Not meaning to offend any durian affectionados, but to say that durian smells bad, is like saying that swimming across the Pacific at the equator is a slightly rigorous activity. Durian is banned in the region where it grows (Southeast Asia) in most hotels and restaurants, on all airplanes and generally anywhere there is aircon and recirculated air. When you walk into the hotels there are posted signs with durian fruit, looks kinda like a pineapple, drawn with a large red circle and and a red slash through it. Even if you pack it and wrap it in plastic and seal it to the max the aroma bleeds through. Offensive to most Occidentals tastebuds, it is like honey for its fans, generally all SE Asian males and a large percentage of the female population. They treasure it!
When I feel especially cruel, I'll walk thru some silcon valley engineering department muttering about the fine durian I recently had (you can't get it in the States, just won't keep, besides no airline will ship it in). I think it must be addictive. The stuff is so pungent, I once had a sliced durian in my rentacar for about 20 minutes. Three days later turning the car in, I was given the treatment by the agency for having the offending fruit onboard. Like wasabee it rips into your sinus system and reams totally new routes from your pallet through to your ears leaving a horribly pungent after taste/smell to be savored for the remaining hours of your life. Really gets a hold of you, but the followers love it! Worship it! Call it the KING OF FRUIT! If you ever get to Singapore or thereabouts try it. Just stop at one of the street vendors selling it out of the back of his/her truck, looks like a stack of pineapples. You'll know if you're downwind. The texture is firm and pulpy, color is greyish brown or brownish grey. Totally gross. But hey, I'm no connoisseur. |
