5 October 2009
Cambodia basically has two season: hot and dry and hot and wet. The rainy season starts in May and continues up until the end of October or into November, so we're in the midst of it now. And this is a really wet year! We seem to have had more flooding this year than in the previous nine years I've been here. Normal rainfall is heavy during this season but this year we have felt the fading effects of several dying typhoons and it's not improbable that we're being affected by global warming. |
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 A neighbor boy frolicking in a heavy rain. He doesn't worry. He's not going anywhere and can just enjoy the downpour. |
 One of the worst areas for frequent flooding is Street 63, a heavily traveled avenue near Charlie's house. |
 When your motorcycle floods out, all you can do is get off and push. |
The city government has been working on the sewer system for the past ten years. When Charlie first arrived, little guys would strip down to their underwear and go down into the sewers and haul out buckets of black muck. More recently new and larger sewer lines have been laid along some streets, but the basic flooding continues. When it rains, those who are out and about try various ways to use raincoats and ponchos to keep dry. |
 It's standard practice, if you're riding with a motorcycle taxi, to get under the rear flap of his poncho. |
 This mother and her child make mom's raincoat do for two people also. The visibility is a lot better when the rider is in front! |
 Some people keep these flimsy light plastic raincoats under the seat of their motorcycles. |
 Having two raincoats for two people is more convenient and more comfortable. |