Packing for the temperature at your destination, sun, ski and cancer

I just checked the temperature in Singapore. The site I tried allows you to toggle between agrees c and f and gives the humidity, which might not matter much in London but matters a lot in Singapore. In April 2016 the temperature in Singapore varies through this week from  29 on Monday to 33 C on Thursday, which is only 86 on Monday but in the nineties by Thursday. Humidity is 75%.

In the USA I used to look at the back page of USA today which gave the temperatures in every state. UK papers are the same.

We would also look at snowfall when planning a ski trip in Europe or the USA.

If going to the tropics, remember to take a large brimmed sunhat or hat with a visor. You can use this for swimming, over your swim cap, just adjust the clip at the back of most baseball hats.

A hat with a neck protector can be bought in outdoor shops, eg a trekking shop in Kathmandu, Nepal, but probably the same in most countries.

To protect your feet agains melanoma, especially if you have white skin which is more susceptible, you can buy swim socks. Most flip flops, apart from being slippery, expose both your toes and the top of your feet.

More Information on Temperature
https://www.google.com.sg/?client=safari#q=singapore+temperature&gfe_rd=cr
More on Melanoma
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/79115.php
Sunscreen Clothes and Swim Socks
http://www.coolibar.com/home.jsp?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=sunscreen%20clothes%20b&utm_campaign=Clothing&gclid=CIe7h-iTqswCFU4faAodYMkPsg
Sunscreen Swim Socks
http://sunprotectivedesignerclothing.com/-p-187.html

Angela Lansbury, B A Hons, travel writer and photographer, speaker and author.

Travel - learning about air conditioning from hot countries

What you learn from travelling and living overseas is how different styles of building cope with different weather conditions.

AIR CON IN SUMMER
UK
Velux window blinds with heat reflecting surface.

FRANCE, SPAIN, ITALY, SINGAPORE
Reflective or UV filtering film stuck on inside? of window.

Window blinds, Venetian blinds.
Shutters outside and windows opening inwards. I thought shutters would be great, then discovered I can't use them in England because windows open outwards.

Tiled or marble floors are cool underfoot.
Advantages:
Clean - quick to clean with wet mop. Easy and quick to sweep or wipe crumbs.
Cool - Feels cool. Looks cool. You may want indoor slippers. Watch that your slippers aren't slippery.
Looks expensive.
No expensive carpet to clean or replace.
Allergy friendly. No carpet beetles nor fluff. (But you might have rugs.)

Disadvantages:
Slippery - when wet. Hard surfaces break bones if you fall.
Breakages - Crockery and Denbyware cutlery with porcelain handles breaks on impact which is costly. Glass and porcelain which breaks when dropped leave dangerous bit of glass and crockery underfoot.
Noisy - like an Italian restaurant. Your answering machine conversations played back in your hall echo all around the public hallway to your neighbours or workers waiting on your doorstep.
Tiles can crack if heavy objects are dropped.

BALCONY SAFETY
SINGAPORE
Balconies in Singapore / Asia are increasingly built with bars to prevent children and cleaners and drunks and potential suicides falling. When I was looking at property I would not live in a building with public areas or private balconies with waist high balconies you could lean over and long drops. In an estate of 1000 balconies it's depressing to hear that a child has fallen or a maid or resident has jumped.

Years ago, in the 1960s, Habitat in Canada had residential buildings designed like step pyramids. The roof of one provided a garden for the one above. To escape in a fire, you had only one storey to descend.

CLOTHES
You can wear a small or large piece of wet clothing, Anything from a commercially produced cooling neckband to a wet towel. Be aware that it is said that wearing a wet swimsuit or wet outfit for a long time can cause rheumatism.

HUMIDITY
You can buy a dehumidifying machine, which helps in winter when your windows are closed. This runs on electricity and the water collects in the tray underneath which must be emptied.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3155640/Crazy-eco-rules-turning-modern-homes-ovens-Experts-warn-drive-green-homes-poses-potentially-lethal-risk.html

Angela Lansbury, author, travel writer, photographer, speaker.