BURNING MAN

OH MY GOD! How do i even begin to describe this... the festial was PHENOMINAL.

Picked up Ness, changed the car for a better one, then headed to the Burning Man.



DAY 1

Arrving at the Burning Man.. 10mph speed limit on the playa... some idiot over took us, as we were going painfully slow.. but thankfully the guy was pulled up and ticketed immediatly.

As we drive through the gates we are asked if we are BMF virgins - as we were, we had to get out the car, roll around in the playa dirt, and then ring a giant bell... then the people on the gat give you a big hug and welcome you HOME.

We drove round the city looking for a campsite, and finally found our home at 7:30 Jungle. Our neighbours were so welcoming it was fantastic.. they all came out, introduced themselves, and gave us hugs and welcomed us home. One of the neigbours gave us a gift of a Kimono, and others offered herbacious substances and other small gifts.

After finally setting up camp we heard the weather reports of possible thunderstorms.. we had bought a gazebo and put up our tent. In preparation we took down the gazebo, and filled our tent with all the water we had, so incase of strong winds, the tent wouldnt disappear into the distance.

Unfortunatly the winds came, and we had our particle masks on and our gogggles. It was scary watching it approach, as it actually looked like a hurricane, and then all you could see was white. We couldnt even see our tent which was only 3 feet away from the car.. we had a full on WHITEOUT. After a while of sitting it out in the car, we decided we might as well go outside for a walk as the winds were starting to dyie down... walking around couldnt see much, but when we got back to the car we looked like we had aged about 70 years, our hair was completely Playa'ed it was GRAY.

Once the sun went down, the wind went away too.. thnkfully. we headed out to the Playa.. and WOW...it was alike looking at Vegas or Reno... neon lights everywhere. It was amazing. We were so dazzled by the lights. There were bars, clubs, lounges, everything you can possibly imagie, and you can stop anywhere you want, listen to whatever music you want.

We got stopped mainly at the Fire Idol. Watching all the people doing poi and staffs, and all sorts.. its all just a giant Pyromaniac festival. Then we say the giant monkey display...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snYq1b80ZP0&mode=related&search=

and many others. It was great just walking around.

DAY 2

Finally saw the playa by daylight.. the sleep was terrible, as we were sleeping in sandunes, and by 8am you couldnt sleep any longer, the heat through the tent was so intense. We ddi manage to catch a shower under the 'running water' - it was a giant tank of water riving around the streets squirting water, and we had to run after it and 'shower' hehee,.. all good fun!

The city of blck rock is like a real city.... there is a radio station, university, bike rental, car rental places and tourist offices etc. There is complete freedom of self expression which is just amazing... everyone walks around dressed as they wish and are not judged at all! Loads of peoploe insead of using bikes redecorated their cars and made them into bugs, spaceships, a shopping trolley.. whatever they wanted.. and you can just hop on for a ride whenever. All is free and shared. I was overwhelmed by the kindness of people there... people bake pancakes and just come out on the street and give them out, then they also in bars give you all the drinks free and its all about sharing, if you have beer wth you,m you bring a crate, chuch it behind the bar, and everyone has drinks. Its FANTASTIC. Really enjyed being in the city. Again, unfortunatly the dust storms came, worse than the day before, and when we entered our tent at the end we just found ashes everywhere... we think that someones fire coals blew under and set it alight.. but we were ery lucky, as at least my sleeping bag and mats didnt set alight.. that really wouldnt have been a very good outcome!

Again, then winds passed, and we made friends with the Irish group next door. They were a brilliant bunch of people, and they had brought a microwave with them, and a giant fan.. and plently ofalcohol. Unfortunatly the first day had killed their tent. This morning they had managed to rebuild it, but when the next sandstorms came... they had to stand outside and hold the tent... not such a good position to be in!

Again by dark the winds had gone and we were ready to party. This night, Paul oakenfold was supposed to be playing, so we hunted him down, and had a good clubbing session, and i think i did very well to stay away from the fire twirlers.

DAY3 - the day of the Burn

In the Morning we rented some bikes and went for a cycle round the playa. It was so so so hot.. but it was fantastic to see eerything by daylight... the trucks, and wrship of the crude oil, and all sorts of other things. There was even a display with letters and using the idea of relativity and perception, to create sentences and illusions, which worked, becasue we were afterall on a saltflat.
One of the most moving things we saw on the Playa. There is a menple which is built very close to the man. It was a beautiful building constructed of wood, with intricate possibly indian designs.. ,i am not sure where the design originates., but it was beautiful. Many people gather there and grafiti the building and every inch of available wood with messages. Messages to people alive, but more often to people who have passed away. We wondered in and looked around reading the messages and were brought to tears. They were so moving. Aslo talking with the people who were there leaving itemd of their lost loved ones' clothing. One guy was even there to grant his best friends last wish, and scatter his ashes. The temple burning happens the day after the burning of the man, and it is a much more sombre mood. It is there to burn away peoples troubles and help people say goodbye. I suppose it is what ever yhou want it to be for you, but it is part of a spiritual journey, more than anything else. Very moving.

---- too see any of this stuff 'youtube' it!!--------

In the evening earlier than we would usually as it was the night of the burn.. the thing we had been waiting for, despite this actually being the second time the man was going to burn in a week. -it had first been burned on the tuesday, by some fool.... but he was caught and put into jail for arsen... haha ha, would you believe it!

Waiting for the burn was very tense, alost everyonegathered and stood around the man. Durning the week his arms had been by his side, but his arms get raised, and then the fire displays start. There are tens of people doing fire twirling and all sorts of displays... then the fireworks start. the firework display last about 10 minutes and then there was a huge explosion and then man BURNED- everyone cheered. Then we waitied for the arms to burn and fall.. then we waited for the whole man to fall... and everyone cheered again.
We then jumped onto a car and drove across the playa to the 'oil rig' art. This was made up of statues worshiping an iol rig, and is supposed to represent how our society worships crude oil.
This was another huge event, they waited an hour and half after the man burned. Then they started the display for this. The fireworks were for 10 mins and they were accompanied by music. It was a fantastic show, better than the actual man. The climax of the show was a giant explosions, using hundreds of gallons of propane. It was superb, created a giant mushroom explosion seen all over the camp, and lit up the camp for a few seconds, so brightly that it looked like daylight! - absolutly amazing... we were then left to go and PARTY ON! the night was great. Running round and partying!

The next morning we decieded to leave along with the majority of the crowds, depite the fact that it was not yet the end of the Burning Man. On the sunday night is the day that they burn the Temple. We could simply no longer cope with the dirt and grime.

The experience i had here is completely unexplainable, and very difficult for someone who hasnt been to understand. People are non-judgmental, loving and caring wth eachother. People are so kind to eachother and selfless, and tke pleasure from helping those around them. Many people cook for others, so when your cycling down the street you are offered pancakes, or cookiedough, or cocktails...
Also in the bars the alcohol is free.. but only becasue people are kind enough to share. when you arrive at a bar, you throw some alcohol behind the bar, and thats what keeps the bar full.
I LOVED IT!
and i am going back!!!


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