The kalingas are a proud people. One author withstood 4 months of pain and gain of course, to write a book about a tribe, nay a community; not even - a nation!

The Philippines would be better of as a nation to read this art of a book, and learn from the customs and practices of an older civilization - close to 5,000 years old (my fact); their songs and wine and love and adventure deserves a niche in the heart of Filipinos, to help undo centuries of colonial mindedness (the effect of "liberal theology" as conspired to by the catholic leaders in colonizing the country) (you - [spanish] clerics think we don't know what you did to our culture? Ha Ha)

Back to James skibo: James skibo, may your tribe increase- but one thing. Stay there longer (than 4 months)for some real-life imersion please. And do another book on the "budong" which means peace pact but more than that - it is a government!

In Ants For Breakfast: Archeological Adventures Among The Kalinga, archeologist James Skibo shares the story of his archaeological pursuits in the remote Philippine highlands where he lived with the Kalinga people, former headhunters and one of the few groups in the world still using ceramics for cooking. Ants For Breakfast is an exciting tale of archaeological adventures worthy of any movie or television mini-series. But this true-life account of danger, mystery, sex, violence, and death is more gripping than any Hollywood fiction. In the course of his story Skibo links his experiences to the development of modern archaeology, and such subjects as human evolution, the populating of the world, animal domestication, cultural logic, food taboos, Imelda Marcos, and a great deal more. Ants For Breakfast is highly recommended reading for students of archaeology and anyone who ever wondered what a real life Indian Jones adventure would be like.

Food For Thought

"Ants For Breakfast" is an easy read, yet a curiosity-piquing one for us archaeologist-wannabes. Author Dr. James Skibo skillfully mixes fact, humor, and his own experience with the Kalinga of the Philippines to show the reader that life as Americans know it, is not the only way to live. On one level, our modern conveniences seem unnecessary and wasteful and yet after reading his account of the 4 months he spent living in the mountains with the Kalinga, one has to be grateful for life's simpler and more basic conveniences [running water, electricity, modern restroom facilities].

His description of a Kalinga funeral and his comparision with our funeral traditions, makes one wonder why is it that funerals have become a somber event that is dreaded and struggled through, when it could be a celebration of life as Dr. Skibo observed in the Cordillera mountains of the Philippines.

As a registered nurse, the stories of their healthcare practices I found especially interesting. As a woman, I tried to imagine myself in his wife, Becky's place. An incredibly brave, resourceful woman in her own right, Mrs. Skibo is an example to woman everywhere. A followup book from her perspective would be a edge-of-the-seat page-turner as this one is!

Dr. Skibo's explanations of dietary differences do not diminish his message. Rather, they add to the reader's understanding that dietary habits are cultural, a learned behavior. Foods we see as repulsive to eat may be a delicacy elsewhere, and vice versa.

Openness and acceptance of those different than us is the food for thought that Dr Skibo offers us in this most interesting book. And just for the record, I think I'll have some of those black 'blueberry' bugs with my bowl!