Hot Season

So here it is again: hot season. That lovely time of year (approximately March to May) when temperatures get to 100F/37-38C for most of the day, it almost never rains, and no one wants to do anything even slightly strenuous, especially during the hottest part of the day ... unless it involves being underwater or sitting in an air-conditioned room.

I have to admit that this is not at all my favorite time of year in Southeast Asia. Rainy season, even with its accompanying humidity, doesn't bother me as much. I grew up in the Pacific Northwestern US, in western Washington and Oregon specifically. I'm used to rain, though of course it's not the same kind here. (Here, it's the downpour-plus-thunderstorm kind of rain, usually.) But after two years in SE Asia, I'm still not used to hot and dry.

But, all that said, it's not like there is nothing I enjoy about hot season. In fact, to help me remember, I'm going to list them - after I list my least favorite things about it.

Top Things I Really Don't Like About Hot Season:

1. The aforementioned heat.

2. Being outside for more than a few seconds = sweating a lot.

3. Feeling even less motivation than usual for doing housework/chores, because that = sweating a lot.

4. More mosquitoes, and more bugs coming inside the house. Especially the spiders.

5. Lowered appetite from the heat.

6. Much less desire to cook or bake, since it makes the house even hotter.

7. The season seems to last forever.

I think that about sums it up. Now, onto a more optimistic list.

Top Things I Do Like About Hot Season:

1. It's also rambutan, mangosteen, and mango season! Mmmmm.

2. It's mango season at Dairy Queen and Swensen's! Mmmmm, mango ice cream.

3. It's a good excuse to eat ice cream more often (not that I really need an excuse).

4. No need to turn on the water heater when you shower - in fact, it feels so much nicer not to.

5. In cold season, you don't get to see/hear these guys:

This is a Tokay gecko, or tukkae as it's known in Thailand. I remember hearing stories about these guys from my grandma, which might be why it's such a comforting sound to me whenever I hear it. If you've never had the pleasure of hearing their distinctive call, you can find a clip of it at the Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokay_gecko

6. In cold season, you also don't get to see these cool creatures:

These huge Atlas moths - at least as big as my face - are harmless and gorgeous. We just have to make sure they don't land on our screen door, or our cats would try to kill them.

7. Nobody looks at you twice if you want to stay in and nap/do nothing during the hottest hours of the day. In fact it's totally normal.

8. It builds even more anticipation for the coming of the rainy season (at least for my sister and me, anyway!).

Friends who live in/have been in SE Asia, did I miss any on either list?