Dec 21 - Rain Rain Rain and More Rain

Yes, believe it or not it is raining again - all day - the clouds are down so low that you can't see the mountains at all - you'd never know there were any. Reminds me of 30 or more years ago when inlaws visited the apartment which had fantastic views on the days when there was no rain - you could see for 30 miles unobstructed -same problem today in any direction. But in the other world ...

In Aceh the rains are very different than in other parts of the archipelago - they come strong downpours for long times - the monsoons - and they also come quietly as drizzle for long periods. In Jakarta the rains were almost angry coming so intensely starting almost at the same time in the afternoon every day.

In Surabaya the roads were (and the golf course was) prone to flooding when the skies belched. One day Bob and Ronnie - my Aussie friends and I were stranded almost and had to walk back down the fairway during a severe thunderstorm which swooped in and spoiled our round in many ways - had to drink beer waiting for the traffic to let up - left my shoes and lost them to some caddy who is probably still wearing them 5 years later - no 9 years later. They were good Footjoys too -anyway he needed them more than I - otherewise I would still have them I guess.

In Dili, there are no golf courses - but there is rain occasionally. Itso torrential - people - everyone comes to wash and the river which is normally dry can almost reach the bridge level - people drown in that stuff - a 4 to 5 meter rise inside of about an hour sometimes.

But that's the other world.