Over the years, Bangkok has been hailed as the ultimate destination for travelers who long to explore sexual dreamland; indulge in endless bargain shopping; relax and get treated like royalty; or even go for total physical makeover--plastic surgery. However, there's still more to the Thai capital that many people probably haven't seen yet, and it's its bizarre side, which is evident in the multi-legged delights being sold on its streets.

Over the years, Bangkok has been hailed as the ultimate destination for travelers who long to explore sexual dreamland; indulge in endless bargain shopping; relax and get treated like royalty; or even go for total physical makeover--plastic surgery. However, there's still more to the Thai capital that many people probably haven't seen yet, and it's its bizarre side, which is evident in the multi-legged delights being sold on its streets. If you are one of those adventurous eaters, you might want to try some of the city's renowned, outrageous dishes. Here they are: 

Critters

Bugs and other creepy crawlies are relatively common food items found on the streets of Bangkok. Grasshoppers are usually served with chili sauce or chili powder, and are either fried or sautéed, making it an excellent exotic finger food. They are actually safe to eat and contain a high amount of protein--even more than pork, chicken or beef. Bugs are also common and are sold in different variations, from the large beetles the size of dinner plates, to small ones that are the size of a coin. Most vendors sell these food items raw and chop them to bite-sized bits. They are usually served with sauce or used as toppings to salad and even rice. A lot of stalls sell black water beetles, as these critters are commonly found in Thailand. Every part of the critter is eaten, including the eggs.

Tarantulas

Spiders, such as tarantulas, are also widely sold in the streets of Bangkok. Among the biggest class of spiders in the world, tarantulas are usually chopped into manageable pieces and are usually fried, steamed, boiled, or incorporated into other foods. Here's one freaky thing you should take note of: the hair from the legs and abdomen are not removed. This is because they add to the texture of the dish and make the taste of the spider stand out more.

Snakes

  We commonly hear snakes eating people, but in Thailand, it is the people who eat snakes--voraciously! They are sold at a number of specialty stores in Bangkok. Blood is first drawn from the snake and is collected for the customer to drink. The snake is usually skinned and chopped to pieces, and depending on the customer's preference, it can either be deep-fried, stir-fried or added to stews or soups.

Bats

Who says bats only live in caves? They are abundant in Bangkok's urban jungle! They are even known to be among the well-preferred aphrodisiacs in all of Thailand. Bats are usually best served boiled. Their meat is then chopped and either served fried, grilled, roasted, or added to soups, rice, or other dishes.

These dishes are definitely not for the faint of heart. But if you are the gutsy type, you should take some time to roam the streets of Bangkok to have a taste of each one of them, as you can hardly find any other place in the world that has a vast collection of eccentric dishes. With these bizarre delicacies, you are bound to have a gastronomic feast like no other! More interesting delicacies around the world