I recently experienced excruciatingly hot weather while in Dubai, about 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The extreme humidity made matters worse. Living under such sizzling heat, people in Dubai must find the best way to quench their thirst. Watermelon juice saves the day!

I first tried this sweet, smooth, hydrating drink at a friend's house last week in Sharjah, a neighboring city of Dubai. Sipping the watermelon juice, I felt as though I was being cleansed. It was as if my body was being restored after being exposed to such scorching high temperatures all day. The juice cooled me down like no other drink has previously done. And so, the rest of my trip I drank a couple of glasses of watermelon juice.

This summer, as temperatures start to rise, I suggest watermelon juice. Unlike citrus juices, there is very little acidity. And for those of you concerned with your health, watermelon juice is a great alternative to other juices. Read on to find out its health benefits.

Have I told you about the watermelon obsession I had when I was a kid? I would hound my mother to keep buying watermelons when she went shopping. She would buy a giant watermelon - for the entire family, I assume - but I would take the whole thing, slice it up, sit down in front of the TV and proceed to eat the entire thing. Seriously. When others came to get watermelon, they'd find it gone. Usually the same day that mom bought it.

Is it just me, or were watermelons tastier years ago? Or is this one of those things that just seem different and better because I was a kid at the time?

Anyway, I got to thinking about watermelon drinks. Watermelon tastes great, and it's the perfect summer food (light, crisp, refreshing, not bad for you, and you can hold it in your hand), so I did some searching for watermelon-based summer drinks.

The Boston Globe has a list of watermelon coolers you can ask your bartender about, including an Iced Sunset and a Watermelon Martini; care2.com has a recipe for a Watermelon Mint Smoothie (made with yogurt and honey); here's a recipe for Watermelon Surprise, which includes Southern Comfort and chunks of fruit; Drinkoftheweek.com has Watermelon #3 (no watermelon per se but it does have Midori); and The Food Network site has a recipe for a Watermelon Flavored Syrup, to mix with club soda or seltzer.