BALIK PULAU: Balik Pulau beckons as a durian paradise, drawing fans who are willing to travel far to Penang to savour the unrivaled taste of this king of fruits.
Nestled behind Bukit Bendera and facing the Indian Ocean and the Melaka Straits, this small town draws both local and foreign tourists eager to try over 30 varieties or species of durian that can only be found here.
The durian season here is also celebrated like a festival where dozens of stalls line the roads, bustling with eager crowds vying for the freshest durians straight from the nearby villages.
The atmosphere is electric, as if a grand celebration is taking place.
Entrepreneurs in the area, including James Wong of Wong Durian House, have tapped into this fervour, opening their orchards to the public to allow them to enjoy fresh durians while soaking in the natural scenery and refreshing breeze.
Since the agro-tourism concept was introduced three years ago, Wong, 59, has welcomed tourists from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Singapore.
Wong, the third-generation owner of Wong Durian House, shared that his grandfather began cultivating the orchard in the 1920s with just 50 durian trees, and today, it has grown to 150 trees, featuring varieties like Capri, Musang King, Duri Hitam, Udang Merah, D2, D14, and D15.
"The concept of eating durian in the village is very popular, especially on weekends," Wong said, adding that the Durian House is managed by his son, Yon Wen, who has boosted its visibility through social media.
"I hope to expand our space and enhance our facilities for customers' comfort. I also aim to collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism to further develop this agro-tourism concept," he told Bernama when met at his orchard at Sungai Pinang, here.
Meanwhile, among tourists who have come from far and wide to experience the durian delights at the orchard is Susan, 48, from Indonesia, who journeyed with three friends after discovering the orchard on Facebook.
"I was intrigued by the idea of eating durian right in the village where it's grown," she shared.
Another customer, Ivy Lau, 40, traveled from Kuala Lumpur with her husband and parents specifically to enjoy the high-quality Balik Pulau durians.
"The taste here is unique and unmatched," she said.
Meanwhile, Mohd Fazli Abdul Rahman, a durian dealer at Anjung Indah, noted that this season is better because the harvesting occurred in stages, unlike previous years when an oversupply led to falling prices.
"Balik Pulau's durian season is unique and special, because unlike other places which might have only two or three types of durian, Balik Pulau boasts over 30 varieties," said Mohd Fazil who has been in the business here over five years.
Earlier, State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai, said this year, the durian season in Penang will see three waves, the first from May to early June, the second from mid-June to July and the third expected from August to September.
Penang offers over 30 varieties of durian, including Dato Nina (D2), Lipan Bara, Ikan Emas, Ganja, Kulit Hijau (D165), Tekka (D160), Labu (D163), Lipan, Kunyit, Ang Bak Kia, Khoon Poh (D164), Ais Krim, Lin Feng Jiao, Muntri (D14), Yi Dian Hong and more. — BERNAMA