Accha…it rained today!!!

April 6th, 2012.

I must say I am always amused by the rumors of rain in Dubai. Over the last few days I am sure you have heard this in daily conversation as well. What amuses me the most is the fact that unlike when we were kids, when we used to run outside the moment it rained, now we run inside to quickly update our Facebook statuses. Sometimes Facebook feels like it is an over possessive girl friend or an over protective mother who will be upset if we don’t tell her what you are doing right now.  So now the FB update reads, “Raining in Dubai!!!” This is when the comments start…and the first one is usually, “WHERE?”

Perhaps the word, “WHERE,” is the most pertinent response considering we don’t really have a monsoon in the UAE. You get a little rain here and there, but nothing to write home about. All it really warrants is a Facebook Update. It’s interesting how it rains only the day after I get a Manual Car Wash done. Its seem as though the day I do that, the very next day, the skies drop four and a half drops of water on my car just to make my ride look like the dirtiest in the parking lot. If you were wondering why we have not had a lot of rain this year in Dubai, look no further I have the answer…Yup…I have been getting my car washed in the Mall for 12 Dirhams. For some reason the CHEAPER Mall Car wash never triggers the rain clouds to get melodramatic. And yes…the reason we have had 3 visits this year from the rain clouds is because last night I got my third Manual Wash done this year. Case closed, mystery solved, well done Dr. Watson, now go update your Facebook Status.

In India however when someone says that it’s raining, you never ask the question, “Where?” The reason for this of course is the fact that the sub-continent gets a real monsoon. Perhaps the one thing I miss about being back home is the rains. Who can forget the annoyance of walking down the street and having someone driving by splash water all over you…the incessant droplets of water on your glasses…kicking yourself because you did not carry an umbrella… and of course the smell of the soil after the first rains…oh the monsoons. In India however when someone says that it’s raining, you never ask the question, “Where?” The reason for this of course is the fact that the sub-continent gets a real monsoon. Perhaps the one thing I miss about being back home is the rains. Who can forget the annoyance of walking down the street and having someone driving by splash water all over you…the incessant droplets of water on your glasses…kicking yourself because you did not carry an umbrella… and of course the smell of the soil after the first rains…oh the monsoons.

While most of the other pleasures of the Monsoons have not been bottled for your pleasure, companies like Air Wick have bottled the fragrance of the first rains. I am ever amused by our advances in technology which enable us to replicate some of the simplest of things. Last week I was at a friend’s place and after dinner I went to wash my hands. I was presented with a choice – ‘Lux Hand wash with Essence of Rose’ or ‘Delicate Hand Wash with the Aromatic Smell of Fresh Linen.’ I really don’t get this. The smell of Fresh Linen is essentially the smell of washing detergent. Why spend your 12 Dirhams on rubbish like that when you could just run into the laundry room, dig into the Surf or Tide box and essentially get the same fragrance…there you go, reading this blog just saved you 12 Dirhams. You are welcome. Now go and spend the 12 Dirhams you saved on the ‘Delicate Hand Wash with the Aromatic Smell of Fresh Linen,’ and get your car washed in the Mall and see how the rain just stays away.

Ya but back to the rain. Man I just washed my car. Manual wash. So I am down 35 bucks.While most of the other pleasures of the Monsoons have not been bottled for your pleasure, companies like Air Wick have bottled the fragrance of the first rains. I am ever amused by our advances in technology which enable us to replicate some of the simplest of things. Last week I was at a friend’s place and after dinner I went to wash my hands. I was presented with a choice – ‘Lux Hand wash with Essence of Rose’ or ‘Delicate Hand Wash with the Aromatic Smell of Fresh Linen.’ I really don’t get this. The smell of Fresh Linen is essentially the smell of washing detergent. Why spend your 12 Dirhams on rubbish like that when you could just run into the laundry room, dig into the Surf or Tide box and essentially get the same fragrance…there you go, reading this blog just saved you 12 Dirhams. You are welcome. Now go and spend the 12 Dirhams you saved on the ‘Delicate Hand Wash with the Aromatic Smell of Fresh Linen,’ and get your car washed in the Mall and see how the rain just stays away.

Ya but back to the rain. Man I just washed my car. Manual wash. So I am down 35 bucks.