how to beat the heat

bijapuri

"Alas, my dear Sir! what can induce the European to expose himself to such terrible heat, and to these terrible and pernicious marches? . . .
"the sun is just but rising, yet the heat is insupportable. There is not a cloud to be seen nor a breath of air to be felt. . . My Indian servants, notwithstanding their black, dry and hard skin, are incapable of further exertion. The whole of my face, my feet, and my hands are flayed. My body too is covered with small red blisters, which prick like needles. Yesterday one of our poor troopers, who was without a tent, was found dead at the foot of a tree, wither he had crept for shelter. I feel as if I myself should expire before night. All my hopes are in four or five limes still remaining for lemonade, and in the little dry curd which I am about to drink diluted with water and sugar. Heaven bless you! The ink dries an the end of my pen, and the pen itself drops from my hand."
So wrote Francois Bernier in the 1600's during a trip through the Punjab.

Since India's "summer" is fast approaching at the time of this post,I'm thinking a thread where people can talk about it might be helpful. So what are your tips and tricks for getting the most out of Ma India during thus season?

Here are a few that work for me:

Stay in AC lodging, when possible.

Get out early, take siesta during the worst heat in early afternoon.

Drink stuff, but easy on the alcohol.

Head for the hills!



I'd like to hear what works for you!?!?!?

__________________
Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.
Barack Obama

lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/

Utube fuzzy logic:
http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

PeakXV

"A wise man will here accustom himself to the pure and fine water, or to the excellent lemonade(nimbul), which costs little and may be drunk without injury. To say the truth, few persons in these hot climates feel a strong desire for wine, and I have no doubt that the happy ignorance which prevails of many distemper is fairly ascribable to the general habits of sobriety among the people, and to the profuse perspiration to which they are perpetually subject." Also from - Bernier's Travel's in the Mogul Empire (1656- 1668) - Constable & Smith - Page 253.


Don't forget that deep breathing is the ultimate cooling process. With the smog, stench & sometimes overwhelming smells that bombard us there at times - it is very easy to negate this olfactory assault by breathing in much too shallowly .... which, unfortuately, helps to heat up the body!

__________________
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?

Nick-H

Getting out early is the best idea, but my body clock has other ideas. On those few summer mornings that I do see the outside world at or before sunrise I am amazed at what I'm missing!

So, I mostly stay in until evening.

AC in the house, and in the car. plenty of fluids, its easy to forget.

Take it easy; take it slow. If you come from a place like London, leave behind your fast-paced ways; you'll just exhaust yourself.

The only time I headed for the hills in July it was cold, wet and miserable, and I was just delighted to return to my plains warmth.

__________________
.


Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

PeakXV

I really don't know how abundant they are these days or if they even exist(ed) at all after the dismissal of the British Raj .... but a punkah wallah churning away in perpetual motion on your behalf - wouldn't be a bad thing at all.

the opoponax

I saw old fashioned punkahs in a few of the state handicraft emporiums in Delhi. For practically nothing -- under 100 rupees for big handheld ones with nice leather work and lots of pretty colors. I think they're cool and seriously considered picking up a few for my living room, come July. Except that my living room pretty much already looks like India threw up all over it, and I didn't think they'd fit in my luggage.

But mad props to anyone who decides to invest in some! I think it was the Gujurat state emporium where I saw the nicest ones.

madan80

and more - wear cottons, light colors. will help keep the body cool... drink lots of water or tender coconut water or othr natuarlly sweet drinks,. avoid aerated beverages, alcohol etc during the day time.
carry some sun block.

handling the heat in chennai is not a problem - the sea breeze sets in by about 330- 4pm.

I was actually on the road at 1230 in the afternoon the day chennai hit 46odd degrees...was sure my feet were on fire! YIKES!

__________________
Now a certified rally driver!

Nick-H

We have electricity, these days, Peak !

Nick-H

It's just a problem, (April to June) from 9.00am to 3.30pm! In fact I prefer to stay in until 5.30 or so in thos blistering months.

puchoo

i water myself when i water the plants !

__________________
Cheers!

Sidharth

puchoo.wordpress.com