Fear Factor – Creepy Crawlies ( first posted on thebarefootfoodie.org on 18 Sep 2019 )

Fear Factor – Creepy Crawlies

SEPTEMBER 18, 2019BAREFOOT TRAVELS

( Update - sadly, this intriguing cafe did not survive the pandemic years and is now permanently closed )

There is something about small creatures with multiple legs, with or without wings that creeps me out. They evoke repulsive feelings of fear and loathing. I was reminded of this during a recent visit to Siem Reap, Cambodia, where there was a cafe that served mainly bugs on its menu.

I ‘d like to think that I have amassed enough bragging rights to say I have ” been there done that” in many areas. This one refused to let go. So, I threw out the gauntlet to my travelling companions, and they gamely said” Yes, why not !” Was I hoping for something else with this group of people?

Four Brave Souls on a mission – Me , Cuzzie Angela, Anna and Joe

Now take your pick…

As mean and nasty as they come

Degustation Platter – ants, worms, spiders, bugs…get your protein fix here

Scorpion Salad, with lots of crunch

You need more than a stiff drink to go with these

The crickets were palatable enough, but not that cockroach look-a-like

Let’s not get too antsy over this…

There’s a scorpion stuck between my teeth!

Gotta give it to this woman – she does it in style, first the wings, then the legs, finally that fat, squishy body…

Almost there – down to the Tarantula. We divided it equally and quickly downed it with a drink.

Feeling rather jubilant after battling the insects. Here’s the boss who got more than his fair share of protein fixes.

If there’s one takeaway ( no pun intended ) from this experience, it’s to face your fears squarely in the face ( and chew on them ) Strangely enough, I no longer feel fear but only revulsion when I encounter these creatures. It’s quite liberating, in fact, and gives me just enough of a push to endeavour to do stuffs I’ve balked at before. Hey, I’ve eaten bugs – lots of them, in all their disgusting variants – what can be more daunting than that!!!

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