Kentucky Ice Storm

While traveling the last 2 years I have heard some pretty funny stereotypes about Kentucky.

Most Chinese people that could speak English would ask me where in the US I was from, the conversation went like this:

“Where you from?”

“I’m American”

“Ohhhhh….are you from California or New York City?” [ Any place not related to Hollywood excrement doesn't exist or count.]

“I’m from Kentucky…its kind of in between the two”

“Ohhhhhhhhh! KFC! You eat lots of chicken! You a cowboy?”

-sigh-

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Posted in USA | Tags: kentucky ice storm

Another trunk sized branch laden with ice broke free and hissed through the darkness on its way down. It sounded like a chandelier hitting the ground as ice exploded like crystal onto the leaves nearby.

Day 3 of an ice storm here in Kentucky and it has taken its toll. Granted, our “ice storm” would be considered a light dusting in places like Minnesota, but it is still enough to nearly shut down life in Lexington.

The trees aren’t the only things taking a pounding. Having sat inside for the last few days, my sanity is coming unraveled just like the city’s power grid. Outside, my truck sits encapsulated in a solid block of impenetrable ice, just daring me to move it. Just like Martin Sheen in Apocalypse Now, I feel myself growing softer. If I had a mirror I would have leaped up in delirium and punched it by now.

The voices in my head finally peaked in a shrill chorus and in a moment of madness I found myself crunching out into the deserted streets around midnight last night. Always go where the action is. Unfortunately at midnight in an iced-over suburbia on foot, that is easier said than done.

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Posted in USA | Tags: greg rodgers, Kentucky

Travel Lesson Learned : Kanchanaburi

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Shop owner in Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Travel Lesson : Go with the flow

In a belch of black smoke, my first local bus rattled out of the busy station and to tell the truth, I had no idea where I was going….

I had arrived in Bangkok only 3 days before Chinese New Year in 2006. The city was mad (even more so than usual) in frantic preparation and anticipation. I stepped out of my guesthouse into a whirl of Khao San Road insanity and stumbled down the road rubbing my jetlagged eyes.

This was my first trip out of the US and I was a stranger in a stranger land. I was alone, tired, and frankly wondering what the hell I had just gotten myself into. All those months of preparation which included selling my house, my belongings, and quitting my job of 8 years had led down to this very moment……and I wasn’t happy.

I heard through various forums and travel sites that Bangkok was an amazing place to be for Chinese New Year. There was to be a big celebration, lots of photo opportunities in the streets, and traveler bragging rights galore for years to come. There was just one small problem…..

It didn’t feel right!

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Posted in Ramblings | Tags: kanchanaburi, Thailand

Vagabonding Life

Escaping corporate America and traveling around the world on the cheap!