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A.nna
anna // singaporean. my dream is to some day live in a countryside and have a lot of dogs. reach me on
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Friday, January 2, 2015
6 Different Types of Cold As most would know, I'm currently in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It's the coldest capital in the world. (Source: Telegraph) And today, I've decided to elaborate a bit more on the different level of cold, fully in my own opinion. I've been to a few winter countries, given myself the chance to experience the different types of cold according to the temperature. I'll give them 6 different categories in this post, fully named by yours sincerely. Disclaimer: I feel cold very easily, compared to my dad - I'll tell you why later. 1. Breezy and I-Can-Still-Take-It Cold (Range: 16°C to 20°C)
I've visited Hong Kong twice so far during their winter. On average, it's around 11°C to 18°C. It was breezy, you could feel the cold and it's almost just nice. A cotton long sleeve with coat will do, but with little bit more of a movement, you'll start to want to take out your coat. Between to temperature of 16°C to 20°C, a jacket does fine for me. It's the perfect weather because you don't sweat, even with the sun above you, you feel just alright. You feel the breeze, but no where near a freeze or shiver.
2. Time-To-Throw-On-A-Coat Cold (Range: 10°C to 15°C)
And between the range of 10°C to 15°C, it's when you actually throw on a coat and start to want to keep your hands in the pocket. I visited Sydney during their early winter. When night falls, it could be as low as 8°C. But during the day time, with the afternoon sun, it was between 10°C to 15°C. Probably around 2 layers before a coat, you start to wonder where to get gloves but at the same time you don't really want to put the gloves on because your cigarette might burn a hole on the glove (yes, it happened to me twice).
I personally prefer this temperature. I love the cold, I come from the Sunny Island which we do not have winter at all, and I love this range of temperature as it doesn't freeze you till the extend which you don't want to step out of the apartment. Simply just throwing on a few more layers and a beautiful scarf, you're good to go.
3. Try-Talking-To-See-If-We-Can-See-Our-Breathe Cold (Range: 1°C to 9°C)
This is the part when you start to feel the cold in your soul. Or maybe it's a bit exaggerating, let's keep the first sentence for the next level of cold. But this is the range where you know you can't escape the cold. And this is the part I'm talking about my dad. When we were in Li Jiang (China), during the night it's around 2°C and in the day, it'll be around 8°C. So my dearest dad here, wears a polo tee out to smoke with me at night, in 2°C. When asked if he felt cold at all, he said it was okay. And no, he did not shiver. Not even a little bit.
This range of cold, is kind of the one I dread a bit more. It's the kind where you do not necessary need a down jacket or a ski coat but a cashmere and coat is not enough. You don't want to bathe or wash your face because the water is too cold and you don't want to expose your body to even the enclosed bathroom because somehow the cold is trying to get pass the wall to attack your naked skin right after you strip.
And it's also the kind where you constantly tries to catch if you can see your own breathe. No, not yet - not just yet till the next level.
4. Stay-In-Bed Cold (Range: -10°C to 0°C)
One of the very first few winter I'm in was Iceland. Every day was almost a 0°C or lower. Everything in #3 applies, I did not want to bathe or touch any water. They were demons. I just wanted to stay in bed, next to the heater because this range of cold, you've to put on so many layers!
First, the base of cashmere, follow by a few cotton / fleece, and a ski coat. That is only the top! You've to wear almost the same number of layers for your pants and shoes. Believe it or not, I gave up halfway trying to put on everything so I can step out for a cigarette.
You know this cold don't kill you easily. You just don't really feel like stepping out.
5. Chill-In-Your-Bones Cold (Range: -20°C to -11°C)
Shangri-La is not just a hotel chain, but a real city in China. During their summer, it's around 23°C. So, the good news is, I've experience their winter! The coldest recorded was -23°C. It's generally one of the coldest city in China. The villagers living in Shangri-La claimed most of them bathed once or most twice a year only.
When I was there, we went hiking (thanks to my brilliant uncle). It was approximately -20°C during mid-noon when we were on top of the mountain. I must state beforehand, I didn't went prepared so my opinions could be overstated. It was literally the chill in your bones kind of cold. As I was walking, I remembered very clearly this ran passed my mind, "If I jump, my feet is going to shatter." It freezes every part of you up. I was fully covered from head to toe, 6 layers (out of 6 layers, 2 were ski coats!). I don't think words can articulate my thoughts. Here you go..
All you could see was my eyes, and a block with too many clothing on. As you can see, the sky was really up-close. It was almost 4000ft above sea level, so the air got really thin too. (I think this is why people hallucinate when they're too cold.)
6. The Stupid Cold (Range: -40°C to -21°C)
I don't think anyone who hasn't experience this range of cold, gets any right to tell me it's going to be okay. It's the stupidest kind of cold. Half the people told me it's going to be okay, just get this and this and that and... Okay, keep your mouth shut. Nothing is ever enough in this temperature. This morning it was -28°C. It's the coldest month of winter in Mongolia and the coldest recorded was -55°C.
The citizens here are born for it. Their skin are made for the cold, their soul could have already been taken away by the cold and their bones are probably immune to the cold. Cold is not even a word to describe this temperature. It's stupid kind of cold. (Don't get me wrong, I did not regret my decision and I came here partially to experience this cold).
I came all prepared and I am. I'm not dying yet but I feel like a robot because all these clothing and coats are so thick and it makes me bulky. Okay to look bulky to others, but coming from a rather petite size, feeling and being bulky makes me can't move comfortably.
According to my host and guide, (at -17°C) they told me the weather is perfect. Excuse me, we definitely have different understanding of the word perfect. My guide told me the coldest winter he has experienced is -50°C and the snow was piling up to 25cm tall! You basically can soak your feet in the snow. We were walking around the National Park, it was around -20°C or more, he wasn't wearing any ear muffs and gloves. Now, who told me that the cold is going to freeze my ears and hands till I have to amputate it? *angry*
Anyways, I did thoroughly enjoyed myself. Even though my mucus froze, my teeth was cold and after entering a warmer area, my nose bled a little, Mongolia has been great. It's safer and more beautiful than I thought.
I think I could do with Jon Snow joining me right now. Labels: blog, cold, solo traveling, travel, travel blog, travels, types of cold, types of winter, winter |
xx
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