Insects and Elmer the safety elephant

We went to the night market last evening. On our way out the door we saw two orange lights in the sky, as if Mars and his new-found twin decided to visit Earth and oversee our night out. Or maybe it was a couple of airplanes, but the lights weren't moving. I later learned that these orange dots in the black sky were floating lanterns being lit and released from the beach. When we first arrived at the market we were welcomed by the aroma emanating from closely packed food stalls, presenting all manner of homemade foodstuffs for sale. The area was packed with tourists mainly. While listening to the guitarist sing Bob Marley and Paul Simon tunes, we ordered a few appetizers for our stroll. I do enjoy Thai food which offers a lot of variety, but I do crave other foods now and then. Tonight I went for the pizza while Catheleen stayed traditional and had the Pad Thai

One lady I met was selling varieties of insects, and I suppose I must have stayed at her stall too long since she asked me if I would like to try. I thought she was offering me a sample bug but instead she filled a small bag with a smorgasbord of insects and handed it to me. I didn't have the heart to to say no, so I paid for my grasshoppers, grubs, and I'm not sure what, and tried one of each. They didn't have much taste other than the salt and flavouring she added, but I couldn't get over the fact that I was eating crunchy bugs. Catheleen called my aversion yet another first world problem - she wisely declined to join me. I quickly made the purchase of a bottle of water a top priority.

I was accosted along the way by a tailor who talked me up and thought I needed an Armani suit. I declined as politely as I could, given his insistence and the fact it was a long wait before he let go of my hand. I appreciate that you can probably buy a quality suit here at a good price, but I didn't want to think that far ahead. I was already overdressed wearing a short sleeved shirt with buttons, given flip flops, bathing suits and tie-dye are the standard dress code around here.

The street was closed to traffic which made for a pleasant walk amongst the many stalls and restaurants. I had a good chuckle when a saw a couple of Japanese girls laughing and cowering in a corner when a dog became interested in their satay sticks. The dog looked harmless enough but the girls didn't seem to know what to do. I walked on by assuming they would either summon the courage to soldier on or pay off the pooch with a bribe.

At the resort pool today (same place as yesterday), I couldn't help but overhear a young man complain to his girlfriend about his haircut. He ended up with a buzz cut with the remaining hair on the back of his neck shaped like a V. He wasn't happy, much to the amusement of his girlfriend. I was a bit amused too but also concerned - I will have to get a haircut too at some point on this trip or I'll end up looking like John.

I've been meaning to mention the egregious safety violations in this country. Utility poles with enough wires attached helter-skelter to look like noodles in a bowl. Workers opening traps in the floor without any warning of a potential death trap below. I saw a father today jump off from one pool to a lower one over a concrete waterfall, with his son following behind. Minimal adherence to rules of the road. Locals riding motorcycles and scooters on the sidewalk without helmets, sometimes with children on the front, back or both. I saw one guy with a baby attached to his chest in a sling of sorts. I understand that motorcycles are often the only affordable means of transport for many Thais, but some of the tourists here are just off their rocker. I guess I'm turning into Elmer the safety elephant. So ends my diatribe.

Here is my bag of bugs. Yummy.