Bangkok Monsoon

Rainy season is not supposed to be here until July or August, but there have been torrential downpours the last couple days. Yesterday, a banana tree blew over and landed on my car. Then, all the black ants that were taking refuge in the tree crawled onto my car and hid in the crooks and crannies between the doors, trunk, and hood. Somehow, they were eventually able to get inside. Now, when driving, I keep one hand on the wheel while the other hand squashes ants.

The Monsoon Season is a big part of life in Thailand, but more so as it relates to farming and agriculture. For people in Bangkok, it's a hassle that comes in the mornings, rests during midday, then returns in the early evening - just as you're leaving the office. Because the rains typically only last 15 - 20 minutes, most people do not bother to carry an umbrella and instead, make mad dashes between awnings, as they struggle to stay dry. For the unfortunate souls who are stuck in traffic, although they are dry, their daily commute is doubled, if not tripled.

I came across this video that captures Bangkok's transformation from a "functioning" metropolis to a crippled Water World during one of these 15 minute monsoons.

Of course, when it's all over and the Bangkok smog has been wiped away and the humidity has been squeezed from the skies, there is a brief moment of purity, where the sky is a soft blue, and you can stand outside for a moment and not break into a full body sweat. That being said, Bangkok's motorists are still fated to the frustrations of a hyper-extended commute, which even clear skies and the patience of a Buddhist monk can not help to overcome.