Stephen seeing how close he can get to the puddle
before I give him a warning.

The weather has been mild and temperate here in Ho Chi Minh City - in the high 20’s C (low 80’s F). Usually, the climate is tropical year-round with the rainy season, from April through October, being the warmest. I’m so accustomed to it being hot during this time of year that I’ve been staying home instead of going out.

After four consecutive days at home, though, Stephen and I were both ready to go out. We went back to Reunification Palace and it started to sprinkle on the walk over. No problem. It’s not as if we’re made out of sugar and were going to melt on the spot. The cloudy weather actually made it nicer; the handkerchief I use to wipe off the sweat barely got damp.

The first time I experienced hot, humid weather as an adult was in Singapore in 1993. I’d grown up with dry California summers and wasn’t used to it being so muggy. When I stepped out of Singapore’s Changi Airport, the wave of heat was almost palpable and sightseeing was torture.

Since then, I’ve lived in Baltimore, MD on the U.S. east coast and experienced summers that are even more stuffy than Singapore’s constant warm-breeze, palm-tree-swaying weather. Summers in Taipei, Taiwan are actually worse because of the pollution. And, central Japan had manageable summers because the air is cleaner but sweat darkening the backs of shirts are a common sight there.

It’s taken a while, but I think I’ve finally become acclimated and am no longer stifled by humidity and heat. That’s saying a lot because I’m the kind of person who gets HOT with the smallest bit of exertion or stress. Maybe one of these days, I’ll get the chance to live in a place that tends toward the cold or frigid. That’ll surely cool this hot bod down.

Meanwhile, I’m going to enjoy these few days of cooler weather. You won’t find me complaining about it like the cabbie I once met in Singapore who was shivering because the temp had gone down a couple of degrees from 31C (88F) to 29C (84F).

Are you happy with the weather where you are now?

xposted