How To Acclimatise To Thailand?

[eurozhongguo]

How easily you accalimatise depends somewhat on your own body's reaction to the heat and humidity. Since temperatures in most of Thailand are similar all year round, you should, in theory, be able to acclimatise far more easily than in a country with distinct seasons. However, humidity is far higher in the rainy season than it is the rest of the year. Northern Thailand hardly has any humidity in Winter. People cannot necessarily acclimatise to humidity, but they can acclimatise to heat. Some people sweat like pigs in the humidity to the point that the persperation runs down their foreheads and into their eyes. Others, like myself, hardly sweat at all. I can, however, tell you that the humidity is far more bearable than it is in Borneo or even in Southern China or parts of Japan in Summer. The heat, itself, is not particularly high in Thailand as those entering or leaving via a stopover in the Middle East with its 50 degrees will be able to testify, but that heat is dry though.

[corkman]

Its a sort of strange one really...... and I think its largely down to the individual.

I don't live in Thailand, but I have spent consdierable time there, including extended periods of several months at a time. It has gotten to the the point that when I go back, I settle straight in, and don't seem to "suffer" from the heat as most farangs do. I even go as far to find it cool some evenings and wear a light coat (i.e. tracksuit top), while alot of farangs are sitting around in shorts with no top on

I don't know is there a way to acclimatise purposely...... I think if you are sitting around in an air con environment all day, day and night, with it turned down to 18 degrees, then you are never going to acclimatise. But even the thai's find it hot some times.... I mean when its in the high 30's and 100% humidity even they welcome the air con.

[jackr]

Love extreme heat and don't mind the cold, although much prefer to live in the heat... a big plus of being here. Besides, it's good for you, keeps everything supple and sweating is also good. Being in Chiang Mai, it is nice to get the cool winter months for a break though. Only use aircon an hour when hitting the sack when it's hot and never set below 27/28 degrees. Drinking (not gulping) water constantly is a must for keeping everything ticking over properly and not stressing the organs, especially in this heat. Never allow yourself to become thirsty as the body goes into emergency mode and gos haywire, making things more uncomfortable. Also, using electrolytes like Dechamp is a must for replacing salts

It's good for the body to be tested but not to live at the edge all the time, so what you right is plain bad advice in my opinion. Like you say it's nice to get a few month's break.

You think recommending people keep well hydrated in this humidity is bad advice?

Boy, TV certainly does attract them

[Brewsta]

Actually I think there are 2 seasons. Hot and Hot & Wet. But still, its nothing really. I mean have any of you ever lived in the middle east? I lived in Kuwait for a couple years, that place makes Thailand look like Siberia...or how about Dubai in August.. That sh*t is just on another level.

Year 11 in from UK - agree.

rgz,

#Brewsta

[Lancelot]

Now I have reached a position of acceptance ----- this is the way it is ------ just grin and bear it!

I agree.

A lot of acclimation is in the mindset. However, if a person finds the climate is too opressive, nothing wrong with staying ion the air con or moving on.

Personally I prefer moderate weather -think crisp autumn days- but I decided to adapt here and I have acclimatised.

A few years ago, I went back to visit my folks in the dead of winter. I was cold all the time and even wore two pairs of socks to bed

[WaiWai]

If you look at what most rural Thais do during the day........you can easily deduce they are uncomfortable too and they should be acclimated to it........they always talk about how hot it is and sit in the shade all day.

I have noticed that, unlike in many other hot or tropical climates, the Thais don't seem to have a fixed "siesta" period during the hottest part of the day. Rather, they doze whenever overwhelmed during the day/night while trying to keep their business running.

It would seem more efficient to get up early (as many Thais, esp. the older/rural Thais do), take advantage of the morning cool and then have a midday rest. In some countries, you'd never disturb anyone between around noon and 3 or even 4 pm. Then business can resume in the evening cool.

(I wish I could "siesta" but can rarely fall asleep during the day.)

I do dislike the humidity -- and the point about genetic differencs in sweat glands is true, so don't blame yourself if you're too damp to be cool here .

I do also miss some change in the seasons.

How to acclimatize? Several good tips here, but I believe individuals can vary quite a deal in this respect, so while some rules may apply in general, I'd have to say you'll have to find what will work for you. For older people with health problems, the best advice will be very different than that for the young and fit, especially when pollution levels are high. Stay well!

[Jingthing]

I don't think being acclimatised means you are never uncomfortable with the heat and humidity. Do you think eskimos never feel the cold? Its just that acclimatised people have ADAPTED to their climate so that it is tolerable.

[michael233]

DON'T DRINK TOO MUCH PEPSI/COKE THESE HAVE TOO MUCH SUGAR,NOT HELP!EAT PKT OF CRISPS HELP WITH SALT CONTENT AND DEHYDRATION!

[elkangorito]

It's more of a "mind" adjustment than anything else.

[Maigo6]

Now, I don't like air-con as I'm always too cold.

That rules you out of the free MK Suki in Khon Kaen

[HalfSquat]

Some people sweat like pigs in the humidity to the point that the persperation runs down their foreheads and into their eyes.

Guilty your honour!

Just walking around in the midday can get me swearing on my brow and going into my eyes.

The other day I did a bit of fast walking in the morning outside and my t-shirt was soaked and I kept sweating once indoors (no AC) for at least a few hours.

I'm going to get one of those sweat-proof t-shirts they sell in sports and ourdoors shops so at least I don't soak up the sweat.

