Friday, October 24, 2008

Scary Food - PhotoHunt

PhotoHunt theme : Scary

Fancy a tarantula or an insect as a snack?

Imagine the gooey stuff squishing in your mouth when you bite into it..... and having bits of its legs stuck in between your teeth.

On Wang Fu Jin Road in Beijing, you can find stalls selling these insects as snack food.

I was scared when I first saw these creepy crawlies and bugs. My Chinese friends persuaded me to try some of them. I tried a scorpion, a crispy fried worm and a beetle. Honestly, they didn't taste good.

I was told they are nutritious and have very high medicinal values. Some of them have become delicacies and are highly sought after. I'm glad I don't have to eat them, to the poor in some parts of China, insects are their alternative source of protein.








90 comments:

  1. Oh My GOD! You are so brave, hubby and I was previously watching the programme of people eating bugs and worms. I told him I'm sorry as a wife that even if I was offered S$5,000 to eat a bug on the street, I would refuse it lor.
    Why am I so so silly??!! Oh dear me.

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  2. Land of Singapore,
    I'm adventurous and like to try new things. :P

    It takes courage to eat such things. Some bugs taste horrible.

    For $5,000 I'll eat that tarantula!! haha...

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  3. napaboaniya,
    -_-"'

    You are very thin already, ah nia!

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  4. i think most people have trouble getting pass the bug part, but it's cool you ate them. I don't think I could gobble down those insects.

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  5. ECL,
    That's soooooo ...ewwwwwww....

    Like you, I might try this out but if you ask me whether I enjoy, I don't think I will. Spider??? Yuckkssssssss!

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  6. Life Ramblings,
    I hesitated. Many of the Chinese were enjoying these insects. They made it seem so tasty!! I had to try. hehe....

    The crispy fried worm tasted like French Fry. Gosh, the beetle was the most horrible!

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  7. Kok,
    Yalor... I didn't enjoy eating them.

    $5000 to eat that spider. Yeah!!

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  8. ECL,
    You dare me eat that spider for $5000????? You serious??!?!?!?!

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  9. For once I didn't even look at your pictures, sorry about that, but I think I saw a spider and some creepy things, bwaaahhhhh
    Scary enough, off to get some strong coffee!
    Happy weekend ECL :)

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  10. There are tons of this in Thailand and Cambodia border..lol I didn't even took pics because I almost puke! Nice one,ECL!

    Happy Weekend!

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  11. Eeeee.... those so called nutritious and protein-rich insects turn me off. Can't bear to look at them let alone munching them as a snack.

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  12. Kok,
    No! I'm sure you will eat it for $5000! haha... think I dementia ah!?

    I dare people to give me $5000 to eat that spider!

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  13. Oops Mar,
    Sorry to scare you. haha...
    I want some tea .... *runs after Mar*

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  14. Yen,
    Oh yes! I saw these in Thailand too. I tried deep fried worms, grasshoppers and some other insects in Thailand. They're tastier because of the added spices. :)

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  15. stanley,
    In the poorer parts of Thailand, the people eat them as an alternative source of meat. They can't even afford chicken or fish, not even an egg.... so they have to eat these for protein. They have no choice.

    I tried the insects to get a taste of their regular meal. I feel so blessed.

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  16. ECL,
    I thought you wanna dare me $5000 for that spider! Chehhhhhh!!! hahaha!

    Aduh...you sure dare to eat also lahhh. Sure no people dare you one. You're one super lady remember?:P

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  17. Kok,
    Pay $5000 to dare someone eat a spider? I prefer others to pay me $5000 and I eat it. hahaha....

    Still got certain things dare not eat lah. Cannot say or else kena challenge. hehe...

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  18. Ok, they have so many delicacies on the table. I wonder how many can they sell in a day? And you say it's a whole street? OMG... how many insects, bugs and spiders do they kill in a day?

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  19. Darkspore,
    You watch Beijing Olympics? Can you imagine the population in Beijing?

    They need lots and lots of insects and bugs each night (like pasar malam, they operate at night) to feed the crowds!

    Many of the insects are reared in insect farms.
    :)

    Not all of them are dead. You can swallow some of them alive if you want. hehe....

