Delicacies

Last night I was strolling along Soi Cowboy to see what all the fuss is about (for those interested in one of the more popular reasons to visit Bangkok, check out the Soi Cowboy details at http://www.bangkokbob.net/cowboy.htm; be warned: you might have to go to confession afterwards). Minding my own business, I came across a food cart that sold some of the more interesting regional delicacies. (Fortunately, my sister Stefanie shared with me the "Amazing Race" episode that was filmed in Thailand, so I was somewhat prepared for what I saw.) Hundreds of crispy fried grasshoppers and waterbugs were all arranged on the food cart for your snacking pleasure. When I saw the hippies devouring a bowl of fried crickets to get ahead on the show, I had thought to myself I could probably eat one, just to see what it tastes like. Now, I'm having second thoughts. I think it was displaying the waterbugs (you know, those bugs that look like huge cockroaches) right next to the crickets that made me reconsider. Waterbugs for a snack--disgusting!