A [rather disgusting] taste of Malaysia

Not too long ago, we found out that there was a guy in our ward that went to Ammon's mission about two years before he did. They talked for an hour at the Halloween party and Ammon has been obsessed with Malaysia and Singapore ever since. Brother Gilmore told us that there was an Asian market not too far from base. So the other day, we went there and Ammon was able to find his biggest obsession from his mission. I've been hearing about it for years. Durian. What the freak is durian? That big pointy thing Ammon is holding. It was frozen when we bought it and cost us $15 but Ammon couldn't have been happier. We got some other things like rice cakes made with beans that were actually really good and really sweet. Ammon stuck the durian in the fridge to let it thaw and it took almost two days.

When he finally took the durian out and cut it, I wanted to throw up from the smell. Ammon then said, "these babies aren't allowed on public transportation over there." No kidding. Well, I was positive that since it is a fruit, it would have a nice sweet taste, maybe something to the texture of a banana (which I don't like but was willing to give it a try anyway). Well, he gave me a tiny piece and I can actually say that it was the most disgusting taste I've ever experienced. Think of a combination of garlic, onion with a consistency of a banana covered in mayo. I had to spit it out. I couldn't take it. Ammon laughed for about five minutes and thought it was the most hilarious thing he'd ever seen. He later told me he hated it the first through thirtieth time he'd had it on his mission too. The taste just grew on him after that when people would serve him that when it was the only thing they had to offer.

As it turns out, Ammon still loves it and was so excited about it that he got out our international minutes on our Magic Jack (great invention by the way) and called someone from his mission that would go on splits with the elders almost everyday. His name is Ronny and they were excited to talk to each other. I'm just scared to death the other things that Malaysia and Singapore have to offer that I'll be asked to eat one day. Maybe I wasn't cut out for a foreign mission like I wanted so long ago!

P.S. Matthew hated the smell and taste too (no surprise). He wouldn't even put it in his mouth. Ammon stuffed it in and Matthew gagged as bad as I did!