That top image doesn't whet my appetite! (reminds me of disection classes) What the hell is that Brian? :-)>

Riiiiiight! Well, that just looks like another good reason to avoid them! ;-)>

Concerning picture #1: I'll bet they throb for a while after you cut them open. They'd better at nearly $5 a pound! Concerning picture #3: What, no tassled paisties?!

Opps, I think they fell off. =:-P > Bsteph

Jeez, Bri, about time you got yourself to some proper dinner parties....y'know, where you wear shirt, tie, sit down for proper meals? ....lol.....btw, what ARE they?!? (",)

Jane thinks they are a strange alien fruit called "Prickly Pear" Me, I don't have a clue!

I had that in mind but thought they were smaller. a LOT smaller..... and not so, well, disgusting inside.... (",)

Well, Jordy, I had heard Californians were strange...suppose it just goes to prove! (eh, bsteph?) ;-)>

lol! I'm not sure which is worse, 1 or 3!!

ASalina is right: in the inside of that fruit lie two throbbing larvae of some alien sort... ...Not the "alien face-hugger" type, but the "Thing" type... You've seen "The Thing" by John Carpenter..? Horrors..! :)

I've seen them both. The Carpenter one and the Earlier one made in the '50's staring Michael Landon as the THING. Aditionally I've seen invasion of the body Snatcher pods which really don't look quite as menacing close up. PC-Prickly Pear's I've tasted 'em kinda starchy. I guess I'll take a picture of those also. And they are about the size of tinnis(sp) balls. These are roughly the size of a large baby head! The spines are HARD !!! When you buy them! Really hard. In fact if one sticks a stick into one you have yourself a real good weapon. However they soften when the ______ is ready to eat. I give an answer within a couple of days if you world travelers can't figure out what they are. Bsteph

That first one is something people eat? Looks like a heart ripped out of someone's chest..... :~O

OK. to end all of your frustration. This is a fruit called a Durian. I know they are harvested in Vietnam. Typically they are frozen when they are for sale. You buy the critters and place them OUTSIDE!!! Over the next month or so their stench increases and the spines become soft. When you can't stand the smell anymore. Then the fruit apparently tastes good. So, yes it edible and quite the sellout item in certain neighborhoods! Bsteph

Guffaw yeah his spines turn soft and when he is REALLY smelly he tastes good!! Hahaha Considering I took this picture at the San Francisco halloween parade in certain areas that's a turn on!!! Hahaha Oh geee. That's a good one Alpha. Bsteph

Okay, so I finally see this post. Hehehe... Yup, it's called durian, and it's popular in one of the provinces here. Personally, I like them ONLY when they're processed into candies. I can never stand the funky smell. (*