Unpredictable Weather!

 The weather is rather quite unpredictable these days.  

Although it is still the South-West Monsoon season, which usually is the rainy season here, we have been getting a lot of hot, sunny days.  Not that I am complaining.  It's been great to have such beautiful, nice, warm weather and I am totally loving it!

 

  

It would be bright and sunny one day, and I would be seeing blue skies while out kayaking, and the next day it would be storming up!

Anyway, the sky is always interesting when it is stormy.  

 

The weather can also change really quickly.

 And when it's been raining and it gets all misty. 

 While the mangroves would always be evergreen.  

Such a contrast!

And if you've been wondering..... Yes, I did get drenched while out kayaking today!

Gray Skies

Another of Mother Nature's gifts and creations.

Even on an overcast, gray day, there is a beautiful painting on the canvas in the sky...........

 

I'd just gotten out the front door to leave for work and as a habit, I'd always look up into the sky and look at the hills.  And I'd totally loved what I saw......

The sun looked like it was just about coming up behind the hills then.
Quite a sight to behold!

On A Hot, Beautiful Day!

This picture does not do this enough justice.  

It really is a breathtaking view looking out into the the sea from here.....

On a hot day like this, all you want to do is get out there!

Natural Cooling System

Yes, I watched the evening sky again yesterday, as I had done the day before.

At this time of the year, whenever I wanted to get good photos of the evening sky, I would sit on the wall on the front stoop and rest my feet on the roof tiles.  And, often, my feet would be placed apart with one foot braced on either side of the roof ridge to get good leverage for photos. 

 

If I am using a tripod, it would be placed on this ridge as well.

 My place has a North-South alignment.

Because of that, I do not get a full frontal view of the morning or evening skies.

Hence, I would sit on the wall right at the edge of the roof ridge in order to face westward where the sun would be setting.  I would have loved to go all the way out onto the ridge of the porch roof but I don't suppose it would be worth taking that risk at all!

Don't get me wrong.

I really am not complaining.

This North-South alignment is truly great for ventilation and this place would almost always be quite cool and airy because of that.

Why?

Here in Langkawi, there are two main seasons - the North-East monsoon from November till April and the South-West monsoon from May till October.  As such, the prevailing winds in this area come from two main directions - from the North-East or North and from the South-West or South, depending on the time of the year.  Having doors and windows in this North-South alignment is therefore perfect for natural ventilation throughout the house and this in itself is a very effective passive cooling system in place.  There are days when I could sit at my dining table or in the living room without putting on the ceiling fan and not even feel warm at all.

Besides that, if you do know me, you would know I am not exactly a conventional person.  So I really do not mind sitting on the wall to get good photos or just to watch the evening skies.  In fact, I quite like it and enjoy doing that when I can.

And I do love it that I get to see the setting sun from this very spot at certain times of the year, without having to leave home and go somewhere else!  That happens in March and September when the sun is making its way North or South respectively and will set behind those hills in horizon.

This next photo was taken in March. 
You can just see the edge of the setting sun before it had completely dipped behind those hills.

A stranger may think I'm loony sitting there on the wall but I am just enjoying life in a way I can!

 The evening sky yesterday was totally awesome!

All those splashes of vivid colours!

It's like something you would only see in a painting!

The Sky At Dusk

Had just started preparing dinner when I took a glimpse out the kitchen window.  Saw the golden orangy-yellow hues and knew that evening sky would probably be beautiful.

It would be great just to watch the sky even though I won't see the setting sun!

Took me a few seconds to decide to abandon the idea of having dinner at my usual time, then grabbed my camera and went outside.  I sat perched on the porch wall, with my feet resting and braced on the roofing tiles and started snapping.  Initially, a few mosquitoes came out to bug me and I had to keep slapping them away but after a while, they disappeared altogether.  

Bliss!

I took nearly fifty photos in the half hour that I sat there.  That's almost a photo each minute!

Of course, some had to be discarded as they were blurry but I actually had quite a lot of good ones.

The colours of the dusk sky change every few minutes and that in itself was just amazing!

The first photo of the evening, taken at 7:41pm.

The light orangy-yellow sky is a good indication that the evening sky will be gorgeous!

At 7:43pm.  

Zoomed in towards the Mat Chinchang mountain in the background.  

This mountain is on the north-western part of the island, where the cable car ride goes up to.  

I am at the south-eastern corner of the island.  

And, yes, this is how small Langkawi is! 

 7:46pm.
Back to looking at the sky over the south of Kuah.

The orangy colours on the horizon is now deeper and richer but still a lot of grays in the sky.

 A minute later, at 7:47pm.  

You can get such a different picture when you zoom in onto Kuah Bay.

At 7:49pm, the swirl of clouds above me had turned a shade deeper......

7:56pm.

It is nice to watch the changing colours in the sky.

And it is always nice to look out onto that little strip of water that is Kuah Bay.

 8:00pm now.

I have been sitting here watching the sky for about 15 minutes.  

All the bits of blue have become more intense as it gets a little darker.....

 8:05pm.

The lights on the viewing platforms on the Mat Chinchang mountain can now be clearly seen glittering against the dusk sky. 

 8:12pm.

Just before it became a little too dark to see the rich colours of the sky.

The night will be upon us soon.......

Totally worth it to brave the mosquitoes and take the time to enjoy watching the sky at dusk and then have dinner a little late.  Definitely totally worth it!

An Evening On The Beach

Sunset yesterday.  

It did not have all the stunning colours.

Yet it still was great to be out there for an evening stroll on the beach.

To feel the sand under your bare feet.

To feel serenity when you look up at the evening sky at dusk.

To see beauty in all its simplicity.

To appreciate all these gifts from Mother Nature.

To count our blessings.

To love life!