったが、少しずつ慣れてき、今ではギアも変えられるほど上手になってきた。<br />
とはいえ、一人でバイクで出かけたのは今回が初めてだった。宿でバイクを借りて、タケック周辺の自然風景や洞窟を見てこようと思ったわけだ。<br />
<br />
ところが、走り出したのは良いが、ガソリンスタンドまで行くと「ガソリンがない」と断られてしまった。ガソリンのないガソリンスタンドなんて初耳だった。じゃあ、あんたたちそこで何してるんだ、とでも聞きたくなった。もう一件を訪ねても同じで、心配してきた。町中がガソリン切れになっているのではないだろうか? 幸運なことに、3件目のガソリンスタンドにはまだ少しガソリンが残っていたらしい。分けてもらえて感謝!<br />
<br />
バイクを走っていると、急に後ろから声をかけられた。以前に洞窟の村で同じ宿に泊まったフィンランド人とアメリカ人だった。川沿いに日向ぼっこしてくるから、よかったらあとから来ないか、ということらしい。スイカもあるよ、とも。<br />
<br />
彼らと合流する前に、僕はまず一人で「仏陀洞窟」を目指して出発した。ところが、違う道に出てしまい、ど田舎の村までたどり着いてしまった。未舗装の道沿いに、弥生時代を思わせる家々が建ち並び、通り過ぎると小さな子どもたちが何かを叫んだり犬が吼えたりした。道を間違えてよかったと思った。こんなにもローカルな村もめったに見られない。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBEBvnQ3bgLa9U1O12djEf7u1nM0MBWzclwyo-K9g3MMK3FknhM7N1u4e67LaYHObOCyLFMRWurIfcucs3TbpRCSeSQNtNpMo0ErBOusQS7YMZyBrkYM4sZmPBlIjrNWQ4z_aK2opuTM/s1600/P1100617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBEBvnQ3bgLa9U1O12djEf7u1nM0MBWzclwyo-K9g3MMK3FknhM7N1u4e67LaYHObOCyLFMRWurIfcucs3TbpRCSeSQNtNpMo0ErBOusQS7YMZyBrkYM4sZmPBlIjrNWQ4z_aK2opuTM/s640/P1100617.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
仏陀洞窟 は大したことではなかった。階段を昇って上から入るのだが、小さいし、たくさんの仏像がたっているだけだった。だが、洞窟までの道のりは絶妙だったので後悔はなし!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQHh1_eY7EMAZ_cGu2hP0Z4oLtc5HsxdzzJ3mfxyIZqlnpixTFMPArrjLT1kEfgjB4nLipiKVII39uANhgepIUHgofPL4ZsAhbmn5U9pZCOsqYVcjgkEuq0xaQ-l_oMxqiTZNMpmpr4D0/s1600/P1100620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQHh1_eY7EMAZ_cGu2hP0Z4oLtc5HsxdzzJ3mfxyIZqlnpixTFMPArrjLT1kEfgjB4nLipiKVII39uANhgepIUHgofPL4ZsAhbmn5U9pZCOsqYVcjgkEuq0xaQ-l_oMxqiTZNMpmpr4D0/s640/P1100620.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
その後は友人らと合流することにし、 川沿いに彼らのバイクがとめてある場所を探した。とても静かなところでハンモックの上で気持ちよさそうに寝ていた。よくもこんなところにハンモックなんてあったなと思ったが、わけを聞いてみると自分たちで持ってきたものらしい。かなりのんびりたがりの二人だ!<br />
僕はハンモックもないし、二人はまだスイカを食べる素振りも見せないので水着に着替えてから川に飛び込んだ。大分浅い上、川の中には見えない岩がたくさんあり、何度か足をぶつけたが、まあハンモックで何もしないよりはいいだろう。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigT2E7xVlc30WqizGHIeQ5puF6h4PtxJuIo4P0QiZecLLWEsonHKAAlHNFYXccRODUAxFzublsen1s74hmemx-__5uVlUkdL0wVRGyjYVqpe08PHszJanmox3ePIzJkMo8P-7FmNz6B7g/s1600/P1100630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigT2E7xVlc30WqizGHIeQ5puF6h4PtxJuIo4P0QiZecLLWEsonHKAAlHNFYXccRODUAxFzublsen1s74hmemx-__5uVlUkdL0wVRGyjYVqpe08PHszJanmox3ePIzJkMo8P-7FmNz6B7g/s640/P1100630.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
また陸に上がると、3人でスイカを食べた。僕は払っていないのに、一番たくさん食べてしまった。少しお金出すよと言うと、二人は笑った。<br />
「このスイカ、いくらだったと思う? たったの50円だよ!」<br />
<br />
雨が急に降り出し、強い風が吹いた。ラオスでこんな天気もめったに見られない。雨はどんどん酷くなり、そろそろ帰らないとやばいかもということで急いでバイクに乗った。二人はすぐ近くのホステルに泊まっていたが、僕の宿まではまだ20キロくらいあった。バイクを高速で走っていると、雨の粒が刺さるように痛かった。目もほとんど開けていられないし、開けたところで吹き上がった埃のせいで何も見えない。30分前までこんなに平和だった美しい景色が、急にこんなにも変わってしまうとは。<br />
<br />
夜は一度雨が止み、宿を出て近くのネットカフェに入った。だが、ブログを書いていると急にまた雨が降り出した。しかも、今回は本当に台風並みの振り方だった。こんなに雨が激しく降るのを見たこともないくらいだった。女性の叫び声が聞こえた。ネットカフェの人はみんな立ち上がり、外を見ていた。僕はかまわずブログを書き続けようと思ったが、急にネットがつながらなくなった。店員にわけを聞いてみた。<br />
「今日はもうダメだよ。今さっき電柱が倒れたんだ」<br />
そうですかぁ・・・それじゃあ、おやすみなさい!Rinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461500771340620051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753638629296309435.post-65757477172881247122012-04-17T06:51:00.002+09:002012-04-17T06:51:21.248+09:00The Englishman I never knew.<i>April 15, 2012.</i><br />
<br />
The Englishman I never knew.<br />
<i> </i><br />
Backpackers meet each other and become lifetime friends. But don't think that once you go separate ways you won't see them again on your travels. In the last 7 months, I have coincidentally bumped into old backpacking friends several times. Especially in a fairly small country like Laos that has only a small amount of backpackers, you will see familiar faces all the time.<br />
<br />
But what happened to me with a certain Englishman simply cannot go without being mentioned. It is for sure a new record on accidentally bumping into Englishmen in Laos.<br />
<br />
In Vang Vieng, Laos's party town, I was looking at a game of billiard between my Spanish friend and a tall wide guy with a huge beard. It was a close call, but my friends opponent was a skilled player and ended victorious.<br />
"Nice one mate" he said to my Spanish friend.<br />
<br />
After that, I moved on to the capital, Vientiane, together with my Japanese friend Shinji. While walking the streets, I suddenly saw the tall wide guy with the beard passing, walking together with his girlfriend.<br />
"Hey!" I said, but he didn't seem to remember me. "I saw you in Vang Vieng" <br />
"Oh yeah, that's true! Good to see you again" he said. But he didn't really seemed interested.<br />
<br />
At the end of that week, I moved to a small village located near a cave with Shinji. In the evening, while waiting for our food at the village's only eatery, I suddenly noticed that the tall wide guy with the beard entered the restaurant. There he was again.<br />
"We meet again!" I said.<br />
"Yeah, it seems like we're doing the same trip huh!"<br />
He told me he was British. But this time too, there was no time for a real conversation.<br />
<br />
