1273909: Where My Budget Student Soul Went to Die (and Maybe Reincarnate)

so here i am, 1273909. another city in my list of 'places i ended up because bus tickets were cheaper than therapy'. my bank account’s been crying since day one, but hey, at least i’ve got stories.

first thing you notice? the weather. i just checked and it’s...well, it’s basically a damp sweater on a cool day floating around 11.75°C. feels like 11.33°C if you’re standing near any body of water, which is everywhere. humidity’s at 90%, so every breath feels like inhaling wet cotton. pack something waterproof unless you want your socks to develop consciousness and abandon you.

the locals? they’re...special. someone told me that the only time folks here get excited is when the pressure drops below 1000 hpa, which happens maybe twice a decade. otherwise, they just stare at you like you’re a confused raccoon. i heard from this drunk dude at a pub that the city’s motto is ‘why fix what’s already mildly inconvenient?’. seems accurate.

if you get bored, the neighboring towns are a short drive away if you can afford the gas. otherwise, there’s this park where the pigeons have more swagger than the tourists. apparently, the pigeons here are ‘street legends’ according to some graffiti artist i met. he also warned me that the city’s most famous mural is just ‘a blue blob that looks like a sad ghost’ but people take pictures of it anyway.

survival tips as a broke student:
- skip the fancy cafes. the hostel kitchen has instant noodles that cost less than your dignity
- the library has free wifi and zero judgment, just old people smelling of mothballs
- someone told me that the cheapest eats are at this ‘hole-in-the-wall place near the train station’ but i haven’t found it yet. probably because i’m too busy eating said instant noodles
- i heard that the city’s best music spot is a basement bar that smells like regret and cheap beer. perfect for my vibe

here’s where i’ve been wandering around like a confused pigeon:

and some pics because my phone’s camera is the only luxury i can afford:

pro tip for fellow budget warriors: this hostel’s got beds for less than a fancy coffee. and this food blog claims to have found the cheapest eats. someone also whispered that the local tourism board has secret discounts, but i haven’t seen evidence yet.

so yeah, 1273909. it’s damp, confusing, and my socks have definitely started plotting against me. but hey, at least i’m not paying rent.

You might also be interested in:

• https://votoris.com/post/seasonal-weather-in-phnom-penh-what-to-expect-throughout-the-year
• https://votoris.com/post/shopping-in-shah-alam-from-local-markets-to-luxury-malls
• https://votoris.com/post/foggy-lenses-and-forgotten-streets-my-cuenca-photo-diary
• https://votoris.com/post/huntsville-humidity-how-i-forgot-my-rain-poncho-again
• https://votoris.com/post/the-time-i-got-scammed-in-faisalabad-but-still-ate-the-best-biryani-of-my-life