Playing California Kickball
I remember first being introduced to my school’s version of kickball, which they referred to as “California Kickball,” in my first year of elementary school. The game itself was pretty much the same as regular kickball, but instead of only having four bases, there were six. The real kicker, though, was that to actually score, runners had to round the bases twice. Little did I know that this childhood game would become the basis for my sexual philosophy.
Let’s get real here, I think rounding the bases twice is a good idea. I’m not the most well versed person in the art of random hookups, but if your going to indulge in the horizontal hustle, why not round the bases twice? If once is good, twice has to be better right? This, at least, is what I thought before traveling.
The beauty of backpacking is that you are free. You can do, within reason, whatever you want, whenever you want. If you get tired of a place or people, you can just pack your bags and head in a new direction. With this being said, I think my typical rule of rounding the bases twice may not be the best idea while traveling.
Most travel hook ups, and travel friendships or relationships for that matter, are really specific to a moment. Trying to recreate this and meet back up with a travel lover can make you lose the magic that you initially found with one another. It may sound like a good idea at the time, but it is nearly impossible to try and recreate a past situation.
Take some advice from a former believer in the California Kickball philosophy. While traveling, enjoy the moment while it lasts, but don’t try and recreate it down the line.
New York City Marathon Cancellation
Though no one would dare say a negative word about those affected in New York City by the Hurricane Sandy, many runners and regular folk alike are disappointed by the cancellation of the ING NYC Marathon. This marathon is one of the few major marathons held per year, and many business and runners are dependent on it for their livelihood. Though it was a choice by the mayor, and many citizens are happy about it, the idea of cancelling a race that is almost as important to running as the Super Bowl is to football seems unfathomable.
One of the most profound statements on the impact of the cancellation was given by elite and pre-race favorite to win, Wilson Kipsang of Kenya. The NY Times quote Kipsang saying, “This is terrible, but it’s part of life. I’m not angry. People suffered misfortunate.” Why this quote is important is that runners are dependent on racing for their livelihood. Though Kipsang is a major figure in running, and also makes money through endorsements and other sponsors, those planning to race in NYC missed out on a payday. Runners receive appearance fees, as well as boosts for time, place and other factors during a race.
Along with money, the NYC marathon is a way for up and coming runners to get noticed by potential sponsors. This is one of the main races held in the U.S., so if someone has a breakout day in the streets of the Big Apple, they have a great chance of finding a sponsor, and paving their way to professional athletics. Up and comer Ian Burrel, who does have sponsorship, told NY Times that, “This was the last six months of my life. This is devastating.” Burrell is married, has a one-year-old daughter and is dependent on checks from races.
For those who did plan on running NYC and have the means, there are two upcoming marathons in Japan on November 18th and December 2nd. It isn’t ideal, with training being date-specific for races, but it is better than nothing. Look to see some fast times and some big names at both of these events.
All was not lost this past weekend for marathon runners. Thousands of runners met in Central Park to run a marathon. Instead of following the course, though, runners from all around the world carried goodies, such as food and clothing that are given in race bags, and took them to people affected all throughout the city.
For more information on professional running and the impact of canceling the NYC marathon, head over to NY Times for their post-cancellation recap.
Election reflection
It’s over. What a relief. I’m starting to believe we are a nation of masochists. In other modern industrial states American politics are viewed as somewhere between “laughable” and “absurd.” We Americans subject ourselves to a tsunami of propaganda and nonsense for nine months (or is it four years?). Andy Borowitz aside, it is no laughing matter but at times, it is Kafka-esque.
Just when you’re ready to pack it all in, we have an election like this one. It appears that the Democratic “ground game” beat the Republican “money game” and we survived the first big test of the idiotic Citizen United decision, despite the billion dollar ante by the plutocrats.
Mitch McConnell’s insulting number one priority to make sure President Obama was not re-elected and the resulting childish Republican obstructionism on jobs, infrastructure, climate change, taxes and their attempt to blackmail the country over the debt ceiling was not rewarded.
The extremely vicious right wing hate speech of Alan West will be out of public view. Nerdy sabermaticians like Nate Silver, Sam Wang and others prevailed over highly paid political pundits and consultants in predicting a not-so-close presidential election (See "Revenge of the Nerds"). Progressives won and tea party negativists and misogynists lost. Real America prevailed.
But I lied when I said, “it’s over.” That’s the funny thing about a democracy. It’s really never over. Believe me, big money special interests and the plutocrats will be back. And so must we. Take a breath but get ready for the real challenges of self government in the 21st century. Good luck President Obama, you’re gonna need it.