The next day, me and Shinji explored the cave, and after staying one more night, we parted ways the next morning. I headed by bus for a city called Thakhek. I arrived late in the night, and headed downtown by a took-took from the bus station. I was too tired to search for a local bus. While driving through the streets of Thakhek, I suddenly saw a familiar face walking the streets. Yes, it was that same Englishman again! He didn't see me, but that didn't really matter anymore. The fact that I saw him again was more than enough.Rinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461500771340620051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753638629296309435.post-82427789658951446102012-04-15T08:47:00.000+09:002012-04-16T01:31:23.040+09:00On the way to Thakhek<i>April 14, 2012.</i><br />
<br />
On the way to Thakhek.<i> </i><br />
<br />
While staying at a village in the middle of nowhere completely away from society, I realized that I had no cash on myself. Of course, the village had no bank. Now how was I going to get back to the world without being able to pay for the bus!?<br />
<i> </i><br />
Luckily though, I met a group of backpackers who were traveling on bikes. They said they would take me on their back. When I told them that I have a huge backpack of at least 20 kilogram and a paddle on me, they seemed to regret their kindness. But, once nice, always nice. Thank you guys.<br />
<br />
By the way, in the end I was able to exchange money with a local guy. He was a big money collector, and was very delighted to see all the currencies I had in my wallet. Japanese Yen, Euro's, Taiwanese Dollars, Chinese Yuan, Korean Won. In the end the guy chose for Euro's. It always feels good to have some money on you again and make someone happy at the same time!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSaoCHDPHWxwO5mM3Ea815kVUPcsoQ4ZjdBkKzrpPX1y9t40S0gQKBXSUT80JWKp5IzKfIlrRt4H6JTelVCH25i9ZrXS4d7_PkooAFfRpxXqc3yWEbV_itd3skk5G2lh2y282twMHmdY/s1600/P1100586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSaoCHDPHWxwO5mM3Ea815kVUPcsoQ4ZjdBkKzrpPX1y9t40S0gQKBXSUT80JWKp5IzKfIlrRt4H6JTelVCH25i9ZrXS4d7_PkooAFfRpxXqc3yWEbV_itd3skk5G2lh2y282twMHmdY/s640/P1100586.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
But, even though I now had money on me, the backpackers were still friendly enough to take me on their back anyway. One of them took me with my paddle in my hands, another one took my backpack. It looked pretty tough to have that backpack on your back while driving, but the guy said it was nothing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZftz6f3GRr3rEOMqhUZGkDPWuCLRr845owW38FXaudeFjL_vlJeOWXaXUgsY7OmQRzPozPhlm6Ur5STi2RbXR4WWHDqBtbWlUjCaHzLTKYSNnUCWYgI3guIvK-2NFGXZFbF_DKCB0JaM/s1600/P1100595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZftz6f3GRr3rEOMqhUZGkDPWuCLRr845owW38FXaudeFjL_vlJeOWXaXUgsY7OmQRzPozPhlm6Ur5STi2RbXR4WWHDqBtbWlUjCaHzLTKYSNnUCWYgI3guIvK-2NFGXZFbF_DKCB0JaM/s640/P1100595.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We started our journey at around 1 o'clock. At first there seemed to be no problem. While enjoying the magnificent scenery (mountains, rivers, locals, cows, dogs) I had a talk with the American guy who was riding the bike. But soon, it started to rain and far away we could hear and see huge thunders. The guy who was carrying my backpack told me that it was heavier than he had expected, and that he was not able to steer very carefully with the thing on its back. Thus, the backpackers decided to drop me off at the next small town. There was a bus stop there, so I could take the bus.<br />
<br />
I was heading to a place called Thakhek, and asked the guy at the bus stop when my bus would arrive.<br />
"Tomorrow!" the guy said.<br />
Great, now I have to stay all alone in this village with nothing to do for one whole more day. I didn't want to give up. With my backpack, I walked the roads in hope to find a good place to hitchhike. But no luck. Around this area, hardly any cars pass by, and if they do, they do so to drive just around the corner, not to go all the way to 200 kilometer far away Thakhek.<br />
<br />
I walked back to the bus stop. A guy was sitting there, apparently waiting for a bus to come.<br />
"Where are you going?" he asked me in decent English.<br />
"Thakhek"<br />
"Then come with me, I am heading there too."<br />
Although there was no bus to Thakhek, the guy explained that there was a small bus heading towards another town, and that we could change to Thakhek from there.<br />
It was a friendly guy who seemed well educated. He was working in this town as an accountant (it surprised me accountants exist in a place like this), but he was originally from a small town in the south. Thakhek is on the way there.<br />
<br />
When the bus arrived, it turned out to be no bus. It was just a Took-took. But that didn't matter as long as it took us to where we had to go! On the way, some guys joined and took their motorcycle on board.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6p9yX5pPFC7s-u1Om9s8QD1x9bFQzGbV-a02r3vzvMeN1eweLYqzTj5rZXgTjzKitdY6fPslFf23JjRU060QqxcNHF9WXKIPVrIHZUZZAmfvIoc_g7gZ-pP7-D4qC8NzFWLmW4aKJEUY/s1600/P1100599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6p9yX5pPFC7s-u1Om9s8QD1x9bFQzGbV-a02r3vzvMeN1eweLYqzTj5rZXgTjzKitdY6fPslFf23JjRU060QqxcNHF9WXKIPVrIHZUZZAmfvIoc_g7gZ-pP7-D4qC8NzFWLmW4aKJEUY/s640/P1100599.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
