World's Strangest Snacks

 

 

1. Hákarl: Icelandic Fermented Shark

 

Popular in Iceland, the Hákarl is a basking shark which has been cured with a particular fermentation process and hung to dry for four to five months. It is often served in cubes on toothpicks and comes in two varieties; chewy and reddish glerhákarl (lit. "glassy shark") from the belly, and white and soft skyrhákarl (lit. "skyr shark") from the body.

 

2. Balut: Fertilized Duck Egg

 

 

Balut is a fertilized duck egg, with a partially formed fetus inside. It is usually eaten by cracking open the shell and drinking the fluid. Then fetus is seasoned with salt and pepper, and eaten raw. These eggs can be commonly found in the Philippines and other parts of Southeast Asia.
NOTE: according to some of our readers, the embryo is not eaten raw. The whole egg is cooked either by steaming, boiling or with heated sand.

 

3. Kanikko: Candied Crabs

 

 

Lacquered with a sugary, slightly spicy coating, these Japanese crab snacks taste fishy and sweet.

 

4. Casu Marzu: Italian Maggot Cheese

 

 

During the aging process of "Rotten Cheese," a fly called Piophila casei deposits its eggs on the cheese. When the maggots are born, they move throughout the cheese, excreting enzymes that give it an overwhelmingly pungent smell, a rotten taste, and a soft, creamy texture. The cheese is served at weddings and other family gatherings.

 

5. Escamoles: Ant Eggs

 

 

Escamoles are made from the eggs of black ants, which are collected from colonies, and harvested from the roots of the agave plant in Mexico. They must be collected, just before the larvae turn into ants, and the larvae collectors must wear protective gear to protect themselves from stings. Their taste have been described as that of corn, and they are often eaten in tacos.

 

6. Squid Balls

 

 

A chinese snack, they feel mildly squid-ish, craggy on the outside and steamy-bouncy on the inside.

 

7. Dried Wild Fish

 

 

Targeted to kids, this snack made in China to be distributed in Russia may seem repulsive to some and the list of ingredients on the back of the pouch is refreshingly short: fish, salt.

 

8. Crickets on a stick

 

 

If you live in Beijing or Bangkok, you might fancy a taste of crickets. Or maybe you would prefer baby nestling sparrows, mice, snakes, or maybe a bowl of scrumptious scorpion soup?

 

9. Black Garlic Chocolate

 

 

Japan's Black Garlic Chocolates are made by Takko Shoji, who claims the fermented black garlic coated with bittersweet chocolate can increase energy and promote metabolism when eaten regularly over a couple of months.

 

10. Pork Skin

 

 

Pork rinds --pieces of pig's fried or roasted skin (rind)-- are actually quite common in several countries around the world. Chunks of cured pork skins are deep-fried and puffed into light, irregular curls, and often seasoned with chili pepper or barbecue flavouring.

 

These microwavable pork rinds are sold in bags that resemble microwave popcorn (although not exhibiting the 'popping' sound) and can be eaten still warm. Pickled pork rinds, on the other hand, are often enjoyed refrigerated and cold. Unlike the crisp and fluffy texture of fried pork rinds, pickled pork rinds are very rich and buttery, much like foie gras.

 

Best Parents Ever

 

 

 

1. The father who hired in-game assassins to kill his lazy son's video game characters

 

23-year old Xiao Feng doesn't want to get a job. He'd rather spend his time playing video games. To discourage this activity, Feng's father hired players to hunt down and slay his son's characters.

 

Unhappy with his son not finding a job, Feng decided to hire players in his son's favorite online games to hunt down Xiao Feng. It is unknown where or how Feng found the in-game assassins—every one of the players he hired were stronger and higher leveled than Xiao Feng. Feng's idea was that his son would get bored with playing games if he was killed every time he logged on, and that he would start putting more effort into getting a job.

 

Now that's creative parenting!

 

 

2. The Chinese millionaire who works as a street cleaner to set a good example for her kids

 

There probably aren't many millionaires willingly volunteering to work in sanitation for about $228 a month. However, 53-year-old Chinese real estate mogul Yu Youzhen gladly wakes up at 3 a.m. six days a week to sweep almost two miles of roadway for one major reason: to set a good example for her children.
Yu, who amassed her fortune as the result of hard work and real-estate, has been cleaning streets since 1998. Although she owns 17 properties valued at roughly $1.5 million, Yu refuses to give up the contract job with the Wuchang District Chengguan Bureau Cleaning Team she acquired 15 years ago.

 

After witnessing what great fortune and a bad attitude can do to a person, Yo Youzheng became determined to keep her family on the right track. She's already warned her son and daughter, "If you don't work, I'll donate the apartments to the country." It seems to have worked, since her son now works as a driver in the Donghu Scenic Area, making over 2,000 yuan a month, and her daughter is an office worker, with a 3,000 yuan salary.

 

 

3. The father who runs triathlons while carrying his daughter, who suffers from cerebral palsy

 

For the past four years, Rick van Beek has run his local triathlon with his daughter who has cerebral palsy. She can neither walk nor talk, and her dad says he isn't even sure that she can see. However, he knows that she loves the outdoors, and he loves her, so he swims while pulling her in a kayak, bikes with her in a cart behind him, then finally runs while pushing her in a wheelchair so she can feel the breeze on her face. Is someone cutting onions in here?!

