What's that smell?

Just for the record, the durian does smell. Actually, it reaks. I've been facinated by the concept of the durian since I first heard about it during the KL Commonwealth Games. Turns out that was more than a decade ago. That made me feel really old. But I vividly remember a special report done on CBC about the curious case of the fowel smelling fruit and the Malaysian devotion to it.

The infamous durian fruit.

My first introduction to its smell was on my way to hostel no. 2. I was feeling quite tired, carrying my pack, and a little bit lost. (I was looking for a KFC. According to my directions I needed to turn right there. Somehow I'd managed to walked passed the biggest KFC in Malaysia). Anyway, walking down the street minding my own business and suddenly I'm surrounded by this overwhelming, weird, and generally unpleasant, durian smell. Can't say I got out my stash of ringits to buy one right then and there. They are actually very large. I'm keeping my eye out, for more durian stalls and another sucker tourist to go halvsies with...