*番組コーナー名:「ワールドフラワーズネットワーク」
The person I wasn't able to meet yesterday due to the Kid's Interview contact me, and now it is certain that I will be able to meet her.
We had agreed not to meet up in the hotel I'm staying, but rather in a restaurant located in a building close by. Hence, I direct my steps into that direction.
A ten minutes walk later, I grasp sight of the place: It's very modern, new building!
The restaurant's neon sign is visible from outside the building.
As soon as I enter the building, a women approaches me with a smile and asks 'Mr. Yamada'?
Entering the restaurant, she directs me to seats at the far end of the room, and in our conversation it turns out that Mrs. Gretel is not only the mother of the child I'll be allowed to interview, but she is also the owner of this restaurant.
Finally! I managed to meet her :D
The restaurant's menu is a Japanese-Chinese style fusion kitchen, the interior is Asian casual and modern. The atmosphere is friendly, and overall it is a really nice, comfortable place.
Restaurant's name is 'DimSum', and it is located on the Design Centre's 1st Floor.
Immediately I start the interview.
The 9 year old boy I interviewed.
Also present: his cute younger sister.
In comparison to other children I interviewed so far, the boy had a really good knowledge about Japan. When I asked how come, it turns out that my acquaintance had been at one time a Spanish teacher in Japan.
I was also told that another reason why she decided to launch a Chinese-Japanese restaurant is that her paternal grandfather was Chinese.
And her maternal grandfather was German.
Both of her grandfathers ended up getting married in Guatemala.
On this trip I've repeatedly realised that countries like Japan with hardly any immigration happening are rare, and that the societies of most countries were created through by people from different cultures and backgrounds mixing together.
A country like Japan with a nation formed of principally one race is very, very rare.
Once the Kid's Interview was over without any hitches but a lot of laughs, it's lunch time
I was served the house's recommended menu item.
It's DimSum.(^0^)/
Hmm, for how many years did I crave this again? :D
Chinese restaurants are generally easy to find in any of the larger town, but this is the first time that they serve DimSum.
It was really, really nice food.☆
Finally, I gave them as a little thank you the Kid's Interview sponsors' stickers, and then wanted to say goodbye as soon as I had paid the bill. However, they didn't want to accept money ...
When I wanted to pay, I was informed “This goes on Guatemalan hospitality”
… Thank very much! Much appreciated.!!!!m(__)m
This is the side effect of the trust relation ship between Leslie Asturias and Ikue Boucher who introduced me to Ms. Gretel.
I'm deeply indebted to this place and grateful the hospitality.
I not only am allowed to interview a kid, but also am invited for lunch – I like Guatemala the longer the better :D
Returning to the hotel I take a different way than on the way coming – and end up in completely the wrong place :D
Today is Sunday, hence the streets aren't all that busy.
However, evidently one of the principle reasons for traffic jams is the streets' narrowness.
The side walk is rather narrow too, so it must be dangerous also for pedestrians.
Guatemala city is located in this place as the result of the former capital Antigua's relocation due to the frequently occurring earth quakes, and is currently experiencing the proverbial population explosion.
I'm relieved and happy that today, too, I managed to fulfil my duty and managed to do an entertaining Kid's Interview.
I'll upload the result soon, so please have a little patience.
From tomorrow, I'll go for a week to the US on business.
In that time I'll also upload information in relation to that travel.
Which reminds me … I sometimes get asked the following:
Are you returning on bike to the US?
No, I don't think so (obviously, ;))
By air plane.
After all, it's nearly November, and there is a chance that there'll be snow in Utah.
That's it! Ciao!
2011年10月23日(日)
昨日、子供インタビューでお会い出来なかった方から連絡があり、確実に会えることになりました。
待ち合わせは私の滞在ホテルでなく、近くのビルの中のレストランに来て下さい、というのでそちらを訪問することに。
10分ほど歩くと突如現れた、近代的かつ、洗練されたビル!
建物の外からそのレストランのネオンサインが見える。
ビルの中に入ると、
「Mr. YAMADA? 」と女性が笑顔で声を掛けてくれる。
レストランの方で、奥の席に案内されて話しをすると、この方が子供インタビューを受けてくれる子供のお母さんであり、さらにこのレストランオーナーのグレテルさんだった!
