My photo at the Tugu Hotel in Lombok - lovely weather all year round.
So far, we’re just passed Christmas, the first large NY snowstorm, and a soppy raining weekend. Though the weather outside could be more frightful, I don’t think the worst is here yet. Nine years in New York, and I feel like no 2 winters have been the same. I’ve been through superlatives, with the news touting one year it was the “Biggest snowstorm.” The next year, “The Coldest Winter.” The next, “The Longest Winter.” Last year, it was “The most schizophrenic-almost-non-existent-god-help-us-global warming winter.” Each winter was followed by strangely short or late summers bracketed by rainy springs and pleasant, split-second falls. So tomorrow, will it be sweater-pleasant or puffy-coat-hat ungodly? In New York, the weather is still deciding whether to be 48 or 20 degrees, which makes for a surprise outfit du jour. But such is the adventure we face living in a state with real seasons. For a cheeky moment, let me just tout the benefits of being in a solo-season country (hot) like Indonesia, with one variation only: Wet or Dry. I have my reasons to think that living in a hot and humid tropical country is quite convenient, and here are just a few reasons why. If you’ve spent time in a tropical country, I hope you can relate… And for those of you who haven’t, I hope you are amused.
1. You don’t need a watch. The weather is like clock. In case your watch breaks, just wait for the torrential rain to pour out of the blue. Then you’ll know it’s 3pm. When it stops, it’s 4pm.
2. Free sauna/cold pool all year round. Exit big building, walk a block. Sweat. Enter big building. Instant freeze from over air-conditioning. Repeat with vigor. Fashion benefit: If you work in an office, you can also wear that stylish warm sweater all year round thanks to perpetual building over-air-conditioning.
3. Delicious tropical fruit all year round. Fresh coconut juice straight off the tree available everyday. Can’t beat that. Not to mention, it’s beautiful weather for that trip to Bali almost all the time… mmmm….
4. Save money on shopping. Summer weather means summer fashion all year round, no need to shop for a winter wardrobe, (except for maybe point 2 above.) Packing for trips are awesome – shorts and t-shirts are so much less bulky than sweaters and jackets…
5. No need to rake the leaves. Fall? What fall?
Anyone have preferences on single-season or multi-season living locations? I’d love to hear your thoughts. 
Tags: bali, humor, indonesia, seasons, summer, travel, tropical, weather, winter
I’m from the Philippines, so I can totally relate. This is my 2nd winter in Texas, and as much as it’s not as cold as New York, it still gets cold. When I’m asked how cold it gets in winter, I say about 60 Fahrenheit, and as hot as 102. Is it similar in Indonesia?
By the way, I am looking to brew my own kombucha; you’ve inspired me! Can you suggest anything: websites I can get the mother, etc?
Thanks! Happy holidays!
(I meant to comment here, not the holiday v-blog, oops!)
Hello! Ah, yes, winters are quite something, eh? Indonesia I don’t think ever really drops below 79 degrees farenheit (26 degrees celsius) a lot… And for brewing Kombucha, you go! You’ll love it. We all do. There are many sites you can buy a mother, but I (Metta) got mine at – believe it or not, on Ebay, and the merchant was http://www.bacteriapimp.com. There were many choices, but somehow that is what I chose, and right now, I think there are over 8 babies that have been given away… Who knows – maybe if you ask around, you’ll realize you have a friend that wants to give a baby away! YouTube also has a lot of helpful videos too on how to brew/make it. Good luck and hope you enjoy your brew! Let us know how it goes!
- Metta