There was now hardly any space left to sit and we would all have to hold the bike to prevent it to fall.<br />
Again, the scenery on the way was beautiful. Sometimes you would almost think that the whole country of Laos is just one big nature reservoir.<br />
<br />
After arriving in the town, I walked with the guy who had been helping me to some small restaurant, and in front of this restaurant he stopped. Here the bus would come, he said. That was strange, there was no bus stop signal or whatsoever. I went to the toilet at the restaurant, and bought a bottle of water.<br />
<br />
Soon, there really came a bus. And this time it was a real bus too. I could now finally feel at rest. Apparently it would take around 5 hours from here to get to Thakhek. Would be funny if I would arrive earlier then my backpacker friends!<br />
<br />Rinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461500771340620051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753638629296309435.post-45388031977642309962012-04-12T00:42:00.000+09:002012-04-12T00:42:41.391+09:00コンロー洞窟とその周囲<i>April 11, 2012.</i><br />
<br />
コンロー洞窟とその周囲<br />
<i> </i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIfcej5qzmlZVlug3d7W9oqZjPSOGoWvZKSYyZG3HVbTKxsMgJpTUPxETxZvnGHg_g39vmBKL4ftlyV5mXfPvlz6e0dI8Xh7pxa8EHimkqvr6_RAzikl0C1yM7QuvCGwwaEw1xoIjVGM/s1600/IMG_6261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIfcej5qzmlZVlug3d7W9oqZjPSOGoWvZKSYyZG3HVbTKxsMgJpTUPxETxZvnGHg_g39vmBKL4ftlyV5mXfPvlz6e0dI8Xh7pxa8EHimkqvr6_RAzikl0C1yM7QuvCGwwaEw1xoIjVGM/s640/IMG_6261.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
ラオスの首都、ビエンチャンからバスに乗り、約6時間で到着したのが、コンロ洞窟の付近にある小さな村だった。数件のゲストハウスと地元の民家と畑を除けば、そこはまったく何もない大自然だった。インターネットもなければ銀行もない。バーもなければコンビニもない。だが、これこそまさに僕の求めているものだった。美しいとんがり山たちがまるで村を外界から隔てるためきれいに囲んでいた。<br />
ところが、この村で過ごしていると、ちっとも孤独になることはない。村人はみんな親切で、通り過ぎると本物の笑顔を浮かべて挨拶する。また、コンロー洞窟を見に来た外国人も多いため、みんなで食事が来るまで数時間かかる「のんびり食堂」で話したりした。<br />
<br />
コンロー洞窟とは、7キロの長い洞窟で、小船で入り、反対側に出る。洞窟の入り口の前に広がる湖は絶妙な光景で、まるで泳ぎなさいとでも誘っているかのように美しかった。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTFHpHuelArinGA_uOKQP3hHpz-fpCEuxu67tks8EMUXe17U7tKtBbzP4ERk_cR08Agq3DLaSkrc3T3t480uZyiQ38GHan4ZkqndT2N0QfzWp8j4EAgs9eZf1oIGRU1rTcrA4DOfBRUQ/s1600/IMGP1600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTFHpHuelArinGA_uOKQP3hHpz-fpCEuxu67tks8EMUXe17U7tKtBbzP4ERk_cR08Agq3DLaSkrc3T3t480uZyiQ38GHan4ZkqndT2N0QfzWp8j4EAgs9eZf1oIGRU1rTcrA4DOfBRUQ/s640/IMGP1600.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
本当は3人で小船に乗ると一番安いが、僕はSさんと二人で来ていたし、しばらく待っても一人だけできた物好きなヤツは現れなかったので、仕方なく二人で入ることに。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zDybo5uujHxryn5SWsVYFDdQP-5PkdPyRyuljOKTEdFypF5cdmTyhRBjpGEm05A2jiM-cGRAX9g5qUmuwgslZ5Vnq5NUWQH_CogOESRu0kPMb1QIoAkWcaJI8QTrE8WHizWKqpkk2vg/s1600/IMGP1612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zDybo5uujHxryn5SWsVYFDdQP-5PkdPyRyuljOKTEdFypF5cdmTyhRBjpGEm05A2jiM-cGRAX9g5qUmuwgslZ5Vnq5NUWQH_CogOESRu0kPMb1QIoAkWcaJI8QTrE8WHizWKqpkk2vg/s640/IMGP1612.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
僕が今まで入った洞窟はどれも中がライトアップされていたり、観光客が変なまねをしないように柵があったりと、いわゆる人工的な洞窟だったわけだが、一部ライトアップされているところがあったとはいえ、コンロー洞窟は一応本物の洞窟という呼び名にふさわしいものだったと思う。<br />
特徴としては、洞窟の中に川が流れていることが挙げられるが、途中で浅くなって一度降りて船を深いところまで押さなければならないことがたびたびあった。そうすると、二人のガイドはラオス語で何かを叫びながら力強く押したので、僕はSさんと二人でその叫び声をまねして押すのを手伝った。<br />
<br />
途中でワニの形をした岩があったり、人の腕のような形をした木の枝があったりと、一瞬鳥肌が立つような光景も少なくなかった。ガイドの懐中電灯がもしもなければ、この真っ暗な空間はきっと想像を絶するほど怖いのに違いない。<br />
漸く洞窟を抜けると、そこにはとても美しい川景色が続いていた。色鮮やかな蝶々が、トロピカルな植物の上で体を休めていた。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbx2jD18sv1REUfjY3v4Yt4WhZ8j_BFWrHlnAtRARVk_wSFHdUsRH1IFFzTUjv9k-Xyp27kLDSDRZHqUDo_oB8ZssqpMZ9fpsPxmu4xCGpyWZ2RV8IQQE6OhXSlfO2askGyQZIaQjpSQ/s1600/IMGP1631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbx2jD18sv1REUfjY3v4Yt4WhZ8j_BFWrHlnAtRARVk_wSFHdUsRH1IFFzTUjv9k-Xyp27kLDSDRZHqUDo_oB8ZssqpMZ9fpsPxmu4xCGpyWZ2RV8IQQE6OhXSlfO2askGyQZIaQjpSQ/s640/IMGP1631.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
数頭の水牛は気持ちよさそうに水浴びをしていた。その付近に船を泊めて休憩すると、僕はさっそく水に飛び込んで水牛と一緒に泳いだ。しかし、近づきすぎると警戒するので、一定の距離をおかなくてはならない。遠くから眺めていると、牛も実は意外に可愛い顔をしているんだなと思った。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoZAfS5w_eTm6XGCBvC1FFt4vZzI9rwNwMOSRmSFLd-PhqEzyndexh565-5cSYqzG7sGfj6Zm64ZLMdhBo_bA0lj0lnvXu_IJpnsCcjdGIrxKepycOkkbFmP-DVaK9j0qJPF_uHpykfQ/s1600/IMGP1629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoZAfS5w_eTm6XGCBvC1FFt4vZzI9rwNwMOSRmSFLd-PhqEzyndexh565-5cSYqzG7sGfj6Zm64ZLMdhBo_bA0lj0lnvXu_IJpnsCcjdGIrxKepycOkkbFmP-DVaK9j0qJPF_uHpykfQ/s640/IMGP1629.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
帰りはまた同じように船で洞窟に入り、途中で船を降りたりしながら進んだ。出発して約2時間後に漸くまた反対側に戻ってくると、僕らはもう一度湖に飛び込んだ。一人の村人が全身に石鹸をかけてから気持ちよさそうに水浴びをしていた。<br />
<br />
