そして今日は、新たな発見に遭遇。 1950年刊行バンコクのガイドブックにはこう書いてあった。「Trocadero Hotel, Suriwongse Road, telephone 30462 - This hotel is situated near the corner of Suriwongse Road and New Road, in the business section of Bangkok, and one of the largest hotels in town. All rooms are fully screened and equipped with ceiling fans. Bath-rooms with running water are attached. Excellent cuisine and restaurant catering for private parties.The location of the hotel is particularly fortunate since it lies in the business centre of the town. Taxis are available at any time of the day and night.」 陰気くさいと感じたホテルの“過去”の姿をみて、愛着がわいた。かつての輝きが目に浮んで、100年近く(少なくとも86年)の時を経て、このホテルにどんなことがあって、どんなふうに生きてきたのかと。「Today the Trocadero Hotel is Bangkok equivalent of Hong Kong's Chungking Mansion with utilitarian shops jammed into every nook of the ground floor and rooms in the upper floors. Still, the hotel promotes its long history with free postcards that features a photo of the hotel from the 1920s」 今は、誰の目にも映らない、留まらない場所に変貌したとはいえ、またいつか輝く時がやってくるのかもしれないなーって写真を見て強く感じた、ホテルの“姿”が変らずそこにいてくれる限りは。