Durian is affectionately called the King of Fruit throughout Southeast Asia. With it’s size, bristly appearance, and fanatic following, it’s an appropriate nickname. But like in any empire, there is more than one claim to the throne. The Aztecs once hailed the avocado as King. In India, the mango reigns supreme. To find out which […]
Durian Belanda
Durian Belanda was first offered to me as a sweet white smoothie while Rob and I were traveling in Java. It didn’t smell, taste, or look anything like a durian smoothie, and I wondered just what exactly I had just sipped. Always being curious about durian things, and hoping I hadn’t just tasted something gross, […]
Feeding Elephants Durian
After nearly two months looking for the fabled elephant drop durian, Rob and I have started wondering if it really is just an urban (or jungle) legend. Why on earth would an elephant would swallow a durian whole? Wouldn’t the spikes bother their intestinal tract? Why wouldn’t an elephant just crack it open and slurp […]
Durian Speed Eating
Probably the most exciting part of the World Durian Festival is the speed eating contests. Held twice a day and featuring a few different fruits, they attract crowds of Thais and a surprising number of foreigners. The premier event is of course the durian race, but the rambutan and mangosteen contests add another fun element, […]
The Stinkiest Fruit: Wani
Richard Sterling wrote that durian smells like “pig-shit, turpentine, and onions, garnished with a gym sock.” Others who share his opinion have added blue cheese, rotting meat, public toilets, and dog farts to the list of interesting odorific comparisons. I actually quite like the odor of durian. To me it smells like… durian, which equals […]