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The run I would have done
This past week, I ended up displacing my hips, causing immense pain in my lower back. It isn’t the first time it’s happened, but it is the first time it’s happened in a different country where I can’t speak the language, nor do I have a reliable physical therapist. Though I’ve been able to decently nurse myself back to health, I’ve decided to take a week and a half off of running to let my back fully heal. Even while traveling, injury is one of the hardest things for a runner to deal with. But, on that note, sometimes a trip to a beautiful secluded island can help a runner forget his habits of exercise.
Though I couldn’t run, and tried to keep my mind off of it, I couldn’t help but picture my run while visiting Koh Russei (also known as Bamboo Island) in southern Cambodia. The island is quite small, and although there aren’t many paths, I was still able to picture my feet striding around it’s beautiful white beaches.
I would have started out in front of my bungalow. Since there are no paved roads, and the island is tiny, I would have ran barefoot and headed south down the beach. The entire stretch of beach is around 1.5 km long, so I would have done laps up and down early in the morning.
The sand to the north and south is white and unadulterated by rocks. The beach is very wide there, so running is no issue. In the middle I would have had to slow down to avoid the roots of trees and sea rocks that are sprinkled throughout the area, and would speed up while passing the one restaurant so I wouldn’t catch a whiff the of delicious breakfast I would yearn for.
I would have starred off at the tropical palm trees that hang over the white sand, and I would have seen all the different drawings on the 10 bungalows, perfectly spaced, on the south end of the beach. I would have seen my beautiful travel partner lounging in the sun, and if I began to feel overheated, I would have jumped in the water, soaking my entire lower half.
To break up the monotony, I would, at one point, run from one side of the island to the other. The path is a mix of dirt and sand, so even barefoot, I would have been fine. It only takes a few minutes running to traverse between the two, so many I would have done this a few times for fun.
In the middle of the trail I would have looked up at the trees hanging over my head, and enjoyed the fact that I can be in both jungle and on the beach nearly at the same time. Though this is what I would have loved to do, sipping fruity drinks, lounging on the sand and snorkeling had to suffice. Here’s to spending injured days lavishly!
The Killing Fields and the Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, Camobdia
While traveling in Cambodia can be filled with trekking, sitting on beautiful islands in the Gulf of Thailand or the Mekong River, or visiting the ancient temples in of Angor Wat, it is important for tourists to learn about the not so distant history of the Khmer Rouge.
The killing fields and the Genocide Museum, also know as Choeung Ek Memorial and the S-21 Genocide Museum, are two tourist destinations that hold a lot of weight, and should be on each traveler's agenda. They are both located in the capital city of Phnom Penh, and accessible and affordable for all travelers.
To visit both sites, tourists can hire a tuk tuk for the day that will take you to the two and return you to the city. Though the price is negotiable, the cheapest I’ve heard is around $10 during the low season.
The Genocide museum, or S-21, is a former school which the Khmer Rouge, after overtaking the capital, turned into a prison for those whom they believed were spies. The Khmer Rouge mostly targeted the intellectuals and wealthy, and used this facility to torture and kill 100’s of people. The site now is used as a memorial, as well as place devoted entirely to history. A film about the atrocities is shown twice daily, and the former school also holds history classes once a week.
The facility itself is made up of four buildings, each housing pictures, antiquities and other trinkets that give incite it the horrors of the Khmer Rouge. Haunting pictures of victims, taken by their captors before being executed, are laden throughout the facility. Torture devices are still in their places, and the rooms are still the same as when the prison was found shortly after the Khmer Rouge was ousted.
After visiting the museum, it isn’t a bad idea to take a break or grab lunch before directly heading to the Killing Fields. The site, much like S-21, is very taxing to visit. The history is hard to digest, and the Killing Fields is even more intense then S-21. The ride to the fields themselves takes about 20 minutes, so this may be enough time to recuperate between the two sites.
Though the content is hard to handle, the Killing Fields is an extremely well-done, tasteful memorial to a site known for genocide. Visitors are charged $5 to enter, and are given an audio guide in their language, to accompany them throughout their visit. The guide corresponds with a map given at the start of the journey, and takes you through a tour of all the important places throughout the compound. The stories of the atrocities are very hard to handle, but the audio commentary paints a vivid picture and does a great job to tell the history of the fields, without being to vulgar or harsh.
Though a visit to S-21 and the Killing Fields isn't the happiest moment in a trip to Cambodia, it is essential to really understanding the country. Learning about the not too distant history is important, and knowledge of these events are the only way to prevent them from ever taking place again.
A dreary November day
Overcast and drizzly, Election Day 2012 in Minnesota was a typical November day. I woke up, worked a little and headed off to vote at a local church. The lines were long, but not terribly so, and I chatted with a friend and couple of neighbors.
