Haze has gone...

As quickly as it came it has gone, the haze it seems does have a time limit and probably in the 2nd week of October blues skies resumed and everything was back to normal, we could see the horizon line and the backdrop of the mountains and beyond and we are surrounded by mountains and limestone outcrops which just seem to rise up from nothing in a straight line. This could be a mecca for climbing but alas not so, the Malaysian culture doesn't seem to promote much outdoor activity, it is about but only for the likes of tourists or rich Chinese.

Next year i will consider going north backpacking during the haze period as it is so bad for your lungs, i have had to take drugs to assist with throat issues and coughing problems. suffice to say though that it also seems to perk people up a bit more.

So the haze has gone API is about 27 most days we now just have the monsoon to deal with.

The monsoon is not as impressive as you'd think, yes it rains but it seems to rain much less than in the UK where you get drizzle for days and days, here it rains for short bursts and is torrential, when driving all cars slow down to a crawl and you cannot see the cars in front for brief occasional moments and some times cars on the other side will completely soak you in water like a wave crashing over you from huge puddles mostly unseen produced from the deluge.

It is a dangerous time to be driving, scooter riders hide under bridges and only the very bravest carry onwards, the puddles and areas that get flooded can lift the bike wheels off the tarmac and so thats it for a scooter rider there off....it is of course for someone like me who loves driving through puddles the best time ever I transform into a child, luckily there are very few pavements here in the same way we have them at home and so you dont soak people....so i can drive into as many as i like, and rest assured i have nearly stalled the car in deep ones, some round abouts (they only have a few) all the water gathers around the centre island and when you whizz through its like a huge spray being thrown off, now just think if i do that in my 2L imagine if you will what a an overloaded timber lorry does at speed....its superb to watch.

As well as the crashing rain you have the lightning as well and its mostly fork ligtning too, and the noise...its from another world.

And then .......silence, its stopped just like that, your wipers are flying and doing two to a dozen but the rain has vanished as if you'd just driven out of a rain room...incredible and so enjoyable...

Afterwards you can target the puddles as you can see more of them....but after the rain the moisture in the air is at its highest and wow it can get stuffy in a steam room type way but without the steam, its time for air con after rain here and all the bugs get flooded and wake up and come looking for food...YOU.