Eclipse over Asia

Day has suddenly turned into darkness as a solar eclipse engulfed Asia this morning, almost dawn in some areas and 8 am in other parts of the continent. The eclipse that happened is the longest since July 11, 1991, when a total eclipse lasting 6 minutes, 53 seconds was visible from Hawaii to South America. The next solar eclipse will happen on 2132.

Asia being a diversed continent observed the event in different ways. In India, though, were gripped by fear and refused to come outdoors because in Hindu mythology, an eclipse is caused when a dragon-demon swallows the sun, while another myth is that sun rays during an eclipse can harm unborn children.

On the tiny Japanese island of Akuseki, where the total eclipse lasted 6 minutes and 25 seconds, more than 200 tourists had to take shelter inside a school gymnasium due to a tornado warning. While in China, jubilant eclipse watchers in China set off fireworks near the banks of the Qiantang River in coastal Zheijiang province as skies darkened overhead for about six minutes. Visitors from Britain, Germany and Australia joined curious Chinese onlookers. The heavy clouds blocked the full eclipse but watchers saw a partial one.

Here in the Philippines, the Weather Bureau expected cloudy skies but clear skies prevailed although we were expecting only partial eclispe.

Anyway whatever our elders believe, we could only keep our fingers crossed as people my age believe that we create our own destiny. XOXO!