Lost in Translation (and a Little Bit of Rain)
1702678... that's a number, right? Doesn't feel like a lucky one, but hey, who knows. 1608802236… even more numbers. i'm staring at my phone, trying to piece together what happened in the last few days. it's all a bit of a blur, honestly. i think i was in… well, i'm not entirely sure where i was. the coordinates are 12.27, 123.58 - i just plugged them into Google Maps and… wow. looks like somewhere in Southeast Asia.
The weather here is… humid. really humid. the temp is 28.38°C, feels like 32.38°C. pressure's 1011, humidity's a whopping 76%. doesn't exactly scream 'beach vacation', though the sea level and ground level are the same, which is odd. i just checked, and it's… there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. it’s a persistent drizzle, the kind that soaks right through everything. great for people-watching, not so great for keeping your camera dry. which, by the way, i was trying to take some shots with.
I’m trying to capture the… the atmosphere here. it’s chaotic, but in a strangely peaceful way. like everything's moving at its own pace, and there’s no real rush. i’m not sure if i’m doing it justice though. i’m definitely not a pro photographer - more of a hobbyist who likes to wander and point a lens at things. someone told me that the best light is always around golden hour, but with this rain, golden hour feels more like… grayish hour.
It’s funny, isn’t it? how you can get completely lost in a place, and then just as easily feel… detached. i met this guy at a little cafe - the kind with mismatched chairs and walls covered in local art. he was a musician, traveling solo, playing gigs wherever he could find them. said he's been hopping from country to country for the last five years. he had this whole worn-down charm about him. he was talking about finding a good stage and a decent cup of coffee - priorities, right? he mentioned some hostels in the area if you're looking for a place to crash - check out the reviews on TripAdvisor for some recommendations.
I’m definitely on a budget here. trying to stick to street food and cheap accommodations. i heard that the street vendors here are the best, but navigating them can be a bit overwhelming. definitely a sensory overload.
My neighbors seem pretty chill. a lot of families, lots of kids. if you get bored, [cities] are just a short drive away. i’m not sure exactly where those are, but i saw a map online (link: https://www.tourism.com/southeast-asia) that might help. i'm thinking of trying to find a local market later. maybe get some weird fruit or something. i’m not really following a plan, just letting things unfold. which, honestly, is how i prefer to travel.
Anyway, gotta go. the rain's getting heavier, and i think i hear a street vendor calling out. time for some questionable noodles, i guess. this whole trip is a bit of a mess, but a good one. maybe i’ll write again… maybe not. who knows what the numbers will bring next. check out some travel tips on Nomadic Matt (https://www.nomadicmatt.com/).
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