Hanging around the coastline of Queensland, even if your shoes will go moldy (plus everything else) is my preference to sweltering in the outback sharing your space with sticky flies. That is, unless you have perched yourself near one of the many sublime fresh-water springs or swimming holes such as Twin Falls, Jardine River National Park, Cape York.
Did you miss Pt 1. Surviving Summer In Tropical Queensland?
Having lived in the tropics of Queensland for the majority of my life, one quickly learns a few survival tools to cope with the blistering heat during the summer months:
Carry with you at all times:
- Top of the list is a bottle of water as you will be amazed how quickly you can become dehydrated. Headaches, muscle cramps, dry cracked lips, hallucinations, weakness, confusion and dark urine
are all symptoms that you really don't want to experience. - Make your own face/body spritzer by filling a cheap spray bottle with ice water and liberally spray yourself when you get hot and bothered.
- Sunscreen should be liberally smothered on your body at regular intervals.
- Lip balm of the sunscreen variety will keep your lips kissable when in dry and hot winds.
- Personal wet wipes are great to get rid of sweat grime, but make sure that you reapply sunscreen after wiping away the gunk. When not out and about, keep the wipes in the fridge.
- More so for the females, other than males that are not preoccupied with public perceptions, invest in an el cheapo handheld fan commonly referred to as a "menopausal" fan. They really do work when you get hot and flustered.
Other Desperate Measures:
- Leave the perfume for colder climates, as smelling sweet attracts man-eating mosquitoes.
- If you find yourself in the outback, don't worry about being fashionable, as hats with those iconic dangling corks do keep the flies off your face and out of your eyes.
- When cruising the boutiques thrashing credit cards, ha
ng out in air-conditioned shops a little bit longer than you maybe need to. - Gorge on ice blocks or shaved ice treats of whatever flavour turns you on— natural fruit ones are the best.
- Have water fights with your partner or intermittently stand under a cold shower.
- Indulge in some wet t-shirt therapy, preferably after the t-shirt has been in the freezer.
- Store your moisturizer in the fridge, so it's really cold when you smother it on.
- The bathtub is usually the coolest place; so put a movie on where you can see it, have a chilled glass of wine in hand and wallow in a big tub of cold water with or without your partner, as swimming pools are usually like warm baths during the summer months.
- Only venture outdoors early in the mornings or late in the afternoons, unless you happen to be slumming it on a beautiful boat surrounded by the reef for the day.
- Go for a swim at the beach in a "stinger" net, as the crocodiles won't be out and about looking for prey until it gets dark.
- Head to a water hole or running stream in the lush canopied rainforest because this will be the coolest place you will find in the tropics.
- Ensure that for every glass of alcohol, you swallow one glass of water.
When all else fails:
Short of living in the refrigerator, shove your bed sheet into a bag (to stop icicles from forming on the fabric) and pop it into the freezer, if your accommodation has one big enough. Wrap yourself up like a mummy, turn the air-conditioning up as high as it will go, close all of the curtains in your accommodation and dream of being in an icy igloo. Remember to put the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door.
NB: If you want to find out what the weather has in store, or if you wish to track a cyclone, get onto the Bureau of Meteorology website
Gail Palethorpe, a self proclaimed Australian gypsy, is a freelance writer, photographer and eternal traveller. Check out her website Gail Palethorpe Photography and her Shutterstock profile.
