By: me
Temperature is a very important element when it comes to tourism.
Accommodation, transports, activities, food & beverage… everything should be served at the right temperature in order to provide visitors with optimal services. And of course, climate and weather are very important decision-making criterias for tourists. The problem is … thermal comfort is quite a versatile and personal notion. Depending on your metabolism, gender, age, body mass index, body hair density, etc. you may be more comfortable with cold or warm temperatures. Culture, religion and dressing codes can also have an important impact since they may dictate the amount of flesh you are allowed to display. On the other hand, the majority of people tend to share the same standards of thermal comfort. After all, internal body temperature is quite the same for all human beings.
So why is it that some people are so crazy about air-conditioning whereas their body does not even like to be cold? Personnally, I often get paranoid when I find myself in chilly environments and just realize that I am the powerless victim of air-con fanatics. And I am sure I am not the only one thinking that there is a significant difference between 'cool' and 'cold' (just one letter and a few degrees for most people)? Malaysia and Singapore, I would like to raise the issue of the abusive use of air-conditioning as an unsustainable and an uncomfortable practice. I mean, what is the point of throwing huge amounts of money in the [cold] air while this actually makes everybody sick and miserable? Don't you think it is absurd to see people wearing scarves, tights and even fur boots while outside temperature is over 30°C ? Ok, absurd when you do not live in California.
Back from my trip to Malaysia and Singapore, I would like to raise the issue of the abusive use of air-conditioning as an unsustainable and an uncomfortable practice. I mean, what is the point of throwing huge amounts of money in the [cold] air while this actually makes everybody sick?
And it seems few people realize that AC costs a lot of money since it requires a lot of energy (just check your bills if you do not trust me). I was quite shocked to see the lack of concern regarding energy savings not only in Malaysia but also in Singapore and I am happy to see that Korea starts to do something about this (even if there is still room for improvement).
Now I think it is time to stop this collective and ferocious craziness for ultra cold temperatures, particularly in countries where 'cold' is associated with modern, developed, wealthy, neat, dry, posh, etc. while 'hot' means dirty, stinky, sticky, sweaty, and ... poor.
Do we really need to be transformed into frozen hamburgers in public transports, restaurants, shopping malls or any place supposed to welcome tourists (and local as well) in a friendly customer-focused way? What is the point of those constant thermal shocks that make us feel as angry as distressed? Is the throat lozenge industry sponsored by AC suppliers? Or may the the hot drinks sector? The thing is … customers like me do not even think about complaining since they seem to be part of a freezing minority plagued with metabolic quirkiness. 'Put your vest and shut up! and give me the remote control ...' And even if I resolved to file a complain, whom should it be addressed to ?
In airplanes, many people prefer to ask for blankets and socks instead of requesting warmer temperatures. The question is … who is responsible for turning the AC on and off in airplanes? The flight attendants, who surely sweat a lot while they are serving us? Or the pilot (does he/she really care?) ? Or may be the airline company standards made for eskimos and polar bears? Is there any risk of the plane exploding or something like that if I ask for slightly warmer temperatures? In the end, I have always thought that temperatures in airplanes were colder than they should be in order to prevent body odors by slowing the metabolism down. Don’t forget that when you are fearing you are sweating.
Anyway, I suggest you check the following link that do not necessarily provide satisfactory answers:
http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-tr-spot31-2008aug31
Before traveling to warm and wet countries, tourists should be aware that they might be cold most of the time. Bus and subway, department stores, museums, restaurants, etc. : be prepared for goose bumps, painful contractions and incontrollable shivers if you do not dress properly. On the other hand, it might not be a good idea to wear swimming suits outside the pool area, especially in worship and working places. But tourists are tourists and as such, they may be allowed to wear casual and comfy clothes.
Department stores seem to be the new hill stations of the Millennium. Whenever you feel too warm and sticky, just enter any shopping mall in Malaysia and Singapore (and also Thailand as far as I know) and indulge in the super cold, dry, clean, posh atmosphere of those safe retreats. You do not even have to enter the buildings since some of those air-conditioned venues sometimes forget to close their doors or just do not have doors. I am just wondering who is supposed to pay for the wastage. The pharmaceutival industry may be ... Another cheaper option to be quickly chilled are fast-food restaurants where global warming is just a big joke. Again, I am wondering who is in charge of the remote control in those places? The staff in the cooking area, the customers or Ronnie ? I actually saw many patrons who preferred to sip their cold drink in the outside terrace rather than inside. Finally, you can also take the bus and let yourself drive like in a refrigerated truck until you die from cold.
I was glad when I came back to Korea to see more innocuous conditions. For example, Lotte Department Store has decided to maintain its temperature to a pleasant level of 25°C. Officially, this Green Growth measure is supposed to contribute to the mitigation of climate change. In reality, Lotte is a powerful business and I am very glad they understood that AC was a cost they could easily reduce for the benefit of their customers. And while Korea public workers are allowed not to wear ties in summer, Korean women are wearing shorter and shorter clothes.
Temperature is a very important element when it comes to tourism.
