Explain Burning Man to a South american

[downsouthamerica]

Hi, How did Burning man start?

[Dr. Pyro]

Some guy set a stick figure on fire on some nude beach.

[gyre]

And then it happened again.
And one day it all moved to a very dusty desert.
No one knows why.

It's one of the few places in the world where you can walk down the street with a friend, and your friend says,
"Look at that! I've never seen anything like that in my life!"
And you say, "Which thing? Which one?"
Which amazing thing?

For the feel of it I recommend the book The Man Burns Tonight by Donn Cortez, fiction.
There is a history called This is Burning Man.
On this website there are Tales of the Playa and under experiences...
look for Tay's Novella and Photograph-no camera needed.

I came for the art cars.
I go back for the people I meet.

It's about endless choices
and the experience.

[Toolmaker]

And than someone put a neon smiley face on the man.

And David Best started building huge temples.. but never higer than the man.

[Dr. Pyro]

Oh, and another thing, Burning Man was better last year.

[Bin Noddin]

I understand its ALWAYS better last year.

[ibdave]

Today was a better day than yesterday for me......

[spectabillis]

like the wilderbeast migrations, except with glowy things.

[theCryptofishist]

.. but never higer than the man.

except by accident...

[Ugly Dougly]

It's like Carnaval.

[gyre]

The reader will not credit that such things could be
But I was there
And I saw it.

[spectabillis]

and if you dont dance its like apartheid, but i am sure you're used to that.

[gyre]

Apartheid?

Is that like praying for peace in the midwest?

[Badger]

So, you've had Burningman marginally explained to you. No doubt you have some confusion that... itches at the back of your mind. Suffer me if you will this email message I received today from someone I've known for a long time now. She's in S. America doing a project with her brother.

It’s week 3 of my 7-week expedition in the Amazon. Most of the team arrived mid Oct and were based in Manaus, flying or driving to cover stories around this area and in Peru. On Nov. 2 we left from Manaus to travel up the Amazon River to the Mamirauá Reserve near the town of Tefé. The travel upriver took us about 3 days and 2 nights. Our first night traveling we had to stop because many ships supposedly had run-ins with some rocks in one specific area and the night sky was not bright enough to guide us through. We did manage to run atop some sand bars a few times, which move with the shifting rise and fall of the water.

During the 2 weeks we spent in the Mamirauá Reserve, we filmed many different subjects for the film. One was the pink river dolphin (boto vermehlio) research project in which they catch, tag, and take a blood and tissue samples before releasing the animal. We did not film the dolphins having this done as this can be quite controversial…and we were asked not to. Our underwater footage of the botos will take place in clearer water since the Riu Amazonas is murky café-au-lait colored and there is no visibility. Another topic filmed was the uacari monkey, endemic to the Mamirauá region and responsible for the creation of the reserve. With it’s bright red face and long white coat you would think it would be easy to spot him. Not so. The jungle is dense and they travel and feed in the upper canopy of the trees. After about 5 frustrating days stationed strategically near a tree they feed in, we finally got what we needed- but it was from the shore of the river to the other side. We also filmed the fishing and bringing in of the famous pirarucu, the largest freshwater fish known. And big it is- one that was brought in while we were there measured 2.5 meters and weighed in around 73 kilos. That’s about 8 ft and 160 lbs of tasty fish. We did many interviews with local scientists, an eco-tourism project coordinator, a turtle conservation leader, a caiman specialist and much more. The thrill has been seeing all these animals through my own eyes and again through the camera as I snap away any chance I get.

Team dynamics have been good. The crew varies between 8-15 people with small crews heading off in different directions at time to maximize our time here. Our boat is big and comfortable, and though this was a source of guilt when I first arrived, it is now a welcomed respite when we are out in the sun all morning and afternoon, making us more efficient. Naps have become a daily post lunch routine since we only go out when the animals do, and they avoid the high heat.

The weather has been predictably hot and humid. We did get about 5 days of rain on and off, which is apparently not usual during this time of year. Climate change? Bugs are everywhere though we have really been quite lucky and have not had too many mosquitoes yet. At night, massive beetles dive bomb our boat, and therefore us, as they come in full speed for a landing, attracted by our bright lights. I am starting to get used to it, though am not immune to the crunch as I accidentally step on one or when it lands in my hair and grasps with it’s hooked feet. On one outing to film eco-tourism in a local village, we took a small boat to the beginning of a trail and a 40 minutes walk to a village. In the rainy season, one can take a canoe right to the base of the houses. Happy as can be to be off our big boat, we joyfully made our way and once in the village had about _ the day for filming. Much of that was spent waiting, sitting comfortably in the grass. Big mistake. Four of us came back badly infested with miniscule barely visible (size of a pinhead) mean red ticks all over our vulnerable bodies. Choosing the obviously softer parts they burrowed in the belt line, the inner thighs, lower back, and just below the butt line. Days of itching welts, using sulfur soap (never leave home without it now…), creams, potions and lotions- sleepless nights scratching myself awake. Four days later, the bugs are dead, I hope, and the occasional itching has become part of an everyday ritual. Larvae? I hope not.
Another side effect of being here has been all the gastro-intestinal repercussions of new foods, new waters, new bugs…and the bacteria have all found weak host bodies to infest. Sparing some details, but just to convey the message, doubled over with cramps and running to the loo every hour for a day, is now in everyone’s journal entry. I had four days of this as the symptoms trickled off, but overlapped the ticks. I’m on my way to comfort as it has all settled down.
But this is all worth it, this is part of the story.

I am now in Manaus, back from the 2 tremendous weeks in the Mamirauá Reserve and we are restocking our goods. Our container which had all our dive gear, extra camera equipment, three zodiacs, first aid kit (thankfully we had nothing worse than the above) and countless other treasures, was delayed one month, meaning that one of our crew members stayed behind dealing with it and we just loaded the stuff onto our boat. Ah, customs.
In 2 days we head up the Rio Negro, a river the color of coca-cola. The high acidic content of the water mean less bugs. There we will finally get in the water, with hopefully good visibility, which down here is 2-7 meters. You won’t know what might bump you until it bumps.

I am having an amazing experience, but as is natural in my life, I am also missing home and my life there. I return Dec 15 and then am off with Steve to France for some holiday fun.

From the heart of the Amazon, I send beijos to everyone and hope all is well in your corner of the world.

Best,
Xxxxx

So, why are the dolphins pink? And do they wear pearls? I need to know.

Oh, and why does the clown not shoot back at the man wearing the crown?

[Isotopia]

So, why are the dolphins pink? And do they wear pearls? I need to know.

Oh, and why does the clown not shoot back at the man wearing the crown?

Shut up you drunk fuck and get your ass home NOW!!!

[Ugly Dougly]

So it's like Carnaval in Manaus without quite so much water, and most of the natives are rather literate.

[theCryptofishist]

Literate! How can you tell? Who's reading on playa?