Afrikaburns 2013

ALL YOU DO is drive out into the desert

all for this afrikaburns experience, we struggle with the road there and then the environment, freeze, laugh continuously, take the trip out, sleep briefly, share, struggle with finding time and the perception of it and the difference between moments and minutes, we give, take, dance, think more about certain things and forget entirely about others, experience connections and occurrences that are far beyond coincidence, where logic and odds go against the probability of…. ‘did that just happen’  we find ourselves finding the ones  we intended to avoid and not even seeing the ones we tried to find.

we watch the sunset a few times or was that the sunrise, make decisions and do as you please when you please and most of the time to please others, we look up in the night where wishes are dished out by the minute and watch the true traffic of shooting stars. 

photo by: Jonx Pillemer

maybe you like me came back with a solid thump, a few days pass where we try work out what just happened, where the blur clears and we take stock of the weight of the event, how much we lost and how much we gained, the entire experience reveals itself to us in a way we might have not expected, or did it?

we are bonded to one another, connected, this new us and everyone, rattled, new or renewed perception find fresh focus and meaning, the dust and smoke which filled our eyes and lungs in some way wash out a clogged perception leaving a very different kind of world.

One you can live in physically for 5 days but mentally dance around in for the other 360.

WE ARE burnt.

 
Archetypes 2013 - An AfrikaBurn Time Lapse Experience from Strandwolf on Vimeo.

TRANSFORMATION FESTIVALS 

by Jeet Kei Leung

dirty hippies? reprobates? misguided people?

The DEEPEST most INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION about 'OUR' culture you will ever watch, the secret movement of societies future. 

OZORA FESTIVAL

August 11-17. 2009

www.ozorafest.hu

Back from Paradise!! and a crazy land Paradise it was...

We left home on the Monday night, smiles to the air attendant, 3 beers 2 wines each tipsy later.

Followed by the first time I've ever gone through passport control beer in hand!

In a taxi...to the hotel!! Which room is Timo in? up to ours...silly face pictures in the lift mirrors...Timo's room and reunited smiley beer celebrations!! Sean's an idiot for climbing on that ledge! he knows it! Meticulous James arrives!....and then there were 4...Stubble back to the room...sleep.

Up at 09:30, taxi to the train station...Get some bits and pieces, the train leaves soon. Rain drops falling, darting for the train, find our space in the non geriatric carriage. For their sake....Who jumps in the same carriage?!! Its the Alex, Judi and the Swiss Transahara connection...wow Jagermeister goats cheese celebrations all around...

Train for an hour + plus, change, cram, sit with non Ozora people, they must have thought “who are they and why have the disturbed my regular spacious journey”....its hot, Simontornya here we come.

Arrival- shuttle bus, we'll get the next one...Timo and balancing beer tray arrives...smiles all around.
We get the next shuttle. 300 HUF... As we board and people cram on I think in India they would just climb on the roof and a guy next to me says exactly my thoughts...I tell him so....then another comments about my Transahara T-shirt he's from France, oh yeah there were lots of French people at Transahara. I mention Loic's name and he says...yes that's my friend waiting for me at Ozora and the young girl sitting near says that's my boyfriend. Same person I shared a shuttle with to Transahara...festival energy is strong....

We arrive the sign says WELCOME TO PARADISE....Hungarian log and stick men line the entrance.

Out of the bus, Its Loic he's waiting for he's friends.... into the cue, I call ahead to Lee who had arrived the day before...he warns me of a 7 hour wait they had...we're happy and it only takes about an hour. No problem, its part of the anticipation experience. Arm band on and we walk up the festival road...

This girl, she looks familiar....I cant remember....but then...Heleen!!! she shouts to the familiar face....”Luanne I'll take them to the camp site”.... off we go, Timo & James go with Pete, Swiss connection, split and we head to the Cape Town camp.

Under the tree, super decorations, a beautiful effort, all sit around and we do intros. Unpack our tent and find a spot...home is here from the next 5 days.

