Shopping and sunbathing are not the same thing
Some towns in Europe do not allow women to shop at the corner stores in their two-piece swimsuits, or men who are not wearing shirts.
Which is good, because seeing too much sun-burnt flesh and cellulite could be bad for you, especially if you are shy, and if you are a dedicated shopaholic. It could be bad for your nerves if you suddenly come across a fat belly casually walking down the aisle that stocks your favourite Nutella jars.
Mallorca, an island in the Mediterranean, has made it illegal to be dressed in swimwear in the streets. Shorts and bikinis are allowed on the beaches, but if you are venturing into the town, cover up or pay a £600 (Dh3,312) fine.
Goa, a beach resort state in India, last year tried to ban women wearing short dresses to nightclubs. But that somehow did not come into force because to visit countries that have unlimited sunshine throughout the year, and to be told to cover up.
Doctors, on the other hand, advise people to walk in the sun between 6am and 10am for at least 10 minutes to get the essential vitamin D, without which you start to feel lethargic and cannot give 100 per cent at the workplace.
Beach list
The Mirror newspaper published that ever-present list for lazy readers who want their information and entertainment in tiny bits: “27 things that British people always do when the sun comes out.”
Some of the items on the list were: 1) Head to the beach for a swim, and of course jump out again because the water is freezing cold and not suitable for swimming.
2) Talk about time. 3) Eat an ice cream cone. When it starts to get colder in the UAE (by colder I mean 28 degrees Celsius, which is 82.4 degrees Fahrenheit) I tend to go to shoe stores and shop for boots. Then I drive all the way to Global Village, look for a leather jacket and pretend that I am a Pashtun hiking in the mountains in the glacial air, while my wife giggles.
When you are visiting another country, it is better to check with your consulate what you should do and what might irritate people. I was reading a report about a couple that was caught being overly affectionate in public and they went and quickly got married to avoid being jailed.
Imagine this couple going back and explaining to their relatives and friends
the weather
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the the circumstances under which they got married and why there was no time to print out invitation cards and select bridesmaids or the engagement “rock” at Christie’s.
“Harry, you said you are going on a business trip and now you are married and all. Well, I am just your old mother and don’t need to be told everything that goes on in your life.”
“Mum, it was like in the movies. There was a bright, blue moon overhead in the Arabian sky and I knew I found my perfect soulmate. The next thing we knew is that we were in the consulate and were married by a snobbish civil servant.”
“I am happy for you, Harry, but I hope you signed a pre-nup contract.”
Mahmood Saberi is a freelance journalist based in Dubai.