おお!やっと会えました。(笑)
お店のメニューは中華と和食を揃え、店内はアジアンカジュアルで、ファッショナブル、そしてフレンドリーライク、というとっても居心地が良い店。
【店名:ディンスン】(デザインセンタービル1F)
早速、インタビューを初めてさせて頂きます。
インタビューは9歳になるお兄ちゃん。
また、中華と和食のレストランを営まれている理由として、グレテルさんの父方のおじいさんが中国人だからだと教えてくれた。
母方のおじいさんはドイツ人だと。
そして、それぞれがグァテマラの方と結婚なさったということです。
この旅で、度々感じることとして、日本みたいに移民が殆ど居ない国は珍しく、他の多くの国では沢山の人種が混じり合った方々が社会を形成している。
本当に日本のように基本一人種という国家は極めて稀だ。
子供インタビューが無事、そして楽しく終わったところで食事です!
オススメを出してくれました。
点心でーす(^0^)/
いやー、これ長年?食べたかった~~~。(笑)
中華レストランは大きめの街に行けば大体あるのですが、点心にありつけたの初めてかも。
とっても美味しかったです☆
さて、私から子供インタビューのお礼としてスポンサーステッカーをお渡しし、お会計を済ませて失礼しようと思うと、なんと食事代を受け取ってくれない。。
ここは負けじと支払いをお願いするが、
「グァテマラのおもてなしですから」
とひいてくれず。。
・・ごちそうさまでした!!!!m(__)m
これもグレテルさんをご紹介頂いた、育江Boucherさん、Leslie Asturiasさんの信頼関係の賜物です。
この場をお借りして深くお礼申し上げます。
子供インタビューはさせてくれるわ、食事はごちそうになるわで、益々、グァテマラの方が大好きになりました。(笑)
帰りは来た道と別の道でホテルに戻ろうと歩くと全然違う場所に出てしまった。(笑)
ただ渋滞の原因の一つとして道幅が狭い。
歩道も狭いので歩行者もちょっと危ないかも。
このグァテマラシティは過去、首都があったアンティグアが地震が多いために遷都された場所であり現在では爆発的に人口が増加しているという。
今日も私の任務かつ、楽しみの活動の子供インタビューが出来てほっとしたのと嬉しい気持ちで一杯です。
(*後日のアップをご期待下さい☆)
さて明日から一週間ばかりUSAへ出張に行って参ります。
(その期間中も旅に関連する情報はアップしていきます。)
そう言えば、たまに聞かれることがあります。
「バイクでUSAに戻るんですか?」
そんなこたあ、ありません。(キッパリ・笑)
飛行機です。
11月に近いユタは雪の可能性もありますからねー。
それでは! Ciao!!
Saturday, 22nd October, 2011
Today I'll visit a bike dealer to have my bike maintenance checked, and I've also scheduled a Child Interview.
After waking up, I eat the fruit I bought yesterday night in the vicinity of the hotel, together with the bread I've bought the other day in Tikal.
I can boil water in the room, and hence prepare myself some instant coffee.
When on the road, I feel that Nescafé really is miraculous and good thing!
While eating this breakfast, I create a summary for what needs to be checked during the bike's maintenance.
I have to make sure that I explain it all perfectly to the dealer.
I've still got close to 50'000 kilometre of journey ahead of me, hence my favourite vehicle (Hero) will soon have over 100'000 kilometres on the tachometer
Leaving the hotel's parking lot, I rely on GPS coordinates in order to reach the dealer.
And I arrive without any further trouble, discounting some troubles with a one way street and a traffic jam.
As I park the bike in one of the available parking lots, a giant of a man emerges from the garage.
Hey, Tatsu---ya----!
It's the shop manager Jose with whom I have exchange some emails recently.
He's Caucasian
At his side there is another Caucasian male with a smile from one ear to the other.
Oh, looking closer, it's the Polish guy I met yesterday, Jareck!!!
A bit unexpected, really!
Jareck turned back to the capital to have his bike repaired by this dealer
as something was wrong with the sound of his bike.
Jareck turned back to the capital to have his bike repaired by this dealer
as something was wrong with the sound of his bike.
Jareck's website: http://www.jantarek.com/
He's immediately published me ...
The bike workshop where all the maintenance work takes place is on the 2nd floor behind glass doors.
And... then … This!
Next to the show room doors, there are permanently security guards with shot guns.
Not even in Africa I have seen anything the like, but Guatemala ...is it so dangerous around here?!
When I arrived at the shop it was 10am. But, after explaining my maintenance requests, getting the paper work done, leaving the bike in the garage, chatting a little bit with Jareck and the shop manager it suddenly is 12pm noon.
The taxi to the hotel is organised and paid for by the dealer.
This type of service is a first for me.
I return to my hotel and start working – after all I'll have to go one a one week business trip to Salt Lake city starting the day after tomorrow. Working away all afternoon, the time for the Child Interview has come.