Just before 20:00 the tribes gather around the beautiful dance floor which lies deep in a rolling hill. Anticipation and excitement fill the air, all chat and smile, as the sun slowly dips away. As if the rope was cut everyone makes a bee line for under the dance floor centre. Some shouting and screaming with excitement. We congregate. Opening ceremony, Juno starts, smiles all around. This is why we have come from far and wide. “This is more than entertainment”

The first evening is enjoyed to the fullest, some alcohol to take us into the night gets shared around and the party vibes start...The next morning...vibes were strong! already on day 1 as the drizzle fell...

Then the next few days were put on fast forward...laughter, happiness, random meetings, and crazy fun friendship was shared, the low points from stomping exhaustion were cured with freezing showers, red wine and sleep. 9 to 5 life style patterns were torched by the dance floor flame. And we became happiness beast creatures of both day and night. Day smiles and surprisingly something I don't often see....youtube hiding night smiles evaporate amongst us. Tribal beats, inflatable friends. Drinkable water offered on the dance floor! Popping cork's. Only here could 2 total strangers, Sparky & Catherine meet with large inflatable crocodiles strapped to their backs. The Rain brought a slippery calming period where the wilder ones could express the mud wrestling fun.

We found new friendships based on this meeting in utopia. Hugs and hand shakes.

The group I was with were beyond special. This is where previous strangers were made inflatable brothers and sisters...Tom, Lee, Rafie, Olie, Gus, Andrew, Derek, Jeremy, Simon, Nick and Sean, you guys rock! The girls...Catherine, Kate, Holly, Luanne, Megan, Emily, Ashley, Simone, Heleen, and Amanda! Such great effort & energy! I feel fortunate to have festival'd with you.

The people who shared front left for Protoculture you created an atomic explosion of euphoria...My Swiss friends you are beautiful happy open people, oh and so so crazy!! :) All of the Transahara family! The German guys! Everyone else I had the pleasure to meet and see again, made the festival so special. When I smiled, thank you for smiling back. :-)

The last main floor set ...Man With No Name, awesome...Goa and by far this was my most special set of the festival. Happy smiles-Amber Aroma and beaming sun rays. Tears to my eyes when I discussed...I could be any where in the world at that moment with as much money/clothes/cars/riches and I would choose to be as I was...right there. This is Love, this is Life.

Clean(ish) toilets, good showers, and a great selection of artists...although generally to me it makes no difference, I go for the people. Ozora had some of the most friendly festival bar and security staff I have ever experienced! Köszönöm! BIG thank you to the Ozora crew!

Monday was the sad good byes, back to Budapest, Night in a city hotel hot baths, and the next day a complete cycle of the beautiful city before heading back to the world.

Love, Light and Respect! See you on the dance floor!

Des

**The happiness connection is strong, still there are sad moments. Someone stole my beautiful Thai pants off our line, the only pair of pants I brought, I hope its because they had non but psychedelic thieves are so amongst us. Its wrong to prey on others when they are in open vulnerable states. Some still walk with attitude, and even those who oppose the main stream system most...carry a negativity chip on their shoulder....Respect for nature is a problem, I'm sure the Ozora crew have people who come and clean up, and for them the cigarette butts must be torment. The tent in the camping area that was playing dark psy until the last Monday afternoon. You are a crazy man some people must rest...that's enough neagtivity talk...

http://www.thezeitgeistmovement.com/

for the first time something that resonates with me.

CONSUME CONSUME CONSUME

CON: A confidence trick or confidence game (also known as a bunko, con, flim flam, gaffle, grift, hustle, scam, scheme, or swindle) is an attempt to defraud a person or group by gaining their confidence. (wiki)

Madeleine.

Being a parent of a daughter, I can only imagine the pain her parents are feeling...
Wherever she is...I hope she is safe...

Madeleine McCann Missing in Portugal Have you seen her?

http://madeleinemccann.blogspot.com/

http://www.recyclenow.com/

If tomorrow you woke up with "super human powers"....would you use them to save the world?....if so then what's the difference??

