Durian Season

Posts Tagged ‘durian season’

Durian Season 2011 –

Update 23 October 2011

According to Ubin villagers. A mini durian season is expected in November 2011. Harvest quality is not expected due to constant rains. For die-hard pickers.

Update 10 July 2011

Its the height of the durian season in Ubin with most of the durians already dropped. Still there are some late bloomers trees which should start dropping in the coming week before the season ends. This year’s harvests has been lower than previous year.

We got about seven durians last night. 2 of them are very good. One was dry with slight bitterness. Another was sweet. Rest have rotted or worms infested.

My friend KP Tan who helped out on the island saw massive crowds who heard of free durians, some carrying scraps of newspapers cutting with maps purportedly showing locations of durians. I haven’t seen the cuttings but if true, such tabloid journalism can put people into danger. The jungle floor near demolished houses contains rusty spikes and broken glasses. There are more than 10 deep boar pits dotted about which have been neglected. The villagers have reported their pets missing so we do not know if they are victims of predators or if they have fallen into the pits. One can easily fall into them and break a leg.

As durian gathering is added fun for a night camping, I am also looking for ways to enhance my enjoyment.
Getting enough sleep outdoors is a challenge. Hard sleeping surface makes one turn about to ease pressure build-up and resulting discomfort. For this I bought a Therm-a-Rest air mattress to improve sleeping comfort. This air mattress is too expensive, bulky and takes too long to deflate so hammocks might be better solution.
As most local ones are cheaply made, its another Amazon shopping spree to get one that works for heavy folks. Shopping with Amazon is excellent with timely shipping and immediate refunds for loss. They are shipped using Vpost to save on shipping (Customer service is poorer with Vpost, but it the only option for retailers who does not ship internationally). Fortunately, they arrived in time for this camping trip and the whole idea worked (although time will tell) and I slept well without backaches.
Here are the details for those interested. I got the Eagles Nest SingleNest Hammock which is able to bear loads up to 180 kilos. A generous safety margin is needed as the whole system is subjected to uneven weight stress. The hammock does not come with suspension ropes to allow for customization. For this I bought military grade 1″ tubular webbings from Sheares Marketing to wrap around trees without strangling or damaging them. 4 meters lengths at each ends should be slip proof and sufficient to wound the trunk a few times. In addition I bought 2 pairs suspension rings from a ship hardware shop in Sungei rd for each end to form a quick release system and to prevent dead knots. As usual, watch youtube videos and read camping forums on how to set hammocks correctly and safely.

Update 2 July 2011

Our friends at Naked Hermit Crabs are planning a Chek Jawa boardwalk nature trip cum durian gathering on Saturday 9 July at 9.30am. Highly recommended. You’ll need to be at Changi Jetty by 8.00am to reach there on time.

Update 26 June 2011.

Durian season has just started in Pulau Ubin. The early fruits are usually premature or rotten ones. We camped overnight as it is fun as always. We brought our newly purchased flashlights to see how they performed in durian seeking department. The latest Surefire 3 cell ‘Invictus UB3T’ did not disappoint, the most powerful yet. It was able to light up durians from the topmost tree for a ‘census count’. The rate the durians fall over the next month will help us determine when it peaks to plan our next overnight camping trip.

We also brought Malkoff high-cri drop-ins. I am impressed by its excellent color rendition, good-runtime and excellent flood. Zebralight headlamps are a class of their own also. More pictures will be posted.

Line-up of flashlights we brought.

For boys and girls, your requests are being heard. Since there are so many search requests for “Ubin ghost”, this is probably how she looks like when we found her. Full details embargoed for now.

Ubin ghost

Update 12 Jun 2011. Durian season must be in the air. This site got so many hits for latest durian season updates. Went to the trees where I took pictures of its blossoms. It a total fail for one tree as none of its flowers got pollinated with no fruit. The other was a lot more promising with clusters of growing durian fruits. That was two weeks ago and a number of nonviable small ones have already dropped prematurely. Ubin’s durian season 2011 should start end June but no bumper harvest is expected. Meanwhile I went to Giant Hypermart just before closing and bought the “cat mountain king (猫山王)”, custard like and slightly bitter with ample flesh with its small seeds, at half price.

Update 2 April 2011: The full season should start at around July. Durian buds are now appearing. This is the actual photo taken. I will be tracking its growth stages for the next few months.

Update 18 April 2011
Durian flowers blossom at night and by midday they would fall and the grounds will be covered with them. Luckily I managed to catch them at mid-bloom. The air is sweet with their fragrance. And some say they taste great when cooked with curry!

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Durian season –

Durian season 2010
The durians in Ubin are dropping at its peak. It will be all over in a week or so. We camped overnight determined not to miss out. The durian trees nearby are known to have the best tasting durians.

