I’m the kind of nerd who reads about durian.
I read a lot. I troll forums. I read blog posts about durian. I download books about durian. I like WORDS. And if you’ve been following along with us this long, I assume you’re that kind of nerd too.
To complete the stereotype, I’m also skittish on camera. This video about How To Eat A Mango In India was one of the first times you saw me on camera. Which is why making videos and posting to Youtube has never been on our To-Do List. Until now.
My friend Harley, aka the vegan troublemaker Durianrider, has challenged us to make 10 durian videos in 10 days. Game on.
If we are successful, he’ll tell all his 94,000 fruit-loving Youtube fans about our new eBook.
The bait is too good. I can’t not bite, despite the bubbling knot of fear I feel in my stomach every time I push “Upload” on Youtube, not to mention how awkward it feels to hold up a video camera.
But part of my world philosophy is that, when I’m scared of doing something that’s both silly and possibly self-limiting, I should plunge ahead and just do it.
Over the course of Year of the Durian, I’ve moved through lot of fears. Like riding a motorcycle (one of Rob’s articles). Or speaking in public. Or jumping off of bridges with some tribal kids in Kalimantan.
Okay, that one is probably a legitimate fear.
But in the case of making videos? What’s the worst that can happen? At the end of 10 days, we all decide that I still can’t hold a camera steady and it’s in everyone’s best interest for me to just go back to writing and taking pictures one handed (because the other hand is full of durian)?
Not so scary.
So for the next 10 days, we’re going to give this Youtube thing a go.
And you know what? I think it will be kind of fun. We’re currently staying at Bao Sheng’s Durian Farm in Penang, Malaysia (yes, we went back!) and every day is filled with a durian adventure. You’ll get a little sneak peak into our daily life and see some of the stuff we do that I don’t share on this blog.
In the first video, we find Durio graveolens growing in Penang. You can watch it here:
I’m also excited because I think video can sometimes convey
information that can’t as easily be explained by just words and pictures. It’s a means of communication I’d like to utilize better, so that we can share even more durian factoids, tips, tricks, and travel advice to help you get out the door on your own adventure.
So for the next few days, keep an eye on our Youtube channel for daily video updates.
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