Bangkok Blogs

I’m not certain there actually is a Thai Rain God, but if there is, he or she is vengeful and petty and all manner of cruel things. Don’t get me wrong - I love the rain. I enjoy watching it rain, it cleans the air and reduces the rubbish in the gutters of Bangkok. It makes the world smell fresh and even brings the temperature and humidity down. Rain is useful for these and many more important reasons.

However, the infrastructure of Bangkok cannot survive even the shortest of rainfalls. There are several things that you can guarantee will happen when it begins to rain:

- Your apartment will lose it’s internet connection.

- You will hit a traffic jam around the next bend (more on this one in a bit..)

- Your mobile phone will not work properly.

- The clothes drying on your balcony will not be dry.

Technically, I am sure the phone issue and the internet issue can be explained scientifically. I’m also fairly sure I can deduce why drying clothes get wet in the rain - however, and this is a big however, why does traffic get worse when it rains? Here are some theories:

- Everyone runs for a taxi (but how does this increase number of vehicles already on the road?)

- Drivers begin to slow down (Hahaha..! As if!)

- People decide to stop what they are doing and run for their parked cars to return home, incase the world is ending.

Ok, so those theories are not great.

Despite these issues with life in the Capital, and despite the fact I have missed many deadlines thanks to the rain, I still wouldn’t have it any other way. Even for the long-stay resident like myself, these problems retain a charm as long as you retain a sense of humour about life.