 

 

4. The father who wears a skirt in solidarity with his 5-year-old son

 

When it comes to supporting his son's unconventional wardrobe, Nils Pickert talks the talk and walks the walk. The German dad explains that he wears women's clothing (including nail polish) to help his 5-year-old son feel good about going out in dresses and skirts. A picture of Pickert and his little boy, sporting matching red clothes -- dad in a long skirt, son in a spaghetti-strap dress -- has been making the Internet rounds, inspiring enough positive feedback to cancel out a thousand sideways looks and gender marketing fails.

 

Pickert says that in the small town where he lives, his son's dress choices are seen as everybody's business -- and when it comes to standing up for his son, he's determined to show, not just tell.

 

 

5. The parents who got insulin pump tattoos to support their diabetic child

 

Some parents get tattoos of their child's name, but Philippe Aumond and Camille Boivin went one better. In a show of solidarity, they each have an image of an insulin pump tattooed on their abdomens, declaring that they are "forever linked" to their son Jacob.

 

A while back, Jacob, diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 3 ½, was excited by the idea of getting an insulin pump that would replace four to five injections a day, and he figured it would be like having his own little robot working for him.

 

Jacob is now five and in kindergarten, and he wears it 24-7. "He adapted pretty quickly, but one time he told me that he felt different and he was wondering if he was alone in the world, you know, wearing a pump," Boivin said. So she and Aumond decided to get tattoos of the pump, "because no parents want to have their child feel left out or alone."

 

 

6. The parents who invented the 'get along' t-shirt

 

 

 

7. The mother who tries her best for her kids to be clean and organized

 

 

 

8. The parents of this twin set who are really sensitive to others

 

Redditor gigantomachy uploaded the following photo and captioned it, "Brilliant and thoughtful parents handed these out to everyone on my flight."

 

 

 

9. The mother who gave her son an iPhone with an 18-rule contract

 

If you're a mom or dad who gave an iPhone to your kid, you should make your kid follow the rules of Janell Hofmann. Hofmann bought an iPhone for her 13-year-old son Greg and gave him 18 rules to follow. If you think Hofmann was being an overbearing mom, think again. There's good advice in her 18 rules!

 

Sure, she requires the password of the iPhone and demands to receive the phone at night, but she also encourages her kid not to get so caught up with her iPhone and to just live life. Rule #5 wants Greg to, "have a conversation with the people you text in person," because it's a life skill. Rule #13 says not to take a "zillion pictures and videos" because you should live your experiences instead of being so focused on documenting everything.

 

However, the two best rules are probably the last two. Rule #17: Keep your eyes up. See the world happening around you. Stare out a window. Listen to the birds. Take a walk. Talk to a stranger. Wonder without googling. Also, rule number 18 admits that Greg is probably going to screw up eventually, but they'll figure it out together because they're a team. Yeah, you can say aww.

 

 

10. The parent who uses revenge in the sweetest way

 

 

11. The celebrity father who uses comedy to educate

 

 

 

12. The parents who teach their kids to be grateful even in the harshest ways

 

 

Humorous Cricket anecdotes

 

 

Gavaskar had decided to relinquish his opening position and come in at no 4 for that test. But, Malcolm Marshall fired out Anshuman Gaekwad and Dilip Vengsarkar for ducks, setting the stage for Gavaskar to walk in at 0/2. And he thought there would be less pressure! "Man, it doesn't matter where you come in to bat, the score is still zero." -Viv Richards to Sunil Gavaskar at Madras1983.

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Greg Thomas was bowling to Viv Richards in a county game. Viv missed a superb outswinger, and Thomas said "It's red, round and weighs about 5 1/2 ounces." Next ball Viv hits Greg Thomas out of the ground for 6 and replies, "Greg, you know what it looks like. Go ahead and find it!"

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Then there's this wicketkeeper who quietly asked the new batsman: "So how's your wife, and my kids?" Guess who.........Rod Marsh....to Ian Botham!!

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New Zealand vs South Africa:
Daryll Cullinan was batting, attempting a comeback from a complete bamboozling from Warne in earlier games. Cullinan played the first ball from Chris Harris very carefully Back down the pitch, and keeper Parore yelled out "Well bowled Warnie!"

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Australia fighting for a win nearing the end of a Test Match, Fred Trueman at the crease. The Aus captain has plenty of close in fielders, whose shadows fall on the wicket. Fredie finds this objectionable. 'Ere, if you lads don't back off, I'll appeal for bad light!"

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The best of the best (Incident described in "From the Pavilion End" by Harold "Dickie" Bird)

"Bomber" Wells, a spin bowler and great character, played for Glocuestershire and Nottinghamshire. He used to bat at No.11 since one couldn't bat any lower. Of him, They used to paraphrase Compton's famous words describing and equally inept runner; "When he shouts 'YES' for a run, it is merely the basis for further negotiations!" Incidentally, Compton was no better. John Warr said, of Compton"He was the only person who would call you for a run and wish you luck at the same time." Anyway, when Wells played for Gloucs, he had an equally horrendous runner as the No.10. During a county match, horror of horrors.......both got injured. *Both* opted for runners when it was their turn to bat. Bomber played a ball on the off, called for a run, forgot he had a
runner and ran himself. Ditto at the other end. In the melee, someone decided that a second run was on. Now we had *all four* running. Due to the confusion and constant shouts of "YES" "NO", eventually, *all* of them ran to the same end. Note - at this point in time, the entire ground is rolling on the floor laughing their behinds out. One of the fielders - brave lad - stops laughing for a minute, picks the ball and throws down the wicket at the other end. Umpire Alec Skelding looks very seriously at the four and calmly informs them "One of you buggers is out. I don't know which. *You* decide and inform the bloody scorers!".

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