Penang’s Macalister Road just doesn’t look or feel the same without rows of vans and stalls lined up with hanging durians. Unfortunately, the season is over and all we can do is reminisce about this smelly fruit.

It would sure be good to be offered a bit now (like in the photo below which was taken a couple of months ago). These ones don’t look too picture perfect but they are often the most delicious.

For the benefit of visitors to Malaysia who havn’t come across durians before – they are a fruit with a spikey green ’skin’ and a bunch of ’seeds’ which are coated with a soft ‘meat’ which is what you eat. It has a texture similar to cream cheese and comes in a sweet and bitterish savoury flavour.

Durians are definitely an acquired taste as they are a unique fruit with a very strong smell. You either love it or don’t but if you havn’t yet, you have to try it.