Some cool tips to weather out summer

Ah, summertime. We somehow are not able to share the enthusiasm to the sunny season that great poets like Cliff Richard and Bill Wordsworth had when chatting up the virtues of a 'summer holiday' or bouncing about 'lonely as a cloud' and chancing upon a valley of daffodils. Celsius-wise, we'll pass those temperate feelings. For us here in the tropics, we can take pleasure in ice-cold nimbu paani (stronger stuff in the evenings), chappals, and sweat-stained kurtas. As the sun beats down mercilessly upon us, it's important to remember how to keep cool in the sweltering heat. And by 'important,' we mean absolutely necessary if you don't want to turn into a puddle of goo on the sidewalk. Some tips:

Wear an ice hat. Take a motorcycle helmet, fill it with ice cubes, and strap it to your head. It may look ridiculous, but you will be the coolest cat in town.

Stick your head in the freezer. Just make sure you don't get stuck in there with the kababs.


Become a mermaid. That's right, ditch the legs and get yourself a tail and swim in a pool near you. If needed, scare the kids away by coughing loudly before getting in.

Duct tape a fan to your body. You'll look like a cyborg, but you'll also have a constant breeze following you around. Just watch out for low-hanging branches.

Watch movies set in Nordic countries. The blizzarder the better.