It will come of no surprise to most that Thailand is a land of contrasts – an ancient temple next to a brand new shopping mall? Check. Ladies of the night leaving offerings at shrines on their way to work? Check. So it goes with heat and cold as well – often you’ll be sweating and panting form a short walk only to step inside the BTS or a coffee shop and suddenly you have sweatsicles forming off the end of your nose. 

So, it doesn’t come as a shock when I sometimes see people carrying jackets or shawls to use when they spend time indoors and want to fight the effects of an over-ambitious air conditioner, but the other day at Starbucks this woman showed me a new level of commitment.

It’s hard to see here, but she was wrapped in a full-on duvet from her bedroom, possibly filled with feathers, and very thick. I can imagine what her “visit Starbucks” bag must look like – laptop at the bottom, wallet next to that, and the other 90% of the huge bag taken up with a fluffy, billowy duvet that she wraps around herself like protective armor when she gets a coffee.

Not sure if she has heat packs in her underwear.

Not sure if she has heat packs in her underwear.