"It smells like hell but taste like heaven."
It has always been a love hate relationship between humans and durian. Most either love it or hate this spiny fruit. And a select few tread in the middle earth of hating the smell but loving the taste. Some I've seen even resorting to snorkels and spoons to eat this king of fruits. I'll leave it to your imagination.
As for me, I love durian! It's rich, tasty and an absolute indulgence for me. We're right smack in the middle of durian season now and this is the time when you can pin point if those around you are enemies of allies. Allies would get excited ad the mention of durian season and join in the chatter of where to get the best fruit for the best price whilst the enemies would be left groaning softly in the background.
Now the main complaint of the humble durian has always been the smell. Intoxication too some, others may describe it as foul, cat piss and even akin to a dead decomposing body. Not to mention the lingering smell that hangs thick and heavy in the air, your fingers and your breath. It even escapes through bodily excretion hours later.
Next is the heatiness. Eastern medicine believes in the concept of ying and yang, heatiness and coolness. Having one too many morsels of durian, one is advised not to drink alcohol or any heat inducing food as it would send your blood pressure sky high. Unless death by durian is your dream. Even modern practices have advised against over indulging for the very same reason.
The common folk practice in Malaysia after devouring our fill of durian is to carry out any of these rituals, if not all:
- Fill the husk with water and drink from it.
- Add a pinch of salt followed by the step above.
- Soaking in the nearest river/bathtub/swimming pool/large body of water.
- Ingest a large body of water.
I'm now here to share a secret with you. Something that my dear Uncle Charlie passed on to me. A great wisdom he learnt from the indigenous people while serving as a soldier deep in the jungles of Malaya during the communist threat. A remedy to rid of the pungent smell and heatiness of the durian. An antidote if you will, to what makes durian so mighty a king. The secret lies, within.
Within this video.
I told you the answer was within. Do try it. Share it with your family and friends. Remember to give a good rub. And let me know how it goes.
P.S: If I we're to give this remedy a name, I would call it Charlie's Antidote to durian. Uncle Charlie resides in Ipoh. He is in a poor state of neglect from his family due to some misunderstanding and he's suffering from Parkinsons like my dad had. I used the word suffering with most accuracy. Please pray for him strength, acceptance and love.
