Tomohon Traditional Meat Market, Sulawesi-

My mission to debunk perhaps the most notorious travel myth, live monkey brains, has
brought me through 8 Indonesian islands to one of the most remote places on earth. I had
been through dirty back-alley markets serving some of the strangest animals and dishes Ive
ever seen to find the epicenter of bizarre foods. I was excited but what I was about to see
was shocking beyond belief.

It is here in Tomohon, Sulawesi where the local Minhasan people are said to eat anything
with four legs but the tables and chairs. This might be the only place on earth with fewer
food taboos than China, and likely the only place in Indonesia where monkey is still a
chefs special. What I found was raw was and grizzly.

Ancient Traditions Survive

Tomohon is perched in the hills outside of Manado, Sulawesi, in a region with the highest
density of Christians in Indonesia. Weird traditional beliefs are still thriving in parts of
Sulawesi because Christian faith has been the least oppressive of the imperialistic religions,
so the culture is a mix of Christianity with ancient beliefs and customs. In many Muslim
areas, historical beliefs have been mostly eradicated.

Rats, Rats Everywhere

Rats are welcome, in fact encouraged at this market. This is bush meat at its most refined,
almost everything here was found running around the forest yesterday, and indigenous
people travel here from all over the region to show off whatever odd animals theyve found
in the forest. On this mysterious island, hot dog takes on an entirely new connotation.

This food is completely organic, free-range, antibiotic free, locally-sourced and farm-to-
table. Thats good, right?