With temperatures hitting 121 degrees Fahrenheit (49 C) and at least eight hours of power cuts daily, it can be difficult to deal with the heat in Lahore. Here are some practical suggestions to stay cool when it’s scorching hot and there’s no electricity.

Go Window Shopping

Who says you need to buy anything when you go out shopping? There are many shopping centers in Lahore that are always air-conditioned, even when there’s loadshedding (power cuts). When the power goes out head to your nearest Pace shopping center or other shopping mall.

Do Your Errands

Keep a list of errands you need to do in air-conditioned locations. For example: 1) Deposit checks at the bank, 2) Buy cake from Gourmet for tomorrow’s party, 3) Visit the eye-doctor and pick out new glasses. When the power goes out, jump in the car and start doing your errands. Usually loadshedding lasts for one hour, so try to time your errands so that you’ll be out long enough to miss the entire hour of loadshedding.

Keep a Dupatta (Scarf) in the Freezer

Alright, so this one might sound crazy, but don’t knock it until you try it! I was complaining about loadshedding, and my friend suggested that I try this method of staying cool. First, take an old lawn or cotton dupatta and wet it just a little bit. It should be damp, but not soaking. Twist it up or roll it into a ball and put it the freezer. Within a few hours, your dupatta will be frozen. When the power goes out, take out your frozen dupatta and drape it over you.

Make Your Bathtub into a Swimming Pool

If you have a bathtub, keep it full with cold water. If you can’t bear the heat, put on your swimsuit and jump in the tub. You can settle down with a good book and relax until the power comes back on. If it’s nighttime, light some candles and pretend you are at a spa. Give yourself a facial while you’re at it. An hour spent relaxing in the cool tub will be much more enjoyable than an hour spent sweating and passed out on the floor.

Enjoy a Cold Coffee at a Café

Cafés have been springing up all over Lahore for the last couple of years. Don’t want your work to be interrupted by loadshedding? Grab your laptop or study materials and go to the nearest air-conditioned café. A cold coffee or a smoothie will cool you down and give you an energy boost to continue your work.

Go Visiting

Can’t afford a generator or a UPS this year? Keep a list of friends who have generators and don’t live too far away. When your power goes out, make an impromptu visit to your friends. If you live in an upper portion, chances are that your dwelling place will be significantly hotter than a lower portion. Go visit someone who lives on the ground floor rather than melting in your upper portion.

Take Cold Showers

Take cold showers regularly to keep your body temperature down. At night, you can jump into the shower with your pajamas on and come out soaking wet. Even if it’s loadshedding, your wet clothes should keep your cool for at least an hour so that you can get some sleep. Just make sure you’re wearing colorfast clothes. It’s not nice to wake up and find that you’ve turned blue and tie-dyed your sheets during the night!

Tagged as: beat the heat, Lahore, loadshedding, Pakistan