It’s not uncommon for people to be put off by the king of fruits, durian. With its pungent smell and spiky outer layer, many find it intimidating. However, it’s often this unique appearance that draws in tourists and foreigners who’ve never experienced durian, a local delicacy. That was exactly the case for Kelly Fu (傅嘉莉) during her visit to Malaysia.
On 6th July (Sunday), the actress arrived in the country with her co-star Owen Cheung (張振朗) to promote their new crime series, “D.I.D 12“, also known as “刑偵12“. Since it was Kelly’s first time in Malaysia, she was eager for the full experience, and Owen was more than happy to play host.
It’s well known that Owen enjoys visiting Malaysia to try its unique dishes; however, durian still isn’t something he can handle. So while the actor was happily slurping down a bowl of prawn soup, Kelly had already started digging into durians – and ended up eating 12 pieces. She offered the 37-year-old actor a taste, and being the gentleman he is, he accepted.
In addition to durian, Kelly also tried other local dishes, including Ikan Sambal with rice. “In addition to eating durian, I also tried patin fish with sambal sauce for the first time. It’s so fragrant, even more fragrant than XO sauce, and it goes so well with rice!” she said in an interview with Sin Chew, clearly showing her love for bold and spicy flavours.
Both Kelly and Owen expressed how grateful they felt for the warm support from their Malaysian fans. Even with a packed schedule, they made sure to try several local dishes fans had suggested. Kelly was especially excited to explore Malaysia’s flavours for the first time, while Owen enjoyed rediscovering familiar favourites.
Owen recalled a past visit where he ate prawn noodles at a small shop without air conditioning. Although he didn’t get the chance to return this time, he now has a reason to come back. Between the food, the fans, and the experience, Malaysia clearly made a lasting impression on them both.
Zaima Humaira contributed to this article
