#spidersarefriends

[opplevkambodsja]

Skoun, Spiderville, skilleveien

Halvannen time nordøstover på National Road 6 mellom Phnom Penh og Siem Reap, ligger en liten by med stort marked og mange tjenester for veifarende. NR 6 er hovedveien fra hovedstaden til hovedgrenseposten Poi Pet og grensa mot Thailand.

Skoun markerer også veiskillet mellom to store veier. National Road 6 og 7 skiller her lag 55 kilometer nord for hovedstaden. National Road 7 går videre nord og øst mot Kampong Cham, og videre nordover langs Mekong til grensa mot Laos. Dette betyr at de fleste busselskaper, store og små taxier med turister og andre passasjerer stopper her for en rast, beinstrekk og mat og drikke. Fordelen er at det drar opp kvaliteten på det som tilbys, så maten på disse stedene langs veien er verdt prisen.

Gyldent besøk med tragisk bakteppe

Første gang i denne byen hadde bakteppe av en begravelse, til en jeg sjøl kjente og hadde snakket litt med. Litt, fordi hans norsk var like dårlig som min khmer. Og engelsk hadde aldri vært hans prioritet. Men det ga meg muligheten til å utforske den største severdigheten i Skoun: Den gyldne pagoda og det tilhørende anlegget for buddhistmunker og en tilhørende nekropolis.

Designet på denne pagodaen skiller seg ikke stort fra de fleste pagodaer på landsbygda i Kambodsja, men utføringen, den innvendige kunsten og ikke minst den gyldne finishen gjør helligdommen verdt et besøk.

I tillegg er det et velordnet nekropolis av familiegraver med noen utsøkte eksempler av både khmer og sino-khmer gravarkitektur.

Spesialitet med åtte bein

Det lokale markedet har det meste som trengs for å lage typiske khmer-tradisjonsretter, og tilbudet øker etter en økt satsing på landbruk i området rundt har gitt mer avkastning og variasjon. Men det er sidesalget av en spesialitet som har gitt byen sitt oppnavn: Spiderville - Edderkoppbyen.

Frityrstekte edderkopper, som regel taranteller, fanges og frityrstekes, og selges som regel hele for 300 riel, om lag 60 øre stykekt. Lokale handler dem i pose etter vekt, og gumler dem i seg som snacks. Unge som gamle.

Som vanlig hevdes det at edderkoppene har gode medisinske effekter, men det er ernæringen som proteinkilde som er viktigst. Edderkopper som mat i omfang er også av nyere dato, det er en av de utilsiktete følgene av Khmer Rouge og deres terrorregime på 1970-tallet. Som vanlig med slike regimer, så maktet de ikke å levere helt basale tjenester eller produkter som mat til egen befolkning. Den evigvarende matmangelen og kontinuerlige sultkatastrofen gikk hardt utover det meste som kunne spises. I nøden spiser sultne edderkopper.

Framtidsmatauk

Siden det er relativt harmløst å høste av naturen på denne måten, så fortsatte matauken også gjennom borgerkrigen som fulgte Pol Pots fall i 1979. Etter fredsslutninge ble krigsføden altså hverdagssnacks. I tillegg til edderkopper selges også andre insekter som snacks, som gresshopper, visse biller og sikader.

I den store sammenhengen er insekter en aktuell kilde for å løse behovet for proteiner i matforsyningen når menneskeheten nå er over 8 milliarder. Og det er langt fra uvanlig jorda rundt at insekter inngår i matstellet.

Tross alt, skalldyr og edderkopper tilhører samme hovedgruppe dyreart. Så klarer man hummer, så klarer man tarantell. Logisk sett. Jeg personlig er en stor fan av edderkopper, og følger mottoet "Spiders are friends, not food". Uten edderkopper hadde verden vært et insektskaos uten like, så dette er ikke min greie.*

Les mer om Skoun her.

*Jeg har naturligvis smakt, ut fra prinsippet at alt skal prøves minst én gang.

