Fried Tarantula, originally uploaded by Ralph Grizzle.

AMAWATERWAYS’ President Rudi Schreiner could not wait to try the Cambodian delicacy, fried Tarantula.

After holding one of the live specimens in his hand, however, he could barely stomach eating one. “It was so cute,” he said. But as there was a tray full of tarantulas already fried, Schreiner popped one in his mouth.

What did he think? “Tastes like bacon,” he said, “bacon with hair.”