As I said already most of the Cambodians I meet everyday are good people and there are no complains. But there are those terrible ones which you should know about and do your best to survive!
Here comes another real story:I avoided successfully another danger next to the river in Phnom Penh. There was a Japanese guy talking with two local girls during doing his sports exercises and because I am a sporty person too, joined them, had some friendly chat about Japanese culture, language and when it came to the martial arts, suddenly a local thug appeared and approached me closely. As a self-defense expert, I asked him what he wants keeping a reasonable distance, he said he wants to fight using the traditional Khmer martial art. Knowing stories about people robbed with knives by gang groups exactly in that area, I decided that maybe it's a trap and because the thug was dirty and bigger than me, l thought that even a fair fight may be dangerous (some infection from his teeth for example), so I refused him the fight offer and moved back to the sports tools next to the Japanese guy and those two girls. The thug followed me there insisting to have the fight. Then I refused again and already faster stepped aside, he continued to chase me, I started to run, keeping an eye on him. At the same time one of the girls shout to me to go away as soon as possible and at to that time he started to run faster after me, when I saw he is close to me and maybe enough close to reach me, I slowed down and shouted very loudly, which made him to stop chasing me and then I moved to the opposite side of the street safely. As a self-defense expert I know my lesson: the goal outside there is to come home safe, not to prove that you're stronger than the thugs. Especially in areas like that where they're usually several thugs together with knives and other weapons!
New conclusions:
1. As you see being in a good shape helps. If I wasn't fast enough, he could easily catch me, but my fast reflexes and strong feet helped me to avoid all his approaching, chasing, etc. I didn't get hit, kicked, grabbed, catched, etc.
2. Knowing when to stop just running and to use some offensive tricks (like raising your voice, readiness to block and hit back, etc.) also is life saving.
3. Back to the value of the knowledge. If I didn't know all those terrible riverside stories, maybe I will be like "Well, let's spar, man!" thinking of him as a normal Khmer person who just loves martial arts, and getting stabbed or worse. But the info made me ready to expect someone like him and to be ready for a successful escape like the one demonstrated above.
Now all those non-sporty, lazy people who just jealous that I have better shape, survival skills, knowledge and education, probably will make silly comments like I am narcissistic or full of myself, or even worse words. But it only shows that they can understand that I am writing this to teach them being healthier, better looking and safer. They should try to realize that I am doing this altruistically!
Topic: Almost got robbed in Phnom Penh (Read 6452 times)