[askdrzinasia]

The yellow pagoda in Skóun

The small town of Skoun is where the National Road 6 and 7 splits today. But even if the place are offering a wide array of food and drinks for the road traveller, there are some more to see and experience.

One of them is the Yellow Pagoda, the main building inside the Wat area and the necropolis close by. A simple, yet splendidly decorated building with some intricate design details.

I attended a funeral for a good man in Skoun back in 2019, and got a lot of opportunities to look around and inside the temple area and wat.

Later I have visited in connection with parties, weddings and religious holidays like Pchum Benh. It is nice to revisit this pagoda from time to time.

Spiderville, Cambodia

Side-tracked about halfway between Phnom Penh and Kampong Thom along National Road 6/7, the small town of Skoun are considered the capital of spiders. More specifically, the capital of fried spiders as a food delicacy and snack.

Sometimes it is called Spiderville for exactly that reason.

It is, however, a tradition born out of need. During the civil wars, and especially during the Khmer Rouge years, the food was scarce. Hunger become a dominant factor of living under Pol Pots and his brutal mob gangs weird ideas of a society.

Having a large amount of spiders of reasonable size available, like black tarantellas, hunting, frying and eating spiders become a nutrient source of food. Seeing as spiders are rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, it is not a bad choice as crisis food.

And after the civil wars, the habit was established. The locals continue to eat spiders as a snack, and after a while, offering is as a rite of passage for newbie travellers in Asia. There are other regions in Asia, like Thailand, where spiders are more common as food, and to have a (first) try in Spiderville Cambodia is not a bad choice.

Myself, being a big fan of spiders, do not eat them voluntarily. #spidersarefriends #notfood

Other options than a variety of fried spiders in Skoun are bustling, local markets. And some restaurants selling very good versions of local khmer foods. And some international options as well.

[jennrosefx]

This little man is very lucky it was Bug who found him and not Goblin. Goblin would have stuck him in her mouth and swallowed without chewing. 😂 Bug just softly poked at him with her paw. When I found him he was on his back with his legs curled in… playing dead. People think spiders are so scary, meanwhile that’s the go-to defense for so many of them. Play dead. 😂 Luckily for this fella, I promptly scooped him up and relocated him to a cat-free environment. #savespiders #spidersarefriends https://www.instagram.com/p/CX93jYopRXW/?utm_medium=tumblr

[themagiccrafter]

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A post shared by Brittany Adams (@the_magic_crafter)

Mermaids are very curious creatures. They like observing the land folk, but usually with the water as a safety barrier. Mermaid Phantom is mostly blind though, so she doesn't know the difference between humans and rocks. 🙃 . She can see things really, really well if you hold them 3 inches in front of her face, however! This is how she discovered the cuteness that is spiders. 😍🕷🕸 When observed up close, you will see that they have the most adorable eyes and the fluffiest little bodies. Spiders are just like mermaids... very curious!! 🖤 . Please do not squish them. Pleaaaaseee. Spiders are friends. Phantom was named after a spider. If you squash a spider, you squash her little crumbly heart. 💔 . This post did not end up being what I thought it would be??? 🤔 . REGARDLESS!! How do you feel about spiders? AND what is your favorite creature? . #mermaidsofyoutube #mermaids #mermaidvideos #mermaidphantom #mermaidfriends #mermaid #mermaidswimming #themagiccrafter #mermaidsofinstagram #spidersarefriends #lakemichiganmermaid #mermaiding #traversecity (at Traverse City, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtzXoq3n1i8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1rwempkvmvryj

[cdgorri]

Showed up in my memories of 2014 and thought I’d reshare this awesome tale! Spiders are sort of fascinating for me as I started brainstorming for a brand new project coming in 2022 … look for Arachne along with the other #speeddatingwiththedenizensoftheunderworld series! #amwriting #amplotting #cdgorribooks #spidersarefriends #paranormalromance #mythologicalromance #booklover #booktok #booktokafterdark #christmastime #christmasbooks #holidayseason https://www.instagram.com/p/CXqPZgqLyne/?utm_medium=tumblr

[oldfatwarlock]

Spider 🕷 #aprilofheroes #shitart #fieldnotes #micron #spidersarefriends https://www.instagram.com/p/CNaXeR4gEAZ/?igshid=1ovgefs48v7uf

[dodgermd]

I mean, I would be telling lies if I would say they are all beautiful and that I'm not annoyed by reaching into sticky webs or that it does not hurt if they get scared and bite you (it does and it itches) but yeah, plz don't kill these lil' friends who kill and eat the true villains among crawlers, okay?

