Yes, the alternative would be going outdoors. But in the tropics you don't want to do that during the midday sun.
No, people absolutely take the hot sun all the time when they have to go out, they need it because their homes are dark even in the day and there's stuff you want to do inside the house in the day, like cooking, cleaning, studying...
Yes, you have to be outside, but you wouldn't want to be, if you can avoid it.