Monsoons

The monsoon (or rainy) season has started in Chennai. It hits different parts of the country at different times and, apparently, for the next three or four months it will grace us with its presence. It is characterized by torrential downpours at least once and sometimes two or three times a day. The storms are usually intense, and often accompanied by lightning and thunder, but brief in duration. Sometimes even when it is not raining the air remains thick with water; last week some drink mix that I'd spilled on the counter spontaneously became little droplets of Gatorade.

Add to this daily deluge uneven roads and poor or non-existent drainage infrastructure and the cleansing rain ends up producing mud and muck throughout the city. Huge puddles form instantly, sometimes blocking all available walking paths. Some puddles disappear just as quickly once the rain stops, while others stubbornly stick around to wait for the next storm. I arrived at work Monday morning with socks and shoes soaked clear through after wading through the remains of the most recent monsoon. This led to a moment of stark realization as I finally understood why most people here wear sandals or go barefoot everyday, no matter the degree of formality of the rest of their attire.

On the positive side, the temperature has come down a bit and the plants have never been more green. As I'm not a fan of the cold, I think I'll gladly take four months of warm rain to snow and freezing wind any day. As the leaves fall and the Charles River freezes I'll be looking for creative ways to circumvent puddles. I just have to get around to finally buying an umbrella and learn to wear sandals with dress slacks. Don't expect to see any pictures.



Smart not to wear shoes.


Water, water, everywhere.


Some streets turn into canals. Venice without the boats?

More pictures here.