The title of Anton's latest contest immediately caught my attention as I opened my reader - Where is your favorite place to travel on a rainy day, and why?. Interesting topic, I thought. And for a tropical country where rain is considered a respite from the unbearable heat and humidity, I'm sure countless entries will be submitted. I wouldn't be one of them though. That title stirred something different in me - memories of favorite things to do when it's raining.

Spending the summer in the province with my cousins was always fun. We would converge on our grandmother's house and play different sorts of games - inside the house or under the shade, of course, for it was too hot to play under the sun. But when it rained, we would run
outside to play, jumping at the prospect of cooler weather with arms outstretched and looking up, as if in gratitude to the one above. The first rain of summer was always special, for elders believe it is a blessing, and superstition dictates that it carries with it therapeutic properties. We would also jump like crazy in the puddles, splashing each other with the rain water. Sometimes, we would make paper boats and race them in the ditch by the roadside, shouting loudly as our masterful creations rushed along the stream. He he. That was then, when pollution was almost non-existent. Today, acid rain and water pollution make it totally unsafe to enjoy such games.

When I started driving, my obsession with puddles continued. I enjoy driving in the rain (in suburban traffic, of course) and would often look for small puddles in the open road. Once spotted, these puddles became my target, slowly increasing my speed then feeling the rush as the water splash under the fender. Many times, on open country roads, I would even turn around and do it again, and again until I've had my dose of puddle splashes. He he. However, this practice stopped when I almost had an accident six years ago. The puddle was too deep and my car was too fast. The result? The car spun around several times until it stopped a few inches from an electric post! And as I sat in the car too shocked to move and my balls seemingly blocking my throat, I swore that that was the last of my puddle adventure.

Rainy season in the tropics, and the subsequent cooler weather, also means cool-weather fashion. It is the perfect chance to wear (show off) the jacket you bought abroad on a recent trip, or the hand-me-down a cousin from the States sent over. After the first rains of the season, you'll see people walking around in cool jackets, the latest in windbreakers or even trench coats, walking proudly in malls and other public places but secretly perspiring underneath it all. He he.

But the best thing to do when it rains is to eat. Nothing beats pigging out on your favorite pizza, pasta dish or any local fast food fare at the mall. Even when at home, I find myself craving for food, ordering take-out from my favorite restaurants. But the best food for the season is always what mom usually prepares - arroz caldo (rice porridge with chicken cutlets), sopas (macaroni cooked in a milky soup with chopped vegetables and slivers of chicken meat) or all-time favorite champorado (chocolate rice porridge). What is it about the rain that induces this appetite? I know people in the west dread the cold winter months because they tend to eat a lot more than usual especially during the holiday season. We, in the tropics, feel the same way. But our eating binge usually starts a few months earlier when the rainy season starts in July or Agusust. He he.

How about you, what are some of your favorite things to do when it rains?

If you like this post, then please consider subscribing to my RSS feed. You can also subscribe by email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.

rainy day favorites: puddles, fashion and food (lots of it!)

Recommended Reading

You may also want to check out the following:

My SideBar: Ads, Search Bar and Widgets

television round up

Popular Posts