not a child of the sun

Years of travelling has made me realise that it is just impossible trying to "blend in". I'm 1.70, of medium built and with a skin so pale that it would make Edward Cullen look like an extra from Baywatch in comparison. Wherever I go, I get oogled.

Now, I like my skin. It is very soft and supple and goes well will black clothes. But I have to admit that there is something slightly uncomfortable having six apple-sized Thai woman abandoning their work stations and rushing over to where you're standing in the lingerie section with a lacy bra in your hands, just to touch your arms and go "oooh" and "ahhh" and "so welly, welly white".

Being of the transparent kind I am also extremely sensitive to sunlight. EXTREMELY. I suffered from 2nd degree burns as a child and I have managed to get burnt even with SPF 100. I don't melt, but it is not far off. Most often the best solution is simply to stay out of the sun, or even better, don't go out at all. Unfortunately, this makes travelling slightly complicated, and I have therefore had to come up with ways to work around this "sun-issue". In Spain, I became a creature of the night. In California, I just never did any activities that required being outdoors. And in Bolivia, at 4000 metres, I simply bought an umbrella. This worked superbly, until it broke and I found myself in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, a small oasis in one of the world's driest desert, desperately trying to describe what an umbrella was to the local shopmonger's. It didn't work that well. In India, well, we'll just have to see how I tackle this delicate little problem over there. I have sunscreen with SPF 50, sunglasses the size of a small country, white shirts covering my neck and arms, and I'm going to buy a safari hat as soon as I possibly can. I don't care if I look like and idiot, I'm gonna get stared at regardless.

Here's a picture of B and I, just to give you an idea. I'm actually even sporting a bit of a tan here.