Job Discussion Forums

[YellowHair]

I just wanted to ask a quick question to the other dudes in Hong Kong. How do you compensate for the extreme humidity and high temperatures in Hong Kong? Is there anything special you do to keep from walking around with greasy pits or does everyone just accept that as the norm?

Thanks a million in advance.

P.s. Please keep nefarious comments to a minimum like "I use an antiperspirant.

[Lao Wai]

Hey,

Not a stupid question at all. I had a major sweating problem when I came to Hong Kong last year (but only in my underarm region). I'm from Canada and I rarely break a sweat when I'm there.

Anyway, the only think that seems to have worked is I trimmed the hair under my arms a bit (and I'm not apelike either). Since then, I haven't had much of a problem. I still slather on the anti-perspirant though, as well as wear a thin undershirt so my dress shirts don't get stains.

Good luck!

[Horizontal Hero]

Yellowhair, they are pure geniuses hare in HK, and solved that problem years ago. They eliminated life outside of buildings. The environment was banned, and people ordered to wander listlessly through shopping malls on weekends.

Nowadays with air so thick you need a straw to inhale it, you are better off inside, beside an air conditioner. And they love those things here in HK. Bring lots of sweaters. You will no doubt be surprised to see school kids wearing sweaters in July - because it's effing cold in the real world here - i.e. not in that most unnatural world beyond walls and subways.

[briandwest]

- adopt the Hong Kong walk i.e. walk very, very, very slowly using even the smallest piece of available shade.
- use anti-perspirant NOT deodorant (a little nefarious, but worth repeating!)
- wear light, loose clothes
- when waiting to cross the road or waiting for a bus stand in the shade or try to stand near the open door of an air-conditioned shop.
- carry a damp face cloth to refresh your face and arms;
- if possible, after returning from lunch, dry your shirt in the toilet using the hand drier and then freshen up with the damp face cloth.
- don't use aftershave or body sprays; the smell is overpowering to the locals and attracts more attention than sweaty armpits
- drink lots of soup, especially the one that contains slices of the enormous green melon. My girlfriend swears that warm soups cool you down in summer!
- on a bus, do not sit in the downstairs back seats as they are right next to the engine and you'll be sweating in the jiffy. The coolest seats are upstairs, but can be like sitting in a freezer.
- grin and bear it! When it's so hot that the palms of your hands are sweating remember that even the locals will be sweating, cursing the weather and dreaming of that wonderful Autumn day when the humidity goes away!

[dandan]

Nah. Sod all that. Book yourself a few lunchtime games of football, tennis, whatever, get acclimatised, get used to it, get over it, get on with your life.

Its really not that big a deal unless you choose to make it so.

[poof]

There's absolutely nothing you can do to prevent sweating if you're the sweaty type. All you can do is alleviate it. Some of my methods:
Have a stash of fresh vests in your cupboard at work.
Have access to a hand fan.
Stay in the shade.
Take lots of cold showers.
Keep hydrated.
Go to a movie theater - the movie theaters are so air-conditioned, on my first visit I was close to hypothermia and had to leave before the movie finished! It was 35 degrees outside.

I actually attended kickboxing class throughout the summer in a gym which had no air con or ventilation. Mind over matter. That has prepared me for coping with any extreme heat.

[wailing_imam]

Poof

May I humbly award you Jiangsu Province's

BEST AVATAR OF THE YEAR

Absolutely Briiiillllliant scream the mainland hordes....