村に戻ってくると、大きなトラックが到着していた。村の一週間分のビールらしい。そうだ、たとえこんな田舎でも、ビールがないと生きていけないのだ。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4h-rjHaP2Ad5tM6pgJ0LDKjDZspAsP5rZs3GWeHayVNBaSFEin9VrC8T7fzEgOZ1JmrjVM8SJ5E3Rs_YkdkuVTnVdi4CNQyOF922Hxpmq9arlLs24XQu0sxSvgmpBuR-Xkaa1GD_xyKQ/s1600/IMG_6264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4h-rjHaP2Ad5tM6pgJ0LDKjDZspAsP5rZs3GWeHayVNBaSFEin9VrC8T7fzEgOZ1JmrjVM8SJ5E3Rs_YkdkuVTnVdi4CNQyOF922Hxpmq9arlLs24XQu0sxSvgmpBuR-Xkaa1GD_xyKQ/s640/IMG_6264.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Rinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461500771340620051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753638629296309435.post-59610057357437875642012-04-10T00:48:00.001+09:002012-04-10T00:48:26.775+09:00Buddha park<i>April 9, 2012.</i><br />
Buddha park<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmmPTMXpeqmU_jOoUGkxif3x_WNOpbQtcjiGgYFV3MNrq7caBJ9E79PdaTL9kjKcLzYtjXWVQl388MVPEHVSZAHP2mw7_U3l0zcX5FCPBDSqsIWN5KNrVYxsCNZMNM115XI_YrL-blPY/s1600/IMG_6147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmmPTMXpeqmU_jOoUGkxif3x_WNOpbQtcjiGgYFV3MNrq7caBJ9E79PdaTL9kjKcLzYtjXWVQl388MVPEHVSZAHP2mw7_U3l0zcX5FCPBDSqsIWN5KNrVYxsCNZMNM115XI_YrL-blPY/s640/IMG_6147.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
It has been a long time since I last did something really touristic, but in the capital of Laos, Vientiane my friend Shinji said he wanted to visit the famous Buddha park before we would leave the city. <br />
<i> </i><br />
A small bus full of locals took us to the suburbs of Vientiane. It didn't look like the capital of a country at all. Actually, it didn't even look like a city, so rural it was.<br />
<br />
After seeing many temples, churches, castles and more for the last 7 months, I find it harder and harder to enjoy historical sites, but the Buddha park was an exception. It is basically a park full of Buddhistic statues, but these are so absurd, sadistic and just plain weird that even I was fascinated. That religion can do a lot to people I know, but that it can make people this crazy, is almost unimaginable. What in earth could they have been thinking!?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmm49C7zAXixaIve48yyBBNQzh2pfyqHgfmDqtlRobkGf65H0BmeVq-biFe32ItQ1YBHF6bvChPWz9dN7RvZnBXfeuOFzqrIMk6R1GgSI31RIKAx-pUB7zZIkAUpIfix_HpCU5v-glE6Y/s1600/IMG_6140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmm49C7zAXixaIve48yyBBNQzh2pfyqHgfmDqtlRobkGf65H0BmeVq-biFe32ItQ1YBHF6bvChPWz9dN7RvZnBXfeuOFzqrIMk6R1GgSI31RIKAx-pUB7zZIkAUpIfix_HpCU5v-glE6Y/s640/IMG_6140.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
A lady with different weapons in each of her more then 20 hands, sitting on a cow while resting her feet on a guy lying suffuring on the ground. Anyone interested?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJhIdIiJtqb7eV5sTrhI4RHdkQf2gt8mmg-x5ed92w570gdJ27Jcjx30JD-ETGqPU7uIBl2jIvPkMao4BdFwCiU-mbv9WEQTKjYncWvfzofsFrrvw1IL4ISgA9fWJhOKypLH0fxMgASY/s1600/IMG_6240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJhIdIiJtqb7eV5sTrhI4RHdkQf2gt8mmg-x5ed92w570gdJ27Jcjx30JD-ETGqPU7uIBl2jIvPkMao4BdFwCiU-mbv9WEQTKjYncWvfzofsFrrvw1IL4ISgA9fWJhOKypLH0fxMgASY/s640/IMG_6240.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
An elephant with 4 heads, and thus 4 trunks having a guy standing on top of it with a disgusting smile on his face?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy08B_XJQnAvs_eMWkJy1flxUeYMKWpAvXT3pQcQ5DI2Ja2HGJOFIqD8AtZG1dNOaNAFoct7jGRvy36uehIpAVQ99YtGqhVGu5I55ZWaU9qJrGpzqU5jln98mI8iDUGDik8gNBbFla7d8/s1600/IMG_6241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy08B_XJQnAvs_eMWkJy1flxUeYMKWpAvXT3pQcQ5DI2Ja2HGJOFIqD8AtZG1dNOaNAFoct7jGRvy36uehIpAVQ99YtGqhVGu5I55ZWaU9qJrGpzqU5jln98mI8iDUGDik8gNBbFla7d8/s640/IMG_6241.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
Or how about a thick snake with a huge claw in the middle that is trying to tear a poor little Buddha into pieces?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpipOwt-QRY9XsX5KhzQ8aBtMPPhEVTpJrK-HU9SZC9ohGsEeTJoVXqAwxjn7TLkz5jWhJb8DBS7aByJrTZmRNlS_OuaVwBstd3swa8AuFvHY_lH3ovhC6YNRRtl80FpyT0NPtm23Ru8k/s1600/IMG_6245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpipOwt-QRY9XsX5KhzQ8aBtMPPhEVTpJrK-HU9SZC9ohGsEeTJoVXqAwxjn7TLkz5jWhJb8DBS7aByJrTZmRNlS_OuaVwBstd3swa8AuFvHY_lH3ovhC6YNRRtl80FpyT0NPtm23Ru8k/s640/IMG_6245.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
A Buddha statue with 4 heads and skulls above it with a little boy on each of its many palms also is far above my imagination.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQ5j6OU1NzPVEtVg2ipGtj7n8OwzEJxo0POgCJlfr72X0AYXsHzpz5dxxMldN0vNR0Xr_c3jIvsoZYJDz83p0moacZ0aTsia8GjcaCtq7VVndoYPGMjTc-CpQM12Mgf1EZsk6rXVZk4g/s1600/IMG_6258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQ5j6OU1NzPVEtVg2ipGtj7n8OwzEJxo0POgCJlfr72X0AYXsHzpz5dxxMldN0vNR0Xr_c3jIvsoZYJDz83p0moacZ0aTsia8GjcaCtq7VVndoYPGMjTc-CpQM12Mgf1EZsk6rXVZk4g/s640/IMG_6258.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It was a visit that made me realize how insane people can be.<br />
<br />
In front of the big resting Buddha that made us think of the Sagat Stage in Street Fighter 2, I had a good fight with Shinji. Yes, insanity makes people insane!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QdR0i-wiXUo0dV_bEsqy85v0vrN0KaPeFR0_OSETML58aDE9jQC6GQyY90l7h61D9FRI27EvE2wuhj9v6gW2uM4I2CK3n96cC5ArIK-5Vi3xy8CGELoI8_CUh2w02wwIS6PzAHkGqMM/s1600/IMG_6229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QdR0i-wiXUo0dV_bEsqy85v0vrN0KaPeFR0_OSETML58aDE9jQC6GQyY90l7h61D9FRI27EvE2wuhj9v6gW2uM4I2CK3n96cC5ArIK-5Vi3xy8CGELoI8_CUh2w02wwIS6PzAHkGqMM/s640/IMG_6229.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Rinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461500771340620051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753638629296309435.post-69384098413503880862012-04-06T08:43:00.000+09:002012-04-06T08:52:13.531+09:00ムエラオ<i>April 5, 2012.</i><br />
