King of Fruits

I attended a "Year-end Gathering of Diamonds"(Mindanao) yesterday. We had a visitor from Riyadh(Mr.Sulaiman), from India(Mr.Frajith), from Indonesia(Miss Lisa), and the DXN staff from Manila(Mr. Ferdie, and Mr Tom)

Anyhow, one cannot leave Davao City without tasting the ever famous "durian" and of course our "native chicken". But since, we were so full for native chicken.. we headed over at "Durian Paradise".

Durian = "Smells like hell.. but tastes like heaven"

"A rich custard highly flavoured with almonds gives the best general idea of it, but there are occasional wafts of flavour that call to mind cream-cheese, onion-sauce, sherry-wine, and other incongruous dishes. Then there is a rich glutinous smoothness in the pulp which nothing else possesses, but which adds to its delicacy." - Mr. Alfred Russel Wallace

But once, you get used to durian... and an avid eater of durian.. you'd go gaga over the smell. Once you smell it, you'd want to know where it is from. It's like seeing a mango with bagoong.

Mr. Ferdie: I'd have someone to make you a perfume.
Miss Lisa: Really?
Mr.Ferdie: Yeah, durian scent.
Miss Lisa: Haha. The people would not want to talk to me.
Mr. Ferdie: Yeah, they would run away from you.


It was really Miss Lisa's idea to try out the durian offered by Davao, and she was even teased by Mr. Ferdie.

Mr.Ferdie: We need to climb a mountain.... so that we can eat. Are you up for the adventure?
Miss Lisa: I like that! I like that!
Mr.Ferdie: Ay aba.. naniwala.

Durian is not new to Indonesians, since they produce them too. But, it was new for Mr. Tom, who covered his nose while eating. I wanna take a picture... but due to formality and all that I opted not to, and besides I was eating that time and a handful at that.

Durian is believed to have warming properties liable to cause excessive sweating. Durian should be paired with Mangoosteen since it produces a cooling effect. They are more like partners. Mangoosteen is also abundant here in Davao. It's also good to eat it with a softdrink of your choice. If you're from DXN and wants to eat durian, you must bring Andro-G so that it will reduce your body temperature.

Mr.Ferdie: Go and eat more.
Miss Lisa: No.. I already had 4 seeds. It's already hot.
Mr.Ferdie: Did you bring Andro-G
Miss Lisa: No.
Mr. Ferdie: Then, just take a bath, and shower the heat away.
(*everyone laughs*)
Mr.Ferdie: Or if you want there's swimming pool in the hotel.

If you eat durian.... better get the arancillo. It's a bit small compared to Puyat (which is veryyyy big.. and you can't eat 2 more seeds..) Arancillo is creamy, and it has this bittersweet taste. I cant explain it. And yeah it has a sherry-like taste.

TIP: After you eat durian, you better wash your hands along with the seed of durian. Use the seed like a soap when washing it with water to take the odor away. To know that it is effective, smell your hands before and after washing.

Dont think about the smell. You'd be missing out a lot, if you don't at least get to taste a durian. :)

Mr. Ferdie: I'm taking this out and bring this to Manila. I can't eat durian in Manila, because it's so expensive. 1 durian would cost me 500-600. tsk. tsk. This is really good for shake. Mix it with milk and cocozhi. Ahhh, heaven.
Miss Lisa: But, that's not allowed in the hotel.
Mr. Ferdie: Oh... right. I wonder why they don't allow durians in hotels.
Mom: Because some of the guests hates the overpowering smell.
Mr. Ferdie: I'd still bring this.
Miss Lisa: And what will you do? Eat it in front of the hotel. *Laughs*
Mr. Ferdie: I dont know... I'd let them find a way to keep this.