Archive for April, 2009

Best Discount Cigarettes

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

The best discount cigarettes are available on the Internet and in discount cigarette shops. As middle class people are not able to afford the cost of premium brands of cigarettes because of the taxes, they look for good discount cigarettes, and there are many Internet sites selling them.

Discount cigarettes usually include premium brands like Marlboro, Camel, Merit, Newport, Parliament, Winston and USA Gold. Always remember that best tobacco makes the best cigarette, and the brand name is a guarantee for quality. Some people prefer smoother tobaccos like the Turkish variety, while others prefer the more robust flavor of the American blends. There are other blends from other countries as well. Chinese cigarettes are known to give the sharpest kick.

There are two ways to purchase the best discount cigarettes. One is to make a direct purchase from a shop, and the other is online purchase. Online purchases have many advantages over traditional shopping. Purchases can be made from the comforts of home and can be delivered directly to your home. As noted, you can also buy cigarettes on line and save even more money. One of the advantages of online purchases is there is little overhead expenses involved, so you get quality cigarette brands at cheaper rates. You must be 18 years old in order to buy cigarettes online. There are many shops and warehouses having their own online shopping programs. Most of them guarantee that customer details are completely secure. Please understand that smoking is bad for everyone’s health.

Discount Cigarettes provides detailed information on Discount Cigarettes, Discount Cigarettes Online, Best Discount Cigarettes, Buy Discount Cigarettes and more. Discount Cigarettes is affiliated with Personal Time Management.

Betting Hall Wagering: Wagering

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

top online casinos

Supposing you have little understanding of betting house gaming, then feel free to read on.

A running definition of a betting establishment is a construction that caters to games of luck. Clients will gamble by challenging the one-armed-bandits or trying out a slew of other games. Betting hall games may include precisely determined odds governing them that ensure the betting organization preserves dominion above the patrons.

A large number casino games encourage you to get dependent very swiftly. Consider the the stereotypical slotmachine, an electronic contraption with 3 plus discs that orbit when a bar affixed to it is tugged. The machine mostly will compensate punters according to a run of logos observable on the front panel of the machine. Unfortunately, betting saloon pastimes allow the appearance of jurisdiction, conning the gambler: the punter is challenged with alternatives, but these cannot really match up the customer’s odds. That is brought about by the the betting establishment never repaying the full stake as hoped for. This policy will generally be seen at work in acclaimed casino games such as seven card stud poker, craps, roulette or blackjack.

Five-card stud is genuinely a very popular casino pastime. The gaming aficionados, playing with fully screened hands, bet in a central pot which is finally paid out to the winning gamer owning the winning hand. (And yes, the coolest bluffing hand may win)

Not far removed from five card stud, blackjack is likewise an immensely fashionable casino pastime. A sizeable chunk of its renown is due to its particular mix of luck and mastery & choice making, not to mention a method tagged “card counting”. The aforementioned is a craft by which gambling aficionados will significantly change the probabilities of the game to their advantage both by betting & tactical decisions in correlation to the cards dealt.

“Craps” is a acclaimed gambling hall pastime where players bet money on the roll of 2 dice. Bettors will place their money on the end result of one roll, or on a sequence of cycles of 2 dice. Contrary to blackjack, there’s absolutely no practicable long term killer system you can make use of to bend the odds.

Roulette is an insanely popular casino pastime – a croupier turns a roulette wheel containing exactly 37 (as applicable to European roulette) or, alternatively exactly thirty-eight (Vegas roulette) differently numbered slots in which the tossed pellet will come to a stop, thereby deciding the winner and its respective sequences. If our punter happens to set their stake on any given number which is successful meaning it is having a streak of luck, the recompense is going to be thirty five to 1, the original stake is paid out. Indeed in totality the original wager is multiplied by 36.

Please take care to be emphatically alert however, as such gaming establishment games of chance are considered dependency building. Many lives are known to have been wasted due to addictive gambling and albeit it admittedly feels enjoyable, seek to balance yourself.

Hurricanes and Vacation Rentals

Monday, April 27th, 2009

Have you been considering buying a vacation rental, have you considered buying a vacation rental within a hurricane zone or region of the United States or Caribbean, which is known for hurricane strikes of large categories? Are you concerned that you might invest in a vacation rental only to find that a hurricane comes in and wipes it out?

Many vacation rentals are set in a paradise setting next to the ocean. The only problem is that being next to the ocean also means that you will get storm surges from hurricanes and there’s not a lot blocking the wind if the hurricane is a large category. What may seem like a very good deal for a vacation rental that you buy to rent out could become a terrible loss and a huge right-off that maybe you don’t need in your financial nest egg.

However, if you are just a renter of vacation rentals, then you can enjoy those paradise settings next to the beach without taking the risk of having your own property destroyed or devastated by a massive hurricane like we saw during the 2005 Atlantic tropical hurricane season. A vacation rentals make sense in it makes sense to rent these exclusive hideaway paradise villas, rather than risking your own money in a deadly hurricane zone. Please consider this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Lance Winslow - EzineArticles Expert Author

Things You Should Avoid Doing In Japan

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

The Japanese are very sensitive, especially middle-aged and older people. They will be annoyed if you ask them about their political life and religious perspectives. Questions about which party they support or what religion they follow should never be asked.

The Japanese King, the Mikado, and the Royal family are extremely respectable and sacred to the Japanese people. Therefore, the fastest way for you to be hated (or even beaten) in Japan is to do or say something which offends their Mikado and the Royal Family.

Moreover, you should never ask a Japanese about his income, which is considered very rude behaviour. Like in many other countries in the world, you shouldn’t ask a woman about her age and weight. You should also be aware that the Japanese are usually very reserved and they do not want to talk about their private lives. Although you may meet some exceptions, most Japanese people don’t like to start conversations with strangers.

It’s really great if you are invited to the home of a Japanese family for a meal. You should always take off your shoes before entering their house and when inside, avoid looking into their kitchen unless you are a really intimate friend of the family. You should also remember that Japanese people do not kiss or caress a child unless they are family members. Therefore, do not kiss or touch any Japanese child you meet, because it may annoy Japanese adults.

The Japanese are very superstitious. They always avoid anything related to the numbers 4 and 9 because in the Japanese language, “4″ is pronounced like “death” and “9″ is the same as “grief”. In Japanese hotels, they even don’t have rooms numbered 4 and 9. When dealing with Japanese people, avoid anything related to those numbers.

Michael Russell - EzineArticles Expert Author

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Japan

Lima – the Forgotten Peru Holiday Destination

Saturday, April 25th, 2009

When planning a holiday in Peru, many people stress that they are keen to “get out of Lima as quickly as possible” but, while historically Lima has had a bad press, and while it may not be the most beautiful or the most easy city in Peru, you certainly aren’t short of things to see and do and the place has a real buzz about it. Indeed, for many people, Lima ends up being a real highlight of their Peru holiday.

Lima was founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro himself and became known as the “City of Kings”. From the early colonial period until the colonies won their independence, Lima was the capital of Spanish South America. The city was famous for its wealth and beauty and it rivalled most European cities for its cultural life. Unfortunately, the city was destroyed in a horrendous earthquake in 1746, with only 20 of the original 3,000 houses left standing. Although the city was entirely rebuilt, the new buildings were often more functional than before and what was undoubtedly one of the world’s great cities has almost entirely disappeared.

Today, Lima is a big, bustling city of about 8 million people and is a city of contrasts. It has everything from 17th century colonial architecture to glass-faced skyscrapers, tremendous wealth and obvious poverty. A common refrain is: “Peru is Lima, Lima is Peru” and it’s certainly true that you can find everything here: it’s the perfect place to start your Peru holiday.

In the centre of Lima (or ‘Old Lima’ as it is often known) you can find some of the best colonial and neo-colonial architecture Peru has to offer. Hundreds of stunning colonial buildings line streets bustling with every type of person and business. As well some superb churches, museums and other public buildings, the busy streets lead to some tranquil squares where you can sit down and enjoy an Inka-Cola while you reflect on your holiday in Peru so far!

Although the centre has the best of the architecture, the cosmopolitan suburb of Miraflores is a great place to stroll around. There’s usually plenty going on in Parque Kennedy but if you fancy a slightly longer stroll then why not take a walk down to the ocean? It’s about a twenty minute walk from the centre of Miraflores, down Avenida Larco to the Larcomar shopping centre, which is built into the sheer cliffs that separate Lima from the sea. If you walk north (turn right at Larcomar) along the coast for quarter of an hour, you will arrive at the Parque del Amor, where young Limeos traditionally come to court.

Barranco has been Lima’s seaside resort since the 1600s and at night it’s like a slice of Brighton transported to the Pacific! By day, however, it’s a trendy, bohemian kind of place where many of Lima’s artists live and where you can check out the coastal scenery from El Puente de los Suspiros (the Bridge of Sighs). Barranco is also Lima’s premier nighttime destination so if you fancy unwinding with a few Cuzqueas then this is the perfect place to start or end your holiday in Peru!

About 31km from Lima, Pachacamac is a huge temple/palace area originally devoted to the god of the same name. The site includes a partially-restored Temple of the Sun originally dating to 1350. The complex is huge and is a really valuable addition to your Peru holiday itinerary. It’s handiness for Lima means that you can squeeze it into any free time you have in the capital waiting around for flights.

All in all, Lima is too easily dismissed when considering where to spend time during your Peru holidays. It has something for everyone and there are some great sights in the surrounding areas as well. Above all, don’t forget that Lima never stands still, and those Peru holiday guidebooks from 5 years ago just might be behind the times…

Dan Clarke works for the Real Peru Holiday Company. Their website contains lots more ideas on enjoying your visit to Lima while on holiday in Peru and he welcomes specific questions about Lima or any other Peru holiday destinations!

The Cutting Edge – Observation of a Maasai Male Circumcision Ceremony

Friday, April 24th, 2009

It is night. Not just any night, but “bush” night which means the only light is the flailing licks of fire flames and the steady, faint glow of the few kerosene lamps around the camp. We sip our chai (tea) and kahaua (coffee) to warm our insides against the wind that sweeps across the Simanjiro plains as our Maasai companions, Alterere and Leiyo, hurry us on our way…we are going to be late.

We hop into our two tone pick-up. Our ill-mannered Maasai friends try comically and desperately to negotiate mine and my sister’s two front seats to no avail, begrudgingly jumping into the back. We drive off into the night searching for the tell-tale glow of eyes in our headlights, winding and bounding along the unforgiving road. There is no one in our way, no one crossing our path, no one hitching rides as they so often do out here in the daytime hours. It is about 9 pm when we reach the boma (Maasai village) and we quickly discover we have missed it – the ceremony is over. Now what?

We sit in the car, surrounded by Maasai, waiting on Hassan who will determine our next move, occasionally greeting a faceless arm that curiously navigates its way through the pitch black and into the window. I find myself wondering how they live in such darkness at night realizing that I have been spoiled by modern technology. Outside our car, there is a meeting of sorts, we hear the murmur; the torch clicks on and off – briefly exposing a face, eyes, and a set of teeth, but that is about all. Other than that it is the night that prevails. Hassan is out of the car, talking with the elders and doing his very necessary public relations to get us permission into the ceremony. Every now and then he pops his head in to give us an update, “…there were four boys already circumcised here…they are all unable to walk and in bed…the doctor is still here…we have been invited to another ceremony…”. Then he returns to the abyss of dark.

It is important to note that among the Maasai respect and communication are not only extremely important, but two governing forces in their lives. The first half of any meeting is usually devoted to greetings and formalities. Nothing is too important to rush away for; here we are on “Africa time”, and so we continue to wait. It is arranged after some discussion and clarification with the elders that we will follow the doctor (is he certified?! I’m not sure…) to a neighboring boma about an hour and a half away. Once again, headlights illuminate our way and we take off after the doctor and his team. While I mentioned that nothing is too important to rush away for I didn’t say that nothing is too important to rush to. I (up until this point) have never seen any African display any sense of urgency whatsoever, but this doctor put new meaning to the phrase “…bat out of hell”. Our vehicle occasionally slows down to tenderly maneuver over a bump or hole in the road and in a matter of seconds the faint red tail lights we are following are out of site. On numerous occasions we are left with only his settling dust to follow. Then, like a beacon in a storm, we spot the lights in the distance, the car zig-zagging its way across the bush. The hour long chase (as it became) is broken by a few cowering hyena trotting off across the road and (finally) when the “getaway” car breaks down on account to a broken front wheel axle (shocking). This led us to be the sole vehicle, immediately promoting us from being mere observers of the ceremony, to the actual harbingers of it! I, bleaker in my metaphor, likened us to the horsemen of the apocalypse for these young boys about to undergo what I imagine is insurmountable pain.

We arrive at the boma with butterflies in our stomachs, again into complete darkness, to the faint sound of rhythmic, ominous chanting. “It must be the boys about to be cut…” I speculate in a whisper. But as we near the sound we see a tableau against the moonlight of a group of about eight Morani (Maasai warriors) in a circle (a circle is usually how they not only construct their villages but their ceremonies as well). The singing and chanting never falters, with one vocalist yelling out solo and the others chiming in unison afterward. The sound is guttural and hypnotic – actually quite captivating and beautiful despite the fact the language of the Maasai is foreign to us. After some inquiry, we discover the Morani are not singing at all, but verbally insulting the two leoni (uncircumcised) who are completely nude in the center of all this. We learn from Hassan that this is done in attempts to rile up the boys enough to endure the pain that awaits them, the nakedness is to expose them to cold in an effort to numb them. The whole tribulation can be compared to fraternity hazing; however you can imagine the college “bonding” ritual pales in comparison to this esteemed and ancient rite of passage.

Another click of a flashlight confirms it: in the center of the circle are two scrawny, shivering bodies whose spindly arms cross over their privates. The light clicks off again. The chanting continues and another flick of light exposes chattering teeth (it is freezing) and the whites of their eyes. I am so nervous for these two boys I find myself getting overwhelmed by the weight of the moment ahead. The circumcision is done with a razor, without any anesthetic, and if a boy lets out a yelp, flinch, or hint of a tear – he has failed this test and is cast out of the village bringing tremendous shame to his family. I can not help thinking that these young boys (aged 9 and 13) are too young to carry such an enormous responsibility.

The time finally comes for them to be washed and my friend, Leiyo, takes me by the hand to the area outside the boma where the ceremony is to take place. It is done outside the village because only after they undergo circumcision can they be invited back into the boma, this time as men. The doctor has a torch now and the area is fairly well lit. Men of the boma begin to crowd around as two cow-skin mats are laid on the earth with each chattering boy led to one. The women are in their huts (forbidden to view this ceremony) – the mothers’ wails punctuate the screaming wind. The feeling I have in the pit of my stomach can be compared to that feeling one gets while watching a film in which some valiant character is led stoically to the guillotine – one of sadness, anxiety, and a desire to get the whole ordeal over with as soon as possible.

The boys sit on the mats, legs spread apart before them, their upper bodies in the strong arms of an uncle. In this particular case, their faces are covered with their shukas (traditional Maasai cloth). I hold my breath. The doctor exposes a fresh razor that glistens in the light and makes no haste in cutting. The first boy is tough, not even twitching a toe or clenching a fist as the razor makes its cuts. My tense body does not relax until I discover he has passed. Apparently his mother caught wind of this as well; her song-like sobs of pride, joy, and relief echo into the night.

The second, very young boy has my stomach in my throat with the very first cut as he lets out a shallow gasp of air that sounds breathed through clenched teeth. He lets out a few more of these and I am almost positive he is tearing. When it is all said and done the elders spit on the ground all around him, forcing me to believe he has failed, but I am wrong. Spitting is a form of respect, and the little boy (whom, we gather later, is given some leeway because of his very young age) has proved his vigor and bravery.

They are carried off to recover with their awaiting mothers and it is over. The actual circumcision lasted only about 15 minutes, but we discover the hazing bit we had walked in on had been going on since 6 pm (it was now past midnight), so in actuality it is an all day event.

The whole ordeal left me with a surreal feeling that was only overshadowed by the tremendous relief I felt for each boy. I felt immediately connected to the Maasai and particularly the boys’ for allowing us to witness the single most important event in a Maasai man’s life. It was unbelievably humbling and reminded me of how beneficial and socially solidifying rites of passages are. I cannot think of a single event in the average American’s life that harbors the social significance of this event I have just described. I cannot help but feel that perhaps we are missing out on this idea or construct that strengthens bonds and builds character in the way the Maasai circumcision does. It was not barbaric, gross, pagan or fanatic; it was, in fact, the opposite. The extremely rare event that I was fortunate enough to witness is not only soul building, pride rearing and so completely admirable…it is, in a way, even beautiful.

If you would like more information on how to expereince something similar yourself, please contact Tropical Trails Safari Company located in Arusha, Tanzania.

Brittany Stephen - EzineArticles Expert Author

Brittany Stephen is the Sales and Marketing Manager of Tropical Trails Safari Company. She originally hails from Chicago, IL but has made Arusha, Tanzania her home for the past two years.

Crucial Ideas To Memorize Whilst Acquiring economical Homes At Public Auctions

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

Buying and offering properties on public auctions should be simple and useful for equally sellers and buyers. Discover auctions though is not a very easy course. Particulars about the land proposed on a public auction can be found in the dedicated and national media, or on the web. Estate agencies regularly hold details of house to sale by auction as well. Nevertheless a easy process of finding auctions is to write down the phone numbers of any “Auction Sale” signposts.

There’s usually a price to be on the auctioneers emailing catalogue and for obtaining a directory with images and information about the properties. Free catalogues are typically inadequate.

You’ve just got almost one month to realize what’s available on at public sale, so act as rapidly as possible.

The variety of home generally auctioned are the one-offs that an estate agent finds complicated to value or to put up for sale, although they hold improvement promises.

Public auctions are also exciting for the repossession properties offered for sale by banks, which usually are bargain and hold little reserve prices. Ahead of the day of the public auction go and have a glance at the asset. Look into the district and, very useful, dispose with your solicitor to perform the crucial search – like an official inspection and a professional estimation.

It’s clever to set your financial plan, and more significant, arrange the money to pay a frequently 10 per cent on the sale day, and the outstanding 90 per cent in the next twenty-eight days thereafter. If your bid is victorious, you must pay in advance the ten percent to the auctioneer there and the seller’s counterpart will underwrite the Memorandum of Agreement. Fines for disappointment to meet the fixed figure are harsh.

Recall that if you are outbid you will waste part of the money you have wasted on the survey plus the legal amount, but it is a good idea informing the agent of the sum you can be organized to spend for the particular home that has been withdrawn; who knows, in certain cases the vendor may be willing to say yes your offer.

The sale accord is the same to swap of contracts in the ordinary sale by restricted agreement. This also stands for that the potential buyer can’t be gazumped and the vendor will not bothered of final fee renegotiations. However if you are looking to buy property overseas, find superb property for sale in Portugal online, try sites that deal directly with local agencies and owners.

Natural Treatment to Improve Prostate Gland Wellbeing

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

Healthcare professionals term a swollen prostate benign prostate hyperplasia, or BPH. Put simply this entails that the prostate gland, a mass which wraps around the urethra and is situated just below the bladder, becomes bigger this can impair and stop the stream of urine. The prostatic gland enlarges with maturity and as a result may create several symptoms for example troubles passing water, a weak stream, and even urinary retention. Frequent night time urination and even inflammation of the urinary system may also be produced by a swollen prostate. So What Is Benign Prostate Hyperplasia?

Males over 60 frequently have prostate gland enlargement. Guidelines are that men in their fifties undergo exam by their physicians on a yearly basis, even should no problems seem to be present, to help sustain improved prostate wellness. Inability to pass water or the presence of blood whilst urinating should result in getting medical treatment straightaway. Solutions for prostate enlargement may be surgical operations and the use of pharmaceuticals. Nevertheless, impotence or incontinence may be observed after a surgical procedure. Hypertension drugs or medicines to shrink the prostate may also be given for better prostate gland health, however, medicine will often result in negative repercussions so what are the alternatives? Suffering From an Enlarged Prostate Gland? Find Herbal Answers to Gain a Healthier Prostate

To encourage improved prostate gland function and in addition allay the symptoms brought on by prostatic enlargement, various herbal remedies can help. African pygeum keeps down inflammation, bringing a reduction of any more annoying symptoms. The herb African Pygeum has been utilized extensively for quite a few years in Europe as a treatment to encourage improved prostatic health, it is a derivative of an African evergreen plant. Dietary changes for example a reduction in the ingestion of fat may improve symptoms, so will excercising more, frequency of ejaculations to alleviate pressure in the prostate, and avoiding periods of prolonged sitting. Using over the counter antihistamines and decongestant drugs can increase any symptoms of an enlarged prostate, take these medicines with this in mind. Additional hints include not any drinking near going to bed in decreasing frequent urination during the night, the reduction of alcoholic drinks and coffee intake can also prove useful.

Moreover, there are further holistic supplements recommended to improve prostate gland health — such as saw palmetto, starflower oil capsules, selenium, and lycopene, a molecule obtained from tomatoes. Make sure you check with your doctor before setting out on any herbal treatment of a swollen prostate.

A Barrister’s Bookcase – Aren’t They Grand, Series Two

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

A barrister bookcase is a traditional bookcase that is believed to have originated in Britain. Its differentiating feature is a plain glass front end. This glass face is hinged at the side allowing a person to easily admittance books and other collectibles merely by opening the glass door. A barrister bookcase is perfect for just about anything. Barrister bookcases were frequently used by lawyers since it was necessary for them to keep on moving. Now, they are also very convenient, specially if one is forever moving. This is because the bookcase is closed by use of doors.. This precludes them from having to be voided on moving

Great Shelves
Barrister bookcases have the benefit of protecting the collectibles from junk and other foreign impurities. They in fact offer great protection. Apart from junk, it is also possible to provide protection from sunlight by affixinga film of UV protection. This will help in minimizing the amount and intensity of sunlight impacting the texts This in turn maintains the books colour and its bindings from languishing.

Barrister bookcases however, despite many benifits,can be quite pricey. Luckily, there unqiueness has caused some manufacturers to start producing replica editions. Some modern versions are also ready at very healthy prices. Many editions have simple looks. These can fit any theme.They can also be made into customized cheaply.The fact that they can be stacked together allows them to be easily used to create very interesting unit placements. Some can be used to create end tables, kitchen tables or even dining areas.

Cambodia Taxi Chaos – a Leaf, a Radiator and a MacGyver Moment

Sunday, April 19th, 2009

The roads in Cambodia are vicious, angry slabs of asphalt filled with potholes that would qualify as valleys in some countries. Fortunately, I had it made traveling from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh. Or so I thought.

Cambodian Taxis

Having spent two weeks in the relaxing beach town of Sihanoukville, I was getting bored and so were the three chaps traveling with me. It was time to head to the supposed chaos of Phnom Penh and eventually Angkor Wat. Despite the legendary reputation of Cambodian roads, the owner of our accommodations told us the road to Phnom Penh was smooth as glass. For twenty U.S. dollars, a local taxi would get all four of us to the city without incident.

Around noon, two Australians, an Englishman and myself crammed into a Toyota Camry with our backpacks and miscellaneous junk. Our driver was a good guy, smiling constantly. We did have a communication problem since he spoke about two words of English and we only spoke English. The road, however, was as smooth as promised and we congratulated ourselves on our stroke of luck.

For about an hour, we cruised through the placid Cambodian countryside. It was difficult to imagine the chaos that must have occurred when the Khmer Rouge was in power. There really wasn’t much to see beyond the occasional village. About half way through the trip, the lack of any sizeable towns became a concern.

In the proverbial middle of nowhere, our driver pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the car. Since we couldn’t verbally communicate, much finger pointing was undertaken. Were we lost? Did he want more money? Was he going on strike? What the heck was going on?

Eventually, we foreign idiots were able to decipher that the car was overheating. Lest you think us complete idiots, I must mention that the temperature gauge wasn’t working. Regardless, our driver popped the hood and our smooth trip came to a cracked end. Steam poured from a half-inch crack next to the radiator crap.

Road site assistance seemed an iffy prospect in the middle of Cambodia. I mean, you couldn’t really call your car insurance company.

Me: “Hi. My car is broken.”

Operator: “Okay, we will send someone out. Where are you?”

Me: “Um, somewhere in the middle of Cambodia.”

Operator: “…[hysterical laughter]… Click.”

The driver looked at us. We looked at him. Simultaneously, we all started laughing. What else could you do? We were in the middle of nowhere, the radiator was shot and it was 60 miles or so to Phnom Penh.

Looking back, I can tell you that Cambodian taxi drivers are a committed and creative group. We sat on the side of the road, contemplating the fact that we were about to have a much more authentic Cambodian experience then any of us had planned. Mysteriously, our driver had gone off into the brush on the side of the road. After a few minutes, he returned with a dark green leaf and a big smile.

Putting MacGyver to shame, he proceeded to patch the crack in the radiator using only the leaf and tube of superglue. We all moved back as he applied the superglue to the boiling hot radiator, but nothing went up in flames. After allowing for a suitable amount of time for drying/praying, all we needed was water.

Although admittedly not a car expert, I do know pouring cold water into the radiator of an overheating engine is a bad idea. MacGyver, err… our driver, didn’t bat an eye despite our extensive arm waving. With a big smile, the water went into the radiator as we watched in horror. The only question was what would happen first, the leaf patch bursting or the engine seizing up?

Well, you can guess how it turned out. Not only did we make it to Phnom Penh, we later learned the radiator had two other leaf patches on the bottom. The road had been smooth, but my nerves were still shot. One way or another, the roads of Cambodia will get you.

At least I have ample ammunition to mock MacGyver fans.

Rick Chapo is with www.nomadjournals.com – Preserve the experience with Nomad Adventure Journals. Read more journal stories and articles at www.nomadjournaltrips.com on the net.