Burning Man

What is Burning Man? Many people who have never been have misconceived ideas of what Burning Man is all about. Some think it is just about sex, drugs and alcohol in a hippy world, but that is just sheer ignorance and I get a little tired of hearing people define Burning Man without ever having been to it. Burning Man is whatever you make it out to be and whatever experience you want it to be for you. I have never done drugs let alone ever smoked a cigarette and my first year at Burning Man last year remains the best travel experience of my life. For that reason, I had to return this year.

Burning Man is where 50,000 persons show up for the week before Labor Day in the middle of the Nevada desert to create the greatest community of art, radical self expression and party. There are no societal rules of how one should behave in this community and all judgments are left at the door. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming and I always meet the most interesting people.
There is no money exchange except for ice and coffee and everyone is expected to contribute to the community. A friend told me that he read of how Burning Man, Craig'sList and Wikipedia are leaderless communities. Burning Man is able to be self sustaining without a head leader to direct everyone. This is so true. The community creates itself and people contribute their art, time, personality, etc to it. www.burningman.com

This year, I didn't have a set camp or ride to Burning Man. Camp Evol, with whom I camped last year, all disbanded and went their merry ways to other camps. Thankfully, I found a woman, Emily, on Craigslist who could drive me to Burning Man. After a 7 hour drive, we arrived at Black Rock City, Nevada ready for another out of this world experience. I ended up camping with her at the Red Nose District camp, a camp full of circus performers located conveniently right near Center Camp. Red Nose had the most amazing infrastructure; we had our own hot pressurized showers; a real luxury in the desert, as well as dedicated porta potties for the camp. Engineers and construction folks developed all the infrastructure for the camp. Part of my camp dues went to renting and building the Big Top tent where the circus performers performed their nightly shows. I borrowed a tent and camped in their circle.

Part of the experience at Burning Man is about roughing it in the middle of the desert. The temperature can turn upwards of over 100 degrees with harsh dust storms that require people to wear dust masks and googles regularly.Often, the dust storms are so great that no one is able to leave the confines of their tent or RV for several hours. The harshness of the environment lends itself towards the overall cathartic experience of Burning Man.vEveryone is required to bring enough food and water for the time that they are there and to leave no trace. Everything that is brought in must be brought out. Only porta potties are conveniently located throughout the city.


The first night, we explored the city at night with our bikes. Since the city is miles wide, bikes are necessary to get around. And at night, the entire city lights up and it reminds me of Disneyland on crack. Even people wear neon lights to decorate themselves as art objects and so that they are not run over by art cars. Art cars, well decorated and thematic cars, buses, ships that can fit a ton of people drive around the city blasting music while people dance on them. I rode over to many crazy and interesting art exhibits located all over the playa, the name of the dirt and desert floor. Describing Burning Man and the night scene is just so difficult and I don't have good photos to really illustrate it either. Trust me when I say that I have never seen anything so spectacular in my life.

Each year, a theme ties the community together.
This year, the theme was the American Dream and the art all exhibited some form of this theme and often the art is interactive. One of my favorite art exhibits included a McEnlightenment drive through. I drove my bike through and ordered a Value Meal of Enlightment, one of their most popular dishes. A man inside the booth asked me to face the Man, a wooden structure of a man that gets burned the last Saturday night as part of a ritual, and call out my deepest fears and wishes. He then presented me with a brown bag. Inside, I found a reflective mirror so that I ended up staring at myself. My enlightenment is within myself. I thanked him for the generosity and off I went.

Later, I met a super sweet couple from North Carolina who drove for 5 days to Burning Man. They brought with them a huge inflatable ketchup bottle structure and inside they cooked french fries for the hungry burners, people attending, every night from 7pm to 5am.
What makes people do this? It is part of the community spirit of Burning Man. Most of my friends stayed at the DeMentha camp that daily serves mojitos and throws some fun parties during the day. So, what did I contribute? I volunteered as a Greeter this year and spent 5 hours straight in the hot sun greeting people as they entered into the city. For Burning Man virgins, those who are coming for the first time, I made them create sand angels and gong a bell to signal their entry into the new world. Everyone does their part to create a stimulating and interesting experience.

Yes, it is true. Many people run around the playa naked to the point that I get a little tired of seeing old naked men, but it is all part of the experience to enjoy being around people freely expressing themselves in new ways. There are phone booths to talk to God and Hug Delis. Anything goes at Burning Man and I love the creativity of it all. I come for the art and to be around the radical self expressionism. Burning Man is a magical place like Disneyland. You just need an open mind to truly appreciate it.



On Saturday night, the Man is burned and all fire breaks loose. On Sunday night, the temple of remembrance of loved ones lost is also burned in a peaceful ceremonial burn unlike the night before. I had to leave before either burn, but, I am glad to have made it back to reality in time to see my friend Don marry Elaine in a very sweet ceremony in Saratoga with the best food I have ever eaten.