Uzbeken heat tips: How to stay cool at over 40 degrees

Uzbeken heat tips: How to stay cool at over 40 degrees

45 degrees in the shadow - Uzbeken give tips on how to manage with heat

Berlin, June 24th - this week it gets really hot! In Berlin we will have temperatures of up to 37 degrees on Saturday, while in Spain the 40-degree mark is even broken. Our author Nicolas Butylin was recently in Uzbekistan and had to deal with temperatures of over 45 degrees. The locals tell him how he defied the heat.

Butyllin was supposed to travel to Uzbekistan professionally and wondered how he could dress appropriately at more than 40 degrees. The temperatures in Samarkand should be 39 degrees on his first day of travel, on the second day even 42 degrees and up to 44 degrees on the third day. The press attack of the Uzbek embassy in Berlin already warned Butyllin of the extreme temperatures.

When he arrived in the Uzbek oasis city, the scorching heat of the pearl city of the former Seidenstrasse pressed him in the early morning with 37 degrees. He noticed that the locals always run in the shadow of the small streets to avoid the brooding sun. However, the Uzbek have even better tricks to deal with the strong heat.

The right selection of drinks is crucial when the thermometer shows above 40 degrees. Alcohol should be avoided because the body processes it worse over high heat. The vessels widen, blood pressure drops and circulatory problems can occur. Instead, the Uzbeken drink a lot of still water or lukewarm green tea. Some restaurants offer their guests free bottles of water or a pot of tea. At these temperatures you should consume at least three liters of liquid.

The old town of Samarkand spoils the senses with various smells of curry, peppers, cumin and turmeric. You smell the traditional rice with meat called Plow, and schaschlik. Although the Uzbek delicacies are tempting, you should do without greasy dishes at lunchtime. Instead, a Uzbek tomato salad is recommended and a piece of sweet watermelon for dessert. Watermelons consist of 95 percent of water and thus contribute to the liquid supply of the body.

At such hot temperatures, you should take a shower at least once a day. The constant heat adds to the body. However, you should do without ice -cold showers because they would also put a strain on the body. A lukewarm shower is recommended, if possible up to three times a day.

The color of clothing also plays a role. White reflects the sunlight while black absorbs it. Therefore, you should always prefer light clothing on sunny days. This physical fact is taken seriously in Uzbekistan. More than 90 percent of the cars are white and the majority of men wear white shirts, T-shirts and baseball caps. Women also wear white or bright hijabs. Tourists or business travelers from Germany, such as Butylin, stand out with black shirts and blue jeans.

These tips from the Uzbek help help to survive the extreme temperatures and to keep a cool head in this heat. So if you are in Uzbekistan, you can take this advice to heart and enjoy a pleasant experience despite the heat.