hubli in 70 degree summer and a 19% humidity nightmare
i woke up to a ceiling fan spinning at 3am and a smell of diesel in the air. it’s 35.34 celsius out here, but somehow, the air feels like it’s been in a fridge. sure, 19% humidity. that’s not a typo. i just checked and it’s...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing.
last night, i tried to sleep under a tree outside my hostel. the leaves were dry as old scratch paper and the moon looked like it was made of chalk. someone told me that the heat here doesn’t just burn you, it sucks the moisture out of your skin. i’m not sure if that’s true or if they were just yelling to scare me.
i heard that the locals here have a weird ritual with chai. you pour it into a metal cup and then smash the cup with your fist. i tried it once. my thumb was bruised. i still drink chai like a normal person.
the neighborhood is a maze of narrow alleys and random shops selling things you don’t know what they are. i asked a guy selling rocking chairs if they were for sale. he looked at me like i was insane. then he shrugged and said, ‘yes, but only if you can carry them.’ i didn’t.
the weather here is like a horror movie. 35.34 degrees, clear skies, and that 19% humidity is a silent villain. i tried to eat a mango at lunch and it slipped from my hand. i think it’s the air’s fault.
i heard that this town is full of ghosts. not the spooky kind, but the kind that haunt your memory. like the time you forgot to turn off the water and now your room smells like mildew. i’m not sure if that’s a local legend or just someone’s bad experience.
if you get bored, the nearest city with functioning AC is about an hour away. i didn’t go. i’m too lazy.
someone told me that the streets here are haunted by the echoes of a 1990s Bollywood song. i didn’t believe them until i walked past a shop selling cassette tapes. the owner played a song on a portable speaker and it was that exact tune. i almost cried.
i just checked the map and realized i’m 14.6194,74.8375. that’s not a joke. this town exists.
i tried to take a photo of a street performer juggling fire. the flames kept going out. maybe it’s the humidity. or maybe the performer was just bad. i left quickly.
i heard that the locals have a secret spot for bad movies. a tiny cinema in a garage. i asked directions and the guy pointed me to a dumpster. i’m not sure if that’s accurate, but it’s a good story.
i’m not sure if i’ll survive this trip. the heat, the humidity, the strange people. but here’s the thing: i love it. i love how every day is a new kind of absurdity.
if you’re planning to come here, check out the market on nistala road. it’s chaotic, weird, and has the best papadoms. link: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g304134-d1367178-Reviews-Hubli_Maha_konda_Society_Hubli_Karnataka.html. also, the coffee here is terrible. link: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-hubli-hubli.
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