Changchun: Where My Laptop Fingers Froze Off

just rolled into changchun and my fingers are already going numb. this place is something else, man. i've been hopping between cafes trying to find one where the wifi doesn't konk out every five minutes, but the cold is winning so far.

i just checked and it's currently -2.5°C outside with a feels-like of -4.9°C, so pack like you're about to wrestle a polar bear. the pressure's hanging steady at 1017 hpa, which i guess means the weather's not planning any surprises-just relentless freeze. humidity at 60% makes everything feel damp and miserable, like the air itself is judging my life choices.

"heard this lady at the market whisper that the dumplings at 'grandma's steam basket' are so good they'll make you cry. but she also said the owner will ask if you've found jesus before serving you. so, you know, spiritual stomach ache risk?"

if you get sick of the arctic vibes, pyongyang's only a few hours south. though i'm not sure that's the escape you're looking for. maybe just stay and suffer with the locals?

"overheard two drunk dudes at a bar last night: 'man, this city needs more neon. and maybe a giant statue of a dinosaur. i'm not joking, we need a dinosaur. it would bring in tourists.' then they argued whether it should be a t-rex or brachiosaurus. i didn't stick around for the verdict."

someone told me that the *central plaza ice sculptures melt by noon if it gets even slightly warmer, so get your ass out of bed early. also heard that the night market* street food vendors will straight up ignore you if you don't point aggressively. which, fair.

for coffee, 'bean me up' has decent brews and outlets, though the wifi’s slower than dial-up. check them on Yelp. and if you need a hostel, TripAdvisor lists a few that won't make you question your life choices too hard.

all in all, changchun’s like that one friend who’s great once you accept their weird quirks. just bring extra layers and maybe a heating pad for your laptop. peace out.