Sun

Australia is a continent that experiences elevated UV radiation levels, no thanks to its geographical spot under a major hole in the ozone. I remember hearing about the Slip-Slop-Slap campaign Australia started in the 80′s to encourage their citizens to protect themselves against excessive sun exposure which could lead to skin cancer, a cancer class that has the highest incidents in the world occurring down under.

I have to say that I was very complacent about sun protection in my early 20′s (the Slip-Slap-Slop jingle obviously fell on deaf sideshowjo ears) often laying prostrate on Bondi beach, emulating salted fish slivers baking in the heat during early summer or spending breaks out on the lawn in front of the Biochemistry building at Sydney University whenever the sun was out. Who knows what detrimental effects (if any) those few years might have had on my epithelial cells, we will just have to wait and see. Things have changed since then as I am now very paranoid about sun protection and have become one of those umbrella toting women I used to scorn, as they say, women really do become aunties (shock! horror!).

In preparation for 40 degree days over January and February, I have been researching and testing sun screens and sunglasses. Ideally, I would really love to snap up the entire shelf of UV RESISTANT clothes Mustafa has to offer, but I can’t possibly walk the streets of Brisbane looking like a terrorist, so will just have to stick to sunscreen, sunglasses, hat and succumb to the asian stereotype in Australia and carry a UV reducing umbrella like I have been in Singapore.

I have however finally found a pair of sunglasses that fit just right, a variant of my all time favourite Ray-Ban Wayfarers, the foldable wayfarer made with a lighter plastic! Wawaweewa! I have a pair of classic Wayfarers but did not wear them all too often because they were heavy, too much weight for my virtually non-existent oriental nose bridge to take.

I love wayfarers

Light and foldable? Even better!

The Slip-Slap-Slop campaign eventually became Slip-Slap-Slop-Wrap. Wrap on some sunnies. I like the updated version. Got my attention didn’t it?

December 30, 2008. Miscellaneous.