"Due to the unique landscape and cooling weather in Balik Pulau, home to durian plantations in Penang, Penang-grown durians are considered to be one of the best in the world." - www.penangevents.my
In the lions' minds, a festival usually translates to a carnival-like atmosphere with exuberant performances and activities. But the only activity going on here is the slow movement of jaws. This is a relatively muted, low key and quiet affair with independent stalls scattered around the hills of Bukit Indah. Only discerning locals are well-versed in the right time to hit the stalls and know the right joints that hide a treasure trove of great quality smellies. The lions hit a major dud on the first day but serendipity stepped in and they were quickly directed by their kind friend and owner of a local coffee joint to the right stall with a handwritten scribble of a seller's hp number. This lanky cafe owner and his durian connoisseur mom have been know to eat almost RM300 worth of durians in one seating. Wow, the lions and friends gorged - to their fullest satisfaction - on premium seeds that day and the bill only came up to RM150 +. Hardcore fanatics indeed.
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| Yup we came for this... ... |
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| Meanwhile, somewhere near the hotel... ... afternoon nap beckons. |
According to a local insider, the best time to head down to savour these thorny fruits is between 2 to 3pm when the supply trickles in from the plantations.
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| Mind-boggling variety. Famous and reputedly the best durians back home in the Lion City like the Mao Shan Wang and D24 are treated as meh commonplace smellies here. It's the legendary Ang Hae or Red Prawn that you've got to try in Penang but they heard that the harvest's not too good for this variety this year. |
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| Spot the "bad word" durian. Mrs Business Times was so tickled by the name. |
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| Day 1: Clueless so they hit a random stall. Sob. |
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| A weird or entirely fortunate thing happened before they chose a durian stall. A lone guy nearby beckoned the lions and gang over to his makeshift table without a signboard. "He doesn't look like a durian seller leh," noted Mr Business Times as this nameless dude struggled to pry open a fruit for them. "He must be a resident here who just wants to share some real good shit with fellow connoisseurs," quipped the lion. And he was right. The nameless one pried open a Kapili or Capri durian dubbed the "Pek or White Durian" with pale-looking seeds. It was the best durian tasted during the entire trip. And the bugger only had one of it :( |
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| The Queen of Fruits is always in the company of the King of Fruits. |
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| Veterans of the trade. |
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| Signs are displayed describing the types of durians sold. |
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| For non durian fans - there was actually one sole hater in the huge group of 16 that day - be pacified and tuck into a less pungent fruit (but still somewhat smelly) - the chempedak. |
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| Mr Husky swears by this cure for heatiness - drinking water from durian husks. And he made sure everyone did it. |
Day 2 continues after the gang got the handwritten scrawl on a tiny piece of paper... ...onwards to the recommended durian stall emblazoned with a lucky number... ...
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| Brisk business for the uncle hawking petai in its original form. |
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| A much raved about bowl of assam laksa at a Balik Pulau stall. This is the next best thing after the pungent bowl at Ayer Itam. Penangnites seem to like their grub "strong smelling". |
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| For the unbearable humidity. You might like to take a dry shower with this - like what grandpa used to do. Retailing at a local provision shop in the area hohoho... ... |
Numero Deux Stall (the recommended one) ... ...
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| A Monster of a Fruit greets the senses... ... |
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| The gang overheard a guy trying to sell a baby durian like this one here for RM1. |
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| Stand or sit... ...your preference... ... |
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| Great quality durians look good in pictures too. The recommended stall did not disappoint. They feasted on Green Skin, Olive, Duri Hitam and Red Prawn. The Olive Durian was the stunner here with its complex grassy flavours. |
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| The lions later grabbed a handmade rattan stool here in Georgetown. The lion plan to rest his butt on it while enjoying more smellies back home. |
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