It ’s been almost a year since my first head trip to Black Rock City and I ’m pretty sure that I ’m no longer bear any playa dust on my body . As that sorcerous week approaches , I ’ve been seeing first hand and well-nigh all the chatter and training my fellow Burners are going through for their trip “ home ” .
I ’m jealous . I ca n’t make it this year and I ’m jealous . For me to try and apply one or even a handful of words to key the experience of my first suntan would only be an attempt that falls unretentive of everything that it was and is . That said , there were times when I struggle . But that was okay . It was all a part of it and I had the help of veteran burner to get me through it . So in the spirit of founder back , here are a few thing I ’ve learn during my week out on the playa and since that may be useful as a guide if this is your first time head to Burning Man . From one vestal burner to a caboodle of new ones .
Don’t Be A Sparkle Pony
descend inclined . You do n’t inevitably have to get it all proper , but make the elbow grease . Radical Self - Reliance is one of the essence principles of Burning Man . That mean you add up with everything you call for . Whatever else comes your way to make your experience more extra is gravy . A “ Sparkle Pony ” is someone who comes to sting Man unprepared and terminate up rely on the generosity of others , purposefully or otherwise , for introductory affair like food and pee and sometimes even more . I exact that from Urban Dictionary in case you ’re marvel . It ’s bully to be gratuitous - spirited and just letting the universe sort things out for you , but that might stand for that the universe will commit you to a camp that gives out complimentary shots of whiskey and bacon when all you require is some water system . Logistics and planning may not always be fun , but it ’ll allow you to enjoy your clip out there with one ( or more ) less thing to worry about . At the very least , readBurning Man ’s Survival Guideand do a basic google search for “ how to fix for Burning Man ” . The only thing you’re able to actually bribe at burn Man is icing and coffee . Everything else , you must land in . Burning Man at its gist is about ego - reliance and community .
Participate
Take part . Burning Man is a hebdomad long buffet of experiences . Some are measurably within your comfort zones , while others may challenge you to the gist . If there ’s ever a place to take part in a division on Nipponese suspension bondage without judgement or to afford up to a thoroughgoing stranger sitting on top of a giant metallic element coyote at 3 am , this is it . Embrace the acculturation , whether that is self - expression or gifting . Do it as fiddling or as much as you ’d care , but do it . Participate instead of just spectate . This is a cornerstone of what makes Burning Man so peculiar . Leave your inhibitions at home or at least slip it a rufie . I do n’t mean a literal one . Metaphor people . If you see a cool graphics , chase it down , ask to get on and then delight the ride . Just retrieve where you leave your bike .
Put The Camera Down
This is quite a statement coming from a photographer and mayhap a number hypocritical considering that I put together the video above to capture a small part of the experience that is Burning Man . I ’ll seek to justify myself at the end of this paragraph . Nowadays , many of us are used to documenting every aspect of our animation because technology makes it so well-off . You ’ll seem so nerveless in your turnout , you ’ll beam , you ’ll glitter . Is that a giant octopus shooting ardour out of its tentacles ? Look at the giant artistry Rubber Duck art machine . Oh and that indulgent hazy lighting at sunset will make just about anything and everyone look magical . It ’s punishing to not want to capture that , but I advise you to resist . Enjoy it for what it is . Sear it into memory . The Temple , the Man and Black Rock City as it exists each class is ephemeral . It is there for a workweek and then it is gone . It ’s that way for a reason . Take pleasure in this . Personally , I deliberated long and hard before the week set forth and felt like I had to do some variety of project because that ’s just what I do . As a compromise , I set up aside 30 instant or so twice a daytime when I would take out my camera and shoot what I saw . The remainder of the time , I would keep it nice and protect out from the playa dust and just relish the experience . It worked for me and for every coolheaded matter or bit that I did capture , there were numberless more that I did n’t . Thinking about those “ at sea ” import make me smile even more than seeing it in stills or on film because even if I grabbed the sight and the auditory sensation , I would still be miss the olfactory modality , the touch or the mouthful part of it . I ’d overleap everything happen just off soma . I ’d missing the reaction of the hoi polloi behind or to the side of me . I ’m not telling you to not to take any mental picture , but judge to take less than you normally would . And if you do take pictures of other masses , demand first if potential . And emphatically if they are nude .
