My Arctic Tundra

 

After spending too much time searching on Google, I found out that it is difficult to find the distance between India and the Arctic Circle. But my elementary geography helped me out. The Arctic Tundra is at a Latitude of 66°30′ N. Now where I live we’re at a latitude of 26.8467° N. According to my math, that’s only a difference of 42 degrees. Why does this make any difference? To remind me that there are much colder locations than where I’m living! 

Night Time Fog 

“But you live in a tropical place,” you say? Well my dear friend, please step into my world. Do you remember those fall camping evenings, when the air was crisp with the incoming cold and the only heat you got was from the embers of the fire set before you? With stocking caps to warm the ears and several layers on the body, you’d sit around the fire sharing stories and laughter. Remember these nights? Then in the tents, the sleeping bag was your bubble of warmth, until you woke up the next morning to see your breath in the air, and jump around until the coffee was done brewing in the kettle. What joy fall camping could be. Remember those moments? Well, those have been our moments 24/7 for 10 days about a week ago, except the joy hadn't come yet. Not until this past week.

Yes, I do live in a tropical place, however, the earth still moves around the sun, causing a cold season here. It’s just that here, there isn’t indoor heating. It’s mostly colder inside than it is outside. With a high of 63 degrees (If you’re in direct sun, which is rare) and a low of 46 degrees, that makes for a chilly month of January. No, it’s not the snow I’ve heard of in the States. But it’s quite cold here in a different type of cold. Once you're cold, you stay cold. Since it’s usually hot here, the houses are built with cement to keep them cool and liveable. But that means a month of fall-like camping. Needless to say, I live in 2-3 layers, a stocking hat, and enjoy cooking these days because of the warmth from the stove. We run our space heater when it’s too cold, which makes the room quite toasty. Only a few weeks left to go.

And that is a small glimpse through my eyes.

    Our sweet neighbor dogs in sweaters         Ashraye walking only a few yards away

    

         Same park at 10 A.M.