2 steps, 4 steps or 3 steps?

週末、いつも寝坊な私が珍しく早起きしたので、旦那と二人で散歩にでかけた。前日の雨のあかげで気温も低めなので、歩くにはもってこいの朝。行く先はテキトー、とにかく水辺に向かって歩こうということに。
いつも騒音いっぱいの車道から離れて運河沿いの歩道をしばらく歩けば、河の合流地点に出て整備された遊歩道になり、ジョガーも増えてくる。このあたりから埋め立てられた新興地であるのは確実、整備の程度があまりに違いすぎる。

爽やかな風が心地いい。先日までF1で使用されていたスタンドが解体中の現場を横目に見ながら、ボートの練習する掛け声を聞きながら、ダックツアー（水陸両用車）の観光客の歓声を聞きながら、時折ベンチで休んでOREOを食べながら、散歩を楽しんだ。いい散歩道を見つけたなあ。

夜には、ディーパバリと呼ばれる新年を祝うお祭りのライトアップをリトルインディアに見に行った。オレンジ色の腰布を巻いて枝を持った人が行ったり来たり。いつもの週末のように、まわりはインド人だらけ。

ところで、イタリア語では散歩することを"fare due(quattro) passi"＝「２（４）歩する」という。奇数が好まれることが多い日本や中国と、こんなところでも文化が違うのだなーと面白いと思う。

On the last weekend, I woke up early for a change. So I went out for a walk with my husband. The temperature was rather low thanks to the previous day's rain, which was good for taking a walk. Without deciding where to go, we just headed to the waterfront. Walking away from the bustling streets lead us the junction of rivers and a well-maintained walking trail with many joggers. Around here, it must be a new reclamation area, with the far better condition than the other areas.
Brisk breeze made me fresh. Walking along the dismantling site where the stand for F1 was there until the other day, hearing the orders from the regattas and tourists' glee from duck tour(amphibious vehicle tour), sitting on a bench and munching OREOs, we had fun from them. We've discovered a good walkway for weekends.

In the evening, we went to Little India to see the street illumination of Deepavali, a Hindus festival to celebrate the triumph of good over evil and of light over darkness. Many men with orange-colored dhoti and a branch were strolling up and down. The street was  filled with Indians as usual weekends.

The Italians, by the way, say "fare due (o quattro) passi (do 2 or 4 steps)" in the meaning of to take a walk. It's interesting that the cultures are so different from China and Japan where odd numbers are considered to be preferable. And, well, if I daresay it, "a walk" in Japanese is "sam-po" which is the same sound of the term meaning "three steps".

Haze

iGoogleの天気情報で「もや」と出ている日は要注意。

多分「Haze」を直訳しているんだろうけど、これはただの「もや」なんかじゃくて煙霧。隣国インドネシアでの焼畑や山火事の煙が風に流されてやってくるそう。今日も、午後からこんな感じ。
ニュースによれば、4年ぶりにひどいそうだ。

普段はこんな風にはっきり港が見えるし、向こうの島まで見えている。
（アングルと拡大率は違います）

私のよくきく鼻は、うっすら煙の匂いさえ感じていた。これでアレルギー症状が出たり、喘息になる人もいるらしい。確かにここ数日、目脂が良く出る。
政府も対策をしているが何せ隣国のこと、簡単にはいかない様子。サイトで「ヘイズ指数」というのが毎日更新されている。
Up to 50: Good, 51 to 100: Moderate, 101 to 200: Unhealthy, 201 to 300: Very Unhealthy, Over 300: Hazardous　という具合。

ちなみに今日の指数は33だったらしい、かすかに匂いを感じるくらいなのにGoodなの？
せっかくスギ花粉から逃れてきたのに、煙とは！

You need to be careful on the days when the weather information says "Haze".
It's not only damp haze but smoke haze. Blown by wind, smoke of burn agriculture or wildfires comes from the neighbor country Indonesia. From this afternoon, the city is like this. According to the news, it's the worst haze in four years.
Normally we can see the harbor such clearly and even the distant islands (with different angle and magnification).
My good nose slightly picks up the smell of smoke. It could cause allergy symptoms or asthma. Come to think of it, my eyes certainly have been collecting mucus for the past few days.
Although the government has taken measures for it, it is not an easy issue which happens in the neighbor country. The site of the government updates "PSI(Pollutant Standards Index)" everyday such as; Up to 50: Good, 51 to 100: Moderate, 101 to 200: Unhealthy, 201 to 300: Very Unhealthy, Over 300: Hazardous.
Today's index was 33 in our region. But is it really "Good" when I can smell it?
I've been luckily away from cedar pollen causing hay fever, but unluckily I have the awful smoke haze here!

They Come to Island

Jetstar Asiaの就航記念プロモの超破格フライトで、両親と舅がやってきたのは先々週のこと。入国カードを書くのも一苦労な3人を10日間アテンドするついでに、私も行きたかった場所に一緒に行けて、まあ楽しかった。舅は、チャイナタウンの大きな仏教寺院にやたら感心していた。
狭い2BRのコンドで大人5人で過ごしたのも、なかなかない経験でよかったのかもしれない。子供みたいにはしゃぐ父とプールで久しぶりに一緒に泳いだり、ダブルベッドで（場所がなくて）添い寝した母と夜遅くまで話込んだり。

旦那も休みの週末には、AirAsiaで（またまたLCC）物価の安いKuala Lumpurまで約1時間飛び、高級ホテルに泊まって豪華な食事も食べた。

が、日本もまだ暑いほどで気候の差はそんなに大きくなかったとはいえ異国の地で緊張もしたのだろう、3人が順番に体調を崩してしまい、勝手に立てていた予定も半分くらい、連れて行きたかったレストランもほとんど行けずで終わってしまった。
それでも、早朝の空港で見送った後、夜には満足気で元気そうな両親の顔を見て安心した。喜んでもらえたんだろうか？少なくとも、どんな国なのか見て安心してくれたとは思う。

It was two weeks ago when my parents and father-in-law came all the way to see us with super bargain price of Jetstar Asia which had promoted them for their starting service. Well, that was OK for I could go the places where I had wanted to go, while I attended for ten days those three who had trouble filling in their immigration cards. My father-in-law was so impressed by a large Buddhist temple in China Town. Staying in our small 2BR condo together of five adults might be a good opportunity we'll never have again. After such a long time, swam in the pool with my father who was making merry like a child, chatted with my mother sleeping alongside of me in a double bed till late at night.
Over the weekend when also my husband can take days off, we took one-hour flight to Kuala Lumpur―where the prices are way below―with AirAsia (another LCC!) and stayed at a luxury hotel and ate lavish meals.
Though the weather was not so different as temperature in Japan was still hot, they must have been intense in foreign countries, those three fell sick one after another. So, the half of the itinerary I had planned on my own was undone and we couldn't go to the most of the restaurants I had wanted to bring them.
But after sending them off at the predawn airport, I was so relieved to see them pleased and in good condition in the evening. Did they really enjoy the days? At least, I'm sure that they could feel safe to see the country we live in.