<br />
ムエラオ<br />
<i> </i><br />
ふと思いついて、仲良くなったラオス人に「ラオスにもムエタイはあるのか?」と聞いてみた。<br />
そんな彼は激しく頭を横に振り、言った。「ムエタイじゃなくて、ムエラオがあるんだよ! 」と。<br />
だけど、ムエタイのように根強い人気もないし、首都のビエンチャンでしかできないらしい・・・。<br />
<br />
ということで、ビエンチャンに着いて、せっかくだから探してみようと思ったわけだが、見つかるのに丸一日かかり、やっと見つけた頃にはもう夕方だった。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKPYRUcB7c1yQUhR_EnPI5ZSOIHlm1OjVz43avVmG2M240B6GKv7ctUlAYZZS1uKAiTgpKvyZbmYTWPrXOHKhgqAK6jNZ0op8xumZFYk_E0OqezibQZk2hxHilaTgVleYeLjfratBrxc/s1600/IMG_6038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKPYRUcB7c1yQUhR_EnPI5ZSOIHlm1OjVz43avVmG2M240B6GKv7ctUlAYZZS1uKAiTgpKvyZbmYTWPrXOHKhgqAK6jNZ0op8xumZFYk_E0OqezibQZk2hxHilaTgVleYeLjfratBrxc/s640/IMG_6038.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
中年のお腹の出たコーチと、のんびりと椅子に座っている奥さんと、息子さんらしい少年二人と、それから一人の外国人の選手とそのトレーナーがいるだけだった。<br />
日本で空手をやっていて、世界を周りながらいろんな格闘技に触れたいという旨を伝えたが、 伝わらなかったらしく「ノーノー、ここは空手の道場じゃないよ」と言われた。<br />
もう一度ゆっくり説明して、やっとわかってくれたらしい。<br />
「いいけど、ここでやるのは、空手じゃなくて、ムエラオだよ!?」<br />
「はい、それでけっこうです」<br />
空手と聞くと、少年たちはブルースリーらしき声をまねしながら、飛び蹴りをしたり空手チョップを出したりしはじめた。空手がこの国でいかに普及していないか、よくわかった。<br />
「一緒に練習できますか?」ともう一度聞くと、コーチはいいよと言い、さり気なく更衣室まで案内してくれた。今からすぐに練習をやろうということらしい。<br />
<br />
短パンとTシャツという格好で戻ると、最初は10分間縄跳びをやらされた。縄跳びをやりなれていないし、プラシチック製の縄が足に当たると痛くて悲鳴を上げそうになるほどだった。それに、運動不足だったからか、息もすぐに上がるし、ふくらはぎに疲労がたまるのを感じた。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLx0YwE54Fxv2YwdapLEnFDRWsGT-Rz4W1CSf9DF7It_IwoNobUu7BMdb71q4Ne5hTLPod8AP-y6Dhevuzvdn9zl0GFZaVhOsBVEaXoQsnPNoisBLoSEsNLr62C61kmKRS82VaADkfzjg/s1600/IMG_6039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLx0YwE54Fxv2YwdapLEnFDRWsGT-Rz4W1CSf9DF7It_IwoNobUu7BMdb71q4Ne5hTLPod8AP-y6Dhevuzvdn9zl0GFZaVhOsBVEaXoQsnPNoisBLoSEsNLr62C61kmKRS82VaADkfzjg/s640/IMG_6039.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
終わると次はサンドバック。これも5分3ラウンドという長さ。暑いからTシャツを脱ぐように言われて、上半身裸で行うことになった。しかしなんと、自分でも気づいていなかったが、運動もろくにしないでいろんな国の名物を食べているうちにぶくぶく太ったみたいで、腹が出ており脂肪の割れ目の線が三つ重ねになっていた。世界を周っていろんな格闘技に触れるんだって、何いい気になってるのか!? きちんと体を鍛えておいてからカッコいいことを言ってよね、って自分に言いたくなった。そして、これからはもう少し体力を整えて、ダイエットもしょうと自分に誓った。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcST_MUhvZDaGUZSRHRxI-zcdi40R0LNTn67mf8iytYAjx2_8DWJIHUaC-99I8692UGdtqZW_xBoq_CU3l0nQjutgBGG7n9gtcInUvdoJA4-kvnDM3-vBuHf3-sSIbx4dBLr98_7tZJGU/s1600/IMG_6052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcST_MUhvZDaGUZSRHRxI-zcdi40R0LNTn67mf8iytYAjx2_8DWJIHUaC-99I8692UGdtqZW_xBoq_CU3l0nQjutgBGG7n9gtcInUvdoJA4-kvnDM3-vBuHf3-sSIbx4dBLr98_7tZJGU/s640/IMG_6052.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
それはそうと、かなり暑いし、空手の息上げのペースでサンドバックを叩き始めたら、すぐに疲れてしまった。しかし、それでもあきらめずに根性だけで声を出しながら技を出し続けていると、コーチにとめられてしまった。ムエラオでは手数を意識するのではなく、一つのコンビネーションか単発でもいいから、とにかく力とスピードを意識するらしい。後ろ廻し蹴りを出したりすると、そんなばかばかしい技をやめて、ヒジやヒザを出すように注意された。<br />
<br />
なんとか5分3ラウンドを終えると、今度はリングに上がった。リングに上がるのは、これが人生はじめてだった。カッコよく間から入るなんて意外に難しく、転びそうになった。<br />
コーチにミットをもってもらい、これも5分間3ラウンドをやらされて、技やコンビネーションを指定されて蹴ったり突いたりした。新鮮なのは、ヒジ打ちの4連打だった。左右の横からのヒジ打ちの後に、同じ手でまずはヒジの打ち上げから今度は飛びながら相手の額を狙って打ち下ろす。<br />
へとへとのところで腹筋を行い、その日の練習が終わった。<br />
1時間少々の運動だが、暑いし普段練習していないから、異常なほどにたくさん汗が出た。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtijrr_SDc2OSyUSJEbhKLAN4X977cltWOD_r-dMzU0Xh3p_qDM-CjG0bleEeEMr87WoCPpxRXELiMZc4tMNH1Gt8BYkzo9BloPLR2Ojb0UOTzXdWiHdxHzj9dlOipjyRyN60Vnm9Ec0/s1600/IMG_6081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtijrr_SDc2OSyUSJEbhKLAN4X977cltWOD_r-dMzU0Xh3p_qDM-CjG0bleEeEMr87WoCPpxRXELiMZc4tMNH1Gt8BYkzo9BloPLR2Ojb0UOTzXdWiHdxHzj9dlOipjyRyN60Vnm9Ec0/s640/IMG_6081.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
水のシャワーをあびてから帰ろうとすると、お金を払うようにと言われた。いくらなのかと聞くと、なんと700円もするらしい。ラオスにしては高いなーと思ったが、いろんなことを教えてもらったから悔いはなかった。そして、涼しい顔で30分の帰り道をレンタルの自転車で走って帰った。<br />
<br />
翌日は一緒に旅をしている日本人のSさんとKさんが見学ということで一緒に来てくれた。この日のメニューも似たものだった。縄跳びから入り、次はシャドーを行い、その後はTシャツを脱いでサンドバック。そして、最後はリングに上がってミットの打ち蹴りこみ。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguK5N5YdEQbziYrGnHC9yNLZziG0H4Z6hCOcenIiXryoUdFtFqtliuSNBZRersncV5LpZDaYf9XZruCrUM1yT7GXBmfRzDXQDfgqJjMfMB7dEP_Z1du4ksuRaAkUWXxgt1fdg_kuVHhk/s1600/muaylao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguK5N5YdEQbziYrGnHC9yNLZziG0H4Z6hCOcenIiXryoUdFtFqtliuSNBZRersncV5LpZDaYf9XZruCrUM1yT7GXBmfRzDXQDfgqJjMfMB7dEP_Z1du4ksuRaAkUWXxgt1fdg_kuVHhk/s640/muaylao.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
途中からラオス人のタイでもチャンピオンになったという選手と、ラオスに住んでいるフランス人の選手が来た。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vSimgp6AUYrbPFxeMfBeE9V6X-sxYQK-8ecXa8Q3vgdTTtpstaKdB-300qefmpszLHMhdDNA7J6AoHRQO7VeRmguGRqcn3aLCaRmUhl1Br3piHHN_W1np_GPcrknJ3K4t9SAZaQdghg/s1600/muaylao2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vSimgp6AUYrbPFxeMfBeE9V6X-sxYQK-8ecXa8Q3vgdTTtpstaKdB-300qefmpszLHMhdDNA7J6AoHRQO7VeRmguGRqcn3aLCaRmUhl1Br3piHHN_W1np_GPcrknJ3K4t9SAZaQdghg/s640/muaylao2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
