Though I ve experienced monsoon and its severity personally, I ve never experienced cyclone and its fury. Even a couple of stays in Chennai during cyclone period didn’t give me an expected firsthand experience how the nature’s fury would be. As we all live with the word in the back of our mind which says “expect the unexpected” I got the chance of witnessing and experiencing the impact of the low pressure trough that forms in an ocean, but the ocean was not Indian Ocean, but it was Pacific Ocean and hence its Typhoon. The low pressure in Atlantic Ocean brings Hurricane. Whatever the name might be, the intensity and the fury are equally matched. Weather it may be the “Super Cyclone” that hit the Paradeep Port of the state of Orissa , India or the “Hurricane Kathrina” that Hit Lousiana, USA, the damage and destructions it causes brings a long lasting mark in ones heart n mind.
I lived in Taiwan for a while and landed on the Formosa Island s Taoyuan airport one early winter morning and reached my destination, Taichung, the second largest city in Taiwan.. Life was fine and the winter was ok, if not for occasional chill wind accompanied with showers. It immediately brought down the temperature, but was enjoyable. The seasons changed and summer came and it bought typhoons with it.
Typhoon, as the name say, was derived from the Mandarin language and it means “Supreme Wind”. It’s not the amount of rain it brings; it also has in it the, gusty wind (I had couple of broken umbrellas) which comes along with rain. One summer Tuesday morning, got up, had oat milk and sat before the computer. In these period of stay, got used to the life style of Taiwanese. Hence checked the weather forecast (The Central Weather Bureau Website) for the next couple of days. Also in the sleep last night felt a mild shake, so was worried weather there was any tremors. Taiwan apart from the Typhoon is also known for its vulnerability to earth quakes, since its situated just above the Pacific Ring of Fire (will write about my first experience to earth quake in later post). There was indeed a mild tremor registered. But the unexpected was there, typhoon warning!
On an average around 25 typhoons are formed in the Pacific Ocean and around 3 to 4 hit the Island of Taiwan. This time the warning is for Typhoon “Megi”. Don’t know the exact meaning of the term, but was exited to experience it. Had some oat milk and was as usual to lab work. Since Tuesday , had lab meet with Professor and at the end of the meet, called me up and advised me to get prepared for the typhoon that’s going to hit the island nation, which in fact increased my anxiety . Asked myself to get stuffed with necessary grocery and other essential stuff, since for the next two days it’ ll b tough to venture out. That afternoon had a break and my Chinese lab mates advised me not to come out and if I was in need of any help or any emergency I should call them or the Police. (Slight fear came in to me, but had with me few Indians who had firsthand experience, so was little comfortable too).
Went to the super market (Save n Safe) and bought few items. Since I bought many essential things last Sunday, I had enough provisions with me. So didn’t buy many things, but forgot to buy yogurt, and bought some in 7/11 which opened all 24 hrs, 7 days a week. But in these typhoon periods it may be also shut down. Strapped all the openings in my windows and hung a screen as advised by my friends to protect from leaking water and broken glass pieces, since the force of the typhoon is like that.
Evening had a chat with one of my friend and had dinner with him in apartment. Made a call back home and went to bed and dozed off. Early in the morning, heard a kind a blowing noise thought the closed window(oooooooohhhhhhhhh), wake up and the noise was uncomfortable and couldn’t catch sleep any more . It dawned and was raining heavily and was slightly windy. A holiday was declared. Lazily cooked my break fats and at a stretch made my lunch too. Late in the afternoon got the real typhoon experience. The wind was very gusty accompanied with rain and sound. I live in 7’th floor and that gave me the real opportunity to experience the force of the typhoon The hanger in the balcony and the clothes on it flew away in front of my eyes and couldn’t stand there for more than a minute there , due to the force of the wind.
Suddenly got the wild idea, how it ll be on the ground?!. Mustered some courage and ventured out to the open. The moment I came down to the ground floor and opened the gate, I was literally blown a few fetes and couldn’t even open my umbrella. Was drenched in rain and the umbrella, when opened, was blown the other way and the two connecting rods split in to two, the handle was in my hand and the other split half flew high and was gone in front of me. Though it was thrilling, I didn’t want to stay out for more time since tress may be uprooted and power cables may be thrown off. Came back to my apartment. To my dismay there was no power problem and nor any problem in the internet. Checked the weather bureau and typhoon warning was there and actually the typhoon is crossing the island at that time. The wind and rain fall was there the whole evening and the intensity ended only on the next day evening. It was indeed an unforgettable experience. At the same time it was heart breaking to hear the loss of human lives and properties due to the natures fury, which are in fact un avoidable at these tough times. But still the Taiwanese govt are prepared for the worst and yet things go out of hand, its only because of the enormous amount of fury associated with typhoon.
