Braving the monsoon rains in Kuantan: A Video

Severe flood warnings are out across Kuantan as the monsoon season has hit hard in its first couple of days. There is widespread flooding around the town but I went out to take photos and record this short video so you can see what we're dealing with.

And here are a few photos I took whilst on my walk around my immediate area:

Mr. Samindan tries to unblock the drains outside his restaurant and my apartment block in Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan

Cars slowly making their way along Jalan Dato' Lim Hoe Lek, Kuantan

Slow moving cars kick up ridges of rainwater along Jalan Dato' Lim Hoe Lek, just beside East Coast Mall, in Kuantan

And here are some more photos which are credited to Life@Kuantan facebook page:

Near St. Thomas school looking to Jalan Tun Ismail, Kuantan

This is a public car park close to Berjaya Megamall (background)

These two gentlemen had to wade through chest-high waters at Shahputra college, Indera Mahkota, Kuantan

Bracing ourselves for the rainy season

The rainy season, or monsoon season, will be in full force any day now across Malaysia.

We have torrential rains, and last year saw the worst flooding in Kuantan for over 50 years. But we are fortunate enough not to endure storms of the like which have battered the Philippines in recent days.

While the rainy season presents challenges for us in Kuantan, I realise it pales in comparison to the natural disasters other parts of Asia and America have received in recent times.

Nevertheless, we are bracing ourselves . . .

When it rains, it pours

We are in the middle of the annual monsoon rains here in Kuantan. Running through November to January, they limit our enjoyment in going out. The evenings are dark and cold. Lauren somehow loves it.

In this picture, I captured Lauren gazing out the window at the pouring rain. Simply switching off the lights and taking photos in the dark with nothing but the rain and street lamp outside, made for some unique images, like this one.

The rain has been falling all day and all night for the last few days. It has caused flooding at The Zenith Hotel basement car park, and the disappearance of the letter 'K' by the riverfront. It now reads "UANTAN". 

http://www.facebook.com/kuantan.my

We also associate the monsoon rains with being stuck in the house all day long, which I'm not too keen on, along with interruption of the satellite television reception, which is definitely not good when you're trapped at home on a never-ending rainy day!