That time I ate Beondegi at the Jinju Lantern Festival

It's 2015, and I would like to reflect on the first time I digested cooked silkworm pupae.

As a first time expat in South Korea, I took all the risks. This included consuming insects.

Mainly sold at festivities, it is considered by some a cultural delicacy. The 2012 Jinju lantern festival was where my inaugural (and last) silkworm meal took place. Not until the bitter aroma hit my nostrils, did I realize I've made a huge mistake.

Luckily this batch was cooked in ginger and salt, which allowed me to eat two spoonfuls and entertain some nearby elders. Chewy with a side of crunch, it was tolerable. If you don't mind a slight fish taste, it's manageable.

Enough bug talk, let's move onto the Festival itself.

All hand made with precision and care, thousands of lanterns make their journey down the Namgang River of Jinju, South Korea every October. The Festival is in honour of the 70,000 militia members who gave their lives during the 1592 Imjin War. It was first of many beautiful festivals during my time there.

There is a tunnel of wishes created by people who attend, and in total there were 27,000. It continues to grow by the thousands every year. The glowing lights cast a red ambiance which gives an impression the underpass is on fire. The entire event is vibrant with multicolour as you move from area to area.

A sight to see if ever in Korea.

#SouthKorea #Jinju #LanternFestival #Community #Food