I've been reading 'Lost on Planet China' (it has been taking me forever even though it is a great book, well written, and I truly enjoy it). It paints a grim view of China especially modern China, it is a travel book of sorts and intrigues me. I have no love for China and I can't stand how much our government bends to China in an ever increasing effort to get cheap crap out of them. At the same time this book (and the other anti-travel guides written by Mr. Troost) give me antsy feelings of wanting to get up and see the world. I personally would like to go to France and then England, then the rest of Europe. I would like to visit the eastern bloc countries of Russia and Europe as well. I think South America would be enticing as well, but scares me a little more.
Something funny in all of this though, I haven't seen my own country. America is vast and varied and yet I have little interest. I think there is a stigma that America has no real culture. It seems to be a giant land of big business, a gross assault on the senses in the endless pursuit of wealth. Every city is littered with chain stores all having the same thing. There is something good to be said about being able to find what you want, when you want, but it feels as though something huge has been lost.
Ginger and I were in Phoenix the other day and it just seemed so dead metaphysically. We didn't pass any local restaurants, we didn't see local owned stores, we kept passing huge sporting arenas that are home to teams with players that aren't even from the city, don't even live there, and the team will pack up and move in a heartbeat with the tiniest offer of tax savings. The town takes pride in the team to a huge degree, but the team cares not a wit for the town. I guess it is probably this way all around the world, it is just so prevalent here. I know there is culture to be found, it just seems so hard to find and getting harder.
Maybe before I start looking to the whole rest of the world for adventure it would be best to start digging around here to see what can be found.
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