By now it's a must; those with even an inch of intelligence will take the necessary steps, re use, don’t waste & spread the word.

Love this planet....

Smile

FrIeNdShIp

I Think:
I've recently discovered the meaning of the words "true friend/s".
I believe it's a companion who shares an equal understanding of the word friendship as you do. ??

Thank's My Man...

BOOM 06 Festival 2006 3-9.Aug Portugal

www.boomfestival.org

Our Journey - Des & Jaryd

Finally back to reality! Never before have I been taken so far from it.
The beautiful mixture of people, place, and music provided a setting for one truly amazing experience.

The journey started with the flight to Madrid, where we fortunately (you'll see why later) found out our baggage had been left at Gatwick. Great start? Off to Madrid City centre, driving on the wrong side of the road on the wrong side of the car, with 2 new BOOM travellers who we met at the Airports. After a few hand signals and some wrong turns and bare minimum Spanish, a Hostel was found nearby....a place to sleep for the night.Up the next morning and back to the Airport, to wait for our luggage, after the first incoming flight we had one tent, then a long wait before the rest finally arrived in the evening. Woohoo!!

The journey finally begins, journey planner and map in hand Portugal BOOM here we come. The drive from Madrid to Indanha-a-Nova took us about 6hours.Finally at 2am we arrive at a line of vehicles stretched as far as the eye could see. For the next 6 hours we had broken sleep of stop and go in the line (Thanks to the Portuguese dude behind us who woke us up from time to time). 6 Hours we were told was lucky because if we had arrived as planned (lost baggage) it could have been a 20hour wait....

After the morning Sun demanded we woke up, we got to the last winding part of the road into the BOOM site. At the big gate entrance a very tight yet friendly security checks our passports, tickets, and car boot. We get our BOOM armbands with "we are one" printed on them....finally we are now one...

Pulling into the car park there were hundreds of cars and camper vans, the sun was now beating down heavily. We decided to check out the site first before we commit carrying our baggage around in the burning heat.First impressions are: very impressive, the decor is awesome; the Main Stage at first glance and a distance look downgraded from BOOM'04 (which I’ve only seen pictures of). It’s not until you get right beside and under it do you realize the beauty and magnitude of the towering center tree of the BOOM main stage. There is an abundance of shade beneath it.

It was Beautiful!

The massive lake seemed to cool down the entire area, and we already had visions of making the journey from dancing to cooling off in the lake. Using a BOOM sign post we direct our way around the large area. We find a camping spot under a tree on the hill behind the number of BOOM Restaurants, for the sake of shade we accept sleeping at a almost 45 degree angle for the next few nights, but our thinking is...you sleep only when you're tired at BOOM so a 45degree angle wont matter. The shade will be more valuable. Finally with tent pitched, we meet some of our surrounding neighbors. British, Dutch, Portuguese and Italian have now become fellow country men, BOOM country that is.

From there, we do an extended walk about. We have a delicious bite to eat for 3euros, it fills the gap.The midday sun beats us down a little so we head over to the Chill out tent where chilled out tunes are already being soothed out. For the first time we now experience a collected positive Vibe from BOOM, the soft chill floor is perfect to lie your head down on.
After that it's heading onto time for the main stage music to start playing. We head to there where, a live band is setting up; a group of people sitting down have already made the dance floor home. The band begins playing, and so bodies begin moving and the smiles and happiness bloom under the Portuguese Sun.For the next 7days the usual 24hour clock becomes useless and the Monday to Sunday week becomes one constant flow of rising and falling Sun...In which we sleep, eat, dance, swim, and experience BOOM for all that it is.

