Frozen Fingers & Forgotten Cables (and a surprisingly decent chai)
okay, so this is…a situation. i’m currently huddled in what i think is a cafe, though it mostly smells like damp wool and regret. it’s somewhere near 35.25, 73.5 - honestly, i lost track after the third airport.
i’m on tour with Elias Thorne, you know, the soul-searching singer-songwriter everyone’s suddenly obsessed with? i’m his sound engineer, which basically means i carry all the heavy stuff, troubleshoot everything, and try to look busy when he’s having a “creative moment.” right now, his creative moment involves staring intensely at a chipped teacup.
this place…it’s…cold. i just checked and it’s -10.2 degrees Celsius, feels like -13.79. which, for someone who spends their life indoors with amps and monitors, is a genuine shock to the system. my fingers are refusing to cooperate with the mixing board, and i’m pretty sure my beard is developing frost. the humidity is 74%, which doesn’t help. it just feels…sticky cold.
we’re playing a small venue tonight, some converted warehouse thing. i haven’t even had a proper soundcheck yet because the venue manager seems convinced that “vibe” is a substitute for adequate power. i overheard someone saying on Yelp that the sound system is “charmingly rustic,” which is code for “prepare for feedback.” i’m already bracing myself.
finding decent coffee is a constant struggle. this chai is…okay. it’s keeping me from completely losing it. i’ve been relying heavily on TripAdvisor to find places that aren’t actively trying to poison me. https://www.tripadvisor.com/
the hotel is…basic. let’s just say i’ve seen cleaner bus stations. but hey, it has a roof. and vaguely resembles a room. i heard from the drummer that the plumbing is “temperamental,” so i’m rationing my water intake.
the locals seem friendly enough, though communication is…challenging. a lot of pointing and smiling. i’m trying to learn a few basic phrases, but my pronunciation is apparently atrocious. i think i accidentally asked someone if their mother was a yak yesterday.
if you’re looking for a bit of culture, Rawalpindi and Islamabad are just a short drive away. i haven’t had time to explore yet, but i’m hoping to sneak away for a few hours before we move on to the next city. https://www.tourism.gov.pk/
someone told me that the local market has amazing textiles, but i haven’t dared venture out in this weather without a full arctic expedition suit. i’m seriously considering investing in heated gloves.
the pressure is at 1021, which honestly, doesn’t tell me much. the ground level is 651, which explains why my ears keep popping. i need to remember to pack some earplugs for the flight tomorrow. and maybe a thermal suit. and definitely more chai. i’m starting to think i’ll never feel warm again. check out more about the area here: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/pakistan
You might also be interested in:
- https://topiclo.com/post/riyadh-weirdness-and-warm-afternoons
- https://topiclo.com/post/is-jalingo-petfriendly-best-parks-and-vet-services-2
- https://topiclo.com/post/lima-where-fog-history-and-ceviche-collide
- https://topiclo.com/post/crime-stats-in-berlin-my-therapist-says-im-paranoid-but-have-you-seen-the-sbahn-at-2am
- https://topiclo.com/post/studying-in-munich-top-universities-and-student-life-a-totally-unfiltered-look