the phnom pen

I have spent the last two months obsessively trying to track down my next dog. And when I say obsessively….I DO mean obsessively. Picture a ferret hunting rabbits. A miner looking for nuggets.A Khmer girl and diamonds. You get the picture. I sourced those wonderful Malinois and Dutch Shepherds in Thailand but at the end of the day that was going to get a little expensive with flights accommodation etc and then a possible hassle with paperwork etc. I also tried to organise a mating here in Phnom Penh between some people who had bitches with Karma’s father ( George ) as the sire but people are fickle in this town. You almost have to stalk them to get any kind of result and after a while it’s just tiring.

As mentioned the other night I went over to Sindre’s house to play cards and was almost knocked over when his 3 month old puppy “Tony” bounded out to say hello. I took one look at the massive pawed youngster and said HOLY CRAP that’s a German Shepherd pup ! Turns out his mother in law had left the gate open one night and their first dog went for a walk never to be seen again so she went out and bought them Tony as a replacement. I started babbling on like a heroin addict needing a fix. ” screw the cards let’s go out there NOOOOW !! “. Unfortunately his mother in law was in the provinces, did not have the phone number for the place and I had to wait for a few days until she returned. I was told there were two more pups available and of course I am paranoid they will get sold.

Three days turns in to a week and by now I am slathering but yesterday at 7am I took the his very accommodating  MIL out to Phnom Penh Thmey. I am not really sure what to expect as details are a bit sketchy. I fear we will get out there and will be told “sorry…sold the last one yesterday” or find that they have lots of poodles but no German Shepherds or worse…..will not find it at all. It is early so we have a smooth run out there and we are soon pulling up to a little compound at the end of a dusty cul-de-sac.I can hear some dogs barking and they are clearly BIG dogs as the sound is booming. We walk through the gate and I see a couple of large German Shepherds in cages but there are no puppies in sight and my heart starts to sink. The MIL talks to the old Yay ( grandma ) sitting on the daybed and the Yay points behind me . I turn around and there in front of me is a lovely big cage lined with clean tiles and some blankets and in that cage are 7 HUGE fat silky puppies. NIRVANA ! I can barely hide my excitement as I open the door and a few wake up and womble out onto the cement slab. I pick one up to have a good look at it and yes indeedy folks….these pups are the real German McCoy. Blue eyed and soft coated, they are absolutely beautiful with 5 females and two males making up the litter. There are a few very dark/black coated pups including two very robust females ( which is what I am after ) and then the rest are a bit lighter but all obviously with the tan pips and flashings.

The gang.

One little girl

So I wack down a deposit and thank god I have learnt how to speak Khmer because I am able to clearly communicate that if possible I want pick of the litter and I want a female. I am told that several are going to Siem Reap but I am told that yes…I can have pick so we will see how that turns out. At any rate, the pups are healthy and being looked after and I cannot wait to get my hands on one and start training again. I really REALLY miss the interaction and rewards that come with watching a dog develop so stay tuned……

Steve McQueen where are you ?

The women and children who were illegally detained recently after protesting at the demolition of their houses have escaped ! As guards looked on without interference, they simply climbed over a wall and jumped into a couple of waiting tuk tuks. Classic !!!!!!

Only in Cambodia……

Cue Banjoes - dingaling ding ding ding ding ding diiiing

There is a really bizarre show on Discovery called Hillbilly Handfishin’ and it showcases the good ol’ boy pastime of catching catfish with your bare hands. I shit you not. This wacky sport even has its own name - noodling – and as it turns out it has been around for ever and a day. To noodle all you have to do is crawl around in the muddy waters of whatever river is holding the fish and when you locate an under-hang at the bank and feel a tail sticking it, you stick your hand down the fish’ throat and wait for it to bite you. Jeeeesus !!

Anyhow….I have my own hillbilly noodler working for me right now on our tower project as Project Manager. Sean is a good ol’ boy from the backwoods of Chicago and he was raised on chittluns and cornbread. He feels most comfortable when he has a wad of tobbaky on his lip and a Coors light in his hand and he just lerrrrrrvs the Indy 500. Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeit diggedy dang. When Sean isn’t chasing catfish tail in the Mekong he can be find chasing soft tail in the bars and he spends spare time sitting on his porch wittling with his Gerber machete. Gotta love them good ol Chicago boys……YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAH.