The return of the heat. This morning the sky's blue beyond the thin later of haze, already warm, a few high scattered clouds while, below, trees are waving in a breeze. Outside pockets of intensity lurking along the quiet streets, faces shielded by windows, hiding in the embrace of air con, the warmth of the wind offering little or no respite as buildings and streets radiate and condense the blistering sunlight. It's a day to swim, but the virus has closed the pools.

Half way to the hill there's a change of mind, turning back to the flat, grabbing swimming trunks and a towel and then jumping on the mrt to Muzha and then the bus back out to Shengkeng. Stopping for a quick espresso on the old street before retracing yesterday's steps, back up to the waterfall. It's all a little quieter today, the old street populated by a handful of pedestrians, the waterfall watched only by an elderly couple sitting in the shade.

The water's chilled but not as cold as expected, soon getting used to it, the weight falling across my shoulders, massaging the heat of the day out of me. Its' an easy place to sit on a day like this, water and birdsong offering a soundtrack, quiet detachment from the city. Eventually stepping out of the flow, returning to the heat and humidity of the surrounding air, feeling as if every pore in my skin had opened, sweat flooding out in waves as I take a seat in the rocks.

Back in the main street, not in a hurry, taking the chance to sup another espresso and buy a couple of bottles of plum juice concentrate. It's busier now, standing in a queue waiting for some stinky tofu on a stick. The heat's back, above the dulled hills a darkening sky once again threatening rain which never comes..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc7dmu4G8oc&list=PL40xdWb-2paezlG0eNJH6EuYDqIaZb3nj