Eating a Tarantula--"It's Easier to Eat One than to Explain to Erik Why I Didn't" (Don Parker)

August 20, 2009. A 7-hour drive yesterday, but it was broken up enough that it didn't seem that long. Daniel and Seiha went swimming in the Gulf about 6 a.m., then breakfast, then a quick swim in the pool before we left the hotel.

We took a short side trip to some waterfalls where we got some good pictures. The first was of the biggest spider I've ever seen--high in his (her?) web between the branches of some trees. Ben also spotted a flying lizard, only the second one he's seen while here. The falls were varied, cascading over flat rocks on which we could climb and stand; the water was cool and clear and I was tempted to dive all the way in (and would have, except for the idea of riding in the van in wet clothes). Several vendors with wreaths of flowers and baskets of packaged snacks escorted us on our hike to the falls--four beautiful young Khmer girls with flat baskets stuffed with colorful packages of treats maneuvered their way gracefully up and down steps, over rocks, etc. We purchased one package of goodies from each: shoe string potatoes that tasted somewhat like Doritoes, puffy dehydrated bananas, a package with the picture of a jalepeno on the outside that Don chose (it was a cracker, but not hot), and some strawberry pirouline-like cookies. . . our first junk food in over a week.
















Another stop was in "spider city," where we bought one gigantic (9"diameter) grapefruit, some other fruit (yet another new fruit adventure where the brown speckled green peeling came off easily in segments, the white flesh with a pear-like texture also came off in segments, each with a black see inside--yummy!), and two fried tarantulas. Don and Ben both ate (yep!) their tarantulas for a photo op. Crazy. Ben says they taste like a soggy barbecued potato chip. The street vendor lady startled me as I was scoping out which grapefruit to buy by putting a live tarantula near my shoulder. Did I jump? Yes! She thought my reaction was hilarious. Me, not so much. They remove the fangs, but it's still startling--although not so much for Ben, who allowed one black beauty to crawl on his arm.

Next stop was to hike up a mountain--809 steps to the top. Again, we were accompanied by people wanting to make a buck. This time, it was some teen-aged boys who followed us up the steps with a hammock on some sticks slung over their shoulders. They walked right behind me (why was that?); and if I stopped to rest, they became animated and motioned for me to sit down for a ride. They finally gave up by about the 450th step. During our first breather as a group where Ben and Daniel waited for Don and me to catch up, a 27-year-old girl massaged my calves and my shoulders. The entire way up, three 11- and 12-year-olds fanned us--well, they fanned Don and me. I was surprised by the number of pagodas and structures, one with a be-robed monk seated outside at the doorway, that were on top of this remote mountain. The view at the top was of the entire valley, which was beautiful (although one step over the edge of the cliff was a straight step downward, so I shied away from the edge--those crazy Parker boys seemed to stand as close as they dared, however).

After checking into our motel (only $45 for 3 rooms!), we went for dinner at the Dickerson's, the mission couple who took the place of the Gartzes. The housekeeper Soha is the same 33-year-old gal who was with the Gartzes. Elder D. told Don that even though it's been a long time since Elder Parker served here, he's made a lasting impression. Several members of the branch came by to say hello--they are so happy and beautiful. One 18-year-old Khmer girl with a long, black ponytail is one of the people Ben baptized, plus there were other girls and two 16- and 17-year-old boys with broad smiles who Brother D. grabbed at the shoulders; he shared that those two boys are the finest young men you will ever find--always the first to arrive at a service project and the last to leave.

Dickersons recommended a tour of the factory of hand-woven silk in Siem Reap. Ben's been saying he wants to buy some hand-woven ties, and Soha had a basket of ties she had sewn for sale. We also bought some scripture covers and a garment bag for my temple dress. Lovely! Lovely fabric--lovely fabric of this society, these Cambodian saints.

Quotes of the day by Daniel:
1) "I've never been able to see this far in all directions" (referring to the endless view across the flat, green rice patties that we saw for miles as we drove).
2) Daniel's response to Don's question, "What's this symbolic symbol mean?: "Perhaps it's a redundant redundancy."