Since this is now a thread about Singapore I will share a story I got from a friend last night. He is posted at the Singapore High Commission in London as a first secretary, this week a visitor from home took him and his wife some durian and when they opened the vaccum packet the apartment building concierge knocked at his door because someone had reported a gas leak, he told me he pretended he didn't know what was happening, oh dear..... For those not familiar with durian, or who have never travelled around East and South East Asia that might not mean much, durian is a fruit which is famous (or infamous) for it's very pungent smell. The stuff is banned from public transport and most hotels don't allow it in rooms. The smell is difficult to describe, the closest I can get is acetylene gas, which doesn't help those not familiar with acetylene gas. And it lingers, it really is hard to imagine just how strong the smell is if you haven't experienced it. However, it is a bit of an obsession out here and people are crazy about it, it is even called the king of fruits. In fairness it is meant to be very nutritious, but I'd have to be properly desperate to eat the stuff. I can handle the smell as my wife loves it (like I say, people from SE Asia and China are obsessed with it) but eating it is a no-no. One of the things to be aware of if locals will often try and tell foreigners not to judge it from the smell, there's a saying that it smells like (naughty word) but tastes of heaven, I guess that's a matter of opinion but to me it tastes as vile as it smells. Anyway, it is in season and all of the markets and super markets are awash with durian, although most supermarkets have durian tables outside to stop their shops stinking. I suppose it is one of those things to try if you visit Asia......