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  20. ECL,
    Too bad lah I don't even have $5000 to dare you. If I have, I don't mind to "share" it with you. hahaha!

    Aiks? What things you don't dare to eat? Fast fast say! hahahaha!

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  21. Now that is definitely scary!!!! It would take me a while to warm up to eating that! OR go vegetarian quickly.

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  22. Yucks! I won't eat these things unless I'm offered lots of money! But you can be sure I won't eat cockroaches even if you give me 1 million US dollars!

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  23. Cool take on the theme. I am not averse to eating bugs, I have eaten a beetle. I am game to taste everything else at least once, as long as the experience wont end in an ER.

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  24. yucks!!! even if somebody will give me a thousand pounds i'm not gonna eat one of those. you are so brave!

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  25. Expat Traveler,
    Gosh... it does make one wants to go vegetarian. :P

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  26. foongpc,
    cockroaches have medicinal value, they are sold at Chinese medicinal halls.

    Try lah. Won't die from eating them. :)

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  27. shiela,
    1000 pounds!? Which one you want me to eat? haha....

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  28. Great scary photos! I ate a grasshopper one time (I didn't like it).

    Have a nice weekend!

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  29. Annie,
    The grasshopper I ate was deep fried and it was crispy, easier to swallow. :)

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  30. eck! i wont dare to try it. :/

    btw love the revamp! :)

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  31. sweet nadnut!
    hehe... not any one can stomach eating creepy crawlies. Glad you love the blog makeover!

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  32. Wahhhh Kok!
    So nice of you to share your money with me. :)

    There are certain things I'll never eat, also cannot eat. At the advice of my Fengshui Master.

    You guess? hehe....

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  33. I find that scary but I guess it's an acquired taste.

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  34. Oh my!! Fried worm and scorpion....some more it didn't taste good eh? I don't think I can join Fear Factor lol! :):):)

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  35. But I told u right...I once tried caramel-coated caterpillar, and that was okay la, edible ha ha! ;)

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  36. I can't wait to find out ur BIG winner! Happy weekend. :)

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  37. I am glad I do not have to eat insects, I don't think I could. I would probably starve... Nice photos tho! :D

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  38. No to the worm... i get goosebumps just thinking about it!

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  39. Oh my once again a some great pictures. And this just reminded me to go get mine up.

    Oh boy I did a really creepy one...I hope I don't scare any kids or anything.

    I'll bbl after I get my post up!

    *hugs*

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  40. I would have to be on my death bed and everyone telling me it was the ONLY way to save my life before I'd try ANY of these! LOL

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  41. Oh dear - I don't think I could ever try those. :)

    Have a good weekend. :)

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  42. I think I'll pass on teh insect snacks. Seriously I know I amvery fortunate not to have to resort to insects for protein. Happy weekend

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  43. Hey! That's food!! Haha... but not for me. I thought you human body parts "buns" was even scarier. :P

    http://crizcats.blogspot.com/

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  44. First of all: Congrats with a new Blog Home - so nice, so colourful, so artistic, so you!

    It might prove that it is toooo long since I've been around - sorry, but fall is a very busy time for me - please don't feel neglected!

    Wishing you a great end to your week.

    Btw: your so brave :-)

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  45. Eww... no thanks! I'll skip them no matter how nutritious! :)

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  46. You really are adventurous. Friends of mine also were telling me about those but I don't have the stomach to try those.

    Thanks for sharing!

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  47. Hi EastCoastLife --

    Woah, you're a braver woman than me! Found the exotic food on display in Beijing's night markets interesting -- but couldn't get up the courage to try them. (Have heard that silk worms actually can be tasty!)

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  48. ECL,
    Of course mah. Got fortune, have to share. haha!

    Wah, eat also need to see Feng Shui one ah? Hmm... I know! Pineapple you cannot eat! Cause "Ong Lai", you eat liao, "Ong" where got come???? hahahahaha!

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  49. Oh no i will not eat that kind of food its scary yayyyy!....Happy weekend.

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  50. I heard this kind of food also famous in thailand and vietnam..

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  51. omg...this is more scary than my post :D thanks drop at my ph post

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  52. Pass. Thanks. I managed to escape Beijing with my life on many occasions thanks to expensive hotels.