[justSumGai]

I'm from the gulf coast usa. 35 is an average I guess, for months, with PLENTY of humidity but Bangkok CAN do me in. I watched the ppl. They walk SLOWLY, can be annoying. But hey, less sweating. They favor the shady side of the street. I also found that silk is THE thing for evaporative cooling. Sure the shirt still gets soaked, but a ride for a few stops on the Skytrain or duck into an AC cooled shop now an then and bingo it's DRY again. Dang cotton shirts are like wearing a sponge, takes forever to dry off. The AC makes you easy to heat stress thing I find TRUE. Even at home I don't run AC but in the sleeping hours. Ok, so i put it on when it hits near 90 inside, but keeping doors and windows open that don't happen often.

[najman]

December in Udon Thani (North East Thailand) can get pretty cool at night in November-December. I think it got down to close to 10 degrees or less one night when I was out with my gf at a massive concert in the middle of nowhere. I was riding the scooter that night and at 60kph the wind shear makes you feel more like 0 C temperature. Even during the day at those times when it was around 18C it was still cold when riding at 60kph with just a t-shirt.

Walking around and standing outside during the day was fine though however i noticed most thai folk wearing jackets and jumpers during that time and especially at night. I noticed I was the only person not wearing a jacket (only t-shirt) on a lot of those 18-20 C nights.

A friend of the family lived in bkk for the past 10 years and is back in Australia near the end of our winter. He seems to need the heat way way up in the house before he gets comfortale so he must have gotten use to the different temps in thailand.

I also think it's important to like the heat to stay in thailand. I hate cold even more so i dont mind it.

[kirk0233]

How to get used to the heat here? Why bother? I have lived in Thailand in and around bangkok for over a year and have yet to find the heat bearable. This is not the fault of Thailand. The heat was unbearavble where I lived before in Texas. The way I coped with the heat there is the same here; have a good airconditioner in the home and car and if walking drink a lot of water. I'm a vegetarian, but i never found that habit helped with the heat. Exercise does help adjust to heat as does keeping the weight down. The fact is I think westerners will never adjust to the heat like Thais due to the smaill body mass of Thais comapred to westerners. Even Thais like AC once they are used to it as does my wife. Prior to AC she would take two baths a day. Now she takes one at night like me. Despite the body mass difference even Thais get dirty enough to need two baths a day.

[Jingthing]

Why bother?

Saves money on aircon. Its greener (hello Al Gore, I believe you).

If you live in aircon it is a big SHOCK on the body to then go outside. If you never go outside, no problem. I was raised to believe that shocking the body that way, real cold to real hot, is bad for your health, but I honestly don't know. I do know it is unpleasant to experience that shock. If you are used to the climate here, you avoid that unpleasant shock.

[Naam]

Why bother?

Saves money on aircon. Its greener (hello Al Gore, I believe you).

If you live in aircon it is a big SHOCK on the body to then go outside. If you never go outside, no problem. I was raised to believe that shocking the body that way, real cold to real hot, is bad for your health, but I honestly don't know. I do know it is unpleasant to experience that shock. If you are used to the climate here, you avoid that unpleasant shock.

you have more "shock" temperature difference living in a cold country. in Thailand the difference is normally 5ºC, in Europe in winter up to 50ºC. nobody ever claimed it is "bad for your health" and nobody is foolish enough not to heat his/her home even when on a budget.

[WaiWai]

I have lived in Perth (Aus); a glorious place with an extremely dry but very hot summer. Nobody had air con or even fans. I kid you not ! It seems strange to look back on that, but it's the truth; only a decade ago. This was not because of the famed "Fremantle breeze" -- lived too far from the coast for that -- but the lack of humidity plus good building design, I think.

The temperature did reach something like 47 deg. C one night and most of us slept on the beach. It was very pleasant there, by the ocean.

Here, even if it's not very hot, I have grown addicted to the feel of fanned air. Any punkha wallahs available ?

P.S. In cities like BKK or HK, the constant running of the aircon in the close-knit high-rise shoe box apartment blocks just causes everyone on the higher floors to try to up the ante. Circular effect without circulation.

[Naam]

I have lived in Perth (Aus); a glorious place with an extremely dry but very hot summer. Nobody had air con or even fans. I kid you not ! It seems strange to look back on that, but it's the truth; only a decade ago. This was not because of the famed "Fremantle breeze" -- lived too far from the coast for that -- but the lack of humidity plus good building design, I think.

The temperature did reach something like 47 deg. C one night and most of us slept on the beach. It was very pleasant there, by the ocean.

Here, even if it's not very hot, I have grown addicted to the feel of fanned air. Any punkha wallahs available ?

lots of punks in Thailand, haven't seen any punka wallahs.

[WaiWai]

Enough wallies, or users of "wallah!" for "voila", though, perhaps ...

[kokesaat]

1. Our hot water heater is shut off from Feb-Nov, cool refreshing showers, sometimes 3 a day during March/April.

2. We have a deep well on our property. Nice clean cool water. I put a large cement o-ring on top of the cement top. Cemented the two together. Fill it up with well water. Sit outdoors under the stars/moon. Use the water for irrigation afterwards.

[Jingthing]

Why bother?

Saves money on aircon. Its greener (hello Al Gore, I believe you).

If you live in aircon it is a big SHOCK on the body to then go outside. If you never go outside, no problem. I was raised to believe that shocking the body that way, real cold to real hot, is bad for your health, but I honestly don't know. I do know it is unpleasant to experience that shock. If you are used to the climate here, you avoid that unpleasant shock.

you have more "shock" temperature difference living in a cold country. in Thailand the difference is normally 5ºC, in Europe in winter up to 50ºC. nobody ever claimed it is "bad for your health" and nobody is foolish enough not to heat his/her home even when on a budget.

The same logic if it is logic goes for cold countries. In that case, yes you would heat if necessary, but you wouldn't heat so much that it is super hot inside. You'd be surprised how many foolish people there are that limit heating even if they can afford it.