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Burning Man 2008
9/7/2008
It will be a long time before a vacation rivals my 2006 Burning Man trip. The sheer novelty and smoothness of that entire excursion set a very high bar for any subsequent venture to match. That being said, this year was no slouch. Burning man remains a mine of spectacular and thought-provoking encounters that could only seem anodyne to the most jaded of travelers. I had a damn good time and having Will, Madison, and other newbies along allowed me to vicariously enjoy the thrill of first encounters on the playa.
This trip proved more difficult than the last with dust storms, a leg injury, and the RV breaking down. But none of this really diminished the fun. Indeed, some of the challenges, like the storms, were a lot of fun once you finished pitching your tent in high winds. The art also wasn't quite as good as my previous visit. I don't think this year's theme "The American Dream" brought out the best in the very liberal Burning Man crowd. Don't get me wrong, there was still many fantastic pieces. I just didn't find them as personally resonate as those from 2006.
Once again I really want to thank Ryan, Mindy, Eric, Matt, and all the others who put so much effort into this trip. The planning, logistics, and endless extra tasks (glowing crab flags) that they selflessly provided really eased the trip for the rest of us. Thanks again guys for making a really great vacation happen!
The Inevitable Top Ten
My top ten memories of Burning Man 2008 - in no particular order:
- Quality Camaraderie - No activities, exhibits, or atmospherics can salvage an vacation if you're shackled with people you don't like. Amazingly, there wasn't a single person in our camp who's company I didn't enjoy. Everyone was friendly, courteous, and genuinely interesting to talk to. I could have vacationed in a sewer with these folks and still had a good time.
Stalking Zebra Boy - I'll tell this story in a bit more depth later but the terse version would be: Mike's new boyfriend, David, secretly comes to Burning Man and stalks Mike in a zebra mask for a few days. Then he surprises Mike at our Cowboy Sunset Serenade dinner. They share the sunset together in each other's arms. Very romantic.
The Hand of Man - From the pages of a Johnny SokkoÊÊcomes a giant mechanical hand that users could control with a glove to gesture or wreck carnage on objects placed within it's grasp. Incredibly cool idea.
Nude Sketching - I attended an erotic nude sketch session and sat around drawing naked people. There were a surprising number of older women in the crowd and the event was mostly conducted with a fine sense of punctilio despite the occasional boner joke.
Walking in White Out - When the big dust storms hit it was great fun to go for a walk with the sand stinging your skin and the universe occasionally contracting to just a few yards around you. A surreal and interesting experience.
The Sapphire Portal - a massive Roden Crater-like structure that offered visitors shade, a focused view of the sky and a soothing ambient drone. Very popular at night.
Tanya's singing - With a shy, sweet voice Tanya sang and played her ukulele for us several nights. I could have listened to her for hours.
Miniature Pentagon - Flying an upside-down American flag this miniature Pentagon was scarred by a large hole on one side. Climbing into its interior one found a cool carpeted space with mirrors on all sides and gentle track lighting. What it all meant was unclear - making the exhibit all the more appealing.
Snack Food Glory Hole - A glory hole that served up 100% food treats. Quick mischievous fun -- and quite tasty!- Naked by Night - A nude night walk on the playa with some friends...
Favorite Pictures
Will and I took a combined total of 2479 pictures on the trip. Most are posted on my new Flickr account. Here are some favorites.
9/7/2008 | Permanent Link
