Chanthaburi Fruit Fair

March 2, 2003 8:34 PM

Chanthaburi Fruit Fair "These vibrantly colorful parade floats are perishable wonders of the world, awesome scenes and statues and designs all decorated almost entirely with thousands of tropical fruits and many vegetables too." Slideshow here. The photographer, Shunyam Nirav, also operates the excellent Durian Palace website with additional Chanthaburi info and great Durian galleries, even Durian poetry. Thailand is also known for their exquisite fruit carving.
posted by snez (10 comments total)

Wow. Very impressive. I didn't know you could even carve watermelons, and especially not that intricately. Just impressive.
posted by stoneegg21 at 11:03 PM on March 2, 2003

How hard is it to find durian in the US?
posted by dmo at 11:05 PM on March 2, 2003

This is good, thanks. :)

I'm a big fan of the durian.
posted by plep at 4:28 AM on March 3, 2003

Durians are yummy -- and you can sometimes find them in Asian grocery stores. (Frozen, if you're lucky.)
posted by Vidiot at 6:44 AM on March 3, 2003

Wonderful exotic post!
Full of fruity goodness.
Off-topic, you get the award for most Miguel-esque post not written by Carlos Quevedo.
posted by Shane at 8:14 AM on March 3, 2003

Ah yes, Durian.
Tastes like heaven.
Smells like hell!
posted by reality at 8:49 AM on March 3, 2003

Wow! It just hit me that, back in my first year of college, my Cambodian friend Sotha tried to explain to me a fruit that smelled nearly unbearable but tasted incredible. He didn't know the word for it in English. Thanks!
posted by Shane at 8:52 AM on March 3, 2003

Wow, great post snez. Unbelievable carvings. I can't even do the simple carrot birds you always find at Thai restaurants.

Off-topic, you get the award for most Miguel-esque post not written by Carlos Quevedo.

My thought exactly!
posted by widdershins at 9:57 AM on March 3, 2003

I also found this Italian site with their own form of fruit sculpture. They animate (click on movies to the left) their creations. And if you ever wanted to know all the tropical fruits that exist, check out the tropical fruit database.

Thanks Shane and widdershins - I think that is a compliment although I'm not sure.
posted by snez at 10:21 AM on March 3, 2003

What a cool thread, snez - really interesting and fun stuff here! I love the carvings in the festival, and that Italian site is marvelous. I'm lucky if I can core an apple and have it presentable afterwards, this is true artistry.

But I agree with reality - it must stink to high heaven. Not to mention bugs, yikes!

The durian was my vote in Miguel's recent best food you never had thread. So thanks for the durian info!
posted by madamjujujive at 3:34 PM on March 3, 2003