I prepare the camera, the sponsor stickers which I'll give away as a thank you, the leaflet explaining
my journey and the charity system, the special sticker with my website etc. and then take it all to my appoint in the lobby.
But I can't see any kid ...
Twice a child was accompanied by an adult, but when I asked them they where not the people I was waiting for.
10 minutes
20 minutes.
30 minutes.
The traffic jams in Guatemala city are really bad, and there is a chance that if they'd be coming by car, they might be late for the appoint.
Assuming that this is the case, I wait relaxed.
1 hour.
Hmmm, they didn't come.
Possibly.
Or did I get the time wrong due to the time difference?!
Checking with the hotel clock though, the times are correct.
Some more waiting.
An hour and a half.
Maybe, something happened...
Well, for the rest of today, I decided to wait to be contacted by the person who introduced me to the potential interviewees, and hope for better luck tomorrow
Now, I'd like to let everyone now that Tatsuya Yamada will be on the radio!
The same World Flower Network that featured me in Morocco for the first time, invited me for the second time around.
Day and time schedule is as follows: November 2nd, 2011, 16pm Japan Time.
Day and time schedule is as follows: November 2nd, 2011, 16pm Japan Time.
Local time it will be 1am in the morning (not funny!)
I inform you of further details one of the upcoming days.
I'm already getting nervous :D
【グァテマラ】グァテマラシティ滞在
2011年10月22日(土)
今日はバイクのメンテナンスためディーラーを訪問するのと、子供インタビューを行う予定です!
朝起きて、昨晩、宿の近くの店で買った果物と、ティカルの村で買ってあったパンを食べる。
部屋でお湯が湧かせるのでインスタントコーヒーを作ります。
旅先ではネスカフェも不思議と美味しく感じる。
そんな朝食を摂りながら、メンテナンスメニューをまとめます。
ディーラーではきちんと伝えて完璧に仕上げてもらわねばなりません。
この先、まだ5万キロ近い旅が待っていて、我が愛機(Hero)はすぐに10万キロを超えて行くでしょう。
ホテルのパーキングを出て、GPSの座標を頼りにディーラーに向かう。
一方通行の煩わしさと渋滞を除けば、ストレスなく到着出来ました。
バイクを駐車スペースに停めると、ガレージの中から巨漢の男性が出て来るなり、
「Hey! Tatsu~ya~!」
事前にメールでやり取りしていた店長のホセさんだった。白人だ。
そして横には、満面の笑顔の白人男性がいる。
おお!よく見ると、昨日出会ったポーランド人のヤレックじゃないか!!!
なんと奇遇!
彼もバイクの調子が芳しくないため、首都に戻ってこのディーラーに修理に来たという。
左から、ホセ店長、ヤレック、私
ヤレックのサイト:http://www.jantarek.com/
早速、私を掲載してくれていました。
ヤレックもそうだったように、店長のホセさんは私のバイクを見るなり、その美しいカスタムぶりに唸っていた。
特に世界第一号で作ってもらったツアラテック社製のビッグタンクは世界中で評判がいい。
自分のバイクを褒めてもらえるのはやっぱり嬉しいもんだね。
バイクのメンテナンスは二階にあるスタジオのようなガラス張りの中で行われる。
そ・し・て、これ。
ショールームの入り口ではショットガンを構えたセキュリティが常駐!。
アフリカでも居なかったのに、グァテマラ・・、そんなにヤバいんかい?!(笑)
10:00に店に到着後、メンテナンス内容をリクエストし、手続き完了でバイクを預けることになったが、その後もずっとヤレックと店長のホセさんと話しをしていたらあっと言う間に12:00になった。
ホテルまでタクシーを手配してくれ代金もディーラーが持ってくれると言う。
こんなサービスは初めてだな。
宿に戻り、事務作業と、明後日から仕事関係の出張で、一週間ソルトレークへ行く準備をしていると子供インタビューのアポの時間が近付いてきた。
カメラ、スポンサーから預かったお礼のステッカー、私の旅とチャリティシステムを説明するフライヤー(ちらし)、ウェブサイトアドレスが記載されているスペシャルステッカー、などを万全に準備して待ち合わせのロビーで待つ。
それらしき親子が見当たらない。
2組ほど、子供を連れた方がいらっしゃったので聞いてみるがご本人達ではない。
10分。
20分。
30分。
グァテマラシティは渋滞が酷いため、もし車で向かっていたら約束の時間に到着出来ないこともあるだろう。
そんな事情も判っているので気長に待つ。
1時間。
うーん、いらっしゃらないねー。
もしや。
時差が発生していて私が時間を間違えているかも?!