Unlike commercially harvested durians, Ubin durians are harvested from the jungle floor as the ripe ones drop, sometimes from a great height, its spiky skin strong enough to absorb any hard landing.

We can only hear muffled thuds so its not easy to locate durians by sound. The first step is shine our flashlights at the tree to check where the durians are hanging in numbers, this will give us an idea where to look as they roll hidden in the bushes. Still, they are easy to miss, you need a keen nose to catch a slightest whiff, so we would not consume any durians until the hunt is over in order to preserve maximum sense of smell.

Durian night hunt

Picture of durian tree. Click to zoom in.

Suddenly a durian dove straight towards us. There is no time to react, it shatters right between us with a loud thump. The durian exploded inches from my feet, bounced and spikes into my friend’s calf, drawing blood. We have been lucky, it could have smash our faces as we looked up. The durian was already rotting. Durians get watery and some rot on the branches from too much rains.

The durian that nearly hit us.
durian

The rains also brought in mosquitoes in huge numbers, we covered ourselves with expensive spray repellents and planted no less than 10 mosquito coils around our camp area, having run out of egg cartons to burn.

Although the harvest is plentiful, we were contented with 7 durians. Other diligent groups got more. There are small shelters built under the trees, keeping the occupants dry and safe from falling durians. Others use electric bikes, criss-crossing the island revisiting each durian grove.
Updated: 10 July 2010

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Took leave. Camped overnight for the past 2 weekends. We heard that Ubin durians are beginning to fall and were excited. Unfortunately we were too early. There were unriped durians on the grounds with teeth marks. Like us humans, monkeys are also excited and plucked the durians too early before they ripen. We sheepishly accepted durians from Mr. Lim, a Ubin villager staying at Marman “Orchid farm”.

We were again unsuccessful on the second week. There were durians pickers camped under the trees. One sat motionless for hours, coming into life on sounds of durians dropping. They would race towards the spot where they heard the durians drop. These people must have heard tales of thousands of dollars earned picking free durians. There is a family of 10 brothers earning $10,000 picking free durians or $1,000 for each brother. Small sums for many but there are lots of poor folks in Singapore.

We only managed to get one before they came running over. During to the rainy season and the cooler weather this year, the durians were watery and bland, quickly fermenting within space of several hours, unlike the previous seasons where they tasted a lot better.

It looks like we have to go to remote parts of Ubin for our durian hunt.
Updated: July 01, 2010.
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Durian seasons come to Ubin twice a year. The major one lasts a few weeks and no one knows the exact dates. The first sign is the abundance of durian flowers, indicating the season is about to due in a few months.
Some durians will fall earlier but these are usually premature durians. Fully ripened durians will fall a few weeks later and lasting for about 6 weeks. Other tropical fruits also ripen at the same time including rambutans, mangosteens, dukus and langsat.

Ubin durians are a treat. In the midst of the hot season, the durians are expected to be more fragrant too They are your organic varieties having been left abandoned by islanders who resettled a long time ago. Being older varieties without the benefits of modern cultivating techniques, Ubin durians are tough to open with flavors that vary from tree to tree. Use gloves and a “durian knife” to pry open.

During durian season, entire families would converge heedless of snakes that may hide in the bushes. Ubin villagers usually wear “phua chu kang” boots to protect themselves while gathering durians. Some even use umbrellas to protect themselves from falling durians.

Q. Why durians drop at night
Durians drop during the day too, although more at night. From the same tree, its durians will drop over several weeks, but sometimes they hang tantalizingly for weeks and are suddenly gone in a week or so. Once ripen, the frequency seems to in favor when temperatures dip or rise quickly when night come or when dawn breaks. Strong gusts of wind will also bring about unexpected bonus. Which is why picking durians is a waiting but rewarding game.

As durians usually drop at night, there are brave ones who stake out at cemeteries waiting for the loud thuds of durians falling. You need a trained eye plus a strong flashlight to find them as they roll into shrubs and bushes.

Update: 19 June 2010.
Durians are beginning to fall and we were excited for a night of adventure and durian hunting. Have bought a couple of new flashlights to try out including my favorite lights. They include:

Zebralights H60 Headlamp 18650 Flood.
HDS CR123a Ra Clicky ExecutiveTM Flashlight (General purpose)
Quark CR123x² Turbo (For throw)

I am bringing LED lights for its weight, excellent run-times, super brightness, and good color rendition. Qualities that are essential for durian searching.

If you intend to find some. Just follow your nose and look for them on the forest floor. Sometimes you hear a lucky thump of durians which has just fallen. Make sure you rent a bicycle with basket, like this lucky couple did. You also need repellents to deter mosquitoes from feasting on you.

Don’t congratulate yourselves too soon if you find durians on the floor. They are probably bad if they are discolored and smell a bit off, Those with bites marks are from frustrated monkeys who cannot get through the though shell.

