Overseas Feature
Thai 'scorpion queen' buggingfor a world record
The 'ThaiScorpion Queen', Kanchana Ketkeaw, poses with scorpions as shesets out for a new Guinness World Record for 'the longest staywith scorpions' in Pattaya, late 21 September 2002. Kanchana hasset out to spent 32 days living with some 3,000 scorpions in aspecially built glass cage from 21 September to 23 October 2002.AFP PHOTO/Pornchai KITTIWONGSAKUL
BANGKOK, (AFP) - A Thai woman has settledin to what she hopes will be a world-record 32-day stay in a glasscase filled with thousands of deadly scorpions, she said.
Kanchana Ketkaew, aptly dubbed the 'ScorpionQueen', began her shot at a spot in the Guinness Book of WorldRecords on Saturday, when she stepped into the special 12-square-metrecell fitted with a bed, television, books and 3,000 poisonousscorpions in a shopping mall in Pattaya, south of Bangkok.
"It's such a challenge to do this;most people are so afraid of these creatures," the 30-year-oldtold AFP by telephone from her temporary new home.
"But scorpions are not ugly animals,they are so cute, just like baby crabs. They will only sting whenthey are frightened."
Kanchana was stung twice on the first night,which put attendant doctors on alert, but she said she was unphasedby the attacks.
Kanchana has performed with a host of critters-- including scorpions and centipedes -- for seven years at asnake farm on Samui island, steadily building up her immunityto the poison, she explained.
"This is the first time for me to dosomething like this, but I want to do it for Thailand, for KohSamui, and for Ripley's," she said.
Over 100 cringing onlookers were on handat the weekend to cheer and gawk as she entered the glass room,according to representatives of Ripley's Believe It or Not!, whichis coordinating the record attempt.
The large black insects could be seen crawlingall over her torso and arms, across her books and bed as she spokewith visibly nervous photographers who had stepped inside to snappictures.
The previous record of 30 days was set lastyear by a 26-year-old Malaysian woman, Malina Hassan, who wasstung seven times and fell unconscious.
Kanchana's death-defying dare appeared aimedin part at dispelling the image of Thais as purely culinary consumersof creepy-crawlies.
Insects have long been considered culinaryfavourites in Thailand, where street stalls serve up mounds ofcrunchy pan-fried crickets, grasshoppers, beetles and scorpions,often in front of wide-eyed foreign tourists.
Vichai Lertlitrichai, public relations managerfor Ripley's, said that after the stunt the group would give halfthe scorpions to Kanchana's snake farm and release the other halfinto the wild.
"We won't be giving them to restaurants,"he quipped.