How long to acclimatise to humidity in Singapore

[Clueless2727]

After lurking here for over 6 months (with odd post) looks like we are definitely moving to singapore, beginning of July.
Whilst thought of heat at the moment is very appealing after what feels like non stop snow and freezing weather in england (got snow today and it's april) i am worried about coping with the heat and humidity.
Kids are both fair and hubbie came back from recce to singapore with bad sunburn. Love hot weather but worried we'll find it hard to cope with day-to-day life.
Hoping that after a couple of months you just get used to it, is that the case?
We've been to florida in august when it's very hot and humid, does anyone know if the climates similar?
Thx

[BumbleBee2011]

I used to live there - the first time you walk out of the airport you'll feel like someone has just opened a massive oven, but you do start to feel more comfortable after a few weeks days. I haven't been back in 10 yrs but even back then most places had air conditioning, even on public transport. You'll soon acclimatise!

The food there is the best - I'm so jealous!

[Clueless2727]

Thanks, i love my food and can pretty much eat what i want because i exercise hard to keep weight off, don't think i'll be out pounding the streets in the heat. Really looking forward to the food!

[butterfliesinmytummy]

Your thermostat will change and you will start to feel cold when it drops to 26c..... We normally crank up mil's heating when we visit Scotland in July and wear boots and sweaters!

We don't go for long walks any more and playgrounds are too hot (slides can be burning!) but we go to a lot of water play areas and swim most days.

We don't wear sunscreen unless we are going to the beach or are at the pool or outside between about midday and 3pm and to be honest, there's not much reason why you should be once you are there. Most people are between air con in offices, cars, schools, shopping malls, houses etc and it tends to be the tourists who are out in peak sun hours.

I think Florida in august is very similar to singapore in terms of heat and humidity, except that in singapore it's year round.

[specialsubject]

Singapore is practically on the equator so that is as strong as the UV gets. As the above poster notes, 'mad dogs and Englishmen' but I would be wearing sunscreen on all exposed skin whenever it is daylight. Big hats, loose t-shirts etc, protective swimwear etc.

sunburn in childhood makes the risk of skin cancer rocket.

the city has lots of aircon walkways and tunnels so there are plenty of refuges!

love the place though - and the food!!

[kday]

Defintely invest in large bottles of sunscreen. My skin has struggled here and is quite pigmented from not wearing sunscreen. I am diligent with the kids everyday because of the skin cancer risk. Make it part of your daily routine for you and the kids, especially if fair. You'll soon acclimatise - when we moved I thought I'd never wear jeans in the day again, but now, 18 months later, I (almost) can! Buy loose, cool, cotton things - if you have little girls get dresses without lining - it is too hot and sticky. Also drink heaps of water when you come and nake sure the kids do too (a lot of kids here wear water bottles round their necks). It is very easy to get dehydration headaches in the early days here. The other thing I found when we moved is that my kids really needed a quiet time in the air con or even a nap in the afternoons if we'd been out playing in the morning. The heat really sapped them, so don't try to do too much in the early days! Good luck with your move.

[Clueless2727]

Thanks everyone. Is suncream really expensive? Was hoping to stock up on and send in container a tonne of suncream, frizz ease products and all the other moisturisers i can't live without (not sure if i can ship liquids). My hubbie has never been so sunburnt. Laid out by hotel pool for couple hours during the day (no suncream at all) and he's normally fine inthe sun. Yeah definitely take it easy. Don't think i'll be doing 6mile power walks like i do here to start with

[kday]

You can't buy large bottles of sunscreen here like I was used to in Australia but the nomal sized tubes that youd get in Boots are not that expensive (on special at the pharmacy chain like Boots they would cost $13-15). Sunscreen doesn't usually have a long life so just beware of the use by dates if you buy a lot to bring with you. Walking in the very early morning can be lovely, but by 8.30-9 it would be too hot for me!

[kday]

Also, on frizz ease type products, the frizz situation here can be terrible, so there's no guarantee they'll work! I wear my hair up everyday because if it! If you've been to SG before and know a product works for your fair then definitely bring a lot of it. As for makeup, leave anything shimmery at home (perspiration makes you shimmery enough!) and get a light foundation and primer if you don't want your makeup to slide off and/or look cakey.

[Clueless2727]

I hate wearing my hair up unless i'm at home, but it is normally a nightmare on holiday so not too optimistic about my hair. Dd has so much hair, bless her i think she'll end up looking like monica from friends when she went to the Caribbean . Hubbie will be travelling to australia a couple of times a year so will bring stuff with us and then whenever he goes away i will give him a shopping list. Thanks for tips. I've never even been to singapore so think steep learning curve.

[blueshoes]

I grew up in Singapore. Most Singaporeans cope by staying indoors as much as they can. Hence, airconditioned offices and shopping malls connected by underground walkways.

All outdoor activities are done preferably in the early morning or late evening. The Grand Prix and football matches take place at night with floodlights.

Men don't wear suits to work, just long sleeved shirts if they work in an office.

Lots of swimming. Most condominiums have large swimming pools (no lifeguards). Your dcs will pick up swimming in no time at all, if they are not already swimmers.

[Clueless2727]

Thanks, know it is hot and that will limit some outdoor activities, but dd hates all sport and pe days are her worst days at school (i loved pe at school). Gave up on swimming lessons as half an hour a week wasn't making a difference so hope that lots of swimming will get her confident in no time. she does love a waerpark thugh, are there any waterparks in singapore? ds won't go swimming in uk as water too cold.
Dh hopes to go to work in tshirt and shorts and change once there, but doesn't know if that will be frowned upon

[butterfliesinmytummy]

There are lots of water parks here! Some are big wild wild wet types with flumes, some are big pools with lazy river type rides (jurong east springs to mind), there are also lots of water parks for smaller kids either on their own (port of lost wonder on sentosa) or as part of a bigger attraction (the zoo or jurong bird park). They tend to have a shallow wading type pool with sprayers and tip buckets and small slides. There are also free water sprayground type places that mostly have water jets coming out of the floor or small play equipment with sprayers on the roofs of shopping malls (Nex, Star, Ion etc that we drop into when the kids have been good at shopping and mummy is armed with Starbucks).

Be warned however that singapore has a thing about not providing shade at parks and play areas so hats and rash tops are a must. Buy 2 or 3 swimsuits and rash tops (long sleeves) in each size as these can be pricey here and swimming lots means the chlorine rots them, regardless of rinsing afterwards. I normally stock up in asda or tesco in the summer for a whole year in singapore.

Your dh can change at work I'm sure but if he's walking or cycling to work (and I know people who have done both) he will need a shower when he gets there! Some condos provide shuttle buses to the nearest mrt (tube) station or bus interchange. Ours doesn't so most dh's take taxis to work and leave the family car with wives for running about.

[specialsubject]

er...please buy hubby a globe and some basic science lessons.

sunbathing at the equator?? with no sunscreen????

[butterfliesinmytummy]

Yep, nobody sunbathes in Singapore unless they are just visiting for a couple of days....... And we have lots of overcast days when you can get sunburned just as easily....

[Athrawes]

I didn't burn as badly in Singapore as in NZ - far worse down here without any ozone. You get used to walking slowly, planning journeys via air conditioned routes, knowing which exit to use out of the subway etc.
The food though...mmmmm and very child friendly.

[laptopwieldingharpy]

great advice from everyone.
Just to echo one poster, remember to take it slow for the first couple of months and drink lots of water (everyone constantly carries a bottle around).
And yes, enjoy the food! Foodcourts and local wet markets are usually very safe.