二人がパンチだけのスパーリングをやっているのを見るとうらやましくなり、自分もやっていいですかとつい聞いてしまった。そうやって、ラオス人の選手と軽い手だけのスパーリングを行うことになった。<br />
これぞ異種格闘技戦! と言いたいところだが、蹴りが出せないし軽くだから限界がある。蹴りもありでできないかと聞くと、体重差がありすぎるから危険だということで断られた。その答えに、少し疑問を持たないわけにはいかなかった。格闘技というのは、本来誰と戦っても負けないためにあるはずだ。なのに、体重が違うということで戦いが成立しないのならば、自分より背が高い人や重い人との戦い方も覚えないのではないか。非常に狭いパターンの戦い方しか覚えない。そういう意味では、体重無差別の極真ってすばらしいと改めて実感した。そして、多くの実戦を経験し体を鍛えた緑健児のような選手が大きい外国人選手を倒すのってやっぱりすばらしいことだと思った。いくら強くても、ムエラオやムエタイの選手はあくまでも自分と同じ大きさの人と戦って強いだけだ。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQpP479AP5MWsu9y80pnEWUDk7RIkwQsP7K9ZLyPpZVphMl1Jv0qswQO529EywTxHLuij81gN0reEvGvJpJl0Osl9UZ798J9Gq5-SH3xy76Ay8DdvkM7TmXHf2k-3qW9J3ayCTVjX3JA/s1600/IMG_6117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQpP479AP5MWsu9y80pnEWUDk7RIkwQsP7K9ZLyPpZVphMl1Jv0qswQO529EywTxHLuij81gN0reEvGvJpJl0Osl9UZ798J9Gq5-SH3xy76Ay8DdvkM7TmXHf2k-3qW9J3ayCTVjX3JA/s640/IMG_6117.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
とはいえ、僕が戦った選手は技術レベルが高かったし、体力もあり根性もある良い選手だった。一緒にスパーリングして、非常に勉強になった。<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvu9ZmngRNnkIie4e2J6HfAJmMLps2cIT7CW02NRIGiZHq-FcHMITmCxxti_2ah-JufDAnNfu4CwMvhLEIax4C-1bE8XJnLav7yY3UEA1tCCzabh28weoYOab246VnA4s2dIiwHEp0cwM/s1600/IMG_6125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvu9ZmngRNnkIie4e2J6HfAJmMLps2cIT7CW02NRIGiZHq-FcHMITmCxxti_2ah-JufDAnNfu4CwMvhLEIax4C-1bE8XJnLav7yY3UEA1tCCzabh28weoYOab246VnA4s2dIiwHEp0cwM/s640/IMG_6125.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGugHwCj1Ap8ejqa4XHPGKJjQ9v1HDVxZg7MMYgHTjz9JsYkE_llg905mhnbW7FAgXcvE5pSG_kTUE9n38851IHRG87UK3bbcLsL02V6n8gsFkhV-k1W0KxVweuahGjd5wp-tGYAyThw/s1600/IMG_6121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGugHwCj1Ap8ejqa4XHPGKJjQ9v1HDVxZg7MMYgHTjz9JsYkE_llg905mhnbW7FAgXcvE5pSG_kTUE9n38851IHRG87UK3bbcLsL02V6n8gsFkhV-k1W0KxVweuahGjd5wp-tGYAyThw/s640/IMG_6121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
帰りにまたお金を払ったが、なぜか前日より100円高くなっていた。スパーリング代だろうか? まあいいだろう、貴重な経験はお金で買えるものではないのだ。Rinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461500771340620051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753638629296309435.post-88229003485218492982012-04-01T17:31:00.000+09:002012-04-01T17:31:00.167+09:00Op zoek naar Muay Lao<i>Written on April 1, 2012.</i><br />
<br />
Ik had gehoord dat er in Laos een variant op Muay Thai (Thai's kickboxen) bestaat. De naam verklapt het ook wel een beetje; Muay Lao. Een grote vechtsport was het niet, maar in de hoofdstad van het land, Vientiane zou het beoefend kunnen worden. Zo was ik met mijn vriend Shinji op een dag op het idee gekomen om dan maar eens een plek te gaan zoeken waar dat kon.<br />
"Weet u in de buurt een plek waar er aan Muay Lao gedaan word?" vroegen we bij de receptie van het hotel.<br />
"Wat!? Wilt u Beer Lao drinken?"<br />
We maakte wat stootgebaren in de lucht en zeiden het nog een keer.<br />
"Aah, Muay Lao!" begreep de man van de receptie.. "Dat kan ergens dichtbij de triomfboog"<br />
<br />
We probeerde in de straat fietsen te huren om naar de triomfboog van Vientiane te gaan. Na twee mislukte pogingen, begonnen we bang te worden dat alle fietsen in de stad al verhuurd waren.<br />
"We moeten hoop blijven houden!" zei Shinji, en samen liepen we door de straten terwijl we "Bycicle race" van Queen zongen.<br />
Uiteindelijk hadden we geluk en was er toch nog een plek waar fietsen over waren. Dit waren overigens duidelijk gestolen fietsen, omdat de Japanse registratiecode's er nog opstonden.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-3H9d3WTb6fdIAK7-QgxP4nsO1ShgEDnAX3RJuHNRPOKJyW7vXSRmOoA7DaPa3d_4FCytSA1-DiP6OiZV8Z22y7e8YvYCXQvfWWPLu7v5rafa6bxIACLHDLFdIziOtp1IDglMtyX3OA/s1600/P1100458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-3H9d3WTb6fdIAK7-QgxP4nsO1ShgEDnAX3RJuHNRPOKJyW7vXSRmOoA7DaPa3d_4FCytSA1-DiP6OiZV8Z22y7e8YvYCXQvfWWPLu7v5rafa6bxIACLHDLFdIziOtp1IDglMtyX3OA/s640/P1100458.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Eenmaal bij de triomfboog aangekomen, vroegen we ergens een visboer of hij wist waar we moesten zijn. Weer was het nodig eerst vuistbewegingen te maken voor we begrepen werden. De man wees ons naar een markt. Dat was een drukke plek en het zag er al iets localer uit. Hier zou inderdaad wel eens een Muay Lao gym kunnen zijn. Maar toch, als je niet precies weet waar je moet zijn, is het een onbegonnen taak.<br />
We vroegen het nog eens aan een man. Die wees ons weer een eind verder. Zo vroegen we het nog een tijd door tot we uiteindelijk na veel fietsen bij een badminton club aankwamen. Dit was niet precies wat we zochten.<br />
<br />
Gelukkig had Shinji een kaart bij zich en konden we hierop kijken of er nergens een hint stond. Er bleek een Budo (Japanse vechtsport) Centre te zijn. Als we daar nu eens heen gingen en het vroegen, wisten die mensen daar vast wel antwoord. Dat was nog een klein half uur fietsen, maar toen we eindelijk aankwamen zagen we de Japanse vlag naast die van Laos levendig wieperen.<br />
We liepen naar binnen en vroegen weer om Muay Lao. Hier werkte het natuurlijk niet om stootbewegingen te maken, want dan dacht iedereen meteen dat we kwamen voor een Karate-les.<br />
