Finding Beauty in Monsoon Rains (Danang Vietnam)

Finding Beauty in Monsoon Rains (Danang Vietnam)

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Hi Friends,

The monsoon season has brought endless days of heavy rain here in Da Nang, Vietnam. While some may see only inconvenience in the downpours, I've tried to appreciate the unique beauty revealed when the world is saturated with water. Venturing out on the last stormy evening to a favorite bar, I was able to capture the mesmerizing visual effects the nonstop rains produce.

Stepping outside, the first sensation is the deafening din of billions of fat droplets pounding every surface. Looking up, the sky fades into a uniform gray veil just feet above me - the rain is too dense to see through. Raindrops bead and drip from every branch and wire overhead, decorating the city with ephemeral strings of pearls.

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As I walk, shallow rivers pour down the streets, pooling and swirling around my feet. The deluge drums a constant rhythm against awnings and roofs. Palm fronds bow low, saturated with the inexorable weight of precipitation.

Arriving at the bar, the gutters have overflowed into shallow lakes. Fluorescent signs glow softly through the liquid haze. The street takes on an otherworldly, underwater feel, so I order my negroini.

I take out my camera to capture the dark, water-blurred scenes. Using my camera phone, I try my best to get the 'feeling' of the storm... Street lamps diffuse into hazy halos. Water droplets suspend delicately on spiderweb wires. The effect is calming yet exhilarating.

While chaotic, there's beauty in the rain if you learn to observe its qualities. The water temporarily transforms familiar streets into impressionist paintings dancing with movement and light. An appreciation for the strange beauty within the storm grows.

Soon the rains will nourish brilliant green rice paddies and jungles. For now, I try to find inspiration in rainy evenings where water adds magic and wonder to the world. A little creativity reveals nature's art hidden within the downpour.

Stay dry friends.
:)