WhEn iT rain...iT pouRs!

We came to our resting room dripping wet. My people had just finished covering our problematic barley materials at the open area. Ah yes, I’m still here in Saudi Arabia. There is rain in Saudi Arabia? Of course, there is. Some people said that the rain in some parts of the Kingdom had been too intense and precipitation is more than 3 inches. That is why, flooding comes afterwards. Why? Because they were not used to having rain most of the year and drainage canals were not part of their civil works. So, where will the run-off go?

I even heard that rain was included in their prayers. They wish to have rains, but were they prepared to have it? What if heavy downpour lasting for more than 15 minutes comes, were will the precipitation go? In the last few years of my stay here, rain starts and ends the seasons. In 2003, hailstone came, and that was the first time in my life to see it. Ice, the size and like naphthalene balls (called “hail”) dribbling all around. Some said that it can even break the windshield of a running vehicle. It could be, yes. But that was the first and the last experience I had. In the coming years, only rain comes (even thunderstorms!) and no hailstone.

I asked the people first to uncover the piles so as to dry the canvas. They had not finished spreading the canvass when I observed dark clouds also spreading down west. And it was not just mere clouds, but rain already pouring in the area. A few droplets on my face and I asked them to cover it again.

Mind you, with temperatures at 14 deg C plus the wind factor, everybody’s chilling cold. It is hard to work with numbed hands and legs. The legs also were buried on the heap restraining every ones’ mobility. Every body’s complaining but we can’t do anything about it. Now here comes the rain that added to the misery.

Not all heaps were covered as we run out of canvass and...energy! Oh boy, we’re not expecting it to be like this. Saudi Arabia was equated with hot and arid climate. My self also stand in disbelief. Here you’ll have the extremes. Not just hot...but very hot. Not just cool...but very cool!

Oh, yes Umar! There is rain in Saudi Arabia!