It's the wet season

The rainy season seems to be lasting longer than in the previous two years.  As at home the heavens seem to open just as school finishes.  Most of the time that is Ok for me, but I have had a few damp scooter trips.  This photo looking across the road from my apartment to the yoga studio provides  a sense of the intensity of the short thunderstorms.

Friday Storm Clouds

Storm clouds have been in the sky most afternoons this week.  Often followed by thunder and heavy rain.

A stormy Afternoon

The wet season has arrived. I made it back to the apartment this afternoon, slightly damp, but just in time to avoid a huge downpour and storm.  Thunder, lightning and wind. The trees out the back were swaying and branches were down in the neighbours yard.

Its hot

The hot weather has arrived. It has been on 39 most days this week.  BUT if you look closely it says it FEELS like  46.  It is very hot.

And if you look across the bottom you can see that it stays HOT all NIGHT.  It is very hot.

Even when we go for our morning training ride at 6 am it is still hot.  Forecast is for 27 tomorrow morning, but it felt much warmer than that on Wednesday.

Its not that cold

Like this dog I have been wearing an extra layer in the mornings as its cool.  Not really cold enough for this dog (and others around town) to be in a jacket.  

However, I am happy to be able to wear a cardigan or vest and a scarf to work in the mornings.

The recent cold snap was difficult for people as they are not equipped for the cold.

The paper today showed people in the north receiving donated warm clothing.  It also listed livestock killed by the cold snap.  The list included 1400 head of cattle, 473 buffalo and 1,600 kg of frogs!

Rugged up for Winter

The three days of winter have passed.  The temperature was back into the high 20s today.

The lady behind the counter in this shop near the apartment can put her hat away until next year.

Fur Sighted on the Streets of Vientiane

The internet in the apartment has been erratic, which is VERY annoying, hence no posts for a few days.

It has been cold this week, with a freezing wind blowing down from China.  Yesterday a colleague said it was the coldest day she has experienced in the 8 years she has lived here.  It was about 10C plus the wind - so cold.

The locals are rugging up.  Lots of socks and thongs,  but also fur trimmed jackets.

This lady and her daughter in their stylish black and white furs caught my attention as I crossed the road, but zoomed off as I reached for the camera - hence the blurry back view.

The Season is Changing

The rice in the rice paddy behind the rice paddy restaurant has been harvested.  The weather is getting cooler.  The air conditioner in the class room wasn't turned on all day yesterday!
I even work my light polar fleece last night on the way to study hall in the dorms.
The kids are wearing hoodies and jackets and one Korean girl even had a rug, Aunty Nell style, on her lap today in class - a bit extreme - I was about to turn the fan on as I was hot.
Its like a lovely autumn day really, crisp in the morning, sunshine and warmth in the afternoon.