Rain

When it rains here, it pours, and the city is cleared of its usual traffic of pedestrian shoppers. Life still goes on however, although with an adjusted soundscape. With the streets cleared as people take shelter, the lack of action provides space for the discerning of other sounds which normally have to compete with the business of a crowded city centre.

The metal wheeled trolleys seem louder as the clatter of their wheels over the paving can be heard to reverberate around the central square. Sandals too sound different when they become saturated with water: they no longer shuffle but squelch. For passing vehicles, the fizz of the wet car tyres on tarmac takes precedence over the engine noise. From the buildings, heavy drips of rain water fall and play never ending complicated rhythms as the water hits the ground. Gushing overflow pipes produce a hard spattering sound as the water hits the concrete below, the only relief being when a passing umbrella momentarily passes underneath, breaking the flow and producing a dramatic drum roll type effect.

And then, of course, there are the cries of the umbrella sellers. As soon as it rains, out they come offering a new sound world of the dull crackle of the rain on the fabric above and the magnified reflections of the sounds at feet level, as well as portable shelter for only 20 Yuan. (= £1.37 = $2.47 or 20 bus trips, 4 taxi rides, two small meals…).