Bug Museum

   In Chiang Mai there is a museum of bugs that has on display cases full of carefully preserved insects in glass cases. We went in and the friendly owner of the museum showed us around a bit. We were the only ones there and it was very small. The first case displayed several large tarantulas, a long centipede (about 6 inches) and a bunch of large beetles (about 3-4 inches). One of the beetles could kill you by pinching the artery in your hand, and another could cut your finger off between its head and body. (pictures) The second and third floors contained butterflies and then more bugs including a display of fighting beetles! (pictures) It was fun way to spend the afternoon

The man who ran the place was a spry 81-yr old, retired lawyer who never meant to be an entomologist (someone who studies insects). He and his wife spent a lifetime studying over 400 species of mosquitoes in an effort to study and eradicate malaria in Thailand.

What my mom really liked about the guy and museum was his respect for life. There were many displays with writing about how we must all respect nature, about love, about his own personal spiritual journey. Quite moving and touching.