One of the benefits of living in a tropical country are the dramatic summer thunderstorms, sometimes with only a few drops of rain. This is what I witnessed on a recent evening in Hanoi. I heard the thunder off in the distance and went outside to enjoy the show. It’s what’s known as heat lightning. This occurred after days of daytime temperatures in the 35C (95F)-40C (104F) range, a typical Hanoi summer.

Since the photos below were snapped with a smartphone, the bolts of lightning in the clouds appear as flashes; still, a sight to behold. Each flash looks like a comet hurtling towards Earth. Nature’s entertainment.

Shalom (שלום), MAA