Unlike four years ago, I wasn’t very excited for the Presidential election. A couple of constitutional amendments were on the ballot though, and I was very interested in these. One was regarding marriage equality. My thoughts drifted back to a boy I’d babysat years ago.
He committed suicide while a young adult, and somehow, deep in my heart, I knew it was because he was gay and his parents did not accept him. I thought of him as I filled in my mark. I stayed up way too late, watching for results. Eventually, a news website reported proposed amendment was defeated. I thought of the boy who committed suicide. If only he’d been able to hang on.
Yeak Loam Lake in Banlung, Cambodia
While not one of the most visited sites in Cambodia, the northeastern region, known as the Ratakari province, is home to beautiful, lush forests. Visitors can escape the hustle and bustle of the cities like Sihanookville and Phnom Penh, and spend their days lounging at waterfalls, trekking in the jungle, or even seeing true and authentic Cambodian Markets.
The capital city of the province is a small town known as Banlung. The city isn’t too large, but with a few streets of commerce, a relatively large central market, and some really cheap, while also really accommodating, guest houses, it is a great place to start your trip. For those looking for a guest house with a backpacker feel, try out the Lakeside Bungalows just west of town.
While the town itself is sleepy and fun, the most interesting sight in Banlung is the 700,000 year-old volcanic lake known as Yeak Loam. The shimmering blue lake is believed by locals to be a spiritual and holy sight, as well as the home to a monster (or magic creature) living in the nearly 100 foot depths in the center. The lake itself is around 1K long, and is completely surrounded by dense jungle.
To get to there, visitors can either hire a motorbike, hop in a taxi, or bike the 7K from the town center. There is a $2 entry for all foreign visitors, and if you are with some sort of motorized transportation, you will also be charged $4 for parking. Once you get to the complex, you will pass a large area selling affordable local cuisine and homemade goods. The lake is just down a set of wooden stairs, safely hidden away from the noise of the parking lot and food stalls.
The lake itself is surrounded by a nearly 2K long dirt path, and is home to eight docks. The main dock near the stairs is by far the most fun, with local Cambodians, both young and old, donning bright orange life jackets jumping into the lake while letting out high-pitched screams. The docks further from the main are much calmer, but also tend to become only inhabited by tourists. All the docks have signs asking locals not to bath, with a few specifically forbidding visitors from carrying shampoo.
Though Yeak Loam Lake is a humble tourist attraction, it is well worth the effort to make it to Banlung. The beautiful, light blue water is the perfect temperature to save you from a hot Cambodian day, and the locals are very inviting. Make your way to Yeak Loam Lake; you won’t be disappointed.
Limited time coffee flavors
Coffee places are constantly finding new ways to lure us inside for a cup of Joe. One of their commonly used tactics is to introduce coffee flavors that are available for only a limited amount of time. Often the newly introduced coffee flavors reflect the season at hand. For instance, during this time of the year, just about all of the places that sell a cup of coffee are promoting their limited time pumpkin lattes.Since its introduction this year, I have personally ordered two lattes induced with the pumpkin flavor. That is a lot, considering the fact that I am not much of a coffee drinker. So does that mean I am falling for the whole available for a limited time only thing? I guess to some extent I am. However, I must point out that I actually do have a thing for the pumpkin flavor.
Because of the fact that pumpkin lattes are hard to come by at any other time of the year, I do try to buy a couple while I still can. I do not feel as though I am simply buying one because it is constantly being advertised in front of me. Afterall, I am highly unlikely to be the one to buy the peppermint lattes come Christmas time.
For the remainder of this season, I will try to stop myself from buying another pumpkin latte. Why is that? Simply because of the amount of calories that are in one is not something that I can afford to have too often.
Hines Ward gets appearence on The Walking Dead
The Pittsburgh Steelers old Friend Hines Ward continues to try and build on his resume with more acting in his future. His new adventure will place him in Georgia where the AMC hit series The Walking Dead is filmed. Ward is very familiar with the area as he was a standout wide receiver as a Georgia Bulldog years ago. He then went on to have a hall of fame career for the Steelers until his recent retirement. Now it seems he has some new ways to pass his time in life after retirement.
The opportunity presented itself to Ward by former teammate and Walking Dead character T- Dogg. The two played together and have some roots and Ward said that he jumped at the opportunity. Ward has already been involved with the hit show Dancing with the Stars and feels plenty comfortable in front of the camera. This new role, however, will have him in a position that is much different from that which he is used to.
Ward’s cameo role in the series will be as a zombie or “walker” as they are called in the show. Ward had to have a long sit down to get remade as a zombie, which was complete with latex masks and gory makeup. This along with fake blood and battered clothing made for an interesting experience for Ward. You can see more of his transformation at NFL.com, or can watch The Walking Dead on AMC primetime tv on Sundays to get a glimpse for yourself.