Accommodation, transports, activities, food & beverage… everything should be served at the right temperature in order to provide visitors with optimal services. And of course, climate and weather are very important decision-making criterias for tourists. The problem is … thermal comfort is quite a versatile and personal notion. Depending on your metabolism, gender, age, body mass index, body hair density, etc. you may be more comfortable with cold or warm temperatures. Culture, religion and dressing codes can also have an important impact since they may dictate the amount of flesh you are allowed to display. On the other hand, the majority of people tend to share the same standards of thermal comfort. After all, internal body temperature is quite the same for all human beings.
So why is it that some people are so crazy about air-conditioning whereas their body does not even like to be cold? Personnally, I often get paranoid when I find myself in chilly environments and just realize that I am the powerless victim of air-con fanatics. And I am sure I am not the only one thinking that there is a significant difference between 'cool' and 'cold' (just one letter and a few degrees for most people)? Malaysia and Singapore, I would like to raise the issue of the abusive use of air-conditioning as an unsustainable and an uncomfortable practice. I mean, what is the point of throwing huge amounts of money in the [cold] air while this actually makes everybody sick and miserable? Don't you think it is absurd to see people wearing scarves, tights and even fur boots while outside temperature is over 30°C ? Ok, absurd when you do not live in California.
Back from my trip to Malaysia and Singapore, I would like to raise the issue of the abusive use of air-conditioning as an unsustainable and an uncomfortable practice. I mean, what is the point of throwing huge amounts of money in the [cold] air while this actually makes everybody sick?
And it seems few people realize that AC costs a lot of money since it requires a lot of energy (just check your bills if you do not trust me). I was quite shocked to see the lack of concern regarding energy savings not only in Malaysia but also in Singapore and I am happy to see that Korea starts to do something about this (even if there is still room for improvement).
Now I think it is time to stop this collective and ferocious craziness for ultra cold temperatures, particularly in countries where 'cold' is associated with modern, developed, wealthy, neat, dry, posh, etc. while 'hot' means dirty, stinky, sticky, sweaty, and ... poor.
Do we really need to be transformed into frozen hamburgers in public transports, restaurants, shopping malls or any place supposed to welcome tourists (and local as well) in a friendly customer-focused way? What is the point of those constant thermal shocks that make us feel as angry as distressed? Is the throat lozenge industry sponsored by AC suppliers? Or may the the hot drinks sector? The thing is … customers like me do not even think about complaining since they seem to be part of a freezing minority plagued with metabolic quirkiness. 'Put your vest and shut up! and give me the remote control ...' And even if I resolved to file a complain, whom should it be addressed to ?
In airplanes, many people prefer to ask for blankets and socks instead of requesting warmer temperatures. The question is … who is responsible for turning the AC on and off in airplanes? The flight attendants, who surely sweat a lot while they are serving us? Or the pilot (does he/she really care?) ? Or may be the airline company standards made for eskimos and polar bears? Is there any risk of the plane exploding or something like that if I ask for slightly warmer temperatures? In the end, I have always thought that temperatures in airplanes were colder than they should be in order to prevent body odors by slowing the metabolism down. Don’t forget that when you are fearing you are sweating.
Anyway, I suggest you check the following link that do not necessarily provide satisfactory answers:
http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-tr-spot31-2008aug31
Before traveling to warm and wet countries, tourists should be aware that they might be cold most of the time. Bus and subway, department stores, museums, restaurants, etc. : be prepared for goose bumps, painful contractions and incontrollable shivers if you do not dress properly. On the other hand, it might not be a good idea to wear swimming suits outside the pool area, especially in worship and working places. But tourists are tourists and as such, they may be allowed to wear casual and comfy clothes.
Department stores seem to be the new hill stations of the Millennium. Whenever you feel too warm and sticky, just enter any shopping mall in Malaysia and Singapore (and also Thailand as far as I know) and indulge in the super cold, dry, clean, posh atmosphere of those safe retreats. You do not even have to enter the buildings since some of those air-conditioned venues sometimes forget to close their doors or just do not have doors. I am just wondering who is supposed to pay for the wastage. The pharmaceutival industry may be ... Another cheaper option to be quickly chilled are fast-food restaurants where global warming is just a big joke. Again, I am wondering who is in charge of the remote control in those places? The staff in the cooking area, the customers or Ronnie ? I actually saw many patrons who preferred to sip their cold drink in the outside terrace rather than inside. Finally, you can also take the bus and let yourself drive like in a refrigerated truck until you die from cold.
I was glad when I came back to Korea to see more innocuous conditions. For example, Lotte Department Store has decided to maintain its temperature to a pleasant level of 25°C. Officially, this Green Growth measure is supposed to contribute to the mitigation of climate change. In reality, Lotte is a powerful business and I am very glad they understood that AC was a cost they could easily reduce for the benefit of their customers. And while Korea public workers are allowed not to wear ties in summer, Korean women are wearing shorter and shorter clothes.
Don’t take me wrong. I am not saying that we should eliminate AC since it may help save lives on many occasions. For example in France where heat waves have killed so many old people. But if you are a healthy and money savvy person, there are surely better options for you to keep cool without threatening the planet, your neighbors (or couple) and your finances.
Here are a few links providing some fresh (and less fresh) solutions:
Cool Yourself Without Air Conditioning
Efficient Air Conditioning
The Bamboo Wife
Here are a few links providing some fresh (and less fresh) solutions:
Cool Yourself Without Air Conditioning
Efficient Air Conditioning
The Bamboo Wife
