7 Reasons Backpackers Are Not Worried About Horse Meat

By TravelWiseMar 1, 2013 14:48 PMOther
Share:
7 Reasons Backpackers Are Not Worried About Horse Meat
7 Reasons Backpackers Are Not Worried About Horse Meat

I’ll be the first to admit that like many of you out there I’ve probably ended up mistakenly eating horse meat thinking it was beef at some point over the last few years. It’s not something that I ever meant to eat, which got me thinking about some of the crazy foods that I’ve intentionally put in my stomach as I’ve travelled the world and learnt about crazy things (like cargo cults). So here’s a list of the craziest things I’ve eaten.

Indiana’s Favourite: Monkey Brains Right up there at the top of the list of crazy foods I’ve eaten has to be monkey brains. This wasn’t served on a plate, but like Indiana Jones, I was expected to eat it straight out of the skull. Despite the fact that it made me feel a bit like a cannibal, the brain was pretty tasty; think pâté.

Man’s Best Friend: Dog I personally prefer my dogs to be wagging their tails and humping my leg than diced up and thrown into the cooking pot, but I’ve had this South East Asian speciality a couple of times. It’s a firm favourite in parts of Indonesia and Vietnam. However, I wouldn’t recommend it (the meat is gristly and full of fat)!

Garfield and Chums: Cat Cat is a delicacy in the highlands of Peru and as I was in the area and cat was on the menu I thought I’d see what it tasted like. The meal was actually more rice than cat as the meat was cut into very small pieces. From what I remember it was a bit chewy, but nowhere near as bad as dog.

Ever Childs Favourite: Guinea Pig Oven cooked and served whole, Guinea Pig is a delicacy and not a pet for Indigenous Peruvians. The meat is crunchy and delicious, though there isn’t much to a guinea pig. It’s a bit like eating the crackling from a pig.

Slithery Surprise: Cobra Snakes scare the crap out of me, so I was only too happy to have my revenge. There are a number of restaurants that specialise in cooking snake as well as serving glasses of snakes’ blood. Although I wouldn’t recommend snakes blood, the meat is actually quite tasty.

Like Chewing on Old Boots: Cow Skin The fact that you have to cook it for 2 hours before it becomes tasty tells you a lot about how easy cows kin is to eat. However, I can tell you that it’s quite a delicacy and its actually part of one of my favourite Indonesian dishes, not something I ever expected myself to say!

One Massive Chicken: Ostrich Like a giant Turkey that can run fast, Ostrich was always going to be tasty. I actually had an ostrich burger in England, so this isn’t even particularly exotic meal. Just goes to show that you don’t have to travel far from home to try crazy foods.

Top Articles
Not Just a Suitcase: My Personal Checklist for Smart Travelers in 2025

Not Just a Suitcase: My Personal Checklist for Smart Travelers in 2025

Mar 3, 2025 18:00 PM
Practical Eco-Friendly Travel Solutions for Sustainable Tourism

Practical Eco-Friendly Travel Solutions for Sustainable Tourism

Feb 14, 2025 15:00 PM

Top Tips for Securing Your Luggage and Preventing Loss

Feb 7, 2025 14:00 PM

Your Guide to Hand Luggage and Baggage Rules

Feb 4, 2025 20:00 PM
More News
Modern hotel room interior with bed, TV, and window view in Riyadh

New Radisson Blu Hotel Enhances Accommodation Options in Riyadh

Jul 30, 2025 23:37 PM
Cozy hotel room with wooden headboard and framed artwork above the bed

NH Collection Palermo Palazzo Sitano Opens in Historic City Center

Jul 30, 2025 21:45 PM

Qatar Airways Boosts Winter Flights to Key Global Destinations

Jul 30, 2025 19:22 PM

ScotRail Boosts Late-Night Services to Ease Travel During Edinburgh Festivals

Jul 30, 2025 07:38 AM
Passenger using smartphone during flight

Two Tickets in One Click: JetBlue and United Simplify Complex Routes

Jul 29, 2025 23:43 PM
Bedroom interior with bedside table and lamp

Florø Prepares to Expand Accommodation Options for Visitors

Jul 29, 2025 21:36 PM
Southwest Airlines aircraft ascending with snowy mountains in the background

Southwest Changes Boarding Rules and Adds New Winter Destinations for 2026

Jul 29, 2025 19:28 PM
Modern hotel room with double bed, armchair, and wall art

Hyatt Centric Anjuna Goa to Open in Town Center, Bringing New Stay Option to Anjuna

Jul 29, 2025 17:42 PM
Woman checking travel information on her phone during a flight

Philippine Airlines Introduces Pre-Flight Emails with Essential Travel Details

Jul 29, 2025 02:35 AM

Weekend Engineering Works to Affect Rail Access Between Stalybridge and Dewsbury

Jul 28, 2025 23:25 PM

New Non-Stop Route from Cape Town Opens Up Mauritius for Travelers

Jul 28, 2025 21:32 PM
A woman using her smartphone while sitting on public transport

East Midlands Railway Cuts Fares on Summer Routes Across UK

Jul 28, 2025 20:47 PM
Person using smartphone at airport

New Ryanair System Changes How Travellers Book Through Agencies

Jul 28, 2025 16:26 PM
Modern hotel room with large window and city view

Holiday Inn Express Brings Overnight Option to Changanassery’s Lively Local Streets

Jul 28, 2025 14:33 PM
American Airlines aircraft preparing for departure on the runway

Denver Departure Chaos: American Airlines Flight Evacuated After Smoke Alert

Jul 27, 2025 23:54 PM

Malaysia and Indonesia Open New Direct Air Routes to Simplify Travel to Borneo

Jul 27, 2025 20:31 PM

Rail Disruptions in Liguria: RFI Construction Projects Will Impact August Travel

Jul 26, 2025 23:41 PM
Condor Airbus A330neo with green and white striped livery on airport runway

New daily Condor flights reshape the flight map of Europe

Jul 26, 2025 21:37 PM
Airplane flying overhead against a partly cloudy sky

Gdańsk Opens New Direct Route to Agadir, Simplifying Travel to Morocco’s Coast

Jul 26, 2025 20:26 PM
China Airlines Airbus in flight with clear sky background

New Direct Flights Connect Taipei and Phoenix, Expanding Access to Southwest U.S. Destinations

Jul 26, 2025 19:43 PM
Rail maintenance machinery working on tracks in South Wales

South Wales Rail Upgrades to Impact Travel Access in Early August

Jul 26, 2025 18:39 PM
easyJet aircraft on airport tarmac with boarding stairs

Euro Final in the Sky: easyJet to Announce Scores to Passengers During Flights

Jul 25, 2025 23:27 PM

Expect Delays: Leicester–Peterborough Line Closed 2 and 3 August

Jul 25, 2025 21:34 PM

Steam-Powered Day Trips from London Unlock Access to Britain’s Hidden Landscapes

Jul 25, 2025 20:42 PM
WestJet airplane in flight against a blue sky

New Air Partnership Opens More Direct Travel Routes Between North America and Africa

Jul 25, 2025 15:28 PM
Wizz Air aircraft approaching landing in clear sky

New Wizz Air Flights Open Southern Europe to Gdańsk Travellers

Jul 25, 2025 10:35 AM