The King of Fruits

When I was studying at the University of Alberta, it was very difficult for me to help my Canadian classmates imagine why a durian is known as the King of Fruits in Malaysia and Singapore. It was not easy to buy a durian in Chinatown, and if it had been available in those days, it would have been very costly. Hence I could only tell them that a durian tastes like heaven but smells like hell. Being a better writer than an artist (I could not even draw an elephant) I could only contend with description. Duri is the Malay word for "Thorn" and when you add the suffix "an", it means many - hence a durian is a fruit with many thorns. I had asked my Canadian classmates to visit me during our durian season and it was quite fun to watch their facial expression when they first tried to eat the fruit.

It would be quite embarrassing for me to reveal that I only started learning to eat durians at the age of 16! Everyone in the family loves durians except me for I found the smell too pungent for my sensitive nose and eating durains did not appear refined to me. My second brother, Kee Seng, would eat the fruit but in very small portions while mom and second sister, Ean Ean, would relish it. One midnight, I was rudely awakened by my mischievious siblings who yanked me out from bed. I still continued sleeping even in a sitting position and suddenly, someone shoved a durian into my mouth. Only then did I realise that durians actually taste quite good and started to appreciate the fruit that smells like something decaying but nevertheless is endowed with a unique and great taste!

When I returned to Penang for a visit, my cousin Nancy told me about a fruit farm where the owner, her friend Yeh Ying's father, grows all types of fruits and vegetables. I was excited for I have never been to a fruit farm before in Penang. Uncle Lim, Yeh Ying's father, had also cultivated his own durian which grew so much in popularity that it was named "Jenny Wu" after the famous actress. There are only five compartments in each durian and each compartment has only one seed! The durian costs more than the T24 Sultan Durian!

I gave Uncle Lim some small gifts which I had brought from Singapore and had a great time tasting the durians, rambutans, langsat, mangosteen and gosh, it was wonderful having a bath of cold, natural water from the hills! The water was tapped and it was great not having to pay the government for the water! Had a fun time too helping Uncle Lim to pluck tomatoes, French beans, chillies, etc.

The following year, when Uncle Lim heard that my cousin was going to visit me in Singapore, he insisted that she must bring a packet of durians for me. My cousin told him not to trouble himself as I could buy durians from Singapore. To her surprise he told her he did not think I would, since I am frugal by nature. I am touched that Uncle Lim understood me so well. He had only met me once, and in his wisdom and experience, he was so perceptive! I had never bought durians for myself (except when I wanted to give them as presents). I always thought that durians are so cheap in Malaysia, and I would enjoy them when I am back home. But now I buy the durians as they are getting cheaper and cheaper.

Out of my 3 pet dogs, only Kamlette loved durians! She would eat the fruit and spit out the seed! Kambobo, being a rough collie would curl his nose with an air of British snobbery if you were to bring the durian near his nose! Xiaobai would smell and quickly run away from the durian! My friends asked me what if Kamlette develops a sore throat after eating the durians. "No problem; after the durians, I usually give her some honey drink!"

I also found out that my friend, Chris Graham's dog, Jaffe Boy, also loves durians. For those of you who want to see the pictures of Jaffe Boy, just click on the link. Interesting blog of dog photos and commentaries. You will enjoy it! Jaffe loves good food like my Kamlette. You should see how Kamlette ate her corn on the cob. She would roll and eat a whole row, and then roll again until all the corns were gone!

I hope my friends and fans in other parts of the world will make it a point to try some durians when they visit Singapore and Malaysia.