Monsoon Shoes

gautam_n_ · Jun 8th, 2006, 15:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

I wonder if rubber boots would be sufficient protection from electrocution from a broken electric cable?

Probably not considering the extremely high voltage.

Bigzero · Jun 8th, 2006, 15:51

chanced upon an archived thread on the same topic -- from 2003

http://www.indiamike.com/india/archi...hp/t-1909.html

MeCasa · Jun 8th, 2006, 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

I'll certainly be buying wellies before the rainy season here.

My Gortex-lined walking boots were fine for an inch or three of water, but once it gets over that they fill up.

Nothing can protect against falling down an open manhole, except perhaps walking with a stick. I wonder if rubber boots would be sufficient protection from electrocution from a broken electric cable?

Nick-H · Jun 8th, 2006, 23:27

It happens.

Regularly.

!

SitaParityaga · Jun 9th, 2006, 03:43

You mean people fall down open manholes regularly during monsoon?

People get electric shocks in the water?

Now I'm not calling attention to this out of paranoia, more just curiosity.

Is this another urban myth or true stories?

Penri · Jun 9th, 2006, 06:37

This thread is a little concerning... I'm about to land in Chennai in 10 days and I have no idea on what to expect/avoid during the monsoon. (I'm embarrased to admit that I don't even know when the monsoon season is).

Hailing from Swansea, I've grown up with wet weather, however I imagine that this is something different

Any experienced travellers willing to summarise?

kavindra · Jun 9th, 2006, 06:42

Growing up in India, plain old chappals (flip-flops in the US) were just fine for dealing with the monsoon season. If I were to visit, I'd take along a pair of Tevas. The Wellies are obviously more comprehensive solution, but as a tourist - I'd not want to lug them around...

goangoangone · Jun 9th, 2006, 08:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penri

This thread is a little concerning... I'm about to land in Chennai in 10 days and I have no idea on what to expect/avoid during the monsoon. (I'm embarrased to admit that I don't even know when the monsoon season is).

Hailing from Swansea, I've grown up with wet weather, however I imagine that this is something different

Any experienced travellers willing to summarise?

Start here: http://www.indiaweather.in/awch.asp

Nick-H · Jun 9th, 2006, 10:53

Yes, Edsita, I'm afraid that all of this is true. Many things here are poorly maintained and there is no reguard for what Westerners have come to accept as normal Health and Safety measures.

People fall down manholes out of the monsoon season! Sometimes they die, maybe from suffocation. People also get electrocuted by touching fallen wires or steel posts that have become live.

In monsoon flooods the danger of these things is increased: more manhole covers will be removed by water pressure, and, of course, you can't see where they are when walking in floodwater. Electric cables are pulled down by wind, rain, falling branches etc, and the water nearby can become live.

But, lets put some perspective on this. Whilst these are very real dangers, there are, every day, over a billion people in India who do not fall down manholes or get electrocuted.

Chennai is, perhaps a slightly special case as its monsoon is so unreliable. If you go to Trivandrum or Kochi you will see huge drains by the side of roads: their monsoon can be predicted and happens every year. Here in Chennai it is a bit like England and snow: everytime it happens the country grinds to halt, and everyone asks why this happens every time it snows!

This last year, Chennai had the wettest, longest monsoon season for 125 years. Chennai is a city with a long history of drought and water shortage, but I'll now always remember the newspaper headline: Chennai's New Water Problem: Floods! I think a lot of drainage has been improved, and it'll be just our luck if it doesn't rain at all this year!

As to when is Chennai's monsoon season: Mrs N says October, sometimes continuing into November --- but last monsoon was going strong into December (nearly rained off my wedding!).

As to the ever present dangers of Chennai's streets: well, look down and you'll gash your head on some structure or sign built over the pavement at head hight; look up and you'll fall down a hole (or step in something nasty!). It is a great place to live

Penri · Jun 9th, 2006, 18:44

Nick/Goan - Many thanks for the information.

MeCasa · Jun 9th, 2006, 20:32

That water must be a haven for disease, at least until it becomes so strong it washes every away

Nick-H · Jun 9th, 2006, 21:20

Yes, it is a great haven for disease. I guess that is a big problem with floods the world over.

Oh, and another danger of Chennai is conjunctavitis --- I don't know why, but it seems to sweep the city from time to time (maybe in the hottest weather), to the extent that it is called Madras Eye!. Apparently there is an epidemic going on at at the moment...

greenchutney · Jun 9th, 2006, 23:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by amyl

wellies are called 'gum-boots' at my place... donot know if thats correct or if its spelt that way but thats what i have been hearing and we used to have fun during our school days.. tho at times when getting mudded in those shoes i did feel willies in the wellies

.. corse soil in and hurting the feet...they were meant to keep the feet dry but who wanted!?!

ah! gumboots, 'shoe-bites' and walking on sloshy fields...i had the extra long pair that goes up to your knees. that worked most of the time than the smaller ones. yeah i would buy them when you come here. and then toss it or donate it after you have done with your trip. they are pretty cheap. but they are not that airy..and for extended periods, they suck. flip-flops are useless. they splatter when you walk and you end up with muddy butt or splattered back. tevas/sandals are better but get the closed toes one if you can.

a related memory i have is soccer in rain soaked fields.. especially the sliding tackles!..oh i miss that...you are making me nostalgic for the mumbai monsoons...fresh earth smells and what not.

have fun with the monsoon..there is nothing like it..has anyone here read this book [little older set in 1987]?.. just picked it up but havent started...

