Who Let The Dogs Out - Kampot, Cambodia

Kampot is a small, laid-back riverside town in southern Cambodia. Almost every one of its residents, it seems, owns a dog as a pet. During the day, they lie around in the shade, escaping the heat. At night, they band together in packs, roam the darkened streets, and look for trouble.

On my first night in Kampot, I had a late dinner at Bar Red, a small bar/restaurant owned by an Australian. After enjoying my fish amok, I began to walk the 1/4 of a mile or so back to my hotel. About halfway there, I heard the sounds of dogs barking and growling behind me. The barking became louder and louder. I turned around and saw three dogs with fire in their eyes running towards me .

I quickened my pace and lengthened my stride, but the dogs were quickly gaining ground. When one of them nipped at my heel, I knew they meant business. So I stopped, turned around, and faced them. I made a throwing motion towards them, like a pitcher throwing a fastball to the plate. The dogs froze, then turned around and ran off.

The next night, I took a tuk-tuk back to my hotel after dinner.
  

Bangkok - What Wat?

One of the must-sees in Bangkok is the Grand Palace. I decided to visit yesterday and, after picking up some rambutan from a fruit vendor to eat later, hopped into an idling taxi nearby.

I don't speak any Thai. The driver didn't speak any English. But, since the Grand Palace is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Bangkok, I didn't think communicating with him would be a problem. I was wrong. I showed him where it was on the map. I enlisted the help of a passerby. But he still didn't understand where I wanted him to take me. All this was happening while the meter was running. Finally, I pointed to Wat Pho, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, which is nearby. He seemed to understand that, confirmed it with me, and we sped off.

Forty-five minutes through traffic-clogged streets later (only $3.00 on the meter), he dropped me off at....
Wat Traimit, in another part of the city. I groaned to myself, got out of the taxi, and was pleasantly surprised at where his mistake took me. (see photo)

I saw the Grand Palace later the same afternoon.

 

Bangkok - First Impressions

I arrived in Bangkok at approximately 5:30 PM. I was in a taxi, heading to my hotel, by 5:50 PM. The whole immigration/baggage claim/customs process took less than 20 minutes. As soon as I left the airport, I was almost overwhelmed by the hot, humid air outside. The taxi ride, which should have been about 20-30 minutes, took over an hour as the driver made his way through the crowded highway and streets, trying to avoid the many motorbikes that weave in and out of traffic.

After settling in at my hotel, I decided to take a walk. Although the sun had already set, the air temperature was still in the mid 80s, and the humidity level was still as high as earlier. I took the BTS, Bangkok's modern skytrain system to the section of Sukhumvit Road that is popular with tourists.

This area was buzzing with activity. Shoppers, including many Westerners, were busy looking at counterfeit bags and clothing. The many restaurants, pubs, bars, and pool halls were filled with both locals and tourists.
Prostitutes, including some ladyboys, were busy trying to attract customers.

I had dinner in a small outdoor restaurant. A satisfying dish of stir fried chicken with basil (spicy), and a Singha cost all of $3.40.

I walked back to my hotel. I love this city.

Nuevo Progreso, Mexico

Nuevo Progreso  is a Mexican town in the state of Tamaulipas located on the US-Mexican border.The Progreso-Nuevo Progreso International Bridge connects the town with Progreso Lakes, Texas. The town has, so far, escaped the violence that has been occurring in many other border towns.

From the parking lot ($2 all day) near the foot of the bridge on the US side, it's a short 5 minute walk over the bridge to Mexico. When I arrived, the lot was almost full with cars from as far away as Canada. There were also a few tour buses. A sign on the bridge proclaims, "Thank God and America for winter Texans" but, judging by the outstretched arms holding baseball caps through the slats in the fence, the town needs more help than what it's getting from Americans and Canadians buying cheap liquor and prescription drugs.

Avenida Benito Juarez is the main shopping street and is directly across from the bridge as you enter Mexico. For 6-8 blocks or so, stores selling prescription drugs and other pharmaceutical items, liquor, tobacco, jewelry, leather goods, groceries, and other items line each side of the street. Discount dental work is also a source of revenue here. Outside the shops, vendors sell sunglasses, CDs, DVDs, candy, costume jewelry, etc. Actually, if you took away the avocado and nopale (cactus) vendors, the scene would look almost like a New York City street fair. 

What a deal! I should have taken advantage of this offer.

    Those who know me, know that I wouldn't be able to stay among the tourist throng for very long, so I continued walking and passed a "Men's Club". The two hawkers outside the club noticed my camera and promised me that I could take pictures of the girls inside. I only half believed them, but my curiosity got the better of me, and as one of the hawkers led me by the arm, we walked past the red velvet curtain into the small, dark club. In it, was a bar, a stage, and some tables. There were two girls at the bar, and two more sitting at a table...and no one else. When one of the men who led me in offered to buy me a tequila, my comfort level dropped to the point where I broke free and bolted out of the club.   

At this point, I decided to head back towards the bridge and get some lunch. I stopped at Arturo's, where tuxedo-clad waiters have been serving Mexican food on white tablecloths to tourists for over 50 years. I wouldn't normally eat in a restaurant like this, but I wanted cabrito (baby goat) and I didn't see it being served anywhere else. The cabrito was grilled and served with rice, beans, grilled onions, a grilled serrano pepper, and inexplicably, onion rings. A tomato based sauce was to be poured on the meat. The dark meat was crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, and very flavorful.


After lunch, I decided that I had seen enough and walked back over the bridge and, after a 10 minute wait, went through US Customs. (When the agent asked me if I was bringing anything back from Mexico, I answered, "just some indigestion". She didn't think it was funny).

Would I ever return to Nuevo Progreso? If I ever need some cheap dental work done or that elusive Pantera t-shirt, the answer is yes.