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Loeng Nok Tha is as interesting as a place can get for me. Perhaps that is because I don't really have an understanding of the Thai way of life or perhaps it is something as simple as I enjoy a foreign environment. That is definitely one way of describing Loeng Nok Tha to somebody from the western society, foreign. To start with the town is divided into two separate but politically and economically connected towns. Basically it is split to the old town and the new town. To be honest I didn't really see to much difference between the two places but that is only my perspective, but I did notice that monuments and points of interest were more common in the newer part of Loeng Nok Tha. There were large Golden statues of Buddha, larger temples and more places of business. Sitting on a deserted rickshaw as my fathers car was being washed we observed the surroundings and apart from the aforementioned statue and temples, I really could not see that much difference, but according to the locals there is a big divide.
It seemed that Isaan people really like to place a divide to help them
separate people and to differentiate between things. The difference between the old and the new city for example. The divide between Isaan and the Thai and even a more generic one than that, and a whole lot more noticable to a traveler. That is the divide between Thai and Isaan (Locals) and the Farang. For those whom are unaware of what Farang is, to simply put it they are white people. A Thai word that seems to be used more outside of the major cities. It is a term that is used to trivialise an entire race of people as it comes with stereotypes. The typical Farang (pronounced Falang) person is a Caucasian person, usually wearing shorts and a t-shirt, whom is ignorant and is made of money (a description provided by a lovely Thai lady I will discuss meeting later). Essentially they are someone different to themselves. As the lady named Ora describes the Thai people are not saying this in an overly racist way but they see the white people in a different way. They seemingly have an inferiority complex to the Farang. This so called divide isn't as obvious in the major destinations like Bangkok and Phuket,
but if you go Rural you will hear 'Farang' a lot more regularly. From my experience the reason why the word gets thrown around a lot is more out of interest. Up in Loeng Nok Tha, you do not see many white people, and those who they do are older gentlemen married to locals. Young white travelers are seemingly a new entity. They seem overly interested in your life and they gawk and comment not out of disdain or hatred but more out of interest and curiosity.
But in no small way are they the only ones that will be a little curious, as in my experience I was completely amazed by the lifestyle and spectacles I saw up in the North East. Loeng Nok Tha was probably the mecca of the unexpected for me. Starting with some of the weird meals and snacks I was offered. Firstly, I have a rule to try anything once. Because until you are confident enough to try something, you don't really have the right to criticize. It varied from a cold desert soup of Jelly based snacks in a cold coconut milk soup, which was very sweet but delicious and
something I wouldn't hesitate about having again. But some things were a lot more unexpected like when exploring the market.
The said market was held on a Saturday in the court yard of a local government owned and operated building. It was very make-shift with hundreds of gazebos covering the area. In the market they sold nearly everything, ranging from pirated DVDs to clothes to Power drills to Fruits and even it was possible to buy live animals. The animals were both offered as pets as well as some to be killed, skinned/feathered and cooked. A lot of it was very basic with the selling of the animals, but there was one guy who was selling chickens and ducklings with a difference. This difference was really noticeable and made them very distinct to put it mildly. The birds were brightly coloured and some ere painted with black mohawks. It really did work because even today I can remember them much more vividly than any of the other animals. But back to the weird foods in the market place. All throughout the area there were many food stalls set up. Some were selling things very common in western
society. Some were just selling chocolate. Another was selling what could be described as the most pungent popcorn ever. You couldn't possibly miss it, even from 100 metres off you were able to notice the smell, which was overpowering other smells and even other senses. It was so powerful I could swear I could taste it and the closer I got the more it seemed to draw a tear to the corner of my eye. But compared to one stall that was completely normal. Crickets, Squid, Spiders, Worms these were just a few things that were offered. I can hear you saying that's not weird for Asia. Yeah fair enough, but is frying it in Fanta and coke weird?? Well that is exactly what happened and before you ask, you could get it just on a stick pan fried in oil if you want. In the matter of fairness I got one of each (Squid and Crickets fried in Fanta and Fried in Oil) and to be honest the frying in Fanta Crickets was actually something I would have happily gone for again and at the reasonable price of 30 Baht for a large serving (A dollar Australian approximately) it
didn't exactly break the bank to.
But the weirdest and probably the most unusual thing I have ever eaten in my life was at a blessing that in a later blog I will mention about. What could it be you are asking? Queen soldier ants and Flying Soldier ants and their eggs. Not cooked in any weird way....well to be honest I am still unsure how or if they were cooked but I was happy to try the dish, which Teacher Daeng ensured me was a local delicacy. It was served with chilli, small grained rice and a few things I still can't identify but really the only thing you are even the slightest bit interested in is how did the ants and their eggs taste. Well I can't remember right now but fortunately I wrote something down in a journal. Sort of a weird food's Michelin Star guide.
Queen: A very crunch Texture with no immediate sensation of taste but a slow after taste of black peppers and a hint of tang to it Flying Ant: Really grainy taste possibly the wings don't really add any value but become a hindrance in eating but a similar but slighter pepper taste but no tang with it.
Eggs: Almost liquifies as soon as mixed with saliva, no discernible taste, you literally would have no idea you are eating it
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