Eternal Summer of the Spotless Mind
What life is really like in a place where summer never ends.
5 August 2019
Sunny island, garden city, tropical paradise. To many travellers who visit, Singapore is a refreshing pause from the sombre shroud of grey skies or unpredictable weather back home. It’s an island city by virtue of size, but also climate.
Take a step out of the World’s Best Airport and you’ll be greeted with an abrupt slap of humidity. A sampler that is the walk between the chilly terminal and your awaiting cab will help you realise one thing – you wouldn’t survive without air conditioning.
The duality of our humid weather versus the drying manufactured cold, is something even seasoned travellers would not anticipate. A curious combination of sweat-resistant makeup, mattifying sunscreen, hand creams, lip-balms and light-weight outerwear make for a fairly complicated packing list.
Oil-controlling skincare products will be your saviour from the relentless equatorial heat, but don’t underestimate the importance of moisturising as well. Choose a lightly scented hand cream if you have irritable skin to prevent eczema outbreaks and grab a sheet mask to replenish your skin on the go.
Melting makeup and oily hair aside, an eternal summer means it’s always fine weather for some outdoor activities. It’s a balmy morning and your options are endless. Perhaps having a picnic at Marina Barrage, or going on a hike in one of the lesser known trails down the Southern Ridges. Simply grab your favourite aviators before heading out.
But if there’s anything worth braving the weather for, it would be some good old-fashioned local food - the unique flavours of Singapore, ranging from a savoury bowl of Katong Laksa to the sweet aroma of prawn noodles. Fish soup for lunch? No problem. Nasi lemak with extra sambal? It would be worth the sweat.
At the end of the day, the Singaporean heat may not be the most pleasant. But without it, your experience would not be complete. Without burning your tongue on some spicy cuisines, or feeling the scorch when you’re down by the beach, it just wouldn’t be a trip to the Little Red Dot.
