Everywhere: People: Jeff Kennel

Phnom Pehn uploaded on 6 July 2008

Jet away to Phnom Penh for the weekend!
Two monks whiz by an elephant in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Comments (0)

The Asian Toilet: Something like a Handy Guide

How To written 2 July 2008

Something like a Handy Guide from Me to You

The Asian Toilet: Something like a Handy Guide uploaded on 2 July 2008

Behold, the Asian toilet. Originally a mere hole in the floor, now, in more modern times, a finely crafted porcelain receptacle often, and hopefully for you, sporting footskids.
Now, down to brass tacks. To tame this beast one needs to be an excellent squatter with the balance of a Segway, the determination of a triathlete and an intimate and unnatural knowledge of where your leather cheerio is at all times...because this, my unlucky friend, is going to be a blind drop under great duress into the porcelain valley of foulness. It also is likely to be quite painful.
You mentally size this thing up, step up onto the launching pad, do a 180 and proceed to squat. The first thing that strikes you is that there is nothing to hold onto...no rope, no handle, nothing but flat dirty walls to brace yourself as your muscles start to rebel and your body starts to sweat in this dark smelly joke of a "restroom." Next you contemplate whether you should have targeted the actual hole in the porcelain or gone for the trough leading to the hole. I always try and hit the trough as I just can't stand my balloon knot getting splashed. And that water is the last thing you want entering any of your orifices.
Now, dear friend, I hope you remembered to bring your own role of toilet paper or at least grabbed a few waxy napkins discretely from the table. If not, be sure to use your left hand...as few fingers as possible.

You're no doubt sweaty and exhausted by this point with a wet bum, splattered shoes and confused as to why squat toilets haven't gone the way of the dodo-bird or Vanilla Ice. As with most confusing things you encounter in Asia, it's best to just forget about it because you'll never find a satisfying answer.

Now, enjoy the Olympics!

Comments (0)

Get Lost uploaded on 2 July 2008

Trail run through the wet, muddy, mossy, dense, empty forest trails of Forest Park until you're exhausted and your brain is empty...stop...close your eyes...take a deep breath, smell the forest, listen to the bald eagles and live here and now...a perfect moment.

Comments (0)

Splash Therapy uploaded on 2 July 2008

Trail running in Forest Park, Portland, Oregon.

Comments (0)

Forest Run uploaded on 2 July 2008

An escape that's within the city but worlds away from the concrete and computer screens that drain our spirits slowly like a leaky faucet, Forest Park, in Portland, Oregon, with it's miles and miles of empty muddy trails winding through dense mossy forests is an amazing place to rejuvenate, refresh and renew both the body and the mind. Strap on some trainers and go run through a mud puddle!