or: The Tropics Can Be Chilly

It’s winter in Mauritius and like winter in many places, it has become considerably cooler than summer.

The water temperature has been dropping slowly for quite some time. As a result, rather than my usual 5mm wetsuit with a 1mm rash vest underneath, I’m now wearing this plus a longer 1mm rash vest over the top of the shorter one, a 3mm wetsuit vest, and a 3mm short wetsuit over my longer one, a hood and gloves. I have gone from looking fairly sporty to Michelin Man. And not in a good way though I’m not sure a good way would have been possible.

The body adjusts to water temperature very quickly due to the density of the water. Twenty-four degree water feels a lot colder than 24 degree air due to the density differences in each too. The body has a natural inclination to adapt to the surrounding temperature and it adjusts more quickly in water.

Mine adjusts super fast. It’s one of those times I’d rather not be so efficient.

Which gets me to air…

The air temperature has been gradually dropping too.

Last night I was at an outdoor concert hosted by the local neighbourhood council. I had a great time at the concert and the bands were excellent. I ddn’t understand a word since most was sung in Creole though this didn’t make a difference to me.

We had our drinks and snacks and were all having a good time.

I was cold.

People around me wore ski-type jackets, scarves and some were even in beanies. There were also those in shorts and t-shirts. Perhaps they had drunk more than me or perhaps they acclimitise to their environment a little more slowly than what I seem to.

This all had me thinking about how we perceive temperature in the first place and what actually feels cold (or hot). I have spent most of my life living in warmer places and the temperature difference to winter has usually been quite dramatic though I’ve rarely been in locations over the seasons where it snows and experienced both he summer and the winter.

I remember chatting with my Mum on a number of occasions when we have been in different environments though the same season. She has been saying how cold she is while I have been in an even colder spot and not felt it quite so much. This could be partly due to insulation though I’m thinking it is due to the extreme between the hot and cold temperatures experienced across the seasons as in this occasion, her summers would have been warmer than mine.

It’s either this or one of us is particularly sensitive.

So here I am in a tropical island paradise and I am tugging up to go outside in winter.

It is a chilly 22 degrees celcius.

You decide.

* Thanks to Muse again for the title to this post.