City / Field notes

There’s no wind on the East Coast

Marine Parade and the East Coast of Singapore

Conversation with a taxi driver: 
— Where do you live? 
 — I live on the East Coast, right by the sea. 
 — Wow! It’s so hot there with no wind at all. Unlike the center of the island…

When we rented an apartment on the East Coast of Singapore on the 20th floor with a sea view (well, a piece of sea), I expected that the huge balcony would be windy and cool. The logic was simple: It’s always windy on the upper floors.

A still curtain and towel on a high-floor East Coast balcony
Still air on a high-floor East Coast balcony.

And you know what? The air on the balcony does not move at all. No wind whatsoever. How is this even possible?

Editorial illustration of motionless wind indicators on a high-floor East Coast balcony overlooking the sea
Illustration: testing the complete absence of wind.
Thanks for reading.Denya
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