Thursday, May 19, 2011

Strange Weather in Vizag

Strange Weather in Vizag

It has been sweltering for the past couple of weeks. And any outdoor activity in such weather almost soaks you bone-dry of your energy. I am sure that whosoever came up with the saying, "The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war" didn't exactly cater for Indian weather. One doesn't actually have to move his lazy arse to sweat in this country, if he can't afford an AC.

Well,this morning held a surprise for me. Having shifted to Vizag recently, my body clock is still adjusting to the early sun rise and day break. I have begun waking up at 7AM which is at least 45 minutes before my time in mumbai. Now for the uniniated mumbai is about 10-12 deg west of vizag. The earth moves a degree in 4 minutes. 12 degree west means that the sun rises about 48 minutes later in mumbai.

So I have pretty much adjusted my body clock to the new city. So when I woke up at 7.30 and expected the sun to be brightly shining on my face from the east facing window, it wasn't the case. IN fact, it seemed all dark. I walked up the window to double check if I had not slept less or it wasn't a dream. The visage outside was dystopic, gloomy clouds covered the otherwise uncomfortably bright sky and it could have passed off as late twilight hour. Closer view revealed, low height clouds billowing at about 200 feet. When I stepped outside to feel this unique weather, it dawned on me that this was no hill station weather as soon my eyes began to hurt from the iron ore, sulphur and smoke that was part of the flow. At the horizon, I could see the heaps of coal dust ready for shipping, being blown away by the non-seasonal wind.

It was bitter sweet feeling as the heat had been beaten but the dust would soon corrode every metallic object in the undulating landscape of city on the east coast. So much for development in the sunshine city!