Hello there, long time no write, well that’s because nothing happen, well nothing interesting happened so far. Until last weekend. I managed to experience cock fighting. Actually this was not my first time visiting the cock fighting arena. But this time I wanted to get some good pictures just for the heck of it. I was itching to click the shutter button every time I saw a fight. My canon 500D was calling my name, please press the shutter button, pretty please.
It all started the week before, my college brought me to one of the biggest cock fighting arena in my district. He was also a contender of cause, I mean his chicken. So with my camera and him and his two cocks, we entered the area. Its a secluded area under a huge tent where about 50-100 people there with their feathered companions, each hoping to win the fights and bring home some cash. As i entered the place, people were alarmed, staring at me. What is this white Chinese guy doing in this place. And what was even more distressful was the camera I was holding. Oh my, people were frightened, scared of the my “big” camera. (for your information, cock fighting here is an illegal activity but it has been around for years and years, since my grandfather’s time. But its a favourite pass time for the people here to just entertain themselves. They actually spent hundreds to thousands of dollar to feed, train and care for their precious 2 legged friend.)
So, as evil eyes stare at me, piercing into my soul, I got the message crystal clear. The boss there then approached me and warned me not to take any pictures (in a polite way of cause). With 100 to 1 I comply, packed my camera and watched as chicken fight to their dead, entertaining us. In my heart, I figured what a waste of precious camera time, well, better to be safe than sorry. After about 2 hours I took off, disappointed but determine I will get the pictures eventually.
Little did I know, after I left the place, the big boss arrived and asked for me. He wanted to see me but I was not there. He passed a message through my college that it was OK to the pictures as long as there was no faces involve. I felt “damn!!” I should had stayed a little longer.
Well, I manage to get the following week off and made plans with my college to go to another place where people knows me and they would allow photographs to be taken. I was psych. At last, I can get the pictures. A week of anticipation grew and grew. I also invited a friend of my to tag along, (she wanted to come). So on that faithful day, I got an unfortunate sms, “sorry can’t make it. Got family stuff to do” Errrrrrrrrr.... another chance wasted. ( I don’t know the place and to enter sure place, its better to be brought in by a person known by the people. Not a good idea to go there by yourself). My friend as also disappointed. Feeling disheartened and defected we planned to take a road trip just for the heck of it. While taking the drive to nowhere, we decided to drop by the place I when last week to ask if there were any fights going on. There, I manage to meet with the boss and this time he was much friendlier. We talked and he allowed me to take photos as long as no faces. I was head over heels. YES....
So we entered the arena. Same faces, same eyes. I went to the boss, he when announced to the people that I will be taking photos but only the chicken not the faces. People were sceptical at first my after a while, they got use to my presences and I managed to “bland” in with my tattoos and speaking in their local language. They got comfortable with me. I was then free to take as many pictures as I desired. I was in heaven. I try not to miss any million dollar moments. I was trigger happy. Click, click, click, click, click.
Hmmm.. side tracking abit. Some say cock fighting is cruel, bad, inhumane. Well, I don’t disagree with them on that. Its a cruel activity and no doubt about it , its illegal. I will not defend the activity but I have to agree, its very exciting. To see them fight, its an art. Even to train and to fix the blade is an art. I try to imagine if I were the cock in the arena. Its like Russell Crow in the Gladiator, thrown in the ring fighting for their lifes. To comfort myself, I would say, chickens die, people eat chickens everyday. Does it matter how they die????.... I am on the fence on this...
Anyway, I would like to extend my appreciation to the boss, the big boss, the people in the arena that day, my college and friend (partner in crime) and of cause my canon 500D... :P
More pictures visit my facebook : http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=607635825
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