Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Rain

Monsoon rain in Mumbai ... a constant drizzle, and heavy showers. From the lobby of the Oberoi, buildings across the bay are a faint line of ghosts shrouded in low hanging clouds.

High tide ... Under sunlight diffused by the leaden sky, a violent wind drives a cavalcade of frothing rollers to crash on the breakwater. Spray flies over the parapet and lands on the pavement, now a black reflecting pool. The monsoon's only colours are shades of grey.

In the short intervals when rain stops, a cloak of tepid air heavy with moisture still hangs about, fogging glasses and camera lenses fresh out of the cool hotel lobby.

On sidewalks, dark-skinned emaciated souls sit under flapping plastic sheets, precariously stretched over temporary stalls.

Back in Singapore this morning, the plane lands under heavy rain ...

Rain, non-stop tropical rain, I have not seen the sun in three days.

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