Ignore The FOMO
Here is a fact . There is just so much happening at almost every hour of the day that it is impossible to go through it all . concern of missing out ? Yes , it will chance . Even when you are experience something incredible , you are probably miss out on five other thing that could have been equally mind - blowing . Remember how I enounce cauterise Man is a counter of experience . Employ the same scheme you would at a real buffet . wipe out all your need , but take only what you’re able to eat . In other words , do n’t be grabby and exaggerate it . There ’s an booklet with all the plan activities by camps . There ’s even an app for it . you may circulate and be after to head from the Slut Olympics to the Slave Auction and and exit ahead of time to get to the free Ramen before it runs out , but you ’ll in all probability end up escape it all anyway if you find yourself savour that overnice quiet ride out in the thick playa or want to take a “ quick ” nap after stay alive for 39 hours . It ’s o.k. . Those camps will forgive your absence . Burning Man will forgive you . I forgive you . or else of fearing that you are missing out , rather reckon focusing on what ’s in front of you . Or perchance it ’s something you happened to discover while trying to get somewhere else . Stop . See where it takes you . I ca n’t remember all the matter I missed out on , but I can think back the thing I did do . And they were awesome . lawful level .
Get Some Sleep
This ties in nicely with the last advice about missing out . It ’s tantalizing to partake in all the daytime activities and then trip the light fantastic the night aside to Robot Heart and then grab a coffee at Center Camp and start over again . Give it a go . Then get some eternal sleep . I managed between 4 - 6 hour of sleep a day break up into different sessions . Little as that is for me , paired with the vigour of being out on the playa , I felt alert and refresh most of the fourth dimension . cypher out what it is that you really want to do and observe some meter in between to kip . For me , that was just about from 3 - 6 am , 8 – 11 am and sometimes from 3 - 5 pm . I could n’t shake my habitual afternoon siestas . Or you’re able to just crash whenever like my friend below .
Wet Wipes Are Your Friend
perchance your RV has a shower . I ’m happy for you . peradventure you found one of the cantonment that offers free showers . Where the hell was that ? Maybe you just love how you reek after not showering for 7 days and you think the dust give your feet fictional character . For everyone else , loaded wipe are a godsend . Your manus and feet will give thanks you and your campmate will give thanks you . Playa dust is not favorable . On that note , wear closed toe shoes . That alkaline dust require to make your foot look like the playa . Do n’t have it . It may sound cool , but you do n’t want playa feet .
Don’t Miss The Sunrise and Sunset
There is just something enchanting about that first lighting and last light of twenty-four hours . Physically , the smoke and fog from the fire and the dust storm create a unique atmosphere , but there is something more . You will want to know it . Just try out to be awake for it or wake up for it . And dress consequently . The daylight can get quite hot , and while the evening is pretty restrained , the temperature can drop considerably in the early hour of the morn .
Light Up
drug are illegal on the playa , but I ’m not even referring to that . Despite all the fervour and promising lights coming from the art cars and sound stages , Black Rock City is still a desert and it ’s BYO light source . elevated railway - wire is the the light of choice . Blue , red , green , slow eye blink , or raptus - inducing blink , there ’s plenty of pick . Just verify you light up yourself and your bike up at night . There ’s nothing worse than riding towards a bright art installation with the wind in your haircloth and getting T - boned by another bike because you were n’t visible in the darkness . The same applies when you are off the bicycle and walking . unhorse yourself up and avoid unneeded collisions .
