Cyclone season

I've decided I'm not too fond of cyclones, as they have severely put a damper on my ability to access sunlight. hmm. The sun hasn't appeared in a week and a half and thats very uncommon here, in the burning west.

So how do I explain this. I live in Lautoka, as you all should know by now, and Lautoka is the only city in the west that doesn't have a river running through it. This means that we are safe from major flooding. Unfortunately for my neighbors, they are not so lucky all being cursed with large rivers that flood under extreme weather conditions (i.e. lots of rain= flooding). Their deluged state has put an even bigger damper on their lives, most of them have had to move to safe houses and consolidation areas like schools and large community halls. Water is scarce, and electricity is unreliable, so people have been collecting rain water like mad, and buying anything that isn't reliant on refrigeration. I don't know who the makers of tin tuna are, but they are surely making a fortune.

This is the worst flood seen in this area in 20 years.

If there were ever a time to highlight cultural differences between the two major ethnic groups in Fiji, this would be it. The extreme downpours have left, [almost] rivers running through the streets. Any crevice, any groove, there is water, and A LOT of it at that (and like I said, comparatively speaking its not even that bad in Lautoka), forming water-slide like entertainment for those who squint enough to imagine it to be so. As Fijians flock outside with their wild imaginations, Indians retreat to the comforts of their dry couches and televisions. I'm not sure what exactly this all means, but I DO know that I think I might be turning Fijian. Dont be surprised if I come back 100lbs heavier with a mustache-- it could happen. I LOVE rain and I too have seen the water slides, splash in the puddles and sit on my roof is the heaviest of rainfall.

The rain should be dying down soon, but peoples houses are left with a single dirt line marking the duress left behind by the last few weeks.

For those of you planning to visit.... Take note: January= not a good time to visit Fiji.