7 Indonesian Culinary You Can (NO) Want to Try

Indonesia may be renowned as an archipelago for its phenomenal cuisine, from the tempting satay to the mouth-watering nasi goreng. On the other hand, the country has a range of unexpectedly bizarre foods beyond foreigners’ imaginations, from the grilled bats to the monitor lizard satay. Many regard the exotic delicacies as something healthy and rich in taste.

Here are 7 extreme Indonesian foods to try at least once in your life time:

Lawar

For you who have visited Bali, you may be familiar with this food. Lawar is Balinese traditional dish made from minced meat, fresh blood, shredded coconut and other herbs. This dish is named according its ingredients, for example Lawar mixed with pork is called Lawar Babi (pork Lawar), Lawar which uses young jackfruit is called Lawar Nangka. Usually Lawar is served along with steamed rice and other meat dish such as babi guling (roasted suckling pork). Lawar was originally a specialty dish during religious ceremonies in Bali, but today you can find Lawar in food stalls, restaurants, even five-star hotels in Bali.

Paniki

What are your thoughts on your Batman superhero becoming a ready-to-eat main course? Believe it or not, people in North Sulawesi turn a wild bat into a delightful dish called Paniki. It’s often cooked with coconut milk, chilies, and some strong spices to clear out the mammal’s tangy smell. The fried and skewered ones are also the locals’ favorite. This animal’s meat is good to cure allergies and asthma.

Belalang Goreng

Belalang goreng or fried grasshoppers are specialty food from Gunung Kidul, Central Java. You can find this snack on the roadside food stalls in Gunung Kidul during rainy season. Before frying, the grasshoppers are cleaned from dirt, as well as their wings and feet. Then the grasshoppers are marinated in spices for about 15 minutes, and deep-fried until it is dry and crispy. Belalang Goreng contributes a lot to economical activity of local people atGunung Kidul.

Ulat Sagu

When you’re journeying to East Indonesia like Maluku or Papua, be sure to snack on the Ulat sagu. It’s actually a typical dish made of sago worms. The locals usually hunt the creatures in the sago or coconut trees and eat them raw. If you don’t like to swallow them alive, try either the grilled or boiled ones. Spicy sambal is a good companion to enjoy the savory and juicy insect.

Ulat Bulu

When you visit Purworejo, Central Java, don’t be surprised if you find people selling Sate Ulat Bulu or caterpillar satay. Local people in Purworejo consume caterpillars due to the belief that caterpillars can cure toothache. But, they don’t consume all kind of caterpillars—they only consume caterpillars from lyman tridae family and turi tree worms. These caterpillars are also said to be rich in protein, so it is safe for daily consumption. Would you dare to try these caterpillars?

Tikus Panggang

Another jaw-dropping, uncommon dish from North Sulawesi would be the Tikus panggang or grilled rat. The burnt meaty animal sounds so weird, yet worth tasting. You will find it luscious and tender – the cute creature tastes like chicken. Don’t get perturbed whilst taking a bite of it! The locals use the wood rodent, which is more hygienic than the regular, dirty variety.

Sate Biawak

“Monitor lizard! Are you kidding me?” Yes, some of the Javanese residents love munching on Sate biawak, the delicious monitor lizard satay. The meat is skewered and grilled until it’s tender. Then, the luscious smokey dish is smothered in spicy peanut sauce. It’s believed that the reptile is good to cure numerous diseases such as skin rashes and asthma.

10 Most Famous Movie Locations

                On this list of 10 most famous movie locations, you may discover that your hometown is near a historical filming site. After all, even if your favorite movie is set in a fantasy world, its filming process took place in a real-life locale. Film crews travel from deserts to tropics to capture the right scene.

1. Grand Central Station - 42nd St, New York, New York City, USA.

Grand Central Station is a subway complex in the Manhattan district of New York City. Establishing scenes from “Armageddon,” the apocalyptic film starring Bruce Willis, were shot here. The crew of “Superman: The Movie” also used this location during filming.

2. Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

The image of Rocky Balboa running up a flight of stairs to complete his training montage is iconic in cinema history. These stairs lead to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, one of the largest museums in the U.S. The film’s relatives, “Rocky 2” “Rocky 3” and “Rocky Balboa,” utilized the same location.

3. Times Square, New York City, New York, USA.

Times Square is an iconic landmark, known worldwide to represent the United States. The location is ideal for film crews that are looking to capture a busy, city atmosphere. You can see Times Square in movies such as “Borat,” “Hancock, “Spiderman,” and “Last Action Hero.”

4. Mansfield Reformatory, Mansfield, Ohio, USA.

You may know Mansfield Reformatory by its alternate name, the Ohio State Reformatory. The facility took on the role of Shawshank State Prison in the popular film “The Shawshank Redemption.” Mansfield Reformatory also appears in “Air Force One,” which stars Harrison Ford.

5. Monroeville Mall, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, USA.

The 1978 film “Dawn of the Dead” takes place in the Monroeville Mall. To celebrate this filming, Pittsburgh hosts events like “Zombie Fest” and “Walk of the Dead.” These events invite people to party while dressed as zombies.

6. Tongariro National Park, Central Plateau, New Zealand.

Many fans may already know that the filming crew of the “Lord of the Rings” spent most of its time in New Zealand. The mountains and greenery were ideal for the setting of the movie. Tongariro National Park was one of many filming locations.

7. The Bahamas

The Bahamas is a country comprised of over twenty islands. The atmosphere is perfect for capturing tropical scenes. Movies such as “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” and “Jaws: The Revenge” were filmed in the Bahamas.

8. Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Far from a tropical setting, some films require a colder setting. This is when film crews head northward to Canada. Movies such as “The Golden Compass,” “A Christmas Story,” and “The Day After Tomorrow” were filmed in Toronto.

9. Death Valley National Park, California, USA.

As the name implies, Death Valley National Park is one of the hottest parks in the United States. This fact does not stop film crews from working. The desert setting was one of many locations used to create the planet Tatooine in the “Star Wars” series.

10. Field of Dreams Movie Site, Dyersville, Iowa, USA.

“Field of Dreams,” starring Kevin Costner, relies heavily on location. The famous baseball field from the movie is in Iowa. Today it is a popular tourist attraction.