so in our coming to mumbai we've managed to hit the tail end of monsoon season. i was prepared for this, though, having been warned that 'it will be flooding' when i get to mumbai and hearing talk of trudging through streets with several feet of water. so when i arrived to find rather sporadic and light to medium rains i just shrugged off the warnings as the typically hyperbolic cautionary tales you so often hear as a westerner.
well i may have spoken too soon.
true, the first few days of our stay were only sporadically rainy (which was merciful, given all the other drudgery we had to go through.. tramping all around town looking at apartments and whatnot). but something must have snapped a few days ago. the skies opened up and the rain just poured down. it was exciting at first. after settling into our new place it was lovely to cozy up next to the window with a cup of tea and listen to the rain beating down on the tin awnings.
but pretty soon the cabin fever set in. having just arrived in a new (and massive) city, we were itching to explore. we had grandiose plans of visiting national parks, museum-hopping and market-wandering for the weekend. the one time i did venture out the walking tour i had hoped to join was canceled before i even got there. this seemed premature to me, but i guess these mumbaikars know a thing or two about the rains. sure enough, within the hour the downpour began. unfortunately this happened to be in the midst of my walk along marina drive and nariman point (meaning a bit of a walk from the train station). despite holding my umbrella (which i have dutifully carted around with me everywhere i've gone) i was soaked within minutes. (note to self: no white in monsoons.. luckily i hadn't made that particular mistake that morning) my friend and i stopped for some chai and vada pav to see if the rains would stop. but, alas, no end in sight. still, getting caught in a true monsoon downpour seemed like something of a rite of passage, like i had been cheating all those times before, just watching the rains from the comfort of my window.
last night my roommate and i were commiserating about the rains and the frustration at not being able to explore as we wanted to. but, faced with another day stuck inside, we resolved to go out anyway. when we did we realized that, naturally, life goes on, even during these crazy rains. sure, some shops shut down early and we heard some trains were flooded or running slowly. but, as my roommate pointed out, when it rains four months out of the year you just have to keep going.
i think i'm beginning to understand the romance of the rains. and while i still enjoy the unpredictability of virginia weather, i can certainly appreciate the anticipation of a massive rain that follows 8 months of heat and humidity.
well, the rain's really coming down now. if you'll excuse me i'm off to make some chai.
well i may have spoken too soon.
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| the rains make everything extra green |
but pretty soon the cabin fever set in. having just arrived in a new (and massive) city, we were itching to explore. we had grandiose plans of visiting national parks, museum-hopping and market-wandering for the weekend. the one time i did venture out the walking tour i had hoped to join was canceled before i even got there. this seemed premature to me, but i guess these mumbaikars know a thing or two about the rains. sure enough, within the hour the downpour began. unfortunately this happened to be in the midst of my walk along marina drive and nariman point (meaning a bit of a walk from the train station). despite holding my umbrella (which i have dutifully carted around with me everywhere i've gone) i was soaked within minutes. (note to self: no white in monsoons.. luckily i hadn't made that particular mistake that morning) my friend and i stopped for some chai and vada pav to see if the rains would stop. but, alas, no end in sight. still, getting caught in a true monsoon downpour seemed like something of a rite of passage, like i had been cheating all those times before, just watching the rains from the comfort of my window.
last night my roommate and i were commiserating about the rains and the frustration at not being able to explore as we wanted to. but, faced with another day stuck inside, we resolved to go out anyway. when we did we realized that, naturally, life goes on, even during these crazy rains. sure, some shops shut down early and we heard some trains were flooded or running slowly. but, as my roommate pointed out, when it rains four months out of the year you just have to keep going.
i think i'm beginning to understand the romance of the rains. and while i still enjoy the unpredictability of virginia weather, i can certainly appreciate the anticipation of a massive rain that follows 8 months of heat and humidity.
well, the rain's really coming down now. if you'll excuse me i'm off to make some chai.
1 comment:
I think after awhile I'd have a hard time maintaining a positive attitude. But I also have always liked that feeling of being inside looking out on rain. I can remember doing that in South Carolina at the age of 3; it's one of the most distinct memories of my childhood.
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