Durian Story

[thainomad]

My First Durian Experience

I had never heard of it before. My friend tells me I have to try it. All I know is, it is some tropical fruit from Thailand. I must know more. I go to a website with comprehensive information. What does it taste like? I wonder. The website mentions several different fruits and an after-taste of garlic. Then it says the taste is inexplicable. That doesn’t help much. Later I tell my friend I don’t want to risk spending money on something I may not like. He tells me it’s worth it and I can pick out the smallest one which would cost less. “You have to try it at least once,” he says. I don’t know where to get one. He informs me the Asian supermarkets carry them. I go into one for the first surrounded by unfamiliar faces who speak little or no English. It doesn’t take me long to find the durians. I walk up to a cooler containing what appear to be lethal spikes. I pick one up. “Ouch!” I quickly learn the shell can puncture one’s skin. I then hold it by the stem with one hand and turn it with a sleeve over the other hand. I place it down and examine the other durians. There is too many to choose from so I avoid buying one.

Later on I remember a ripe durian is supposed to smell. I go back about a week later and choose a small one that has a faint odor. The smell is dubious to me. I split the cost with a friend who has also never tried it before. We take it back to her house and place it on the counter. It is partially cracked at the bottom so I put my fingers in it to rip it open. I am greeted by gleaming flesh. Oh what a sight! I sure hope it tastes good, I think. I look at my friend. She looks slightly repulsed. “You can try it first.” I look back down at my awaiting subject. I put my nose near the flesh and inhale one more time. It still smells funny. I pick up a pod. Oh what a nice texture! Juice trickles down my fingers. I take a bite, pause, and continue chewing. “Is it good?” my friend inquires. “I don’t know.” I continue chewing and finish the first bite. “I think so.” I have to eat more to determine. After finishing the pod I decide I do like it. My body is slowly acknowledging the new nutrients. I acquire a taste and begin to enjoy the smell as I eat more. My friend tries a pod. “Do you like it?” I ask her. She looks uncertain. “Umm, it’s ok.” After she finishes the pod I ask, “Do you want any more?” “No. You can have the rest” “Are you sure?” “Positive. Here, let me get you a bag to put it in.” All for me! My excitement grows. I continue enjoying the wonderful taste of my newly discovered fruit. My friend hands me a bag. “Could you take it away?” I look at my durian and wonder why someone would want to be out of her presence. “The smell is bothering me.” “Oh,” I say partially surprised, “Ok.” I glance at my unfinished fruit. You’ll have to wait till later, I think. I carefully place it in the bag and take it back to my house. I decide to introduce my newly discovered attraction to all my friends and family. I wait until a housemate comes home. When one walks in and sees the durian she says, “Oh, I had this in Thailand.” After she tries some she says, “This one is ok. The ones I had in Thailand are better.” Great, so the taste gets even better! I think.

Over the next month I buy about 4 durians introducing them to several family members and friends. “It tastes like eggs!” my little brother yells after he spits it out. He contemplates. I continue eating. Five minutes later he tries it again. “Actually I like it.” “Good!” I say, with a smile. My step-mother and father also like it. My father is full after one pod. He lays on the couch to rest. After everyone has their share I continue indulging. My father wakes up to an odor. “What’s that smell?” I look around. “It must be the durian.” My father continues to take heavy sniffs. “It sure is strong.” I take in a deep breath. “To me, it’s the best smell in the world.” “That’s great,” he says. “Take it out of here.” I look at my durian. I’m sorry but we must finish our business later, I tell it.

I introduce a durian to another friend. While we eat she giggles at my delightful indulgence. After she finishes a pod she asks, “May I have another?” I look at my durian realizing I could finish her finish her without hesitation. Is she worth having more of you? I ask it. I look at my friend who has hopeful _expression. I look back down at my durian. Her gorgeous flesh shines with temptation and her luscious taste encourages me to consume the rest of her. I look back at my friend who looks hurt by the possibility of me rejecting her wish. “Ohhh, ok,” I reluctantly say. Her pout disappears and she happily takes another pod. I tell her, “I think I am addicted.” “Oh really?” she says raising an eyebrow. “Yes. All I can think about is durian. During the day I fantasize about eating durian. At night I dream about durian. My first thought when I wake up is durian. I anticipate when my next durian will be. I crave durian. I love everything about it, the shape, the smell, the taste, the texture.” She smiles. “Maybe you are addicted.” “It’s a healthy addition,” I smile back.

