Rain was in the Forecast

It pours buckets, rods, curtains, dogs and cats....When it rains, it means it!  Scattered drops that slap onto the tin roofs become a deafening torrential downpour which lasts for 10 to 12 hours sometimes.  And then the river rises beyond its banks and the streets flood.  And the streets drain onto people's homes.  After three days of exuberant rain, a river flowed under and into the houses in our village.  It didn't seem to phase the people, though.  I didn't see any rain jackets, umbrellas or wellies.  I saw children taking off their clothes and playing in the abundant waters.



I saw adults kick off their flip flops and take out their nets so they can catch tiny silvery fish.

I'm not sure what they make with these tiny fish.
I think they make Prahok.

Boys pulled their wooden boats by a string up against the flow.  Girls rode their bikes in the waist deep water.  Children used tin wash tubs as boats to float in.

And then there were the Peace Corps volunteers who have never seen so much rain.  I've seen hard rain, don't get me wrong.  I've seen rain that obstructs you visibility two feet in front of your eyes; but not rain that intense that lasts for such a long time.

These basins are all-purpose:
for washing dishes, laundry,
and making smiles.

When I say that people don't seem to be phased by it, I don't mean that they are not affected by it.  On the contrary, some vendors at the market weren't able to set up in their normal place because it was under water.

Our friends, at their flooded restaurant.

These are food stands (restaurants) on the flooded street.

Some restaurants weren't able to open because their entire space was under water.  Other restaurants opened, as long as the customers didn't mind having their feet under water.  We saw a tuk tuk drive into a deep ditch because the driver couldn't see where the street was and where the ditch was.  The tourists riding in the tuk tuk had to be carried to the dry side of the street so the driver could pull the vehicle out of the water.  The school grounds and the soccer field were under water.


Gary fell onto a muddy street when the front tire of his bicycle fell into a hole that he couldn't see because it was full of water.

And life went on.  Drivers kept driving and vendors kept selling.  People who depend on the market to purchase the ingredients for the meal of the day walked to the market -- even if the water was up to their knees.   Nobody seemed to be shocked by it.

Gary went about his shopping at the market with a bloody knee. Everyone kept pointing at it.  He just smiled and said "chee kong duel" (I fell off my bike).  Lots of laughter ensued and the phrase echoed throughout the market.

These pictures to the left and to the right are of our back yard.  It normally is dry dirt where chickens and people walk.  It is where we do our laundry and wash our dishes.  It's all now under water.

The good news is that the flooding lasted only three days.  The rains stopped and the river calmed down and the streets all emptied onto people's yards.  The yards all drained onto other lower channels and now the streets and properties are starting to dry out revealing plenty of road damage and erosion.

This is the main street in our village.  To the right you see the little bit of the market that was still able to set up.  Normally this street has so many vendors to the left and to the right that vehicles can only travel single file.

This is the view of the same main street but away from the market.  The river bank is at the tree line where the blue sign is.  The road is to the left and the river to the right.