Fuddland

We get some pretty impressive storms here in Sūzhōu (苏州), and yesterday’s was the most vigorous yet: throughout the day we had rolls of thunder, but it wasn’t until the evening that the skies opened. Within minutes the streets were like rivers — six or seven inches of water spilling over the kerbs onto the pavements, branches falling onto the roads. The thirty seconds or so I took to get from the taxi to the bar soaked me to the skin.

Before I went out, I shot this thrilling movie from my prison cell bedroom window:

Look out for the fork lightning and terrific thunderclap around the 1:40 mark — so loud it sets off all the car alarms in the area.

Usually after a storm we get some respite from the thirty- to forty-degree heat, but today it’s like no rain ever fell: the streets are bone dry and the temperature’s rising. More storms are predicted for later today however — maybe a second soaking will cool this place down for a bit longer.

#1

Jann | 2006 / 08 / 19 – 00:42

Hey David! Take a look at this storm I captured…

#2

David | 2006 / 08 / 19 – 00:54

Re #1: Don’t blame me, I did try to help by telling you where the “exciting” part was! :P

#3

Daisy | 2006 / 08 / 21 – 03:44

Very Hitchcokian (is that a word?). I love watching thunderstorms but this one is quite eerie.

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