Visakhapatnam: Humidity, Street Food, and a Whole Lot of Questions
okay, so visakhapatnam. it’s…a lot. i landed with absolutely zero expectations, honestly, just chasing a cheap flight and a rumor about amazing *biryani. and wow, the rumor wasn’t wrong.
i’m a freelance photographer, which basically means i wander around looking for interesting light and hoping people don’t yell at me for pointing a camera in their face. this place is full of interesting light. it’s all hazy and golden, even when it’s pouring. which, let’s be real, it does a lot. i just checked and it’s…a damp hug right now, hope you like that kind of thing. the air is thick enough to chew, honestly. the weather report said 19.87 degrees Celsius, but it feels like you’re walking through soup. feels-like is 20.21, if you’re keeping track. pressure’s normal, humidity is…well, it’s 88%. you get the picture.
i spent most of yesterday getting gloriously lost in the old town. it’s a maze of tiny streets, overflowing with everything from spices to saris to suspiciously cheap electronics. i overheard someone at a tea stall saying that the best place to get a watch is “near the clock tower, but don’t ask where the clock tower is.” cryptic, right?
“The seafood here? Forget about it. You haven’t lived until you’ve had the prawn curry at that little place by the beach. But go early, or you’ll be fighting off the seagulls.”
that was old man raju, who runs a tiny shop selling…i honestly have no idea what he sells. bits and bobs, mostly. he also warned me about the auto rickshaw drivers. apparently, they all have a secret agreement to overcharge tourists. i’ve definitely felt that. i think i paid triple the going rate to get to rk beach. worth it for the story, though.
i’ve been trying to find some good street art, but it’s surprisingly scarce. there’s a little bit around the university, but mostly it’s just political slogans. which, okay, fair enough. i did find a really cool vintage clothing shop though, tucked away down a side street. the owner, a woman named priya, has an amazing collection of old sarees and kurtas. she told me that if you get bored, araku valley is just a short train ride away. apparently, it’s all hills and coffee plantations. sounds nice.
someone told me that the simhachalam temple is a must-see, but you have to be careful about what you wear. apparently, they’re pretty strict about dress codes. i also heard that the rushikonda beach is beautiful, but crowded. i’m planning on checking it out tomorrow, if i can brave the crowds. you can find more info on TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g304284-Visakhapatnam_Andhra_Pradesh-Vacations.html.
the people here are…intense. in a good way, mostly. they’re really friendly and curious, but they also have opinions. and they’re not afraid to share them. i was trying to photograph a fish market and this guy started giving me a lecture on the proper way to select a pomfret. it was amazing. you can find some local reviews on Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Restaurants&find_loc=Visakhapatnam%2C+Andhra+Pradesh.
i’m staying in a tiny guesthouse near the railway station*. it’s basic, but clean, and the owner makes a killer masala chai. i found it on a local forum: https://www.mouthshut.com/reviews/visakhapatnam-city-review-148941. honestly, i’m exhausted. i think i need another biryani and a nap. this place is wearing me out, but in the best possible way. i'll try to update again soon, if i don't get lost in the streets first.
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