Eclipsed by rain
(Various pictures of the total eclipse, clockwise from top left: before the eclipse in torrential rain, car headlights in the complete darkness, Ying’s workmates (and extras), me enjoying the majestic, magical eclipse)
After all the hype, the days and days of splendid sunshine and clearer skies, the hawkers flogging special cardboard ‘safety glasses’ and the massive news coverage – this was our eclipse. I’ll admit, it was slightly disappointing to wake up and see the cloud cover and then to walk out and be battered by driving monsoon rain.
Ying’s work gave them two hours off and allowed me to tag along as we were driven to the edge of the city for a better look. At least, that was the plan, but the hammering rain and the already dark sky, heavy with clouds put paid to our hopes of seeing the actual eclipse. All Ying’s colleagues were pointing upwards in different directions as we all began to wonder where the sun actually was. There was much laughing and jollity as we were all armed with our cardboard glasses – completely useless in the absence of sun. However, when the time came at around 9.30am, the darkness was impressive and complete in a matter of a couple of minutes and lasted over six minutes. It was eerie and somewhere, deep down, it is instinctively frightening. It felt like the sun died and I can imagine people in the past panicking in real fear. The darkness is all we experienced, along with the atmosphere of anticipation and I felt the novelty of all these people being let out of the office for a special, rare event.
Well, the best way to see this eclipse is actually on good old BBC!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7536438.stm
I thought I might as well add this link in case you hadn’t seen it, but I imagine it’s making news wherever you are. In fact, judging by pictures I’ve seen, you may have seen more than we did!
well, to experience the complete darkness must be quite something.
singapore rained extraordinary heavily during that time. i looked at the clock, when it was about time the eclipse was over the rain also stopped. no eclipse here.
Hey, Sorry it rained, you only had a 50% chance of seeing due to cloud anyway. Glad it was an experience anyway. Dave
You are lucky to see it.
Oh no. But if you live until your like 100 then the chances are you shall see it again. I love the picture on the bottom right. Ying is very tall indeed.