Irkutsk: Your Survival Kit for the Siberia Shuffle

so you’re heading to irkutsk? good luck. honestly. let’s talk gear first. as a touring session drummer, i’ve packed drumsticks into canoe seats, hotels, and the back of a yak (long story). irkutsk needs specific tools. first, a waterproof phone case. snow here hates electronics with a passion. second, a portable power bank. winters are -20c and your phone will die mid-drum-solo. third, a thermos for chai. yes, chai. irkutsk runs on hot tea. pro-tip: buy a samovar at the mercado central. smells like grandma’s regret. *another data point: rent averages $350/mo for a studio. not a typo. i’ve seen the kijiji ads. but the city’s a safety zone compared to moscow. violent crime? 0.3 per 100k people (per numbeo). jobs? hard. but freelance gigs in construction or russian language tutoring? possible. salary: $20-30/hr. don’t rent a place off fedorov street. saw a guy get stabbed there over monopoly. true story. roaming packs of dogs are real. a local slipped me this: ‘don’t feed them at night, or they’ll chew your drum kit.’ yeah. listen. weather: -30c in january. but summer hits like a rock star. highs at 25c. bring layers. and a camera. irkutsk’s parks are weirdly beautiful. that’s a data point from yelp. 89% recommend them. last, the neighbors. mostly old women who hum soviet tunes. one lady next door loans me sugar. another banged a spatula 3am. take notes. irkutsk’s checklist: chai thermos, dog-proof gear, and a tolerance for grandma vibes. box: [Checklist of Essentials]* [iframe src="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=52.2892,104.28&z=12&output=embed" width="100%" height="300"] [img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1645886113555-1fba484d4034?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&w=1080&q=80" alt="an aerial view of a large body of water" width="100%"] [img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1598892484366-9c2081b7634b?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&w=1080&q=80" alt="brown tree near brown building during daytime" width="100%"] [link text="Irkutsk Reddit"] [link text="TripAdvisor Parks"] [link text="Fodor's Weather"] [link text="Numbeo Rent"]

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