I pinned and headed for what turned out to be the Wasteland Tower. As it happens, seemingly everything in this region can oneshot me.

Undeterred, with lots of climbing, I get up the tower.
I spin around and HOLY SHIT WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT IN THE DISTANCE. Some kind of absolutely gigantic, legit Shadow-of-the-Colossus style mechanical llama stomping around the desert. At this point, I have no clue what this thing is and I was instantly way more invested in the game's world than I was up to that point. That sensation of seeing something exciting and then wanting to play more to learn about it, rather than being told something exciting exists and then playing until you finally see it... completely enthralling. Felt like the old days.
Way in the distance by this thing I see what looks like an oasis and toss a pin in that. After a little ways I run into the Gerudo Canyon Stable. There's a Rito bird bard there, and he wants to sing me a song. It's the legend of Calamity Ganon and the Divine Beasts. I recognize one of them as clearly the robot llama I saw from the tower. Awesome.
I get closer to my pin and see a little oasis bazaar on the way. As I approach a cutscene is triggered and I get some gorgeous views of the Giant Robollama. It's kicking up sandstorms and lightning follows it everywhere. That can't be good. Talking to the folk at the bazaar, it turns out this thing was supposed to defend the area but it's going crazy and making the area more dangerous. The sandstorms are affecting trade, the noise is driving guests away from the inn. You can tell everyone is kind of talking about it in annoyed terms of how it impacts their daily lives; they don't care about Ganon or my epic quest, they have their own problems.
I'm pointed toward Gerudo Town which turns out to be the pin I placed from the tower, but with an unexpected caveat- men aren't allowed inside! Sounds like a challenge. Flashbacks to Wall Market in FF7 hit me immediately. So I start scoping it out. Navigating the desert is dangerous- especially for a rookie adventurer like me without a stockpile of elixirs, but I discover that just literally waiting for the right time of day can make it possible (about 6:00-8:00PM and 4:00-6:00AM seem safe!). A second of real time is a minute of game time. The entryways of shrines are seemingly climate-controlled and always safe to wait around. I discover the unbridled joy of Sand Seals to make getting around easier... awesome again.
Bouncing between the bazaar and the gates of Gerudo Town and talking to everyone I start to hear that some dude has succesfully made it inside. One merchant describes a "pretty Hylian girl" that has been seen around and new dialogue options open to ask about her to the others at the bazaar. I piece it together and eventually known where she winds up at the right time of day. Finally meet "her" and she'll sell me the clothes- for 600 rupees.
Undeterred, now I'm a desert merchant myself for a bit, scrounging what I can to save up and get a dress to fake being a girl and get into Gerudo Town. About a third of the way there. Screw my slated destiny, I am going to see the inside before I do anything else in this game, damnit. Then maybe I'll see about taking care of this giant Divine Beast.
...then maybe I'll actually go to the first quest marker.