It rain here too...

Rita from across the ocean talk about the rain and nostalgic about it. Yes I love the rain especially so for it bring back memories of my childhood, growing up on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. We then live in a house where the roof is made of nipah leaves which is the common roofing material for the traditional Malay kampong [village] houses. Our house is a typical Malay house which is raised from the ground with the wall and floor made of plank. So when it rain we get to see the rain fall on the ground below and then flow into the drain nearby. It is the pattering of the rain on the roof that is so special because it create a pattering noise that is so different. The tat tat noise come in repeat sequence when the rain is heavy unlike with the zine roof where the noise is louder. Sometime when the rain is heavy, the rain water would seep through the nipah roof and drip on to the wooden floor below. We would rush to get a pail or whatever container available to collect the rain water as well as to stop it from spilling all over the wooden floor. The water collected is usually brown in color, the color of the old nipah leaves. During the monsoon period which happened at the end of the year, it would rain cat and dog and the temperature in the house would be cool and less humid, making living in the house so comfortable. At time even the cocunut oil would solidified making its difficult to get out of its container. We could also smell the freshness of the rain water and that is what made living so wonderful in the traditional house in the kampong.

A rainy day is often welcome when we were kids, for it is the time that we get to play in the rain. With only a pant or short and sometime sarong we would play in the rain, drenched and shivering with the coldness of the dripping water. We would play in the rain care less of the happening around us. We were not afraid at all even when there are thunder and lighting. We would just laugh and play until we are satisfied or been hauled by our parents to get inside and had enough of the rain. We were never scolded or not allow to play in the rain. Parents especially mom would just cautioned us not to play in the swelling drain or the stream nearby, otherwise we were allow to enjoy playing in the rain. After a while and happy we would go to the well nearby and take our bath and then get into the house. Happy with our adventure in the rain. How I yearned for those days.

Now our grandchildren did not have the chance to play in the rain like we do. Their parent are over protective, moreover nowadays the rain water is not as clean like during our times. Well time changes so is the culture of people. So now children no longer play in the rain. Sad that they did not have that chance to do that and enjoy the rain water like we did when we were kids like them. Indeed they now live in a different world with a different culture. But that is the way today and life goes on. Have a nice day.