India, May 19 -- There are two kinds of holidays. The first kind involves pleasant weather, long walks, and leisurely sightseeing. The second kind involves stepping out of your hotel and feeling like someone has wrapped you in a warm, damp towel. Singapore in May firmly belongs to the second category. The heat was intense. The humidity was relentless. Within minutes of leaving our air-conditioned hotel room, all of us were flushed, sticky, and wondering how locals managed to look so composed. That was when one small gadget completely changed the experience. I had packed the Nuuk handheld fan, thinking it might be useful. I did not expect it to become one of the most-used items on our trip.

If you are travelling to a hot destination, this...