Er was echter een jongen die goed Engels sprak, en ons de weg naar een fitness-centrum wees waar ook aan Muay Lao gedaan zou worden. Dit was echter weer helemaal de andere kant op, maar na veel vragen en een eind fietsen kwamen we ook hier succesvol aan. Dit was echter gewoon een modern fitness centrum. Niets leek erop dat er hier ook aan Muay Lao gedaan zou kunnen worden. Het rook er gewoonweg niet naar. Toch waagde we het maar om het bij de receptie te vragen, maar die bespottelijke vraag werdt meteen afgewezen.<br />
<br />
We gingen maar naar huis. Het was een beter idee om eerst op het internet te gaan zoeken waar we heen moesten. Gelukkig is Shinji ook een jongen die van dit soort zoektochten houdt, en had hij tot het eind een goed humeur. Maar, terug bij het hotel leek hij wel moe en zei hij dat hij even ging rusten. In de tussentijd vond ik op het internet een plek waar zeker aan Muay Lao gedaan zou worden. Ik noteerde het adres en de richting, en ging naar de kamer om dit aan Shinji te melden.<br />
"Ga jij maar alleen, ik ben bek af!"<br />
Het was ook al bijna 5 uur.<br />
<br />
Ik fietste de weg die ik had opgezocht. Ik kwam langs veel tempels, restaurants en zelfs na een poos langs het vliegveld, waarvan de ingang overigens niet meer dan dat van een bus-station leek. Na het vliegveld gepasseerd te zijn, werdt het steeds localer. Marktstraatjes met kippen die klaarstonden om verkocht te worden terwijl ze door straathonden werden aangestaard aslof het oerang-oetans waren in de dierentuin. Ik moest ergens een zijstraatje nemen, waar het in een ongeplaveide weg veranderde. Nu werdt het wel erg landelijk.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jaCFtEUdjsa6E0dbS7jdN4OZg8NXiQ3Q5Yfb5E5iQt2yglZ4W6vc1d4V2sBIz5xy9r3FuXtHNmIfki9UylJPZCxmnwalEhzA-PK9WU192p8XKiBQNmFnRb_grcmoIyOjMU431MhCVY8/s1600/P1100474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jaCFtEUdjsa6E0dbS7jdN4OZg8NXiQ3Q5Yfb5E5iQt2yglZ4W6vc1d4V2sBIz5xy9r3FuXtHNmIfki9UylJPZCxmnwalEhzA-PK9WU192p8XKiBQNmFnRb_grcmoIyOjMU431MhCVY8/s640/P1100474.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Langs rijstvelden fietste ik door, totdat ik eindelijk het geluid van een zandzak hoorde. Daar was het! Ik stopte mijn fiets voor de gym en liep naar binnen.<br />
Na me voorgesteld te hebben en verteld te hebben dat ik graag een paar dagen mee zou doen, werd ik meteen naar de kleedkamer gewezen. De pret kon nu al beginnen!Rinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461500771340620051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753638629296309435.post-40933885948212310642012-03-30T18:43:00.001+09:002012-03-30T18:43:46.800+09:00ラオス料理<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>ZH-CN</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"><i>March 28, 2012.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";"><i> </i> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";">ラオス料理</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sさんが以前に日本で勤めていた会社の同期が今ではラオスの首都、ビエンチャンで仕事をしているのだが、彼女に招かれてラオス料理を食べに行ってきた。Sさんと僕の他にもカンボジアで地元の小学校を建てようとしている日本人やベトナムで働いている日本人がいたり、日本に6年間も住んでいたラオス人がいたらして、いろいろと新鮮な話の聞ける楽しい食事会だった。また、久しぶりに日本的な雰囲気・礼儀作法を味わうことができ、懐かしく感じる空間だった。考えてみれば、日本を離れてもう7ヶ月もたつわけだ。早いようにも感じるが、同時にあれからは数え切れないほどたくさん素敵な人々に出会い、不思議なものを見、一生忘れられない体験をしてきたようにも思う。</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">そして、この夜もまた新たな出会いのある場となったわけだ。特にラオス人の彼の話を聞くと面白かった。日本で学生をやっている時代、ラーメン屋でアルバイトをしていたというが、仕事があまりにも大変で一週間くらいでもうやめようと思ったらしい。しかし、そのときに店長にもう少しがんばるように優しく声をかけられて、結局は4年間も続いたという。同じ留学生として、感情移入しやすい部分があった。</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">カンボジアで小学校を建てている日本人にはカンボジアに立ち寄った際に手伝うようにと声をかけてもらい、面白そうなのでぜひやってみようと思っている。</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQn6XmcIFdX23nSP4toEOoLte4rYBlejohlppaHVnDfiAp0nwsCIDQxpQbY-8krTZ5UKG5dAxraKlOHvPbzvvCnOo11A6SPiDIAy7vxv5q_CprMqPTYfNxfiBYj86WdGW0weHN3zkbB5Q/s1600/%25E3%2583%25A9%25E3%2582%25AA%25E3%2582%25B9%25E6%2596%2599%25E7%2590%2586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQn6XmcIFdX23nSP4toEOoLte4rYBlejohlppaHVnDfiAp0nwsCIDQxpQbY-8krTZ5UKG5dAxraKlOHvPbzvvCnOo11A6SPiDIAy7vxv5q_CprMqPTYfNxfiBYj86WdGW0weHN3zkbB5Q/s640/%25E3%2583%25A9%25E3%2582%25AA%25E3%2582%25B9%25E6%2596%2599%25E7%2590%2586.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">と、ここまでどんな人に出会ったかについて熱く語ったわけだが、本当はラオス料理が紹介したいために書いたブログです。ラオスの主食はもち米というもので、赤飯によく似た飯だ。僕はこのもち米が大好きで、いくら食べてもあきない。手で食べるわけだが、スープやソースに漬かしてから食べると特に美味しい。それから、ココナツで甘くしておにぎりのようにして食べることもある。</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyKqewbHxZaE8JRKA3T8pwFnJLH78imGBWSpa_KGl48sOliEWuMMdhPOk_fDqRofk3hQ4uDcrn-lcxzM-4ladaqZ_b_JtTHJEbJXAbxx2-cpCMjHYJ3oSkpztkClHMtrbXO24q4RQkLs/s1600/P1100451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyKqewbHxZaE8JRKA3T8pwFnJLH78imGBWSpa_KGl48sOliEWuMMdhPOk_fDqRofk3hQ4uDcrn-lcxzM-4ladaqZ_b_JtTHJEbJXAbxx2-cpCMjHYJ3oSkpztkClHMtrbXO24q4RQkLs/s640/P1100451.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho";">それから、この日にはひき肉サラダが何種類も出て、健康に良さそうで同時ご飯が進むという絶妙な料理だった。</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllXtk-5GBwOfulkVRfA5g3Mzdw96D6MuQM1pc4oyhh-lM21R5FoKLejkOsEYWOgcGUWvlLB1M5MLxL9to6vfFu3hswlf6DoGEmPxtDnopPANkiSa7UEbOo29Tqq_rK_vG2omYHmqRiZ4/s1600/P1100453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllXtk-5GBwOfulkVRfA5g3Mzdw96D6MuQM1pc4oyhh-lM21R5FoKLejkOsEYWOgcGUWvlLB1M5MLxL9to6vfFu3hswlf6DoGEmPxtDnopPANkiSa7UEbOo29Tqq_rK_vG2omYHmqRiZ4/s640/P1100453.