Lost in Translation (and a slightly damp city)
okay, so i just got back from… well, a whirlwind. i’m still pretty wired, honestly. it’s been completely chaotic. the numbers 3186886 and 1191233290 just seemed to pop into my head while i was navigating the metro, which is pretty representative of my brainstate right now. i’m not really sure what they mean, but they felt important. weird, right?
i checked the weather - it’s...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. 11.61 celsius, feels like 10.86. a bit chilly. the humidity is a little high, like someone’s perpetually breathing on you. it’s making everything feel… sticky. the pressure and humidity are all off, which is nice. the ground level is a bit higher than sea level. i'm running on fumes and coffee, which is a dangerous combination. i'm thinking of checking out some local cafes for a refill - Yelp has some good recommendations, you know?
i've been bouncing around this city - let’s call it… 'Aurora' for now. it's got this really cool, almost futuristic vibe. kinda like a really well-organized art installation but with people. the architecture is fascinating - lots of sharp angles and glass.
i’m trying to soak it all in, but honestly, my brain feels like it’s trying to organize a sock drawer during an earthquake. i'm mostly just wandering and people-watching.
i saw some amazing things, or at least, things that looked amazing. someone told me that the public art installations here are incredible, but i mostly just saw a lot of people staring at buildings. the city's a mix of old and new, which is a nice contrast.
I'm trying to capture it all with my phone, but honestly, it’s hard to do justice to a place with just a few clicks. Check out some local photography tips here: https://www.photographygeek.com/
the people are… interesting. a mix of languages, styles, and energy levels.
They seem generally friendly, but everyone's rushing around like they're late for something. it’s overwhelming, a little.
i keep finding myself comparing this to my old life, to where i used to be. it’s not a bad comparison, just… different. if you get bored, [cities] are just a short drive away. i've heard that the night markets are a must-see. apparently, the food is insane, but i’m a little hesitant to try anything that looks remotely questionable. a little personal safety advice can be found here: https://www.traveladora.com/travel-safety-tips/
right now i’m just sitting in a park, trying to process everything. I'm not sure what’s next. it’s a little scary, a little exciting, and mostly just… exhausting.
I packed so few things, it feels like a major understatement. which is probably why i feel so exposed. it’s almost as if i’m trying to shed an old skin. it's not going smoothly, if i'm honest. i just hope it ends up feeling… right. maybe. probably not. but either way, i'm here. and that's something, right?
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