About two months later, I move into my friend’s house who is the same person who spilt the cost of the fist durian we tried. The house just happens to be located two blocks away from the Asian supermarket, about a 5 minute walk. I realize this after going to buy a durian soon after I move in. Up to that point, every durian I eat tastes uniquely different and better each time. I finish eating the latest durian which is exquisitely delicious and leaves me in a state of ecstasy. I stare at the remaining seeds and shell in awe. My love grows. I want to enjoy her as much as I can to satisfy my desire. I figure out I can afford to by 4 kilos or 1-2 durians every day. Over the next month my diet consists of 95% durian. I want nothing else. Many times I wake up early, my fist thought: durian. I walk to the store to discover that it is not open yet. I walk back and have 1-3 hours to spend. I do different things to fill in the time. Sometimes I go back to sleep and dream about my next durian encounter. Other times I do durian exercise. I rub my stomach and perform stretches to prepare for durian. I sit down and fantasize. I close my eyes and imagine how the next durian will look. I breathe in heavily and imagine the smell. I imagine how I will eat it. I insert my figures in the small cracks at the bottom, careful not to pierce myself. She must be treated right or her prick can be brutal. I pull gently to open. She gives way and the sound of her rip is euphonious. I am welcomed by the wonderful sight of her pods. They shimmer with beauty as I stare with excitement. I reach down to take one. My figures slide over the smooth skin to grasp the whole pod. I remove and guide it towards my mouth at the rate of slow motion. I treasure every moment. I pause with the pod just a few millimeters from my nose and lips. I inhale. A tingle sensation goes down my whole body. I open my mouth and take a bite, not too big, not too small. I chew slowly with my eyes closed for ultimate pleasure. My saliva encompasses the flesh and my taste buds are fully activated. Three minutes later, the flesh glides down my throat as I swallow. I open my eyes and look at the clock to realize the store has opened. Time to live my fantasy.

About 1 week after moving in, I discover the cashier can speak English. “What do you do with this?” she asks noticing I buy durian on a regular basis. “Eat,” I tell her. She stares ate me incredulously. “You eat all those?” Feeling guilty I say, “Yes,” with a wry smile. “You don’t share with anybody?” What?! The thought of sharing my babies is irrational. Our time together is sacred and sharing with others might jeopardize our relationship. “No,’ I confess and take and take my prized procession home.

I discover eating durian slowly allows me to fully enjoy the taste and utilize the experience. I intuitively close my eyes while I chew. After a few minutes of chewing one bite, the flesh becomes liquid. I roll it with my tongue and through my teeth to my mouth’s delight. I sense someone is watching. My eyes open to notice others observing my unusual eating style. I decide I must be alone while eating durian so we will not be disturbed. The experience is not meant to be watched. It should be one-on-one, in a private setting, out-of-sight, allowing personal connection and true intimacy.

The most comfortable chair in the house becomes my favorite place to eat durian, in the living room. I make sure nobody is around before I begin the event. On several occasions, my housemate comes home while consuming. She sees the durian on my lap and immediately looks away. I sense she is disgusted by the smell and she tries to hide her irritation by looking aloof. I close my eyes and continue chewing. I hear her walk around the house and cough. I can not concentrate. I go to my room and shut the door. After finding a comfortable seat my gratification continues. I inadvertently grunt with pleasure. I pause and listen wondering if my housemate heard me. From then on I decide to use more caution to avoid making noises. I never know how close someone may be. My durian requires my undivided attention, so I can not focus on my surroundings. “Wham!” I hear the front door close which tells me my housemate has left the building. “Ohhhh!” I let out at moan as I chew. My eyes bulge as I realize my neighbors could possibly hear me. Be cautious, I tell myself. After finishing the durian my whole body is flowing with sensational warmth. I lie down and fall into a blissful sleep.

