Singapore is known for its strict laws. Some people find them suffocating, others feel that the laws make life in Singapore quite pleasant. No second hand smoke, no whiffs of someone's double cheese burger during your subway commute, and no spontaneous flame dance performances (we actually saw quite a few in Turkey). Citizens conform to the laws or face harsh punishments, like fines or jail time. When I saw this sign though, I had to wonder . . .
. . . what's a durian??
Leonard, the nephew of Mr. Whyte's colleague, had the answer of course. He was a fountain of information about Singapore and, having spent 4 years in the US for university, was able to point out differences between the two countries.
A pile of durians at a fruit stall
Durians are known as the king of fruits in Southeast Asia. According to my friend Wiki, "Some people regard the durian as fragrant; others find the aroma overpowering and offensive. The smell evokes reactions from deep appreciation to intense disgust and has been described variously as almonds, rotten onions, turpentine and gym socks. The odor has led to the fruit's banishment from certain hotels and public transportation in southeast Asia." I guess it's not just Big Brother in Singapore that has excluded the fruit from public areas.
Andrew trying the edible inside of a durian with Leonard awaiting his reaction
The only question about Singapore Leonard couldn't answer - and I wish I had a picture for this one- was: "So, how come all the cats are missing part of their tails . . . ?"
That's a mystery...about the cats I mean.
ReplyDeleteI got excited to see your photo of the spiny red fruit, called rambutan..it taste like lychees..you must try it. Not crazy about durian myself.
Your photos are great..almost missed the ones of your last days in Istanbul..I think Dante & Ninja will sorely miss you both.
Larissa,
ReplyDeleteI was curious about the cats and have just learned that Darwin noted the presence of "bobtailed" cats throughout Malaysia during his travels. They are common in Asia and Russia apparently and are the result of "random mutations" leading to fewer vertebrae in the tail.
Thanks for the intro. to durians, I had never even heard of them. I wonder if Wegmans carries them; I'll see if I can sniff them out.
Love, Mom