I had heard so much about this fruit, that I was naturally curious and keen to experience it... - You've probably heard the rumours, the fruit that supposedly looks like a hedgehog, and smells like a sewer?! - Supposedly I write..

Supposedly.. I write.. because I'm not entirely of the same opinion. (an under exaggeration)... Anyhow.. I'm digressing..

I landed in Cairns one April morning, whacked after a 24 hour flight from the other side of the world, only to be kidnapped by the airport staff and bundled into a small side room with a big metal sink, where they annoyingly asked me to clean my trusty bike with a toothbrush, - such is their paranoia of foreign dirt.

2 hours I was detained before they finally ok'ed my cleanliness and released me onto the streets of far north Queensland to reap my adventurous havoc.

Off I set.. Northbound, heading toward Mossman.. It was just after 10 in the morning.

My first day in the tropics. See the coconut story too.

Late afternoon.. 90kms later.. I arrive in the Wynabil valley.. nestled on the edge of the great Daintree rainforest, and rested my weary legs on the veranda of a couple of friends of Jef (see Mango meets Deb).

There was this wonderful aroma in the air, and I lied back in momentary ecstasy, breathing the sweetened air.

Suddenly my hostess asked me if I had every tried durian.

Well.. I'd heard of it, but I'd never actually seen one.

Next question - Would I like to try one?

Naturally, my curiosity awoken, I sat up beaming, and accepted with gleeful anticipation.

She went over to the corner of the veranda, and picked up this thing, I had previously not noticed, or if I had, it was lost in the myriad of other novel sensory impressions.

With a big kitchen knife, this thing was twisted open, and suddenly I put 2 and 2 together.. The wonderful aroma in the air, suddenly increased 10 fold.

This was durian. Durian at it's best.

I put the first piece to my tongue, and I was in ecstasy.

What more can I say.. It was the most exquisite thing I had ever tasted.. Nothing compares to it. It was love at first smell, and lasting adoration at first taste..

Some years later, I was fortunate enough to experience a monodurian diet in Sumatra.. 2 and a half weeks of nothing but durian, and I could have continued had the season not ended.. Every meal was a dream.

So.. I believe that Durian smells, as well as tastes, exquisite, and cannot be compared to a sewer.. Those that think it does, are generally drowning in toxins and have thus a highly warped sense of smell.. (I will happily sleep in a room full of them).

Durian merets the title, and is.. without doubt... The King of fruit.

Christmas 2002 and I am in England, sharing time with Mum and Dad and sister Helena. My christmas meal is a durian, which I happily eat alone in the garage. The smell being too intense for the rest of the family.