Last episode we headed inland from the west coast town of Koh Kong as we continue to explore
Cambodia the dirty way around. On the way we got to finally check out one of those many
buddhist temples we've been riding past, and pass on our usual upmarket hotels for some traditional
Cambodian accommodation.... with plenty of beers to crack open at the end of the day of course!
After a good night's sleep it's the usual big hot breakfast to get ready for the next
leg of the trip. I've really enjoyed this traditional accommodation. It's
still very clean and comfortable, and has provided more of a glimpse into everyday
Cambodian life. And I should point out if you are one of those obsessive compulsive
types who needs five star accommodation everywhere you go, then please don't come to
Cambodia. If you are that spoilt then just stay at home. But if you have a positive mindset and can
appreciate all this country has to offer then I'm sure Cambodians will welcome you with open arms.
Today we head toward Battambang,
with the promise of swimming in a rooftop pool at the end of the day.
The beer fines are an awesome idea. Somehow just enough guys crash or
break the rules each day to supply the perfect number of beers every afternoon.
And I suspect with the double demerit points there will be a surplus this afternoon.
Regular viewers will know I occasionally get all philosophical,
and it's time to do so now in this series so bail now if it's not your
cup of tea. I spoke to a few of the guys who said this trip was like a
life changing experience. I asked them why and they weren't sure,
but they said being faced with the poverty so many people in, but also experiencing something
so outside of their normal experience, how really shaken them up, but in a good way.
I then asked the manager about this and he confirmed most guys on these trips
reported the same thing, and many had gone home determined to change the way they were living.
Why? I have a theory about all that and regular viewers will be familiar with some of this.
In our cavemen days, we men would go out to hunt the wooly mammoth. Usually we would have
no luck with this and all we would have were hard luck stories about the one that got away.
But it got us out of the house for a while and we could go on these big adventures, talk shit
around the campfire then recharge our batteries to come back and play with the kids and try and
find our wives' g-spot. In essence, we had evolved to be adventurous in our role as provider for the
family and tribe. Or if you are a fundamentalist bible belt christian, God made us that way.
Fast forward a few tens of thousands of years and things are looking way better
for our womenfolk. They have equal rlghts, they can vote and work, and they can divorce us if we
get overly caveman-like on their asses. But what has happened to our mammoth hunting caveman? He's
increasingly become a slave to the nine to five grind behind a desk or in a factory.
He also has to be in touch with feelings, find the g-spot in under ten seconds,
know how to cook and explore his feminine side,
whatever the fuck that means. None of these are bad things of course, but what happened to the
sense of adventure? We have evolved (or were created by a fundamentalist God) to thrive on
a certain amount of risk and stupidity in largely fruitless labours like hunting the wooly mammoth,
and I think that's why trips like this re-ignite something
within the 21st century male. And perhaps some of the women too.
Is this sensible? Probably not. But then plenty of things our wonderful women are into don't make
much sense either, such as buying that 94th pair of shoes or going on that feng shui Mongolian
cooking course that promises t o realign their chakra points. I think both men and women need
to acknowledge our idiosyncrasies and need to tap into our primeval roots.
So emasculated men of the 21st century, temporarily throw off your chains of post-feminist
social development and go on a stupid crazy adventure to rediscover your masculinity.
Let's hear what some of the descendants of cavemen have to say about this trip.
An interesting side note to this philosophical rant? Chris Perry got
a bit carried away with wheelies on this double demerit beer points day,
and racked up a record breaking $175 in beer fines. And then the tour leaders let him off.
Why? I'd like to think they recognised the need for adventure in this young man,
and rewarded him for his efforts to not be an emasculated 21st century male. Amen.
So in conclusion, can middle aged men fly? Given a roof top pool and enough beer, you fucking bet.
So as the sun sets on yet another perfect day of Cambodian adventure,
all we can say is look after your gonads and don't let anyone lop them off, wring all you can
out of the short life you've been granted, and don't let the bastards get you down.