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">他にも、ライム入りの米粉(麺類)とか、いろいろとラオス名物はあるが、きりがないので今日はとりあえずこの夜に食べた料理だけを紹介して、終わりにさせていただきます!</span>Rinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461500771340620051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753638629296309435.post-13831231317283823852012-03-30T18:33:00.001+09:002012-03-30T18:33:50.076+09:00Local madness in Vientiane.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>M</i>arch 27, 2012. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Local madness in Vientiane.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Vientiane, the capital of Laos, I went to a local company funded by the
Japanese government together with my friend Shinji. At this company, an old
friend of him was working as a supervisor. Seeing something local is always
interesting, so I was happy to go with him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The company existed out of a restaurant, a tailor and a factory for
clothes. Local girls are hired to work, supervised by Japanese.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiJyqjq_NLK7JXnGZea2_muV9fxsYCMzNMH6fLEobqEd0jEzX0pcUdPhSXH93E55OITx4RRbNYNeN2xPf8IQFS5Qb99hUKlT3SOQjzr5vL9hGguU-CvSBAp6qYKsh75dGi2CTwIArbJE/s1600/P1100437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiJyqjq_NLK7JXnGZea2_muV9fxsYCMzNMH6fLEobqEd0jEzX0pcUdPhSXH93E55OITx4RRbNYNeN2xPf8IQFS5Qb99hUKlT3SOQjzr5vL9hGguU-CvSBAp6qYKsh75dGi2CTwIArbJE/s640/P1100437.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the
restaurant, local old men were drinking beer. It was only 4 in the afternoon,
but these men seem to be drinking here everyday from around 3. Their work ends
at 5, but in Laos, it is normal to start drinking hours before the end of your
job, which is a huge contradiction to working in Japan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shinji and I were invited to join these men, and were happy to do so. One
of them spoke pretty good English, and told us about life in Vientiane.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzkQVzk-ivxs1Ohllq99tYxCAChSJ0VAoaXqnQcaMp2pbR6nnqCuH1TIDT66KXq3LMs1cnrnzM4KmcVLrXEj7Jc5PrTxi8aOVEe9yZLPYWtSoBAXA2phtoKlbUG-ZtfIG57w9JoOSRKw/s1600/P1100439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzkQVzk-ivxs1Ohllq99tYxCAChSJ0VAoaXqnQcaMp2pbR6nnqCuH1TIDT66KXq3LMs1cnrnzM4KmcVLrXEj7Jc5PrTxi8aOVEe9yZLPYWtSoBAXA2phtoKlbUG-ZtfIG57w9JoOSRKw/s640/P1100439.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Outside, in front of the company, people were playing a game of petanque,
which is popular in Laos due to the period in which it was a French colony. We
sat down on a bench to have a look. As a kid, I was fond of playing petanque in
the Netherlands, and was hoping that someone would call us to join. Young and
old, women and men were all playing together. People came on their bicycles
with their own balls to join. After a while, some people came along with food
and drink. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"If we stare at this food, they might invite us to have some" I
said to Shinji.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Together, we started to stare at the food like madmen. As we had predicted,
it didn't take long for a friendly old man to notice us and invite us to have
some. We stood up, and politely both took one skewer of chicken. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fNdt8m5TpjwhHM5Qzv-FDUZVEh6dQKA8bceBELUQul3a-MC1MUXl8swo9yqxwrAvBYazsc3Rv_5eoXJoqenyHkNZUzpvNK8xjTvIwyG18dTXu1pyVBq_MR4O-ls6SDiAVItPCrbp9G4/s1600/P1100444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fNdt8m5TpjwhHM5Qzv-FDUZVEh6dQKA8bceBELUQul3a-MC1MUXl8swo9yqxwrAvBYazsc3Rv_5eoXJoqenyHkNZUzpvNK8xjTvIwyG18dTXu1pyVBq_MR4O-ls6SDiAVItPCrbp9G4/s640/P1100444.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, if you decide to have some, you have to take it all. Before we knew
it, all the people came to serve the two foreigners. Countless amounts of
skewers, pork legs, cucumbers and tomatoes were literally pushed into our
mouth. Old men would approach us with a bottle of beer and a glass, hand over
the glass and filled it to make us chug it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After eating our bellies full, we were now introduced to join the game. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBU6jKO8BAuJ1yxNXUCM41Q61q69eWhHffEXuEE4AzMzgISkFl44D7K4Q3BgO3dfOLMOR4bCGFt7SCYdYh4NIjWkLSAj6RE8q259D_-GPB19pJo8OVIodfw-o37IdiEh4-dJHNCrOfXA/s1600/P1100447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBU6jKO8BAuJ1yxNXUCM41Q61q69eWhHffEXuEE4AzMzgISkFl44D7K4Q3BgO3dfOLMOR4bCGFt7SCYdYh4NIjWkLSAj6RE8q259D_-GPB19pJo8OVIodfw-o37IdiEh4-dJHNCrOfXA/s640/P1100447.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But
just when we were about to start, Shinji's friend came out of the building.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Time to go to dinner" she said, and so we had to say goodbye to
our new friends.</div>Rinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461500771340620051noreply@blogger.com0