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  53. Oh, I am just so glad that I only have to LOOK at these! Eating them? No way. Too scary for me.

    Nice pick for The Hunt.

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  54. NO WAY! That is too much - now I'll have nightmares tonight - - -

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  55. just looking at them is a little bit scary how much more when eating it,oohhh.nice entry.. mine is up hope you've got time. and please sign in my Followers.tnx :)

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  56. Yuck-O! Even I would not eat those! Even though I have eaten bugs before. The bugs I eat are much smaller.

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  57. SP... SP... SPIDER!!!! OMG! That's as scary as it can be. Wait, it's not. Did I hear you say "eat this"???? THAT's as scary as it can be.

    I could live with eating a fried worm and I've had an insect burger some years ago... but a spider? Never EVER. See, when I find out there's a tiny little spider in the same room I am in I freak out...

    Happy Hunting :-D

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  58. Oh, I forgot to say how much I love your new layout. It's gorgeous.

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  59. Oh wow that is scary! You are braver than I... I would not have tried any.

    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Amanda

    Photo Hunters: Scary

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  60. Just the THOUGHT of this as food would scare me to no end.

    Mine's posted too, if you can find time to stop by. Happy weekend.

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  61. ECL, I brought u some salt n pepper, maybe ur worms will taste better then he he! :)

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  62. Oredi dropped MPG earlier, now back with Mariuca! What are ur Halloween plans? I bet ECL will give us a special post with you all dressed up in a special costume! :)

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  63. YUK YUK!!! My kids and I both got queasy at this. Great photos!

    I hope you have time to come see my scary photos, and leave your link, too. http://newyorktraveler.net/photo-hunters-scary/

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  64. We have eaten all kinds of bugs, but crickets are our most favorites!

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  65. ECL, I just posted mine and my subject is from your country. :)

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  66. Those are more scary than anything I have seen yet. All yours my dear. Happy weekend.

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  67. Very true ECL, many people will depend on them as a food source. But for me, well I think they're scary too :)

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  68. ewww!! spiders!!?? eek! hehehe.. thank goodness too that I dont have to eat those crawlers. just looking at it makes me puke already how much more eating it. hehehe

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  69. I didn't do photo hunt this time around. But if you have change stop on by.

    I'll take your word on they don't taste all that well.
    I'm open minded on most foods.

    Coffee is on.

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  70. Whoa... don't think I could do it even if u promised me the giant LG TV... and u did it??? Just how scary can u be, eh? ;)

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  71. Haiyooooo! EastCoastLife,

    That's absolutely disgusting. I would puke if that was ever served to me.

    When I worked and lived in Bangkok, I noticed street food mongers who sold what looked like roasted cockroaches. I was told it IS cockroaches.
    You can imagine what first came to my mind!

    Have a great weekend ECL!

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  72. I watched a documentary the other day on monster predators,... they went deep into the jungle to find killer taranchalas,.... but in the mean time, they found a few that they squeezed the insides out, cook them on the campfire and ate them. I about gagged! Don't think I would want to try any of them,... especially after you said they didn't taste good anyways.
    Have a good week.

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  73. Hello, Have a great week ahead!!

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  74. Your first pic gave me a huge fright! Spider is my worst nightmare! Hate them! #@*$&^#*$^($@ Hehehehe

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  75. "Honestly, they didn't taste good." LOL! They didn't look good.

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  76. For some it really scary but for another is really yummy yummy enak deh!!!

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  77. That's cool, because it's scary and gross at the same time! Kids would love it... until they have to eat it. Yuck!

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  78. Hi ECL,

    This is my first time commenting here. So, I am a little bit nervous. Hehee :P

    Oh my.. I hate spiders! Let alone eat it! With its hairy legs and not so cute body.. ewww..

    Anyway, have a nice weekend!

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  79. scary but nice pics though why dont you add more effects on it by using lightbox, here is an easy tutiorial on how to add in your blog:Multibox in Blogger or Lightbox v2.04 in Blogger

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  80. oh my! I'd rather go hungry than eat these food.

    http://www.joarduo.com

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  82. attagirl, ms ecl! =] i may have endured a fright-seeing tour, but you're much tougher- ingesting creepy crawlies and all! well done =]

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  83. the insects look terrifying but they may be nice when eaten!

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