@ people who aren’t afraid of spiders how does it feel to be gods among mere mortals

[frazzledwrdnrd]

A silly poem inspired by the spider crawling across the ceiling while I was trying to write. #poetry #veganpoetry #spidersarefriends #writersofinstagram

[jilldelacruz]

We have a guest staying with us. This big fella has make a huge web on our patio door. He’s out of the way & has been paying his due by keeping the bugs out of the house. He’s like our own personal bug bouncer. Not sure what kind of spider this is. Anyone want to take a guess?🕷🕸 #spider #naturespestcontrol #spidersarecool #spidersarefriends #whatkindofspideristhis #spidersarecool #nature https://www.instagram.com/p/B0NGy7THYDm/?igshid=pc2uv2dirr9n

[quintessentialarts]

Spider frand 🕷 

[msjerlthesciencegirl]

Here's another one of my favorite biomimicry examples. Spiders like orb weavers produce a special fiber for their webs that reflects UV light. Since birds see UV, they see the web as almost sparkling...and can swerve to avoid it. This saves the spider from having to spend loads of energy rebuilding the web unnecessarily-- especially since the spider can't eat the bird and recoup that energy. So, the implications for us? Read above!

*There is still some debate over the effectiveness of this glass. We may need to collect more data, and put glass in more buildings-- both tall and short-- in order to get a better sense of how well this design works. So, in theory, magnificent! In practice? Scientists are still figuring that out. 

[sparklelafia]

I found a little resident in one of the hanging geranium baskets at work today. 🕷🕸 #spider #flowers #geraniums #hangingbaskets #wateringflowers #garden #insect #bug #tiny #pink #wildlife #spidersarefriends #pinkflowers #floraldepartment https://www.instagram.com/p/CPuFSuLhydd/?utm_medium=tumblr

[hotglueandthegun]

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A post shared by hot glue & the gun (@hotglueandthegun)

🔊Sound ON ✨GLUEY ZOOMY SHOW!✨ Hey Gluey Zoomsters! Are you ready to #BeTheGlue?!? Season Two begins WEDNESDAY Sept. 9th! 8pm ET Missed SEASON ONE Gluey Zoomy FUN?? Binge watch on our YouTube channel 👉link in Bio👀 Gluey Guest Stars from Episode 9 ~ @jeannieskelly ~ @grant_or_gorb ~ @allthepresidentsman . . . #glueyzoomyshow #interactive #tincantalk #livestream #livemusic #livevisualartist #communalcanvas #communitylove #danceparty #librarythugs #spidersarefriends #FDRyoureadytorock #artspirit #gluein https://www.instagram.com/p/CExVmM3Dk9q/?igshid=1m90lver80r2d

[kuro2091]

Found this fuzzy little friend today while cleaning. Was able to avoid ruining her web while using the hose, win win for me and this little orbweaver of some kind. #spidersofinstagram #spidersarefriends #arachnid #iktomi #spidergram #naturenerd #wildlife #iowawildlife https://www.instagram.com/p/BnhQTPCFRZ4/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=17eyqhehzrc3t

[sturvn]

Got a new house mate #spidersarefriends #spidersofinstagram (at Larkhall) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnE__JEFSk3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=9srbutg1sage

[marikainen]

This little beauty was found in a box with my garden tools. :) #spider #bootiful #spidersarefriends #spidersarecool #spidersareourfriends #spidersareawesome