ということでホテルの時計を確認しにいくと、合っている。
そして待つ。
1時間半。
たぶん、何かあったのだろう。
とりあえず、今日は紹介者の方からの連絡を待つことにして明日に期待しよう。
ここで皆様に、山田達也のラジオ出演のお知らせです!!
前回、アフリカ(モロッコ)で出演させて頂いたワールドフラワーネットワークに第二回目の登場をいたします。
日時は、日本時間11月2日(水)16:00の予定です。
現地時間は深夜1:00です。(苦笑)
詳細は後日お知らせいたしますね^^
あ、もう緊張してきた。(笑)
Today we'll go on towards Guatemala City.
Yesterday night I didn't notice, but when I went this morning to the restaurant to have breakfast, this beautiful landscape is what I encountered :D
Thrusday, October 20th 2011
Well, actually I was planning to arrive in Coban today, but it turns out that at that geographical location a different town was located :D
This is one of Guatemala's high ways.
On occasions they are surprisingly similar to Japanese country side roads.
This said, it's not only the landscape, but sometimes I feel as if Guatemalans also are a bit similar to Japanese.
They're not too close, but not to different either – it feels like just about the right degree of 'different'
Some I feel at peace despite driving on roads.
This is the townscape of Flores, the starting point for site seeing around Tikal.
There are a lot of three wheeled taxis around!
The number vehicles with people riding in the back of the trucks has increased.
The short stretch of highway leading to Coban goes progressively worse: from being suitable for high speeds to dirty road.
And then it goes from bad to worse.
The whether is going to change by the looks of the sky.
At a rubbish tip, garbage scavenging children.
Today is a weekday, so actually at this time of the day they should be in school.
Close by, children riding a 'pick up' bicycle.
Probably they're going back and forth between the rubbish tip and some other place.
It's pretty painful the understand why there aren't any smiles in their faces.
Since I didn't have a guide with me, I couldn't strike up a conversation with them and cannot judge. But I do feel as I've caught a glimpse of Guatemala's shady side.
The road gave the impression to continue throughout as a dirt road, and now it seems as if it would start to rain any time soon.
I remembered that the hotel staff had told me that the Japanese person I met yesterday, Heikichi-san, had left me a message saying that there had been landslides in the mountains, and that some of the roads had been cut off.
Also, the tyres I'm using are on-road tyres that, to make matters worse, are approaching their end of life as it stands ...
Let's change roads.
Even if it isn't the shortest way, let's find a paved road.
I hence trace by way on the road I've come from for the last 30 kilometres, to a paved road heading towards Guatemala city.
On the way I discover a tea house on top of a mountain pass.
Suddenly it's already 2pm, and time for lunch break.
As soon as I enter the place a group of locals having a party (?) ushers me to their table. Time for a souvenir photograph
Today's lunch.
The chef's recommendation is Chicken soup. What I was served slightly digressed from what I expected when ordering.
This is chicken WITH soup. :D
It was really nice. (40 Quetzal = 400 Yen)
Judging from the map, it seems as if at Rio Dulce there will be a crossing with a national highway going West.
I guessed that if I'd drive that way, I'd certainly arrive at Coban.
All went fine until I arrived in that town. But then, the sign post was hidden by a tree, and I drove to far.
When I the turned back, I was chatted up by a local on a motorbike.
He didn't speak any English, hence we had to communicate with gestures.
Essentially, what they guy said was, that the road leading from this place to Koban was an outrageously bad road to drive.
He instructed me to proceed to Guatemala City and turn back from there towards Coban.
NO way, if that`s the case, then`ll go straight to Guatemala city
Thinking this, I check the time on my watch, and indeed it's already past 4pm.
The whether wasn't exactly brilliant so far, and it's starting to get dark already.
While in the US and in Mexico this might still be OK, I have a feeling that driving at night time in Guatemala might not be a good idea.
I decide to change my plans.
Tonight, I'll stay in this town.
There was an inn at the outskirts of the town, where I check in.
Then I call the hotel in Coban where I had a reservation and cancel.
How many times did I already have to change my plans on this journey?
Travelling in unknown areas, doing the unreasonable is a taboo, and adjust and decide depending on circumstances is a must.
寄り付き過ぎず、よそよそし過ぎず、ちょうど良い距離感を保っている気がします。
なんとなく道を走っていても安心します。
ティカルなどの観光地の拠点となるフローレスの町並み。
三輪タクシーがとにかく沢山!
