Soft, Kinda Gushy

You came from the other part of the world BUT you've tried more many things than Thai people!

I haven't tried fried insects yet, but I will!

Be sure about the hygiene and where they got it before served

Yup. Good advice from Sea Breeze on eating on the street in Thailand in general. But then again, knowing where something came from or how clean it is can never really be determined. Sometimes you just have to take the risk, due to hunger or the desire to say "I just ate a bug."

Stuart:

Greetings again. Thank you for the Bangkok Post link. I went to Gaysorn Plaza last night- Wow, what a mall! (Too bad the Prada shoes were B16,000- no JJ-like deals in Gaysorn)

While you are on the subject of interesting Thai foodstuffs, maybe you could comment on the nasal inhalants I see some Thais consuming? I can't figure out what these are- I would imagine it is a stimulant?- but their use seems widespread enough that I have caught several people casually "sniffing" along their morning walks. Any insight appreciated.

Cheers, Nick

The nasal inhalants (called "ya dom", ya = medicine, dom = nose) are just .. well.. i guess they have a slightly stimulating effect. I suppose the actual use is to open up blocked airways (like Vicks Vaporub et al) and it does work for that quite well. But like you say, it's very widespread, to the point that all the people sniffing them can't possibly have the flu. So people just do it for the stimulating effect. It's quite pleasant, I have one here in the office.

Once I was on a bus here in Bangkok and I saw this Buddhist monk sitting solemnly, hands on his lap, with a "ya dom" hanging from his right nostril. First I thought "wow, that monk sure is inhaling deeply to keep the inhalant thing in his nostril without using his hands" and put it down to years of meditation, but then I realized that he had just shoved it up his nose so it stayed there without having to hold it with his hands. Oh well.

As for the crickets, they're not bad actually! Crunchy, a little bit juicy, good with beer. Not that I eat them often, but if someone offers me a cricket I don't turn it down. Now, beetles are different.. hated the texture, it was gross.

Haha. Yes, Gaysorn is the ONE place in Thailand where you can buy REAL name-brand luxury items, including Prada. Sometimes I use the mall as a short cut between the Chit Lom BTS station and the World Trade Center -- and I always feel underdressed as I walk past the designer boutiques.

About the sniffing: they're sniffing menthol, like Vicks or Halls. Thai people use it if they have a cold or stuffy nose. But it seems to me that some people are just downright addicted to it. I've seen some sit in the SkyTrain and stick the canister in their nose sniffing away the entire 20 minute ride. I don't think anyone's nose is THAT stuffy.

It should be noted that I just went to the Esso next to the office building I work in and, after requesting some "ya dom," somehow ended up with a medium-sized bottle of ESSENCE OF CHICKEN.

Nick, welcome to Thailand! If I get what I ask for in Bangkok more than 50% the time, I am very happy. Outside of Bangkok the rate goes down to 25%.