The next morning we were whisked away by speed boat back to the city of Palembang. We resupplied and had dinner again with Mr. Arifin, our main contact. After our 1st dinner, Mr. Arifin had insisted on taking me out to try my 1st durian. Many, including myself previously, find the smell quite revolting. Wikipedia sums up many peoples senses with the descriptors, "rotten onions, turpentine and raw sewage." I was holding my breath as we pulled up to a durian stand fittingly next to an open sewer. The 1st piece I cautiously put in my mouth was indeed bitter. My only thought was to maintain dignity and not provide a retching spectacle. They opened another and offered it to me. I was more than skeptical now, but courtesy outweighed common sense and I went for
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