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Sunday, August 03, 2008

[[ Durians, anyone? ]]

Mention the word "durian" and you can have people who upon first whiff of the yellow-fleshed fruit, take to the hills. I understand that not all taste buds (or perhaps more accurately smell sensors, in this case) are made equal but I simply fathom how this much-adored creamy, bittersweet thorny fruit could be treated with such disdain by some. It has even come to the extent that the durian is described as: "unwashed socks", "decayed onion", "rotten meat" and even "city dump on a hot summer's day"..oh gosh, if I were a durian, I'd be well on my way to a counsellor to seek emotional and psychological advice.

What's the "thing" about durians? Well, I guess the situation with durians in Southeast Asia is similar to that of the apple in the West. But despite all these "names", the durian still stands strong as being the "King of Tropical Fruits" and that's just the uniqueness of it all.

Durian does stir up strong emotions. One either likes it or hates it and there seems to be little in between. I remember the first time the boyfriend had his first taste of the durian. It tasted "not too bad" to him. He has a farm back home and had this idea of bringing home the durian seeds to let them grow. Not a bad idea indeed, I mean a durian tree in Europe? Wow...that'll be like the making of history. Then after, him and I had this idea that perhaps we can open up a durian shop there. Durian custard, durian cake/puffs, durian ice-cream etc...Very entrepreneurial indeed, huh?

Durian cultivation needs much tropical warmth, abundant moisture, and sunshine to thrive. Normal temperature of just 23º C (73º F). Durian seedlings produce highly variable results. Their fruit may be better or worse than the parent tree, and it may be 10 to even 20 years before first fruit!

So...will the idea work to grow an orchard of durian trees for the both of us?
Well, let's see if we can pass by immigration first without being stopped for having those seeds in the luggage. And if we do get through, then we can give each other a "high-five" and move onto Step 2.

That being said and done, I just got to know of a saying in Singapore:

"When the durians come down, the sarongs go up."

Hmm...makes me wonder what happens to those in bermudas, jeans or pants?
That nasty and lovable fruit, which stirs up strong passions,
is reputedly an aphrodisiac!
I guess it's all the more to like it..*smiles*

Labels: "king of tropical fruits", the durian

[[ 4 voice(s) heard]]

| 2:54 PM |
This is not the end.
This is not even the beginning of the end.
It is, instead, the end of the beginning..
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