Summer is winding down here in New Zealand, but the Philippines is right in the middle of it! Summer in our country is always memorable. We have amazing beaches and vacations in the province is always fun, what with the diverse range of fruits that we have (which you can pick off the tree if you’re lucky). And halo-halo!

Back in the day, we used to cool off by simply staying away from the sun. We’d stay in the house and in front of the electric fan come noontime, or sit under the shade of the trees. Halo-halo is also simply the best.

But these days, we also have other choices in keeping ourselves cool. Still depends on availability in your locality, but it sure helps to know that we don’t have to rack up huge electric bills because of airconditioning.

Clothing has indeed come a long way from the cotton or polyester variety. We now have shirts that reflect UV rays and also wick sweat away from the body. Originally designed especially for trekking and mountain climbing, this technology is also available for everyday wear. Visit the North Face website for examples.

There are also a wide range of personal cooling devices out there (what will we do without inventors?). A nify idea is the solar powered fan from Gaiam. If you need to be out in the sun, why not use its power to cool you off? And at about 10.00 each, it’s nice to have or give as a gift.

Now if you want a “more complete coverage”, why not get one of these shirts with fans built-in? This Japanese invention (as reported by Reuters) uses two small fans which circulate air around between the wearer and the clothing, evaporating perspiration and keeping cool.

Another, simpler invention is the cooling bandana which has a cooling polymer that gets contact with your neck as you wear it and cools you down. Not sure how the polymer works but that’s how it’s advertised.

Sleeping in the summer an also be a challenge in those especially hot and humid nights. The Chillow from ProTherapy Supplies might help. It has an inner mechanism which, when combined with water, creates a cooling effect. It is not only useful in summer, it can also be used to relieve hot flashes, headaches, sunburns, and more.

Best of all, do not forget to slip, slop, slap n’ wrap when playing in the sun!