THIS is a tropical rain...

Downpour at our pool (Kajane Villas, Ubud, Bali)

I haven't decided if private villa pools are the ultimate in decadence or the only civilized way to live.

I'm voting for the latter, but it feels like the former.

One underrated aspect of having a pool is watching raindrops dance on the surface.

We sat on the patio for an hour this afternoon, listening and watching this tropical shower.

After the Rain:

It rained for our first few days in New Mexico. 

As a result, I got to hang out with this guy in the courtyard of Los Poblanos Inn.

It might be odd, but I kinda like these guys. 

The eyes of a snail fascinate me.

Pounding Rain

Japanese Drummers get Elemental (1993)

Is anything more elemental than drums?

The pounding mimics our heartbeats.

In fact, the pounding beat seems to control our hearts.

I knew I would love Japan when I saw (and heard and felt) the big drums called Taiko. They are present at every major festival.

This festival was a rice harvest festival held in the city of Hachioji.

When the rain started, we thought the festival would stop.

We were wrong...