Unseen, the wild boars are waiting too. During the night, they would push the durians against the forest floor with their tough snouts until the durians split open like flower petals. By morning only empty husks remained. Many ‘ghosts encounters’ were results of mistaking these pigs or islanders trying to scare people away from collecting durians.

Although durian gathering can be fun, there are ‘geylang types’ from mainland Singapore who act as if the trees are theirs. They would intimidate others including Ubin villagers who come near, loudly proclaiming their ‘ownership’. Its not true of course.
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Rambutans –

Rambutan season in Pulau Ubin come closely just behind durian season in Ubin. So besides free durian, you can also find free rambutans too. Rambutan trees usually grow tall in its branches and are favorite fruits of Ubin monkeys which are called macaques. Flying foxes love them but they are nearly extinct, mass poisoned by Malaysian farmers protecting their cash crops. We only managed to spot one flying fox this year. Malaysia is becoming an unattractive place for eco-tourism when entire forests are cleared for palm oil plantations.

Uneaten, rambutans quickly rot and they are safely harvested using ladders. Its barks are slippery and the branches weak so do not climb. There was a sad accident where one person became a quadriplegic after a fall.

Not all rambutans are free as some are in private properties belonging to Ubin remaining householders. The coast guard will act if there are complaints. Together with Nparks, they are also on the look out for people who even chop a tree down for its fruits. Please help by reporting such activities. Meanwhile, warning signs should be posted for vulnerable groves..

Like most fruit trees, rambutan trees need lots of sunlight to flourish. Unattended, they are at risk being smothered by jungle creepers, depriving animal foragers of food. Nparks should take note and give nature a little assistance (Update: Mar 2011. Perhaps they are already doing it by encouraging volunteers to help out)

Other than plucking them, you may find them near Ubin jetty where they are put up for sale when they are in season.

Harvested rambutans have a short shelf life of 3 days. The fruit should be firm as squishy ones are usually over-ripe and may have turn bad. As for eating them, a wikiHow article suggested using a knife or to squeeze the rambutan till the skin breaks, then peel half the skin off. I find it easier and less messy to simply bite and spit off the skin before devouring the flesh.

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Batteries –

Batteries lose their power within 1 to 2 hrs so make sure you bring along spares if you are spending the night trekking or hunting durians in Ubin. Disposable batteries are expensive and rechargeables are the way to go.

NIMH Rechargeables

For rechargeable AA/AAA cells, my favorite is Sanyo Eneloop brand. These batteries do not drain down while unused compared other common NIMH rechargeable batteries. Mustafa Centre prices are very competitive compared to most retail shops.

New improved Sanyo eneloop batteries
Although users may not notice the difference, the improved Sanyo eneloop promises better all round performance. Click on Sanyo product page to find out how to distinguish new ones from the old.

You need a charger too. I prefer to use cheaper slow 8 hrs charger. They prolong battery life as they are cooler and safe even if you leave the batteries charged for weeks or even months.

Not so with quick 1 hour chargers. The batteries get hot while it is being charged and get really hot when its near full. The charger’s circuitry detects this and switch to 200mA trickle charge. That depends on QC which is questionable for most cheap China made knock-offs. Have a bucket of sand ready if it catches fire.

Lithium Batteries
The next step up are disposable CR123A Lithium batteries which Surefire flashlights use. These batteries carry up to 3 volts with its multiplier effect of 6 or 9 volts in series. They can last unused for up to 10 years and do not leak battery acids compared to alkalines, the common cause for flashlight failures. They are expensive but you can buy them in bulk at Sheares Technologies. Some camera shops will sell you in box of 10 for $2.80 each. Try Max Photo at Pagoda Street. Its not advisable to mail order them as it may be held at customs due to higher risks of fires if packed poorly. CR123A batteries cannot be recharged.

Rechargeable li-ion
Many new flashlights allow the option of using rechargeable li-ion batteries. Unlike ordinary NIMH rechargeable batteries, they self drain slowly when stored unused. These batteries run at higher voltage at 3.7volts with higher current draw. The benefits are higher power in a smaller package or both power and longer runtime with larger batteries. Read your flashlight manual to see if such batteries can be used as the wrong match will result in burn out bulb or reduced LED life. The positive end (+) of the battery has to be inserted correctly also.

They are less safe if used in series and knowledgeable handling is needed to prevent small explosions or fires. Please visit candlepowerforums and take your time to read its faq.

You will need to know important details like different cells sizes, their capacity differences, protected or unprotected, current drain.

Cells size are given in 5 digit number schemes. The first 2 number prefix indicate battery width and last 3 number suffix indicates battery length. A 18650 battery is therefore 18mm wide and 650mm long, about twice the length of R123 or 16340 cell.

Larger capacity means longer runtimes. But cell capacity are mostly over optimistic so don’t fall for manufacturer claims.

