Malawi Travel Log: Day 4

Day 4

Fried Termites and The Road-Kill Dinner

Merrily cruising along the main road today when a fuzzy white object richocheted off the front windshield. What on earth!

"A bird!" cried our driver, excitedly.

Screeching to a halt, he proceeded to turn around in the road.

I assumed our driver's humanitarian nature had gotten the better of him. Naturally, he was checking on the welfare of that poor pigeon.

Suddenly, it dawned on me. That bird was his dinner!

Sadly, though, our driver was 30 seconds too late. If there's food lying around - even a dead pigeon in the road - you have to have lightning reflexes in Malawi!

An elderly gentleman standing by the roadside was already holding his "trophy" aloft, a crooked-toothed grin spread over his face.

As the old saying goes: "A bird in the hand..."

Termite Indigestion

Ever tried fried termites?

I did today.

My in-laws used to have termites eating away at their house.

I never realized you could eat them.

Salty, with a crunchy shell... and not very satisfying.

Now I have a whole bag of the things to dispose of... I mean, consume.

I could try smuggling them back into America - the boys at church would love that - but I'm not sure what U.S. Customs would have to say about it.

Could sprinkle them on my cornflakes.

Please do forward any termite recipes...