Tropical Ointment

I live on a tropical island - i mean, technically - but before you conjure up visions of sparkling white sand beaches, drinks with umbrellas, blue oceans, and palm trees let me set the record straight. This is the other tropical, the un-sought out one. This version is characterized by a choking heat that never dissipates and leaves the air so moist you often find yourself unsure whether you toweled off after your showers. (on the plus side it takes only minutes for refrigerated butter to become spreadable) The cool ocean usually seems quite far off and much of it is not good for swimming. Guitars fall in and out of tune, as due their bowed counterparts. The seemingly peaceful and soothing green tea field behind my door has been doused with fertilizer and the stench permeates the neighborhood. I've even developed a charming heat rash for which the pharamacist gave me something that seems to be a japanese version of icy/hot which is in no way effective, though I can maybe follow her reasoning. On the bright side those ungodly-big winged beetle things that live in the trees and bushes and wake me up every morning with their deafening, and undoubtedly useless, crawing, cricking vibration sounds have been dropping like mere flies. Of course there is more good here than just dead beetles, though each new sighting brings me a little joy, there will be time for that later. For now, just trust that tropical doesn't always equal pleasant.