Cyclone Fun

Indonesia does not experience four seasons like some parts of America. I say some parts because the Great State of Texas doesn't have a long fall like Washington, but then again Western Washington has about a week of summer. 

Indonesia is much the same. They tend to have two seasons- Rainy and Dry. We experienced rainy season in both Bandung and Bali. The first experience was in language school. We were learning so many things regarding language and culture but never caught on to the idea that we ALWAYS need to pack our rain gear for our afternoon outings. It never failed- sunny, beautiful blue skies when we left on the motorcycle; dark clouds, hard rains, flooded streets, and no rain gear when we were ready to come home. The second experience was in Bali after our first trip back to America. We were jetlagged, missing half our luggage, and hungry. It was sunny with beautiful blue skies when we left the hotel to find food. We learned our lesson and had our rain jackets in our backpack, so when the bottom fell out of the sky we were some what prepared. We still were soaked, lesson learned- take a taxi. 

Papua on the other hand is a different story in many ways. Even the weather in this region is different from the other parts of the country. Did I mention that Indonesia is about 3 times the size of Texas? As a Texan, I measure everything in "Texas". Anyways it's a big place. Papua's seasons are like this: Dry and West Wind. Rain does come during the West Wind season but with it comes huge gusts of wind. The rain usually comes in the evening and creates a nice sound on your rooftops. I hear that people miss that sound when they leave. I can understand why, it's very soothing and comforting. 

Cyclone season brings a totally different kind of wind. It brings the kind of wind that will rip up deeply rooted trees from the ground. It will rip nails out of your roofing materials. It's the kind of wind that makes all the starfruit fall to the ground before they are ready to eat. It's the wind that makes every single grain of dirt sting any open skin. BUT it's also the wind that makes it great to fly a kite.

Mary Poppins says it best: 

With tuppence for paper and string

You can have your own set of wings

With your feet on the ground you're a bird in flight

With your fist holding tight to the string of your kite

Let's go fly a kite

Up to the highest height

Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring

Up through the atmosphere

Up where the air is clear

Oh let's go fly a kite

When you send it flying up there

All at once you're lighter than air

You can dance with the breeze over houses and trees

With your fist holding tight to the string of your kite

Let's go fly a kite

Up to the highest height

Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring

Up through the atmosphere

Up where the air is clear

Oh let's go fly a kite