To free or not to free

On the road from Koh Kong-Cows

09/01/11

     Cows are common on the roadsides. There are two kinds of cows we see. Free, and not free. The not free cows are typically tied down to a certain area in a field, the next one a bit further along. They are a very light beige, almost white, and have horns. They all end up living or dying in one of two fashions: either an extended life as a beast of burden, pulling wagons or plows, or as food. The shop where we had the Cambodian equivalent of Pho, or soup, had all the significant parts of a cow in it to create the broth. Fat, gristle, joints; nothing is wasted. It was phenomenally tasty, even though some parts are easier to chew and swallow than others. There is a very good chance the cow we had for lunch had a brother in the field that was less than 10 feet from our table.

     The free cows are a different story. They roam in all areas of the city and the country. In the city, we found four being herded, two with ropes, the other two loose. They were trekking a traffic circle in the middle of Phnom Penh, and the traffic came to an immediate stop when they entered. Anyone who has been in Dupont Circle in Washington DC knows how that story would end.

      The free cows can pay a different price for their freedom. Coming back from Koh Kong there was a cow in a cantor running down the side of the very busy road, two lanes pressed into four with passers, motorbikes, buses, and trucks all competing for space. It was only a matter of time before the cow made the choice we were all hoping it wouldn’t make.  Oncoming traffic saw the cow, and began to slow and all of the closest vehicles slowed down as it approached. It darted to the right directly into oncoming traffic. The cars closest to the side of the road missed him, but the inside lanes of traffic were filled with the passers who had no time to waste speeding anxiously past the slower traffic impeding their progress. The inevitable occurred. A car struck the cow on the back half, spinning him around as it lost it’s footing on the pavement and fell to the ground. In what could be construed as good fortune, it immediately sprung to it’s feet and finished the crossing to take shelter amidst the numerous shops close to the roadside.

     The one thing guaranteed about non-free cows, is they will not be running into traffic. The grass may be greener on the other side, but there may be a lot in the way of your of getting there. So be careful what you wish for even is it’s freedom…