Saturday, November 23, 2013

November 23rd walk

今日散歩しながらいろいろなところで写真を撮った。バンコックは本当に面白いです。

I took some pictures while strolling through the city today. Bangkok is a really interesting place.

One of my favorite Thai curries.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Movember at work and Bangkok Skyline

Bangkok skyline

My kids celebrating "Movember"

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Loi Krathong festival.

Loi Krathong takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai Lunar calender which normally falls on November.
Loi means 'to float', while krathong refers to the lotus-shaped container which floats on the water. Krathong has no other meaning in Thai besides decorative floats, so Loi Krathong is very hard to translate, requiring a word describing what a Krathong looks like such as Floating Crown, Floating Boat, Floating Decoration. The traditional krathong are made from a slice of the trunk of a banana tree or a spider lily plant. Modern krathongs are more often made of bread or even Styrofoam; not the most environmentally friendly option. A bread krathong will disintegrate after a few days and can be eaten by fish. Banana stalk krathong are also biodegradable, but styrofoam krathongs are sometimes banned, as they pollute the rivers and may take years to decompose. A krathong is decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, incense sticks, and a candle. A small coin is sometimes included as an offering to the river spirits. On the night of the full moon, Thais launch their krathong on a river, canal or a pond, making a wish as they do so. The festival may originate from an ancient ritual paying respect to the water spirits.
Government offices, corporations and other organizations bring large decorated krathongs. There are competitions for the best such krathong. A beauty contest is a regular feature and fireworks have become common in recent years.

ローイクラトンは大国の祭りである。毎年の１１月で行う。
農業の収穫に感謝し、水の女神コンカーに祈りをささげ、罪を謝罪し、自らを清める祭りである。紙やバナナの葉で作った灯篭を川に流す。
バンコク、スコータイ、チェンマイ、ターク、アユタヤにおけるイベントが有名である。
チェンマイにおいてはイーペン祭りと呼ばれ、コムローイ、コムファイと呼ばれる熱気球を空に飛ばす。サンサーイ郡で行われるイーペン祭りでは、数千個のコムローイが飛ばされる。
毎年この時期が近づくと、灯篭流しに使用されるグッズが、スーパーを始め至るところで売られ始める。
ソンクラーンと同様に、ローイクラトンにも童謡のような歌がある。

This year we had a massive party at Polly's friend's house by the river.

今年、ポーリの友達の家でパーティーした。

Friday, November 8, 2013

Chiang Mai Thailand

Polly and I went up north to Chiang Mai city for four days. We started our trip off at Hua Lumphung train station, keen on taking the sleeper train. The train tracks south of Chiang Mai were being renovated so we ended up booking an over night bus. The bus was a double-decker and from a company we have never taken before. It was not bad at all.

僕たちは四日の連休で北のチャンマイ市に行きました。最小、寝台車で行こうとするがチャングマイの南から鉄道工事だった。だからバスで行った。長い間、寝ずにとうとう着いた。寝不足なのに僕たちは有名なお寺を探すためにバイクで山を登って行った。

We arrived in Chiang Mai and checked into "House Number 11" hostel. Even though we were very tired we rented a motor bike and drove up the mountain to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. It is the most famous temple in the region and one of the oldest.

ワット・プラタートドーイステープ

Entrance


walking up to the temple

Jack fruit on the tree

タイコーヒはうまい！！


チャんマイの名物カレー。。うんまっか！！	Chiang Mai's famous curry!

After checking out the temple we rode up the mountain and into a small hill tribe village. There are many hill tribes in Chiang Mai. The royal family started programs to export and sell goods and textiles made here.

そしてタイの先住民の村へ。。

Another temple with a beautiful statue

Wat Chiang Man, the oldest temple in Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai street art.

Chiang Mai sausage, one of the best foods in Thailand

On Tuesday we took a song tao taxi through the southern hills towards the temple Polly lived in for three months.

We finally arrived at Wat Tam Doi Tone monastery. This place is incredible. The abbot, a charming old man with good English and a warm and wise presence greeted us. Its no wonder why Polly spent three months here. The place is surrounded by lush forest and animals, quiet streams and waterfalls, and immaculately clean temple grounds. The monks, though few, are very friendly. The sole purpose of this monastery is to facilitate meditation. It is one of the most peaceful places I have ever been.

ポリは三月間このお寺で瞑想を学びました。こんな自然いっぱいあるところはすごく平和的です。お坊さんもとても優しく知識いっぱい持っているからいろいろ勉強できました。


Miki. He made some very famous and controversial video's while living in Okinawa as an English teacher like myself. Now he is a monk in a far remote monastery in Chiang Mai. It's a very small world.