I'm not one who knows DJ's names, I usually dance and if I like it I ask some one...hey who's this? I found the music great. I'm not a fan of the Dark Psytrance and night time, but found myself jamming away at 3am on two of the nights. It's true the freaks do come out at night and I enjoyed becoming ONE. The time's I enjoyed most, were waking up in morning and catching the last of the Fullon sets in the early Sun light. Everyday the progressive beats took us until early evening, the slow thump thump, struggled to keep me motivated all the time, but the Positive Vibes glowing from the sprinkled down dance floor kept me there everyday.
DJ Sally Doolally, and Ace Ventura provided me with some memorable moments on the Dance Floor. Being South African was again a proud moment when you see the number of gathering people increase before The Commercial Hippies set and then to see them go totally insane to the banging tunes that came out of the gigantic wall of awesome sound. Hilight Tribe have found a new, dare I use this world "FAN", but those guys know how to get you going, and I would give my left pinky finger to re-live their set.( http://www.hilight-tribe.com/ )

Unfortunately I only realised later at BOOM the beauty of the sacred fire, where live music entertained the people of the tribal world, until the early hours of the morning. The placing of our tent near The Sacred fire was my BOOM alarm clock, never has one sounded so sweet.
On two of the afternoons I found myself sitting in the Crystal Garden, reading the Daily Dragon BOOM newspaper and using the Crystals healing powers and listening to the talks coming from inside the Liminal Village feeding the interested minds with insightful information on specific subjects in a general category of Caring for the world and all that it is.
The Inner Visions Gallery with its psychedelic pictures kept, people staring for hours......and hours......

Details were taken care of and time and effort was put into the festival, there were peaches in the trees, UFO’s in the sky, and excellent performers.
Another impressive thing was the state of the toilets; they were well maintained and kept as clean as the rural setting allowed.

For me the biggest impact came from the people, so many diverse nations joined in a single culture and movement. Smiles from everywhere. The Portuguese people I met were beautifully open, who were excited by hosting a magnificent event for all there global guests.
To everyone that I met and shared a smiling moment, thank you for exposing me to your positivity!

All our neighbors and fellow campers Bec's and James, Andréa and Andreia, Mark, Amy and Chris, Denisa and Ola, Carol, Kim, Brad and Pia, Ingrid, Marco and Patricia, Katrina and Jane, Anton, Richard, Scoota and Karl, All the crazy Danish neighbours. The dude from Amsterdam that we met Irvin AKA James with the star in your shoe, my new Greek friends Dimitri...your names understandable escape me (your pictures will do)...etc, Xicolini and his lady friend...It was great to see Hilde and Dominica again and to meet Tom. The Israeli girl who walked around on the dance floor on the final day turning our arm bands around to display the words “WE ARE ONE”, thank you for that moment. Also the Portuguese girl named Anna who drank from my water and put a dab of it on my forehead, another random special moment. The Aussie girls who sat with us in the Gallery on the second last night…that was interesting….Thank you to everyone else that I had the pleasure of meeting some of your names have disappeared, but I’m sure our paths will cross again!

We left on the evening of the 10th after saying goodbye to our new friends; a journey back to Madrid took us just under 4 hours. Then back to reality.

I think if you experience The BOOM festival, you’ve made a commitment to keep going, it’s too beautiful and everyone should experience it. I’ve made it my personal duty to influence all that I can to join me in 2008.

Thank You Very Very Much to the organizers!!!BOOM!

-DES-

PICTURES>> http://flickr.com/photos/desliefaith/sets/72157594233325837/show/

Unfortunately there were some negative things, starting with before the festival, people were unhappy with the line up not being posted, personally having a little trust and faith helps, also not caring about DJ’s names. With such a massive event I’m sure the organizers did not want to disappoint by making any broken promises.

Secondly I was told that some people had their valuables stolen out of their tents, obviously there is no way to prevent this, but it’s just very disappointing. I was able to use the hired car as a safe place to store my valuables.

The BOOM money was non refundable and we and a few others were unable to use it on the 10th, but that’s our own fault I guess. (Saying that the bar did start giving free water away on the afternoon of the 10th)Negativity breeds negativity so that’s enough I don’t mean to complain only raise awareness for others.