Thailand: Whet my appetite!

I haven’t really started keyboard pushing for my Encounter with a Thai LadyBoy Part III, because I need to have the right enthusiasm to do the deed. It’s basically the pinnacle of encounters and I don’t want to disappoint anybody nor even myself. I have yet to regain my high moments, so please bear with me.

On the other hand, Thailand had more surprising treats to scandalize the appetite in us. I know, I just gave an entry on my scrumptious home cooked cuisine... but let’s take the cat out of the bag.

Khao San Road, October 2001

Ah, it brought me back memories, colorful memories of the hot hectic sweaty street scene, an experience that I will never forget, never ever.

It was quite a sight. The whole long stretch of Khao San was filled with different colors of hair, from brunettes, to blonds, to reds. Basically it’s THE meeting point for a great number of tourists, the back packers and economy travelers. Standing there, I felt like I was uprooted from Asia to a western country whilst watching the traffic flow of colored haired people passing by. I mean, there were very few black haired Asian people around?

Our challenge: Change our money. I have US$ (I didn’t bring Pesos because I knew it will be devalued) and the Dutchman had Dutch Guilders (this was year 2001 before the €uro). Before we decided to subject ourselves to the long merciless queue, Dutchman suggested that it is best to canvas other money changers. Typical Dutch by the way… canvassing.

So off we went further down the road. The Dutchman was busy checking the rates of the money changers, while me, as usual nothing new, was ogling at the shops and sampling the delicacies of the street food vendors. I thought it was quite safe for me to chomp on any food that I find lekker (delicious) in the streets, because I still live in the Philippines, thus I still have the Philippine bacteria... Dutchman and I was just rendezvousing (part of the LDR routine). Now is different. I can’t eat anything from the streets in Asia or wherever, because I have the different kind of bacteria, European germs, hehe. The last time I did, in December 2004, I got sick! Lesson learned.

Anywho… while I was enjoying the Pad Thai (Thai snack) that I just bought, Dutchman and I came across, TO MY FRIGHT, this…

Bugs…. FRIED GRASSHOPPERS, but for a second there, they look like fried shrimps! Foto courtesy of H.A.A. from Vught, NL.

And more bugs, varieties of bugs… LEECHES(?), BEETLE BUGS(?), C-ROACHES(?), LIZARDS(?), WORMS(?). Anyone want these crunchy fried yummy creatures? Foto courtesy of H.A.A. from Vught, NL.
Do Thai people actually eat this? Heck, Y-E-A-H!
I don’t know if I wanted to stop eating my Pad Thai and throw it away, or I take a photo of them freaking bugs. I kept staring at the toasted creatures in disbelief. It was just plain EW! My eyes were probably immobile for awhile as big as an owl and my mouth gaping wide open… that the bug vendor moved away, giving me a sarcastic mean look. Would have wanted to take pictures, but with the way the bug vendor discriminated me, I decided to back off.

But thanks to a Dutch internet acquaintance, he let me borrow some of the photos he took during his vacation in Thailand in 2004. Thanks H.A.A.!

Alright, I hope I didn’t SCREW someone’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner? Or did I? Sorry! Hehe.

Here is another funny thing… Dutchman and I got tired from walking so we took shelter in one of the eateries along the road for a drink. I decided to call my mother and tell her that I am safe in Thailand. She was so worried (though I didn’t live with her anymore, she still wants to know what I am doing from time to time) about me traveling with a WHITE BLOND MAN, well it was the height of the 9/11 crisis, actually 3 weeks from the tragedy. Insane rumors were spreading like fire, such as: Foreign white people are vulnerable targets for kidnapping, ransom, and revenge. People were supposed to stay at home, and lock their doors... but here I am, gallivanting with the Dutchman in exotic Thailand.

“I want to speak to the Dutchman”, ordered my mom into the phone.

“The mother wants to speak to you”, I said, winking.

The Dutchman was puzzled but he let out a shy smile. You know, putting your best foot forward with the family. He better...

“Hello”, says the Dutchman into the receiver.

Blah… Blah… Blah… in other words: W%F$I#R@U*B&{G^!

“What did my mother say to you?” I asked after he put down the phone.

“Your mother said, YOU ARE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY! BEWARE, THEY ARE ALL HUNTING WHITE PEOPLE!!!!!!” says the Dutchman raising his arms mimicking a tribal warrior in g-string with a huge spear.

I couldn’t help but laugh. The thought of the tribal warrior with a huge spear hunting white people brought me to recollect the BUGS that I recently saw. What would those tribal people do after catching (or hunting) a white man? Fry them like the bugs?

Such a morbid thought!