Spiders and Roaches and Crickets, Oh My!

Sunday, December 30^th

By Noah Weinberger

Today, we packed up and left our hotel by 8 am, headed north for the six hour drive to Siem Reap.  Along the way we stopped by a market known for their deep fried tarantulas. As soon as we stepped off the bus, we were greeted by many children who were very extroverted and kind. The kids were selling bananas, mangoes and pineapples for only a dollar. We could not eat the peeled and sliced fruit because it would not go down well with our stomachs but we gave them at least a dollar each and bought some bananas for the road. As we proceeded, we soon found out that not only did they have piles of fried tarantulas but fried, abnormally large crickets, crunchy grasshoppers, juicy earthworms, roasted water birds on a stick, and last but not least, cockroaches. My arachnophobia started kicking in and I was scared. But of course our tour guide Veng was not afraid of spiders so he picked up a huge tarantula and put it right on his shirt. Next, he picked me out of our entire group and placed the hairy creature on my shirt. Thankfully, tarantulas don’t bite and there was no danger.  Next we stopped by a woman with a bucket full of fried spiders in a garlic sauce.  It was kind off gross because the spiders had still had hair on their legs and big abdomens. Mr. Kosegarten was the first to try one and when he did, everyone freaked out. According to him it did not taste that bad. Then Brooke and Dana ate a tarantula together. Veng just laughed his contagious laugh. Then he gave me one and I could not deny the man so I try a few legs and then I am done. It was the crunchiest thing and the worst part about it was that it would just sit in your throat when you tried to swallow. Matt, Blake and Brigid all tried a sample, but C’Maia steered clear and Dr. Romeyn said she was too busy taking pictures [Dr. Romeyn says:  "I did eat some tarantula legs once we got back on the bus, thank you very much."]  Veng then led us to a bunch of crickets that were deep-fried. Once again he picks me out of all people to eat it. Veng places the enormous cricket inside of my mouth and I begin to chew. It was the same texture as the spider. I spit it out but at least I can say I tried!  Mr. Riffee was the most adventurous, eating a tarantula, cricket, grasshopper and earthworm.  He said the tarantula was the best.  Finally we were done so we boarded the bus and waved goodbye back to all the children and we continued our voyage to Siem Reap.

[Dr. Romeyn says: we arrived in Siem Reap about 4 pm, after a long, hot ride (the aircon on the bus died about halfway through the trip.  Everyone enjoyed the pool and a shower and we are headed to dinner soon. Hopefully, there will be no fried insects on the menu.]