Beating the Heating - Adapting to India's Summer Swelter

mckay25 · May 30th, 2007, 16:27

Since it's been a long time since the last thread I could find on this, I thought I'd revive the topic. It is after all the heart of summer here and we must all be wilting some and need a good outlet.

After laughing and trading stories a couple weeks ago at all the little things one must do to adapt to the heat of Chennai's sticky, humid summer, a few of us got to starting a list. it is done tongue-in-cheek, but is all based on our experiences and observations. Like everything in India, handling the summer requires all these little changes and shifts in how you go about your day and adapt.

It was long, so I posted it on my blog rather than list it all here. Take a look and add you own tips, experiences and responses!

http://thewindonmyface.blogspot.com/...ting-heat.html

Parts you can all probably appreciate:
- No longer being able to get cold water from the "cold" water taps or shower.
- Having to adapt chocolate-buying habits so you can get a bar from the store to home without it melting first.
- Sleep naked
- Get well aquainted with your pharmacist for powders, creams and ointments
- Readjust your temperature range and start referring to anything under 40 degrees as "cool", "pleasant", "only" or "refreshing"

Cheers,
McKay

gertie · May 30th, 2007, 16:57

Great idea for a thread!

You know its summer in Chennai when:

You can't imagine ever being able to sleep without the white noise of a fan/ac again

You haven't turned your hot water geyser on for 8 weeks

You can ring out your clothing after going for a run at 6am

You are glued to the vinyl seat of an auto after a ten minute ride. It takes you another ten minutes to peel yourself from the seat without leaving skin behind

You get third degree burns when you touch the metal seat belt buckle in your car

You play 'What's that smell?' with a friend as you walk. You score two points if you guess the source before it comes into view. Some common ones - skip bin, chicken shop, canal.

You're hungover after drinking half a pint of Kingfisher the night before

Cheers,
Gertie

Prashant.M · May 30th, 2007, 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by mckay25

http://thewindonmyface.blogspot.com/...ting-heat.html

Hey mckay nice blog you got going, interesting and funny. Got lost for some time in it during work hours and will have to make up for it later

Nick-H · May 30th, 2007, 20:10

For those of us that don't have to work, simply: don't go out before 5.00pm!

ChrisJ · May 30th, 2007, 20:38

I remeber a rickshaw driver once telling me:

"We have three seasons here in Chennai: Hot, Hotter and Hottest!"

PeakXV · May 30th, 2007, 21:26

Beebee applying cold compresses to the back of the neck, Punkah Wallah in perpetual motion, Barf Wallah filling galvanized steel foot-soaking buckets on the half-hour, & Country-Beer Wallah popping & pouring when stein contents become less than half full .......... nothing less or you'll surely become a statistic.

Nick-H · May 30th, 2007, 21:34

I read this the other day...

we sweat to cool ourselves down (ok, we all knew that much

)...

But because it is so humid here the sweat doesn't evaporate, so it is not cooling us...

So we sweat more.

And, apparently, sweating takes quite a lot of energy, so we get tired.

Exhausting, this weather!

phantom · May 30th, 2007, 23:11

Well.. its a lose-lose situation in summers. Either you sweat or if there's a wind carrying that heat wave with it (very lovingly called "loo" in north

, dont ask why) then you get burned .. so choice is yours.. !!

Nick-H · May 30th, 2007, 23:18

I'd say you always sweat --- just that when the air is dry enough, and/or a wind is moving it accross you skin, it can evaporate fast, cool you fast, and not turn your shirt into a clammy rag...

edwardseco · May 30th, 2007, 23:34

Get to know jewellers (those that have AC)..

scarbobby · May 31st, 2007, 00:18

this is my first summer here and boy its been hard i was foolish enough to play golf at 8.00am by 9.00am the caddie asked if we should stop as i had sweat coming of me like a waterfall
i find that if i have a shower and sit without ac for 30 mins then i am ok on way to work thank fully i star at 4pm and when i leave at midnight everythings bearable
really looking forward to promised monsoon next week

shashank.aggarwal · May 31st, 2007, 10:59

yeah..in Delhi its normal for temperature to Touch 44-45 C in summmers and then 2-4 C in winters...

you know we live in a extreme...from desert heat to almost freezing temperatures...thats the beauty of delhi..

Barkha · May 31st, 2007, 13:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by shashank.aggarwal

yeah..in Delhi its normal for temperature to Touch 44-45 C in summmers and then 2-4 C in winters...

you know we live in a extreme...from desert heat to almost freezing temperatures...thats the beauty of delhi..

talking of Beauty of Delhi in summers especially...the sun tanned faces and arms...most of us look the black beauties...

Indojingai · May 31st, 2007, 13:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by mckay25

It is after all the heart of summer here and we must all be wilting some and need a good outlet.

Beating the heating by Ice-cream eating.

