"Here comes that rainy day feeling..."

view from our balcony

So I titled yesterday's post “Everyday People.” Today, I'm sorry, I just couldn’t help myself. We are definitely into the monsoon season here, if before now there has been any doubt. Bandung experiences a rainy season which lasts about 6 months from around October to March. During the rainy season it rains at least some portion of every day.

another late afternoon storm

We were leaving the apartment the other afternoon around 5 p.m. This was
the view of an approaching thunderstorm from our balcony.

view from north of city

Yesterday I walked with my friend Helen on the north side of town. The views from that vantage point are really incredible. We were very fortunate to have made it back to her place before the rain made it up the hill.

potholes fill with rain and debris

The weather is one thing you really haven’t heard me whine too much about. In fact, if I have to like something about Bandung, it's the weather. The temperature is just about perfect, at least to someone who has lived in Houston for 25 years! I have yet to wear a jacket here and I rarely sweat which is great given there is no AC. Yes, it is often humid and damp and a good de-humidifier would be a wonderful thing to have, though we won’t be here long enough to invest in one.

scooter rain gear

Here’s a typical day - sunny and beautiful in the morning and heavy, sometimes torrential rain at least some portion of the afternoon/evening or night. Thankfully we are on a hill and don’t have to worry about water coming inside but I asked Dadang today if houses sometimes flood and he answered in the affirmative. Not at all surprising.

rain running down street

rain has almost stopped

Because there are more scooters than cars on the road at all times, scooter drivers are often caught in the rain. Dadang says he goes to mosque and prays until the rain lets up. He does not have (cannot afford?) rain gear. He tells me a heavy duty rain poncho here costs something like $17US. Like Dadang, many if not most of the scooter drivers pull up on the sidewalk in an attempt to get some cover until the rain slows. Those with heavy enough rain gear just keep driving.

water flowing down street

The roads are generally not maintained, so potholes fill quickly with floating debris. The myriads of roadside stalls are covered with tarps to wait out the downpour; they reopen as soon as the deluge stops. Life never comes to a halt here, though it slows a bit during the worst of the rain. When it stops, life returns to normal.

flip flop weather

This afternoon I went with Dadang to pick up Ronnie from work. I snapped these photos from the back seat of the car after the rain had subsided to a mere sprinkle.