Dedicated to the random culinary mishaps whilst wandering between Thailand’s towns.
You know how refreshing sugarcane juice can be on a hot day?
Well good news is, there’s just TONS of sugarcane in Southern Thailand. TONS.
You can buy raw sugarcane stalks, nicely cut to bite size portions, just about anywhere.
Bad news is, gnawing on raw sugarcane does not quench your thirst. It MAKES you more thirsty!!
The sugar already makes your throat dry. To make it worse, the fibres soak up every drop of saliva, every attempt your mouth tries to rehydrate. Then it becomes chewing sawdust!
Speaking of thirsty, imagine when you spot a bottle of Singha on the menu. For 20 bahts only!! Ah the joy!
And always, always, ALWAYS check the “kitchen” first before ordering any street food.
Here’s a stall that sells green mango salad (yummy!) … garnished with roasted meat (yummy!).
(To be fair, it’s probably the very edible and delicious delicacy known as “bamboo rats”. I’m sure Thai people are nice enough to warn you beforehand—if they know you’re an ignorant tourist. But you may never know …)
When night falls in Nakhon Pathom, a night market emerges underneath the twilight shadow of a great chedi. A lone man appears with his stall, unassuming at first but his unshakable aura of confidence – soon follows.
Reaching his usual spot at the market, he picks up his ice cream scoop. He looks around, searching and suddenly, makes eye contact with you. A wave of energy rushes forth from him and he SNAPS into his starting position!!
He looks you in the eye and bellows,
SATU, DUA, TIGAAAAAA – AN YOUNG HA SAY OHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! (안녕하세요 – Thanks Sae Hoon)
Whips out a red fan from nowhere – splays it above, below and next to him. Fan disappears. And in a split second – a blur of movements ensues, like a drunken martial arts master he assumes one contorted pose after another.
The master finishes his moves, final stance. Then slowly tilts his head up.
A PIECE OF ICE CREAM HAS BEEN LAUNCHED, IT’S FLYING IN THE AIR!!!
Time slows down, the silence became deafening, it sails across the air in a curve, slowing spinning along its trajectory … and it lands!
Perfectly in the cup held by his accomplice from the audience, 20 metres away!
The crowd erupts in applause!!! The master bows! Our minds, blown away!
And before you know it, another unmistakable wave of energy …
SATU, DUA, TIGAAAAAA – AN YOUNG HA SAY OHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
For those not in the know, I’ve been reminding myself to be game enough to try “bugs” during this romp through Southeast Asia. Thinking it’ll most likely happen later in the trip, the Great Cosmic Interference has decided to bring the Bug Hawker to me during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. How convenient, but really …. this is too soon!!
Agh !!! I could still remember the smell of it looking at the photo. There are four species here – caterpillars, silkworms, grasshoppers and crickets – or at least that’s what I think they are.
After a few bites, Ben and Marianne timed out. Julius and I pressed on, Piece by Piece … Bug by Bug !!! But even with half a bag finished in 5 minutes, it was too slow …. our gagging reflex was fast catching up with us – trying to knock some sense into us. There’s only one way to solve this ….. a BUG BINGEEEEEEEE !!
*BUrP*
In hindsight, it kind of tasted like really really crunchy deep fried prawn crackers in curry powder. But the thought of a cricket leg stuck in between my teeth … mmmm …
a young capricious bloke with a penchant for the strange, unknown, and exotic. Here lies the journals of my worldly travels, as I trot around the globe in search of adventure!