Express Yourself
There ’s no right or wrong way . I think . Wear whatever you want or nothing at all . There are those with extremely luxuriant costume . You do n’t have to contact and exceed . Unless that ’s what you desire to do . Have you always wanted to fatigue a pair of lederhosen to tan that upper part of your thigh ? Have you ? Do n’t dwell . Do you need to show people what Brucee Lee would have looked like if he bust his Game of Death yellow jump suit while on 12 metrical foot stilts ? mayhap you ’ve always wanted to wear cool aviator goggles despite your fright of flying ? You ’re welcome . This go for to you pedal as well . It ’s an extension of you . When everyone has abandoned you out in the mysterious playa , your wheel will still be with you . Hopefully . Otherwise , it will be a farseeing walk back . Your motorcycle will be with you everywhere and there are a lot of bike out on the playa that will search the same . Make it well-situated for your intoxicated ego so you’re able to recognise it day and night . Paint it . trim it up . tot a basketball hoop . tot a watergun . I added a seat with a infinite for my Ball .
Give And Receive
Aside from money for ice and coffee , the only other up-to-dateness for attender at Burning Man is generosity . I was n’t exactly quite sure what to gift , but I have a much better estimation now . Every camp “ gifts ” something to the community , be it booze , massage , a party , or all the above . Burners giving affair they make . Sometimes they gift thing they never intended to give away just because someone postulate it . But beyond all the material things , a gift can be in the shape of a hug , a compliment or a helping hand . The honorable thing I received was a real smiling and the willingness to literally smile for me when I asked to do a moving portrait for my video recording . Do n’t stress about this as a first time burner . You ’ll get it just like how I got it and then you could come back and do your part in impart and facilitate to turn over on the values to new burners during subsequent burns .
Get Your Affairs In Order (Or Not)
You will be unplug for a week . I loved it for the first 3 days . On the fourth day , I was a little knackered emotionally and it would have been courteous to see a text from the literal world . Then I got some sleep and I was ripe to go again . After the Book of Exodus , I got connective again and saw the hundreds of email in the my inbox . I forget it for a few more 60 minutes before looking at it . It was a nice touch . as luck would have it , there were no straightaway exigency , but the part that might storm a mickle of masses is that the globe did n’t grind to a halt because I could n’t receive and respond to an email . I excuse in a couple of e-mail for my wearisome response – that I was temporarily out of reach . assort out what you require to . call on on the auto - response . Or do nothing at all . You do n’t get the chance to disconnect so easily nowadays . Pretend you ’re in a post - apocalyptic world without internet . live with and embrace it . Then get into the Thunderdome . Two world get in . One homo leaves .
Leave No Trace
After the calendar week has transpired and the Man has burn and every last car leaves Black Rock City , all that remains will be a wonderful set of memories . And MOOP . That ’s matters out of piazza . In other words , wish-wash . Not just your empty ZICO coconut water container or cans of sunbaked bean . Not just your used wet wipes . But anything that ’s left behind . A loose feather , a piece of your bike that fell off , and even the ash from your butt . Nothing that was n’t there before should be there after you leave . That is how you ensure that the playa is there next year . Respect the land . Think about what you wreak in and make trusted you carry everything out . And the port wine - a - potties are not trash keister .
Come Prepared
I end with the first bit of advice again . More than just come yourpacking list(byStitchof Renegade Couture ) in parliamentary law , exist and enjoying glow Man is as much about coming in with an open heart and no expectations . I had the aid of veteran burners to sort out the logistics and all the strong-arm things we needed . For my part , I tried not to translate too much about other hoi polloi ’s experiences or ask about what I had to do or see while I was out there . I was require to be surprised , for honest or for worse . I did n’t need to have any expectations . Read thisEmotional Survival Guide To Burning Man . I cerebrate it ’s a keen opus on managing expectations . And course , bring raft of urine and your undecided ego . I ca n’t wait to go “ home ” next class .
This spot is by Kien Lam and first come out on his blogwhereandwander.com . Kien Lam is an international lensman and filmmaker based in San Francisco . He runswhereandwander.comand believes in living for those bit that make the best stories , tell or untold . He is working through his bucket list and wants to serve others do the same .
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