Why are we so squeamish about eating insects and other creepy crawlies ? It is done on most continents, just not in Europe. In Africa when the locusts swarm they are known as 'sky prawns'. In Mexico they coat grasshoppers in chilli and fry them to make 'champolines'. In Australia they have honey ants and witchetty grubs. So why, when presented with a beautifully presented plate of scorpion salad, tarantula doughnut or spider samosa do people find it so repulsive ?
To be honest, most of the creatures pictured did not have a lot of flavour. A tarantula has far too many drumsticks and scorpion is a bit chewy. You have to try these things though whilst abroad, don't you ?
Jo had alas gone home before we finally found the Bugs Cafe in Siem Reap. She was feeling ill. May have been due to the champagne and birthday cake we had consumed before we set off. So it was down to young Lucas to show us adults how it was done. The boy done well.
Strangely, after eating scorpion and spider he later turned his nose up at creme brûlée. Weird child.
Back Street in Siem Reap is the slightly less 'Westernised' area of the town. Basically less elegant and expensive restaurants less neon lighting and cheaper prices for meals, beer and tourist tat. $1 glasses of draft beer or less if you found a happy hour. A barbecue selling tiger prawns the size of a mackerel for a few dollars. None of that flouncy air conditioning.
I think I'm going to miss the heat next week back in England. Not sure I'll miss the water bugs though. Far too much outer casing.
We had started our leisurely day in the pool with few hard and fast plans. The hotel is a couple of miles out from the centre. A 2 dollar Tuk Tuk ride. These Tuk Tuks are different from the Thai versions. These are motorbikes with detachable trailers.
I think we probably pay more than the locals still as the drivers are always want to know where and when they can collect us.
In town Lucas insisted on giving the fish tank massage a go. Large tanks of 'doctor fish' that you can dangle your feet in to. The fish then chew all the dead skin off. 
It tickles. Not really sure if it made any difference to my feet at all but it was an experience shared by several of us.
Holly reported back that the crocodile farm was open but that Lucas may find it a little disturbing. She had watched a live duck being fed to the crocs. Lucas agreed that spending time in the swimming pool was a better use of his time.
Marc, John and Ralph found various museums around town. When I was here in 1996 I had been offered the opportunity to go to a range and fire all sorts of military hardware. You could even lob a few hand grenades around or fire an RPG for a few dollars. For a few dollars more you could have a cow for target practice. I politely declined these offers.
It would seem these ranges are now part of the war museum. The prices have gone up considerably since 1996 and they must have run out of hand grenades (unless there have been too many tourist related health and safety breaches). You can still vapourise a cow from 100 metres away but the price is now in 100's of dollars. Again, perhaps something I won't be taking Lucas to experience.
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