My weight loss nonetheless, I ate pretty well on my round the world trip. Here is a video slideshow I put together of my experience at Cambodian BBQ in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Some of the meats available at Cambodian BBQ: Beef, Ostrich, Kangaroo, Chicken, Crocodile and Snake (Python).

I actually enjoyed it so much I went twice. The first time by myself and another time with some folks I met in Siem Reap.

All the meats tasted fine to me. Most had the texture and consistency of slightly chewy beef or chicken. The python was really good and the ostrich really reminded me of slightly tougher beef, especially the deep color.

Check out the video below.
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RTW Travel – What Did I Just Eat? What Animal?! is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Remember I said there were so many stories I didn’t have time to tell. Well, for those of you going through withdrawal, frantically hitting REFRESH in your web browser, these are some more tales from the road…

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Looking through the ruins of Angkor Wat, I met Australian Bradley and his girlfriend Catherine (Cat). Bradley and I hit it off and he shared with me a secret: He was going to propose to Cat in the ruins of Angkor Wat. This is him giving her the ring. He didn’t get down on one knee, which would have made the shot perfect, but I think Cat was so surprised she didn’t even notice. Somehow, I’m trying to get to Australia for that wedding…

That is a tree growing within the ruins of Angkor Wat behind Cat and Bradley. I’ll find some more shots of that.
Siem Reap, Cambodia

Notice anything about these two shots? Yes, there are YOUNG children riding on these bikes, with no helmets. In fact no one seems to wear a helmet in Southeast Asia. Most people can’t afford cars and gas is relatively expensive, so everyone rides a scooter or motorbike. And a whole family gets on the family motorbike. Dad in front then children, INCLUDING toddlers, wedged between Mom in the back. Crazy to me as a Westerner with all the motor vehicle laws we have. But when you’re used to doing something since you were born, it becomes second nature.

This child in red cannot be more than a year old!

The Venetian, Macau, China

I talked about being an Instant Celebrity in Macau. But you see the woman in the picture below? I’m not sure who she thought I was, but when I had my arm around her to take pictures, she was SHAKING! I tried to pat her to calm her down and say it’s OK, but she probably didn’t understand me.

Or maybe she just felt the power! Yeah baby!

Ao Nang, Thailand

The main reason for me to go to Thailand was to see some muy thai fighting, live and in person. What I did not know was that they start these fighters early. These two look like they can’t be any older than seven. Muy Thai is Thailand’s national sport and a source of pride for the entire country. This is no different than American kids getting involved in Pee Wee football or Little League at young ages. Except that these 7 year olds are trying to knock each others heads off!


Bangkok, Thailand

I don’t eat at McDonald’s much…since I care about my health! But when I was overseas I always stopped into McDonald’s to see what was on the menu. Just like McDonald’s in Hawaii had SPAM with rice, the menu conforms with the local appetites and customs of the local country.

McDonald’s in Bangkok had a shrimp patty on the menu. It wasn’t bad actually, but you could tell it was cooked in the same oil used to make the fries. Hey, why let all that grease go to waste?
Also all the Thai McDonald’s had Ronald McDonald in the traditional Thai greeting – a slight bow with hands pressed together. I’m lovin’ it!

Going Thru Withdrawal? Get Your Fix Right Now!! is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

The 12 hour bus ride from Bangkok to Siem Reap was 12 hours…that includes the 3 hours spent waiting at the border for a bus.

See the whole thing is setup to take your money. You get on a minibus from Bangkok to the border. You cross the border and then have to wait 3-4 hours for ANOTHER bus.

I was expecting a big tour bus. I should have known better….

But I knew this was going to happen. See, I read everything online and figured it out. But this was the safest way for me to do it the first time, with a group of people.

The long wait after you cross the border is designed to lead to frustration, which leads to offers of $60 for one person for a taxi to get to Siem Reap. If you share the price goes down. $10US a piece for 4 people for a 2-3 hour trip into Siem Reap.

Not me. I waited for that bus…and it wasn’t that bad. The roads are still being built so the ride was bumpy and windy, but not horrific.

We walked across the border between Thailand and Cambodia. Very interesting.

Once we got to Siem Reap, my original place wanted to charge me for the other beds in the room because they were empty. No way. So I’m staying at the Angkor Dreams Hotel. $7US a night.

FYI- Cambodia uses US dollars as its second monetary unit. They have their own money, the riel, but dollars are accepted EVERYWHERE I went.

The border between Thailand and Cambodia can be called “organized chaos.” Motorbikes everywhere, ox pulling carts, people milling around, looking for rides.

A young Indiana Jones getting ready for his expedition into the jungles of Cambodia.

Getting To And Seeing Cambodia is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Whenever we travel to a certain spot we have all kinds of reasons for going. For this round the world trip (RTW), I have got my own set of circumstances and experiences.

Hawaii
Pearl Harbor, luaus, volcanoes, spam (the kind you eat, not the kind in your inbox). But my best thought of Hawaii is from a famous cop who put a phrase into street vernacular.

Before there was Miami Vice, Law & Order or CSI, there was…

Book ‘em Dan-O…Murder One!

As an aside…weren’t the 70s and 80s the best for TV theme songs? Mission: Impossible, S.W.A.T, Baretta, Starsky and Hutch, The A-Team, Magnum P.I…but I digress…

Tokyo, Japan
The Land of the Rising Sun. Famous for sushi, ninjas, Playstations, and Godzilla. Big influence on from everything to anime to Nintendo. Had to get there.

Bangkok, Thailand
Talk about being influential – two words – Muy Thai. Jean-Claude Van Damme was there with AH-nold and Steven Seagall in terms of action movie stars. Kickboxer is arguably his best.

I promise, I will not be be doing any dancing like this in Bangkok or anywhere else.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Beautiful temples, temples, temples. And eating cobra hearts. Soon as I saw that, had to go.

Cape Town, South Africa
Nelson Mandela.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Met a woman in Ghana last year who implored me to come to Ethiopia for their millennium celebration. Ethiopia goes by a different calendar and their new century started last September. Her passion made me want to go and check.

London, United Kingdon
Have family I haven’t seen in a while. Excellent reason to go!

Why Go There? is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel