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This was not my proudest moment, but I went to a cockfighting arena during my 2-month stay in the Philippines ! For the dirty minded of you, cock = rooster = the male of a chicken. It all started with getting my very first food poisoning of the trip, which made me stay in bed at the hostel the next day. I woke up around noon from the noise of a polish guy entering the room, who told me he was going to a cockfighting event and said he and his friend had a free motorbike seat if I wanted to join, since I had nothing better to do I agreed to go. I's funny how the most memorable experiences when traveling are almost always unplanned! After a 45-minute motorbike ride we arrived at the cockpit arena in the middle of nowhere. The fights hadn't started yet, but everyone was getting prepared. Knives were being attached to the left legs of roosters, a few people were gambling at a small stall, and a whole pig was being roasted to feed the hungry. Before the fights begin, the attendants in the large audience start screaming their predictions and bets, while the roosters are made to peck each other's necks. After the chaos of the bets is settled, the two owners on each side of the pit put their warriors on the ground, and the fight begins. Everyone wants to catch a glimpse of the action, even if it means climbing a tree to get a better above the sea of heads. Most fights only last a few seconds, after which one of the two roosters can no longer move, it is then held in the air and dropped to the ground a couple of times by the referee who calls the end of the match. After the fight is over and the bets are done, the owner of the winning cock goes to a corner and stitches its wounds close. While the one that lost, even if in a few cases is still not dead, is usually thrown away. Shockingly, kids were running around the arena. I wonder how growing up in such a bloody environment affects them, but then again I grew up watching the slaughter of sheeps once a year and I turned out okay. (Or did I?) I'm not here to defend of criticize a cultural event, I just wanted to share my experience, and to let you know that even the most boring days can suddenly turn into memorable ones, if you just say 'Yes' !