If you’re caught moaning about the heat in some far-flung destination, you’re often scoffed at. Accusations that you’re “never happy” or that it’s “alright for some” assume you’re exaggerating, ungrateful or simply boasting when you dare to label a city or country “too hot” for you. Even the most seasoned travellers sometimes deal with discomfort in new environments – after all, not everybody was born to withstand incredibly hot temperatures. But does that mean you should throw in the towel? No, absolutely not! Unless you have some sort of medical reason as to why you can’t be in super-hot climates, there are plenty of ways you can deal with it.
Keep hydrated
Never underestimate the power of hydration. We should all be drinking eight glasses of water a day but, overseas in hotter countries, this is more pertinent than ever. Science has proven that hot weather can lead to dehydration if you don’t manage your consumption effectively.
Bodies function best within a certain range of temperatures, and yours is no exception. When it needs to cool off, you start to sweat and, when this evaporates, it cools your skin. But it’s important to drink more water so it can function properly and to replace the water that is lost.
You’ll start to feel weak and ill pretty quickly if you’re not drinking enough, so always carry a bottle of – safe – drinking water while out and about.
Eat cool things
Many hot countries also serve up hot food – for example, a red curry on the sands of a Thai beach. But if you’re already struggling with the heat, maybe you need to get out of the (hot) kitchen. The locals may well be able to handle this kind of stuff, but perhaps that’s because they’re used to it. If temperatures drop in the evening though, by all means go ahead.
Instead of opting for curries or heavy and hot foods by day, do yourself a favour by ordering salads or something similar, instead. You can still get a feel for local flavour – to use Thailand again as an example, your best bet is chicken mint salad.
When you’re spending days at the beach, everyone deserves an ice cream treat. These days you don’t even have to move a muscle – dessert delivery is a service that is widely used, and will decrease your chances of overheating further.
Don’t forget those delicious drinks, either! When overseas, it’s okay to indulge in an alcoholic beverage or two, and, in other countries, you might find options to cool you down that are different from what you’re used to. An authentic margarita in Mexico, perhaps, or even flavoured spirit – in the USA, they have everything from lavender gin to marmalade vodka!
Dress smart
By smart, we don’t mean formally. But if you’re savvy about what you’re wearing in the heat, you’ll feel a whole lot better. Lighter colours and fabrics are a must in this respect, plus with the lighter clothing, you have the added benefit of having less to carry. There’s nothing worse than sweating as you try to haul a huge backpack or suitcase up the street!
Just remember to always dress with respect. You may want to wear shorts and a vest top – and usually that’s fine – but in some places such as religious or sacred temples, you’ll have to be a little more covered.
There’s no point ruining a good trip just because of some hot weather. If anything, you should bask in it. But buy some sunscreen, carry some water and listen to your body – don’t overdo it!
Leave a Reply