Well, in Delhi buy 'kulfi' from the kiosk on a rickshaw. (Your standard hygiene caveats apply.)

shashank.aggarwal · May 31st, 2007, 14:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indojingai

Beating the heating by Ice-cream eating.

Well, in Delhi buy 'kulfi' from the kiosk on a rickshaw. (Your standard hygiene caveats apply.)

try "Raju Di Kulfi" in Karol Bagh near Gaffar Market..

something worth taking the risk of falling ill...

May 30th, 2007, 16:27	#1
mckay25 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 21	Beating the Heating - Adapting to India's Summer Swelter Since it's been a long time since the last thread I could find on this, I thought I'd revive the topic. It is after all the heart of summer here and we must all be wilting some and need a good outlet. After laughing and trading stories a couple weeks ago at all the little things one must do to adapt to the heat of Chennai's sticky, humid summer, a few of us got to starting a list. it is done tongue-in-cheek, but is all based on our experiences and observations. Like everything in India, handling the summer requires all these little changes and shifts in how you go about your day and adapt. It was long, so I posted it on my blog rather than list it all here. Take a look and add you own tips, experiences and responses! http://thewindonmyface.blogspot.com/...ting-heat.html Parts you can all probably appreciate: - No longer being able to get cold water from the "cold" water taps or shower. - Having to adapt chocolate-buying habits so you can get a bar from the store to home without it melting first. - Sleep naked - Get well aquainted with your pharmacist for powders, creams and ointments - Readjust your temperature range and start referring to anything under 40 degrees as "cool", "pleasant", "only" or "refreshing" Cheers, McKay __________________ ~Only a mediocre person is always at their best~ http://thewindonmyface.blogspot.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/mckaysavage/

May 30th, 2007, 20:10	#4
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,473	For those of us that don't have to work, simply: don't go out before 5.00pm! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

May 30th, 2007, 21:26	#6
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 3,770	Beebee applying cold compresses to the back of the neck, Punkah Wallah in perpetual motion, Barf Wallah filling galvanized steel foot-soaking buckets on the half-hour, & Country-Beer Wallah popping & pouring when stein contents become less than half full .......... nothing less or you'll surely become a statistic. __________________ We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time. T.S. Eliot Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

May 31st, 2007, 10:59	#12
shashank.aggarwal Mr. Tagless Join Date: May 2007 Location: ~ Dilli ~ Posts: 4,670	yeah..in Delhi its normal for temperature to Touch 44-45 C in summmers and then 2-4 C in winters... you know we live in a extreme...from desert heat to almost freezing temperatures...thats the beauty of delhi.. __________________ Travelogue - Around India Random Reviews

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May 30th, 2007, 16:57	#2
gertie Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 156	Great idea for a thread! You know its summer in Chennai when: You can't imagine ever being able to sleep without the white noise of a fan/ac again You haven't turned your hot water geyser on for 8 weeks You can ring out your clothing after going for a run at 6am You are glued to the vinyl seat of an auto after a ten minute ride. It takes you another ten minutes to peel yourself from the seat without leaving skin behind You get third degree burns when you touch the metal seat belt buckle in your car You play 'What's that smell?' with a friend as you walk. You score two points if you guess the source before it comes into view. Some common ones - skip bin, chicken shop, canal. You're hungover after drinking half a pint of Kingfisher the night before Cheers, Gertie

May 30th, 2007, 20:38	#5
ChrisJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: UK Posts: 178	I remeber a rickshaw driver once telling me: "We have three seasons here in Chennai: Hot, Hotter and Hottest!"

May 30th, 2007, 21:34	#7
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,473	I read this the other day... we sweat to cool ourselves down (ok, we all knew that much )... But because it is so humid here the sweat doesn't evaporate, so it is not cooling us... So we sweat more. And, apparently, sweating takes quite a lot of energy, so we get tired. Exhausting, this weather!

May 30th, 2007, 23:11	#8
phantom Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Delhi Posts: 1,215	Well.. its a lose-lose situation in summers. Either you sweat or if there's a wind carrying that heat wave with it (very lovingly called "loo" in north , dont ask why) then you get burned .. so choice is yours.. !!

May 30th, 2007, 23:18	#9
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,473	I'd say you always sweat --- just that when the air is dry enough, and/or a wind is moving it accross you skin, it can evaporate fast, cool you fast, and not turn your shirt into a clammy rag...

May 30th, 2007, 23:34	#10
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,536	Get to know jewellers (those that have AC)..

May 31st, 2007, 00:18	#11
scarbobby scarbobby Join Date: May 2007 Location: hyderabad Posts: 47	this is my first summer here and boy its been hard i was foolish enough to play golf at 8.00am by 9.00am the caddie asked if we should stop as i had sweat coming of me like a waterfall i find that if i have a shower and sit without ac for 30 mins then i am ok on way to work thank fully i star at 4pm and when i leave at midnight everythings bearable really looking forward to promised monsoon next week

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