After one month of eating durian everyday, I notice my urine has a foul smell. Each day the odor gets stronger. In one week my urine has the most funky stench my body has ever released. I can hardly breathe when I urinate. Be researching the internet, I learn that the imported durians I eat contain high amounts of chemicals. It is the only non-organic I food eat. In most cases, one’s body stores the chemicals which build up, and when it can not hold any more, their body disposes of the toxins by getting a disease. I come to the realization that my body eliminates the toxins immediately through urination. I also do not crave it so much. The reason being my body is overflowing with nutrients from consuming so much. I can walk into a supermarket and reframe from buying one. I look at the durians and think, I don’t need you. ‘You know you want me.’ I place my figures between the spikes and carefully feel its think skin. Another day, I tell it. I feel its disappointment. Patience, I say as I give it a light squeeze. I decide to take a break from durian because of its chemical content and organic local fruit is just as tasteful. I’m sorry baby; it’s not your fault. I give it a final pat and turn my back. As I walk away my eyes fill with water. I don’t know when the next time will be when I will be able to enjoy her again.

Over the following weeks I sporadically smell durian. I search to investigate the source. I poke my head around corners, in containers, and in trash cans to find nothing. After 3 occurrences I realize the smell is coming from me. I tilt my arm up and breathe in at my arm pit. Durian fragrance blasts my nostrils. Oh I could just eat myself! The following day I go to the library and sit down to read. I smell durian and smile realizing it’s me. I see a bead of sweet drip down my hand. I place my tongue to it. Sweet! I gaze back down to the world map and study areas that grow durian. I decide my next durian experience will be in Hawaii, where it is fresh and organic. Until then, I will plan and anticipate the next encounter. Until next time…

[tutsiwarrior]

tiresome...

[tutsiwarrior]

tiresome...

[MarkBKK]

tiresome...

Hmmm ... that was my first thought ... tiresome ... but after savouring the full story twice I think 'tedious' more accurately captures the essence of what he's saying.

[The Dan Sai Kid]

Is it over yet?

[KhunMarco]

tiresome...

Hmmm ... that was my first thought ... tiresome ... but after savouring the full story twice I think 'tedious' more accurately captures the essence of what he's saying.

At first,I didn't mean to be rude so I kept my mouth zipped, but since I'm not the only one.... keep your day job dude...

[greg.d]

tiresome...

Hmmm ... that was my first thought ... tiresome ... but after savouring the full story twice I think 'tedious' more accurately captures the essence of what he's saying.

At first,I didn't mean to be rude so I kept my mouth zipped, but since I'm not the only one.... keep your day job dude...

Likewise, I was'nt going to say anything but, well.....IT STINKS

[LaoPo]

tiresome...

Fell asleep....can anybody tell me what the story was about? Max. 3 words please.

LaoPo

[raro]

tiresome...

Fell asleep....can anybody tell me what the story was about? Max. 3 words please.

LaoPo

He ate Durian

[thainomad]

precisely

[lingling]

"These erotomaniacs remind us of the Durian-eating Malays, who, because of the erotic properties of this fruit, become savage against anybody or anything that stands in their way of obtaining it. Fraser writes that upon eating it, men, monkeys, and birds 'are all aflame with erotic fire.' It is a blessing that this fruit is not obtainable in the West, because our store of sexual lunatics is already full to overflowing. We might perish in the foulest of mucks."

[Phil Conners]

Durian

[jibber]

I Was wondering does anyone know who is playing the part of the durian when the movie is released?

[LaoPo]

tiresome...

Fell asleep....can anybody tell me what the story was about? Max. 3 words please.

LaoPo

He ate Durian

Thanks Raro.

Book finished?

LaoPo

[bkkexplorer]

for all you durian lovers out there...Durian.pdf

[cooL_guY_corY]

hey do you think you might have got durian mixed up with mescaline?

