Dancing in the Rain

It was an unusually hot and humid evening as I finally finished editing my latest Blog which I needed to submit before midnight. I felt really exhausted and drained; it was one of those blogs on the economic situation in the country. I always found the topics of economics, politics and Business rather boring and writing on these always left me with a feeling of having used up all mental energies.

I shut down my laptop and stepped onto the Balcony to draw in some fresh air, but the air was still, not a leaf stirred and the heat and humidity hit me, I thought it better to retreat to the sanctuary of my artificially cooled room when gazing up at the sky I noticed dark clouds on the horizon slowly but surely moving towards me. I stopped in my heels, this was a sight which many a farmer in the country and the world over pray for. I gazed at the clouds with awe as they slowly loomed large before me, suddenly as if by magic, the atmosphere changed totally, a cool breeze started blowing. I heard a cuckoo singing sweetly hidden in one of the trees near my house, birds began chirping and flying about excitedly, I saw small children come on to the road dancing.

Soon my nostrils were assailed by the pleasant and inimitable fragrance that the earth gives on being kissed by the first raindrops. And then I felt the spray of rain drops on my face, I yelled with glee like a small kid. That is the magic of the rains, it uplifts your mind and transports you into a state of innocent bliss, and your mind joins in the wild and ecstatic dance of nature like a peacock with its feathers spread out.

I carried my laptop to the balcony and sat down to write my next blog, my exhaustion seemingly wiped out by the rain. ‘Dancing In the Rain’. I started typing..

Dancing in the Rain 

I write here about two of the wettest places in the world.

Mawsynram, Meghalaya, India

Mawsynram is a village in the Indian state of Meghalaya, Meghalaya literally means ‘the abode of clouds’. Mawsynram is situated about 65 Kms. From Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya and is reportedly the wettest place on earth with an annual rainfall of 11,872 mm. The temperatures range from a minimum of 11 degrees centigrade during January to around 20 degrees centigrade during August.

The village itself is a cluster of hamlets and the hard working villagers blissfully unaware of their village’s claim to fame. There is a cave called Mawjymbuin Cave near the village where you can see several stalagmite formations, one of these formations is shaped like a Shiva Lingam and is considered sacred by Hindus.

Waialeale, Hawaiian Islands, U.S.

Waialeale or Mount Waialeale is the second highest point on the island of kaua’I in Hawaii Islands. The name literally means rippling or overflowing water. The mountain averages more than 11,500 mm rainfall a year, and is considered among the wettest spots on earth. The great rainfall in the area produces the Alakaʻi Wilderness Preserve, a large boggy area that is home to many rare plants. The ground is so wet that although trails exist, access by foot to the Waialeale area is extremely difficult.

Though it is a little tough to get to this place it is well worth the effort as the spectacle that unfolds before your eyes is to say the least surreal. Parts of the Hollywood Blockbuster Jurassic Park were filmed in these locales. A helicopter flight affords a dreamlike view of myriad waterfalls, lush greenery and an extinct volcano.

Rain brings out the child in me and makes me feel dance and  scream! Do you enjoy the rains? When was the last time you danced in the rain?