Ordinary Gweilo

This is the rainy season in Hong Kong.

Umbrellas – I hate ’em. Obviously they are very useful when there is heavy rain, but then you have to carry them around and try to avoid losing them. If you are caught without one, there’s always that awful decision whether to buy the world’s most over-priced umbrella (and worse, to become a walking advertisement for 7-11).  Then, to get full value out of their rash purchase, people insist on using it when (1) they are under cover and (2) it has actually stopped raining.  Well, you never can be too careful, I suppose. 

Slippery flooring – what’s that all about? Whenever they "upgrade" a shopping centre or office building they seem to think that a shiny marble floor is just the job. Then when it rains, people walk in (with their wet shoes, wet clothes and that expensive umbrella they just bought in 7-11), and now we have our very own ice skating rink. With predictably hilarious results.

Thunderstorm warnings. Enough said (but there’s more here).

Not that it’s all bad.

After a good storm, the skies are clear and we can briefly forget that we are in such a polluted city. It is traditional to celebrate this by taking photographs of the Hong Kong skyline and remarking upon how exciting it is to be able to see the Cultural Centre from the Peak.  Or is it the other way round?

On those rare ocasions when the Observatory have resisted the temptation to issue a Thunderstorm Warning, I rather enjoy swimming in the rain. Especially as the pool is usually empty.

Not only that, but the water is cooler after a storm so you don’t feel like you’re having a bath when you go swimming.