April showers

Whilst it is currently summer in the south and the Monsoon isn't due to hit until June time, the heat of the day is occasionally broken by a brief but impressive rain storm.

The clear blue skies will suddenly be consumed by dark, menacing clouds. The women's saris start to fly in the whipping winds and the sky cracks and bellows. Then the rain will set in, usually for an hour or so.

It is the type of rain that will drench your clothes and skin in seconds and it is hopeless to attempt to walk around in it. Most people run for cover or hail an autorickshaw to get them home (including me!), and many of the shops will close. But it is so much fun and it freshens up the air for the evening, cooling the summer temperatures.

It has made me wonder what the monsoon rains are like. The south experiences more monsoon rain than the north and thunderstorms dominate the weather. Kerala is one of the first places to be hit and electricity and water supplies are problematic, not to mention the large scale flooding.

So, I am more than happy with these modest rain storms - and I'm escaping north before the serious rain sets in!