荷台に人が乗っている車が増えました。
コバンへ向かう最短距離の国道が早い段階からダートになる。
そしてさらにその荒れ具合は酷くなる。
空模様も不安定ときてる。
その途中で目にした光景
ゴミ捨て場で、ゴミをあさる子供達。
その近くで通りかかる荷台付きの自転車に乗る子供。
たぶんゴミ捨て場とどこかを往復をしているのだろう。
今日は平日だから、本来なら学校で行っている時間だ。
笑顔のない理由が判るようで辛いな。
会話が出来ず、ガイドがいないので何も判らないが、グァテマラの陰の部分の一端を見た気がした。
その道はずっとダートが続く気配であったのと、今にも雨が降りそうな天候だった。
ホテルスタッフからと、昨日会った日本人のへいきちさんの情報から山道は崖崩れで遮断されている道があることを思い出した。
そして今、履いているタイヤはオンロードタイプかつ、交換時期が近いすり減ったタイヤだ。
道を換えよう。
最短距離でなくても、舗装路を探して行こう。
ということで来た道を30キロほど戻り、グァテマラシティへの舗装路を行く。
途中の山の峠に茶屋を発見。
すでに14:00近くになっていたのでランチ休憩。
店に入るやいなや、現地人グループの宴会?に連れ込まれ、記念撮影!
今日のランチ。
オススメは、「チキンスープ」というので、それを注文したら想像と違う物が出て来た。
これはチキンと、スープだ。(笑)
旨かったです。(40ケツアール=400円)
地図を見る限り、リオ・ドゥルセという町の中に西へ向かう国道の交差点がある。そこを曲がって行けばコバンへ到着出来るはず。
その町に入ったはいいが、標識が繁った木に隠れていため、一瞬、通り過ぎてしまった。
戻って迷っているとき、バイクに乗った地元のおっちゃんが話しかけてくれた。
英語が出来る人でなかったため、お互いジェスチャーでやりとりする。
おっちゃんが言うには、この町からコバンへ向かう道は酷い悪路だと言う。
グァテマラシティ近くまでいってから、向かうようだよ、と教えてくれる。
いやいや、それだったら、もう直接グァテマラシティへ行くよ。
と思いつつも時計を確認するとすでに16:00過ぎ。
天候が芳しくないため日が陰り始めている。
USAやメキシコならまだしも、このグァテマラでの夜間走行はやばいものがありそうだ。
思い切って予定変更。
今日はこの町に泊まることにした。
町外れに宿があったのでチェックイン。
予約してあったコバンのホテルに電話してキャンセル。
こんな予定変更もこれまでの旅で何回あったかな。
未知の世界の旅は無理は禁物、そして臨機応変に状況を判断していかねばならない。
*I'm awfully sorry that it took so much time for us to put up the movie of children's voices of Turkey on the website.
My name is Ceren. I am 10 years old and Turkish.
Q1.
My dream is that children of all over the world could have meal easily.
Moreover, robbers will never get into houses of all over the world.
Q2.
Live with my family.
Q3.
I know Japanese dishes.
I and my father have been to Japan before.
Everyone says Japanese dishes are not delicious but I don’t think so.
My favorite dish is grilled meat.
My name is Mutlu.
I am 10 years old and Turkish.
Q1.
My dream is to be a lawyer.
I want to help people who are in trouble.
Q2.
When I play with my siblings, I am happy.
Q3.
Japanese is hard-working people.
They build strong building for earthquakes, and have earthquake proof countermeasures.
My name is Hacer.
I am 11 years old and Turkish.
Q1.
My dream is to be a famous movie producer.
Q2.
My happiness is that my families, friends and acquaintances are happy and all right.
Q3.
I know traditional Japanese dress which calls Kimono and Japanese dishes.
My name is Aylin Ece.
I am 10 years old and Turkish.
Q1.
My dream is to fly. If I can fly, I don’t care that I fly by myself or by airplane.
Q2.
My happiness is to lead a good life. Additionally, that is my happiness too if my families could live without any problems.
Q3.
I have heard that Japanese is very hard-working. In addition, I have also heard that Japanese read books a lot.
I watched the kid's interviews as a video picture.
Though it was 5 months ago for me, when I watch the contents what these kids were telling us, makes me heartfelt again.
These words are not forced or from someone else`s opinion.
These have come naturally from their heart and I was so impressed that it motivated me to remember when I was their age.
When we have dreams, we can be cheerful, have a goal and enjoy learning.
And if we keep that as our motivation and spend time everyday and every year, when we become adults, our dreams will come true.
Tatsuya Yamada