Rain

It's been raining almost daily nowadays, don't know if the weatherman calls for precipitation this time of the month. Anyway, precipitation sounds too "clinical". I prefer Rain. Hujan. Thunderstorm. Drizzle. Anything else but "precipitation"....

Cultural attitudes towards rain differ across the world. In the largely temperate Europe, rain metaphorically has a sad and negative connotation — reflected in children's rhymes like Rain Rain Go Away — in contrast to the bright and happy sun. Though the traditional notion of rain in the Western World is negative, rain can also bring joy, as some consider it to be soothing or enjoy the aesthetic appeal of it. In dry places, such as parts of Africa, Australia, India, the Western United States, and the Middle East, rain is greeted with euphoria. (In Botswana, the Setswana word for rain, "pula," is used as the name of the national currency, in recognition of the economic importance of rain in this desert country.)

Several cultures have developed means of dealing with rain and have developed numerous protection devices such as umbrellas and raincoats, and diversion devices such as gutters and storm drains that lead rains to sewers. Many people also prefer to stay inside on rainy days, especially in tropical climates where rain is usually accompanied by thunderstorms or is extremely heavy (as in a monsoon). Rain may be harvested, though rainwater is rarely pure (as acid rain occurs naturally), or used as greywater. Excessive rain, particularly after a dry period that has hardened the soil so that it cannot absorb water, can cause floods.

Many people find the scent during and immediately after rain especially pleasant or distinctive. The source of this scent is petrichor, an oil produced by plants, then absorbed by rocks and soil, and later released into the air during rainfall. Light or heavy rain is sometimes seen as romantic.

from the Wikipedia (the lazybum's easy reference, which may not be always accurate, but we ain't talking about rocket science here)

Yeah, rain is always romantic. I love rain. Light rain, heavy rain, thunderstorms (when you're not alone that is...I hate lightning!), morning rain, middle of the night rain, pre-dawn rain, even ribut, the smell of rain, the promise of rain...evening rain however, is depressing. For me at least...don't know why.

Speaking about romance, I love this P Ramlee song. About rain. And romance. I think its just beautiful. 

Tunggu Sekejap 

Tunggu sekejap wahai kasih 
Kerana hujan masih renyai 
Tunggu sekejap 
Dalam pelukan asmara ku 

Jangan bimbang 
Walaupun siang akan menjelma 
Malam ini 
Belum puas bercumbu dengan dinda 

Tunggu sekejap wahai kasih 
Tunggulah sampai hujan teduh 
Mari ku dendang 
Jangan mengenang orang jauh 

( korus ) 
Jangan pula 
Jangan tinggalkan daku sorang 
Tunggu sekejap kasih 

Tunggu

Alamak, explicit jugak ye.. ;)

I couldn't embed it, its disabled, but here's the link for Saloma's version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z74BpnG_IY

Awww...the rain has stopped. Pffft! Romance gone. Just like that. Birds are out though. Birds are just so uplifting to the human souls. Such tiny beings bring so much pleasure...they sing so beautifully on my balcony, in my courtyard, on my roof...

Why DO they sing? 

Why do birds sing by David Rothenberg

Birdsong: From Poetry to Science

Why do birds sing by Tony Whitehead