my picks for things to do in جولدام, even if they’re total chaos

decided to take a bus to جولدام a few days ago, figure it’d be a good way to burn some time on this weather. i just checked the app and it's...you know, 28 degrees. not bad for a dust storm, but honestly, i’m not sure if i like that kind of thing. the heat here is like a silent joke, everyone’s either melting into their clothes or pretending they’re not. i overheard someone at a café say the sun makes the air taste like overcooked lentils. maybe that’s a good thing?

the area around here is super quiet, but that’s not a bad thing if you like weird. i walked past a guy painting a giant chicken on the side of a building earlier. it was either art or a cry for help. i went with art. the chicken’s got more personality than most people i know. if you get bored, إدلب is like 20 minutes by car, but don’t walk. the roads are a minefield. i heard that from a guy selling plot seedlings on the side of the road. he looked like he’d rather be anywhere else.

the weather here is wild. i checked the numbers and it’s 28.08, feels like 26.67. the pressure is 1016, which is whatever. humidity is 12%, so it’s not like you’re swimming in sweat. the weather machine here is probably just a disgruntled thermometer. i heard a local warns against going out after 4pm. says the heat somehow makes the streetlights flicker. don’t know if that’s real or if he’s just scared of the dark.

i tried to find a place to eat and ended up at this place called spice dust on yelp. it’s got a 4.2 rating, which is wild because the food is basically sand. but the owner was super friendly and told me about this underground music scene. i don’t know if it’s real or if he’s just trying to get more customers. either way, i followed his advice and found a guy playing a violin in a alley. he played a song about a lost camel. it was weirdly beautiful.

someone told me that the local market is a scam. i heard that too. but then i saw a guy selling dates for 50 cents each. the dates were decent. maybe the market isn’t 100% a scam. or maybe the guy was just nice. who knows? i also saw a sign that said ‘no dogs, but i’m not sure if that’s a rule or a joke.’

the neighbors here are… strange. i heard a group of kids banging on a trash can at 3am. they were dressed in nothing but face paint and a hoodie. i couldn’t tell if they were performers or just really bored. if you’re into that, maybe they’ll invite you. i didn’t ask.

i took some photos of the desert sunset. the first one is of the sun setting over a park with palm trees. the second is… well, i forgot. the third one is of a guy sleeping under a tree. he looked like he belonged there.

if you’re looking for a place to stay, check out tripadvisor. there’s a place called dusty lodge that’s cheap and has wifi. i heard they serve tea that tastes like regret. it’s 95% accurate.

i also found a local board on reddit about جولدام. it’s got tips on hidden spots and warned people about the sand. the advice is all over the place. some say the sand is magical, others say it’s trying to eat your shoes. i’m still not sure.

in the end, جولدام was exactly what i needed. it’s messy. it’s loud. it’s weird. but that’s okay. sometimes the best experiences are the ones that feel like a random thought. i just checked the weather again and it’s still 28.08. hope you like that kind of thing.