Jingjok
The king of fruits has rules
tú-rian
Durian smells so strong that it has its own signs: a durian with a red line through it. You will see them at BTS and MRT entrances, in hotels and condos, and many airlines ban it on board. The smell soaks into rooms and fabric for days, so these rules are taken seriously. The easy solution is to eat it where it's sold: many stalls have a table, and the seller will open the fruit and pick a good one for you. To take it home, ask for the flesh packed in a sealed box and bag, and check your building's rules. Thais disagree happily about durian; loving it earns a friendly cheer.
Try this today
Try durian at a stall where you can sit, and ask the seller ลูกไหนอร่อย (which one's good?).
The words that carry it
Learn this in “Shopping and the market” →
Your first 90 days of Thai
Culture cards in Jingjok are tied to the words that carry them, each ending in one thing to try today.
- WEEKS 1–2 · SURVIVEGreet anyone, pay, and order food and 7-Eleven exactly how you like it.
- WEEKS 3–6 · SETTLE INGet around by taxi, Grab and skytrain, find anything, and handle your landlord.
- WEEKS 7–12 · RUN YOUR LIFEPharmacy, bank, SIM and apps, how you feel, and a weekend away, all in Thai.
The first week is free.