Chasing the Monsoon : A Modern Pilgrimage Through India

datspreets · Jun 10th, 2006, 01:08

Floaters or flip flops are the best.
Or even plastic chappals are good.

SitaParityaga · Jun 10th, 2006, 04:47

I'm learning alot about the monsoon from all of you...and thanks Nick for putting in the time to write about Chennai (where I'll be going next)

I found that bit about conjunctivitis interesting too. I work in the dept of public health here in San Francisco, and I think it would be a really cool study to find out why there is so much "Madras eye" there, versus anywhere else in India. Anyone out there willing to pay me to go over to Chennai to study this phenomena, just drop me a pm and I'll be happy to find some answers!

Datspreets has probably summed it up....plain old flip flops (if you don't mind the muddy kick spray up the back end) or tevas. Forget the willie wellies....too much, too big, bite too hard, etc.

PS: Green chutney...I looked up that book on Amazon, and it looks really good. So does your avatar! Everytime I see it I remember thoses GREAT meals on banana leaves in the south.

Jun 8th, 2006, 15:51	#17
Bigzero back to my old ways Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,483	chanced upon an archived thread on the same topic -- from 2003 http://www.indiamike.com/india/archi...hp/t-1909.html __________________ miles to go.... Bigzero's Photo Gallery

Jun 8th, 2006, 23:27	#19
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,426	It happens. Regularly. ! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Jun 9th, 2006, 10:53	#24
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,426	Manholes and cables Yes, Edsita, I'm afraid that all of this is true. Many things here are poorly maintained and there is no reguard for what Westerners have come to accept as normal Health and Safety measures. People fall down manholes out of the monsoon season! Sometimes they die, maybe from suffocation. People also get electrocuted by touching fallen wires or steel posts that have become live. In monsoon flooods the danger of these things is increased: more manhole covers will be removed by water pressure, and, of course, you can't see where they are when walking in floodwater. Electric cables are pulled down by wind, rain, falling branches etc, and the water nearby can become live. But, lets put some perspective on this. Whilst these are very real dangers, there are, every day, over a billion people in India who do not fall down manholes or get electrocuted. Chennai is, perhaps a slightly special case as its monsoon is so unreliable. If you go to Trivandrum or Kochi you will see huge drains by the side of roads: their monsoon can be predicted and happens every year. Here in Chennai it is a bit like England and snow: everytime it happens the country grinds to halt, and everyone asks why this happens every time it snows! This last year, Chennai had the wettest, longest monsoon season for 125 years. Chennai is a city with a long history of drought and water shortage, but I'll now always remember the newspaper headline: Chennai's New Water Problem: Floods! I think a lot of drainage has been improved, and it'll be just our luck if it doesn't rain at all this year! As to when is Chennai's monsoon season: Mrs N says October, sometimes continuing into November --- but last monsoon was going strong into December (nearly rained off my wedding!). As to the ever present dangers of Chennai's streets: well, look down and you'll gash your head on some structure or sign built over the pavement at head hight; look up and you'll fall down a hole (or step in something nasty!). It is a great place to live

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Jun 9th, 2006, 03:43	#20
SitaParityaga member in the forest Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Posts: 931	You mean people fall down open manholes regularly during monsoon? People get electric shocks in the water? Now I'm not calling attention to this out of paranoia, more just curiosity. Is this another urban myth or true stories?

Jun 9th, 2006, 06:37	#21
Penri Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 169	This thread is a little concerning... I'm about to land in Chennai in 10 days and I have no idea on what to expect/avoid during the monsoon. (I'm embarrased to admit that I don't even know when the monsoon season is). Hailing from Swansea, I've grown up with wet weather, however I imagine that this is something different Any experienced travellers willing to summarise?

Jun 9th, 2006, 06:42	#22
kavindra Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 36	Growing up in India, plain old chappals (flip-flops in the US) were just fine for dealing with the monsoon season. If I were to visit, I'd take along a pair of Tevas. The Wellies are obviously more comprehensive solution, but as a tourist - I'd not want to lug them around...

Jun 9th, 2006, 18:44	#25
Penri Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 169	Nick/Goan - Many thanks for the information.

Jun 9th, 2006, 20:32	#26
MeCasa Account Closed Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas/New York Posts: 959	That water must be a haven for disease, at least until it becomes so strong it washes every away

Jun 9th, 2006, 21:20	#27
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,426	Yes, it is a great haven for disease. I guess that is a big problem with floods the world over. Oh, and another danger of Chennai is conjunctavitis --- I don't know why, but it seems to sweep the city from time to time (maybe in the hottest weather), to the extent that it is called Madras Eye!. Apparently there is an epidemic going on at at the moment...

Jun 10th, 2006, 01:08	#29
datspreets Dats Preets Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: In-Di-Yeah !! Posts: 43	Floaters or flip flops are the best. Or even plastic chappals are good.

Jun 10th, 2006, 04:47	#30
SitaParityaga member in the forest Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Posts: 931	I'm learning alot about the monsoon from all of you...and thanks Nick for putting in the time to write about Chennai (where I'll be going next) I found that bit about conjunctivitis interesting too. I work in the dept of public health here in San Francisco, and I think it would be a really cool study to find out why there is so much "Madras eye" there, versus anywhere else in India. Anyone out there willing to pay me to go over to Chennai to study this phenomena, just drop me a pm and I'll be happy to find some answers! Datspreets has probably summed it up....plain old flip flops (if you don't mind the muddy kick spray up the back end) or tevas. Forget the willie wellies....too much, too big, bite too hard, etc. PS: Green chutney...I looked up that book on Amazon, and it looks really good. So does your avatar! Everytime I see it I remember thoses GREAT meals on banana leaves in the south.

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