Typhoon Talim

While Hurricane Katrina continues to batter southern United States, Typhoon Talim is preparing for a stealthy invasion of Taiwan.

Rain has been falling periodically for the past morning. And when rain falls, it really pours. Talim is about 100km off the Pacific coast of Taiwan, and is sure to hit shore by later this evening. She is more than 500km wide (surface area bigger than Taiwan itself), and is the so-called 'Perfect Storm' (remember the movie??). Her cyclical shape is almost perfect, and the eye is clearly visible, while she's gaining strength every moment she is at sea. Her winds have already reached gale force 17, with speeds of up to 240km per hour! Once she hits land, she will unleash such violent rain and winds that will overshadow Hurricane Katrina...

While I slept last night, the first gushes of wind and rain rumbled our windows. Weather forecasts predict terrible landslides and destruction in the next two days to come. This morning I rushed to the market to buy vegetables and foods, just in case. Afterwards, I stopped by Baoan Temple (保安宮 'Protect Peace Temple') ... with a humble heart, incense sticks and prayers, I asked the gods above to have mercy for the island and her people...