Imagine this scenario in North America:
You and your husband enter a fine wine bar/restaurant and get seated at a window table upstairs overlooking the quaint town and bustling riverfront. You order an overpriced glass of wine and a selection of appetizers that reflect the region’s eclectic cuisine. As the waiter dashes off to place your order, you stand up to find the restroom and wash your hands … but you immediately notice a roach the size of your face now occupies your chair. When you emit a little shriek, the bug drops to the floor and scurries away.
Of course, you would grab your husband and run out the door, possibly pausing at the hostess station to cancel your order. Then you would blog and tweet and post in the name of all that’s holy urging everyone to AVOID THAT RESTAURANT.
Now, imagine that same scenario in Southeast Asia:
As you stand up to head to the restroom, the bug makes a break for it, but you stick out your foot to block its path. You’ll be damned if that vile voluminous insect is going to get away without posing for a picture first.
After taking a couple snapshots, you casually wander downstairs to the restroom where you stare in awe at an even LARGER roach with one missing leg that is hobbling across the wall. Emerging from the restroom, you can’t help but notice the gaggle of roaches hanging out near the stairs. Your waiter, who appears at that moment, catches your eye and you both smile and shrug as if to say, “Whatcha gonna do?” Then you head back up to your table, do a quick roach check under your seat cushion and enjoy your wine.
For the record, the White Marble Wine Bar & Restaurant in Hoi An, Vietnam, is a lovely place in an elegant setting with delicious food, a fantastic wine list, friendly staff and a freakin’ crazy collection of mutant ninja cockroaches.
Here’s the one that shared my chair with me.
Hilarious and so true! Good for you for getting a shot of the critter!