Monsoon

The heat builds and seems to sustain itself. Someone here described that the wind comes from inland bringing with it the intense heat I have spoken about in prior posts. It seems like the heat is more intense as the monsoon is waited upon. Books have been written about waiting for the monsoon, chasing it and relishing within it. It is the stuff of legend here.
Indeed, locals celebrate the monsoon as bringing relief from the heat that has been here since at least mid April.With the monsoon, the heat is broken. There is the bang of thunder and the flash of lightening and the burst of rain. Then the rain - oh - and then the rain.

Adapting to the rain

As the rain arrives, you need to adapt. The dirt roads turn into rivers of mud. Its thickness can be like wet cement and you can slide on a moped quite easily. Trucks going past have little regard for the puddles or where their splash may end up - wait a minute - that's true everywhere in the world I think!

Rain predominates the conversation. After all, it is life giving. Crops will grow, ravines will swell, the ground bursts to life.

A street scene with rain, cows, umbrellas and life carrying on

 The monsoon also seems to be a boon for the mosquitoes who are attacking in bomber like formations. You type a few words and then swat a few of them. If you are slow, and they have their bite into you, then when you kills them your hand is covered in blood - at least it is your own.

Leaving for the airport in the Monsoon was a treat like I cannot describe adequately. Picture, it is  midnight and there are no street lights. It is raining so hard that it is like a big hose aimed straight at the windshield; the wipers cannot get the water away;  the road has waves on it coming towards you; there is unmarked construction. Thoughts of death arose!

Hiding from the rain is a challenge