[suegha]

tiresome...

Fell asleep....can anybody tell me what the story was about? Max. 3 words please.

LaoPo

He ate Durian

And liked it!

[raro]

tiresome...

Fell asleep....can anybody tell me what the story was about? Max. 3 words please.

LaoPo

He ate Durian

Thanks Raro.

Book finished?

LaoPo

not really....stopped somewhere in the middle ...but it was something about eating Durian as far as I recall...

[meadish_sweetball]

Do not be too perturbed thainomad, the average attention span of a Thaivisa poster is 0.647 seconds. Then there is Totster, of course.

You also could have made sure not to post the same story twice in one and the same post. I took out the lower part.

[raro]

Do not be too perturbed thainomad, the average attention span of a Thaivisa poster is 0.647 seconds.

...and this was a careful estimate...

[LaoPo]

So, the Durian-book is not finished, what?

LaoPo

[TantrikLvr]

These erotomaniacs remind us of the Durian-eating Malays, who, because of the erotic properties of this fruit, become savage against anybody or anything that stands in their way of obtaining it. Fraser writes that upon eating it, men, monkeys, and birds 'are all aflame with erotic fire.' It is a blessing that this fruit is not obtainable in the West, because our store of sexual lunatics is already full to overflowing. We might perish in the foulest of mucks.

Fantastic honest and contagious writing! Those short attention spanners and un initiated cowardly eaters should go and eat at a fast food joint! This is a complex well deserved named, 'King of Fruits' for very good reasons. No other fruit conjures up such controversy. Either one hates, misunderstands and condemns it, without even trying, falling into the simple trap the fruit sets, or as the susceptible eloquent writer has found (as well as so many other of us like her/him), one of the finest treasures, of the perfect high protein, vitamin and mineral foods. Any fruit is the best instinctively made for human, food our bodies are designed for!

Most epicurean sophisticates, who get passed the smell, which is natures way of giving the plant a chance to replicate, warning of about to fall danger (one would rather being hit with a coconut any day!) from the highest growing fruit tree, where the fruits generally grow on top! the smell only imitates something rotting or dying, fooling all naive animals from dogs up to and including elephants. interestingly, it is the only fruit tigers and some other large cats (including some house cats) eat (don't they know!). There isn't anything fermenting, but the smell comes mostly from the thick un penetrate able skin, just before perfect ripeness occurs. Once on the ground, except for the initiated and wise connoisseurs, it has a chance to germinate and grow, as this fruit on it's own, can take over a dozen years for the first fruit to appear! So it has it's own way to survive! Then by nature, it needs a bat to fertilize it's lovely flowers, which man has gotten around by artificially inseminating earlier, with feathers and such, as is done here in Thailand, in order to more rapidly cultivate and spread the normal short season out so that now we can enjoy this fruit for much of the year and have enough to export.

It is generally easier to try this for the first time, with an experienced eater, as there are many different stages of ripeness which some prefer. Thais like it harder and not as pungent, besides there are several different sub species, only native to equatorial Asian countries, such as Borneo, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as here. It is wise to counsel a new 'initiate' to give it at least 3 separate tries, on different occasions, before judging it. Then one will truly know whether or not it is going to be part of ones extreme special treat, diet. Of course many would rather quote others or condemn something one doesn't understand or really has not given the proper chance. We Durian eaters are happy most don't even try it, as this keeps the price down and leaves more for us, get it?!!!

Indeed as for it's Aphrodisiac reputation, on Lanka they say one should be married to eat it and Indonesians say when Durians come down, sarongs go up! Several attributes contribute to this theory, least of which is the rapid energy gained, the high content of vitamin E, known as a sexual enhancer, but most of all the associated taste and smell, that remind one of the delicktable flavors and odors which to those that enjoy, are not far from that of a person in heat! Best to keep it away from those prudish, moralistic Victorian Brits and 'merikans. Many of us know how to enjoy the pleasures of life here in these territories!