Rampant Growth by junge1
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Description
This is an example of what uncontrolled growth in a moist, tropical climate can do. This is somewhere in Singapore.
I had the good luck/misfortune to see what a tropical climate can do to man-made items. The 'man-made items' were my brogans/boots. When we first came to Clark AB, Philippines it was mid-June 1966. The weather had gotten progessively hotter from when we left Paine Field, WA, on to Hickam AFB, Oahu, Hawaii on a C-141, where we were en-route support for 8 days to get our F-102s off the ground, to Midway Island, where our aircraft, a C-124 broke down, to Wake Island, where our C-124 broke down again, to Guam where we stopped for lunch and finally on to Clark AB. By the way, flying time from Hawaii, through Midway, Wake, Guam to Clark was 24 hrs. 20 min on that C-124 'Globetrotter'. Clark is located in the south-central part of Luzon Islands, about 14 degrees latitude north. June, July and August are the monsoon months.
When we got to Clark it seemed that all we did was circulate between the water fountain and the coke machine. It was hot, humid, and clear every day. Every day toward sunset, cumulus clouds were building over the mountains to the east. Around 2AM every night it started to rain for about an hour or two. No wind, no lightning, but buckets and buckets of water. We estimated that it rained during that time about 2 to 3 inches. At sunrise it was again crystal clear. This pattern repeated itself for the five days I was there before I went TDY (tenmporary duty) to DaNang, Vietnam.
Whether the estimate of 2 to 3 inches per night was accurate I don't know, but a book that chronicled tanker (KC-135) operations in SEA, stated that tanker operations out of Clark AB, P.I. were suspended for the month of July 1971 because the rainfall amount for that month exceeded 90 inches.
We were housed in single-story barracks, with screen windows (no glass), wide, overhanging roofs, and large fans standing in the aisle to blow the air in one direction and keep it comfortable. Our clothes were in steel lockers. It was suggested to us by the old-timers to hang an electric lightbulb inside the locker to keep the humidity down. We did that.
When I left for my first 65 day TDY, besides my uniforms there was also a pair of brogans in the locker. They had been spitshined for 3 1/2 years, and I don't know many hours I had spent during that time polishing them, and how much shoe polish I used.
When I came back after 65 days and opened my locker, I was shocked. My spit-shined brogans were rotted, not mildewed, but rotted. If I hadn't known any better I would have thought they had been in the jungle for 20 years, instead of 65 days inside a steel locker, with vents and an electric light.
The above picture was taken in January 1996 and later scanned.
Thank you for viewing and commenting on my uploads, and a special 'Thank you' to those that may have added some of them to their favorites,
Sig...
I am still behind on my commenting but will try hard to catch up.
Comments (26)
emmecielle
The photo is exceptional... but not the weather! ;)
kenwas
It can be most unpleasant there at times with the humidity. I found it quite oppressive. Love your tale of travels! Thanks!
Meisiekind
Fantastic narrative Sig - fascinating... Great illustration of what happens in the hot and damp atmosphere. How are you???
M2A
Thank you for the shot and its explanation. The result of the grow is impressive.
flora-crassella
großartiges und sehr interessantes Foto! Diese Bäume "verschlingen", wenn nichts gemacht wird, alles....
Janiss
Fascinating capture Sig! ;o)
Richardphotos
at least during typhoons they may give some support. excellent find/capture Sig
jeroni
Beautiful composition. excellent capture
Cosine
Excellent shot, and a fascinating story, Sig.
annie5
Thanks for this capture & the info! :)
durleybeachbum
Amazing!
tallpindo
The vines own the jungle. Your story of Pacific operations fills in what I was told about C-97 and C-133 operations. Prop birds could fly near the wave tops to exploit ground effect if they lost an engine. For jets it was the driftdown curve that set the point of no return. Army Natick Labs made a briefing on tent funguses that could make sugar out of newspapers I have seen. Boston Globe tasted better than New York Times after was the joke.
MrsRatbag
I don't think I could stand the heat and humidity; I'm not an orchid, more of a crocus, I think. :) Love the viny growth, though; I know it's not structurally good, but it's nice to see things grow their own way. Great shot!
jocko500
lol a lot of growth. guess you wish you took a photo of your boots too.
junge1
@jocko500. you are right Jocko!
kgb224
I am already suffering with the humidity in Pretoria.So i dont think i would have managed the hu,idity there.Excellent capture my friend.
fredster66
Quite a find. Amazing photo.
marybelgium
fascinant !
JeffG7BRJ
Excellent capture Sig and a very interesting read, I love a good narrative and this is one of the best. I would have liked to see a picture of those boots as well, but back then with 35mm film instead of digital, there was constraints on what sort of shots you did take. Superb work. Bravo!!!!!
Minda
excellent capture and great info sig and this is very impressive...happy thanksgiving..
beachzz
You can almost see things grow in the jungle. I spent a summer in a small village in Mexico and I understand now why it's been said you can go insane if you get lost in one. Every bug within a mile found me, feasted upon me, and, yeah, just about made me crazy. It's a beauty with nasty undertones. But, still, I love the wild, primitive feel of it--thanks for reminding me!!
lucindawind
amazing growth and trees!
virginiese
stunning informations. Great shot !
pixelmeister
Cool shot!
ElizaB
interesting pic and narrative...always fascinating
timtripp
marvelous!