Protected cells have built-in circuits to prevent dangerous over discharge or excessive current drain. The term tend to be loosely used so buy from reputable manufacturers (hard to do since most batteries are made in China). Look for cells with vent holes which help release pressure if the temperature rises and gas expands.

Discard any cells that shows signs of leaking or cracks if dropped as they can be fire hazards. Promptly recharge any drained cells to at least 3.7volts to avoid permanent damage. Keeping the battery unused for prolong period at full charge of above 4.1 volts reduces its normal life span.

Finally, the cell positive end may be button or flat top, an important distinction as some flashlights contacts only work with button top cells,

You may order online through a HK online dealer or through dealextreme. Again, read reader reviews and users recommendations before you purchase such batteries and chargers dedicated for them.

Li-ion batteries by AW are very popular among flashlights enthusiasts. They can also be ordered from Lumen factory with fast shipping from Hong Kong. Order the black colored ones. The orange ones needs carefully handling due to its high current draw.

Other than online orders placed with Hong Kong or China which ship via Hongkong Post, never ever place your battery orders with shipping via Singapore vPOST. vPOST is a useful service for magazine subscriptions, ebay shipments containing garments or ladies handbags from USA for retailers including Amazon who do not offer international shipping. The US Federal Aviation Administration issues guidelines that batteries must be properly packed for transportation. vPost go to the extreme by refusing acceptance of anything containing batteries including those of safe chemistry including alkalines and NIMH. They even go to the extent of refusing to accept if they believe there are batteries when there aren’t any. Your orders will be stuck in some US post office for rejected delivery waiting to be claimed. So spare yourselves the hassle and do not tell your ebay seller to ship to your Vpost USA address, be it flashlights, laptops or mobile as nearly every electronic equipment that are now battery powered.

Chargers
The nimh chargers I am using now include Lacrosse BC-900 which seems to be reliable so far. My experience with Maha chargers is mixed (read cheap parts).

As for li-ion cells, I like to know what is happening so I bought an expensive Triton hobby charger. You can find many expensive sets at RC (radio control toys) shops concentrated at Fook Hai Building. I am now testing the icharger 106B+ which allows PC monitoring. This unit was ordered online from Hobbyking. Their service is fast with affordable express shipping.

Update: 20 May 2010. The icharger 106B+ failed to work and I have to send it back. It took more than a month and plenty of hassle to get a replacement. Online orders are full of such pitfalls. Other than that it is a well featured charger and am very pleased with it.

There are plenty of China made chargers for li-ion cells which are cheap but reliability is a question mark. Runaway charging may even cause flaming and explosion. Make sure you buy a multi-meter, take out the cell from the charging cradle and measure its voltage. It should not be above 4.2 volts when charging is complete. A multi-meter is best for measuring remaining capacity of your li-on cells.

Capacity guide
4.2V = 100%
4.1V = about 90%
4.0V = about 80%
3.9V = about 60%
3.8V = about 40%
3.7V = about 20% (for long term storage)
3.6V = empty
<3.5V = over-discharged

DealExtreme multimeters are cheap and popular among on-line buyers sku #619 and sku 9636.

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Durian knife –

Durian season must be near. There are so many hits on this site for “durian season”. The flowering just begin in late March and harvest time should be around late June to mid August and peak time should be during early July.

There is no need to have early head start. Early harvest are non viable premature durians. The middle of the harvest season is the best. There will be a glut where durians are sold at markets for as low as 50cts each.

Durians are best eaten within hours of dropping. Those from Johore are harvested in the morning and brought to markets in Singapore by the evening. By then its almost too late. Some are already ripen and has fermented with cloying sweet smell instead of the usual robust durian flavor.

Picking durians in Ubin is just fun activity and shouldn’t be taken seriously. Its more convenient just to buy and have the stallholders pick and open them for you.

Unlike modern cultivars such as d24, durians from Ubin can be frustrating hard to open. With their thick and spiky shell, there is no hairlines visible to force a knife to pry open. To make short work of it, you need 2 useful tools if you intend to eat the durians there and then.

A pair of protective gloves and a “durian knife”.

Durian knives are actually hacking knives sold in hardware stores. They are thick bladed with full tang which you can pound a hammer from the rear and force the edge through. I bought mine for $13.00. Its perfectly legal to carry a knife for legitimate purpose (there is no blanket ban) but do keep the receipt as the police may ask all sorts of questions.

Another alternative is to get a short kitchen knife. This brand with a dolphin logo is commonly found in shops selling kitchen wares. It has a full tang blade which allows you to pry safely. Keep the blade blunt to be safe.

My friend Alan opening durian from its base. A wad of newspaper allows safe grip. He would make several chops along the hairlines to weaken its structure. The knife is then inserted to pry open.

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