and the winner is?

Suzhou, Jiangsu, August 2014.

Playing Mahjong

Beijing, April 2014.

Men's world: Let the cock fight

Cockfighting or ‘sabong’ in Tagalog is the gambling sport in the Philippines. A cockpit belongs to most villages and usually on Sundays cock fights are taking place. Before the fights the specially trained and bred roosters are shown outside of the cockpit. Visitors are given the opportunity to estimate the roosters’ fighting (i.e. survival) potential. Before each fight the cockpit is full of shouts. Men are betting on the preferred cock while giving hand signals indicating the amount of the wager.

Cock fights are a bloody events. Curved blades that extend to as long as three inches are attached to one or both legs of the roosters leading to very short fights (often two/three minutes). Usually one cock dies (sometimes both). You betcha!

Photo above: fostering aggression...



Video above: Make sure you get front row places.

Photo above: Almost done...

All photos/video from Sablayan, Mindoro in June 2007.

Shy Girl vs Blitzkrieg

Spent yesterday evening on the race tracks of Santa Ana. It’s a great place to catch the atmosphere of betting on race horses. We bet on horses such as Federal Court, Just a Moment, Stradivarius, Friendly Fire, Shy Girl, Blitzkrieg, Society Climber and Pirouette (!).

Minimum bets are 2 Pesos. Won 750 Pesos and will be back soon.

Photo from Santa Ana Park, Santa Ana (Metro Manila), November 2006.