Once, I visited Varanasi in August. (Don't do that). Daytime temperatures were around 45 Celsius, humidity was above 90 percent, and the only difference between day and night was the absence of sunlight. My guesthouse didn't have air conditioning, and the water from the cold tap flowed hot - no matter how long I left it open. The motor rickshaw drivers wrapped tea towels around the steering wheels to keep their hands from slipping, and the little towel I used to wipe my face went mildew-y after lying in my bag for a single day.

So when there's a heat wave in Tel Aviv, as there is now, and temperatures hover around 40 with a humidex of 80, I keep on telling myself: "You've been hotter."

On the plus side, my laundry dries really quickly.