On Priscilla Type Desert Experiences
I just got back from Afrika Burns (www.afrikaburns.com), and whilst I am dreadfully tired, I have never felt more alive in my life.
Photographs to be found on facebook.... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=73610&id=738195625
I really can't begin to explain everything that happened. But try and imagine about 1000 people an hour away from any kind of civilisation, no cellphone reception, no running water or electricity, all loving each other and giving and sharing everything that they had. Imagine huge cars that had stereo systems attached and DJs and a car with a moving band driving around a circle a kilometre wide (I think, I'm just guessing here). Imagine men on stilts and people pedalling on bicycles to generate electrictiy to smelt metal and make smoothies. Imagine lovely people with spritzers walking around spraying you and men with dry ice and ice-creams in the 40 degree weather. Imagine a Bedouin tent where you could go for coolness, corn bread, Turkish coffee or tea, curry and entertainment. Imagine a car that distributes 40 litres of Sangria to the whole community (and riding on said car). Imagine dressing up in fishnets and wizard hats and tops that say "free hugs". Imagine getting love-bonded to five people. Imagine living in a society where you don't feel like you have to lock your car at night. Where you can dance around naked during the day. Where you can do crazy monkey chanting at sunset until you feel so dehydrated that you have to return to your campsite. Where everyone will give you something, even if it's just a friendly smile. Where you feel inspired to do something more with your life, instead of just sitting around doing nothing.
There are so many stories to tell about the experience. There's the one about how I came home one night only to be followed by some guy who watched me brush my teeth, told me about the Foo Fighters (because they have a song called Aurora) and then proceeded to break into our tent and refuse to leave. There's the story about climbing up a turbine-type artwork to have it break under my foot and form beautiful, beautiful scratches. There's the story about discovering that my burning man neighbour is my semi-neighbour in real life. There's the one about camping-barbie sets. There are so so so many things to say but for now I just want to go back.
I don't like civilisation anymore. Sure it feels great to have hair that doesn't feel like sandpaper but it's slightly disappointing. You reach a stage where you just stop caring about your appearance and now that I'm back in the city I just don't know what do with myself. I can't return to normality. I've had a truly life-changing experience. I hope. If I go back to my old self I will be rather unimpressed.
I love you. I love life. I love everyone. I want more love. I want to give more. I want to become a superhero. I want to be you. I want to be me. I want to give you what you want.
I hope I can stay like this.
Photographs to be found on facebook.... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=73610&id=738195625
I really can't begin to explain everything that happened. But try and imagine about 1000 people an hour away from any kind of civilisation, no cellphone reception, no running water or electricity, all loving each other and giving and sharing everything that they had. Imagine huge cars that had stereo systems attached and DJs and a car with a moving band driving around a circle a kilometre wide (I think, I'm just guessing here). Imagine men on stilts and people pedalling on bicycles to generate electrictiy to smelt metal and make smoothies. Imagine lovely people with spritzers walking around spraying you and men with dry ice and ice-creams in the 40 degree weather. Imagine a Bedouin tent where you could go for coolness, corn bread, Turkish coffee or tea, curry and entertainment. Imagine a car that distributes 40 litres of Sangria to the whole community (and riding on said car). Imagine dressing up in fishnets and wizard hats and tops that say "free hugs". Imagine getting love-bonded to five people. Imagine living in a society where you don't feel like you have to lock your car at night. Where you can dance around naked during the day. Where you can do crazy monkey chanting at sunset until you feel so dehydrated that you have to return to your campsite. Where everyone will give you something, even if it's just a friendly smile. Where you feel inspired to do something more with your life, instead of just sitting around doing nothing.
There are so many stories to tell about the experience. There's the one about how I came home one night only to be followed by some guy who watched me brush my teeth, told me about the Foo Fighters (because they have a song called Aurora) and then proceeded to break into our tent and refuse to leave. There's the story about climbing up a turbine-type artwork to have it break under my foot and form beautiful, beautiful scratches. There's the story about discovering that my burning man neighbour is my semi-neighbour in real life. There's the one about camping-barbie sets. There are so so so many things to say but for now I just want to go back.
I don't like civilisation anymore. Sure it feels great to have hair that doesn't feel like sandpaper but it's slightly disappointing. You reach a stage where you just stop caring about your appearance and now that I'm back in the city I just don't know what do with myself. I can't return to normality. I've had a truly life-changing experience. I hope. If I go back to my old self I will be rather unimpressed.
I love you. I love life. I love everyone. I want more love. I want to give more. I want to become a superhero. I want to be you. I want to be me. I want to give you what you want.
I hope I can stay like this.