What is better than Burning Man?

[MacGlenver]

Is there anything?

I'm asking seriously, as I know there are many people out there with widely varying experiences and who may be better explorers than I am. Is there anything "better" than B-man, or is there something/some event you cherish equally that is just different? Is there something that at least comes close? I only discovered Burning Man 2 years ago, so surely I've missed some similarly amazing things out there.

Ideally I'm interested in an event as opposed to something like "the love of my kids", but feel free to send those mushy ones too . I suppose something like "hiking the AT" would fit as well.



Thank you!

[BBadger]

Maybe don't look for something "better" but rather "different". Burning Man is great for what it is, but it only has so much scope. Hell, sleeping in my own bed is "better" than Burning Man when I want some quality sleep, but when I get up I'd rather be at Burning Man.

Other great places to see?

The outdoors of southern Utah.
Third-world countries.
Camping on beaches central America.
Etc.

Sadly, only one of those apply to me. Hopefully that'll change.

[MacGlenver]

Maybe don't look for something "better" but rather "different". Burning Man is great for what it is, but it only has so much scope.

Yep, I'm open to "different". In general I'm interested to know if there is something out there similarly life impacting to Bman. I guess it sounds cheap to ask such a question, but, as an example, if someone had gone to a huge music festival and had their mind blown and considered it the best thing they've ever been to and then asked me what is "better", I'd say "Burning Man". It's different, for sure, but infinitely more life impacting and, I would say, "better" (as hard as that is to define).

Maybe a better way to phrase the question would have been: "What, for you, compares to Burning Man?"

[some seeing eye]

World travel in developing countries.

I look at Burningman as a tool. It has led to personal growth. It's primary use for me now is as a reset.

World travel has had a much larger impact on my thinking and actions.

[MacGlenver]

The outdoors of southern Utah.
Third-world countries.
Camping on beaches central America.
Etc.

World travel in developing countries.
I look at Burningman as a tool. It has led to personal growth. It's primary use for me now is as a reset.
World travel has had a much larger impact on my thinking and actions.

Awesome. Thank you!

[RedHeaven]

Not better, but just as important to me, quite close on the same lattitude just west of Black Rock in Quincy, CA is the High SIerra Music Festival. Been going for 13 years, I go early and make ambiance and art these days and build a little theme camp, when I say build I mean I "put together" and lead the camp so we can fit 25+ people in the coziness that is camping at HSMF. Ask anyone who has gone to this fest, it is very different from other fests, hard to explain why, it just is. You camp right by the stages, there is not much separation between band and fan. People treat it like a destination and REAL vacation, not just another summer stop. The gift economy is strong, people have cocktail parties and GIVE drinks away, there is a lot of sharing going on and nobody trying to sell you their hemp necklaces in the camps. (yeah there are vendors but they arent annoying like rando hippies can be) You can join a daily parade, or stay awake for sunrise kickball which is the biggest freak show sporting event in the world. hahaha. Oh yeah and the biggest reason of em all: the music. It is everywhere, in every nook of the entire intimate grounds, all live all the time. So many amazing acts from different genres, not just one sector of the scene. Old school and new school. Its a MUSIC LOVERS world. We even have our One Token Art Car, the Dancing Peacock, courtesy of Rogeman out of Carson City. Its about 10,000 peeps. Yeah we dont have 10 and Esplanade Dubstep DJs like SYmbiosis, we're not that kind of BMan like event. Our Burning man sister vibes are with the people and the overall feeling of sharing and experiencing the greatest live music together and participating in making it awesome. There is deep 22 year history, and it is still grass roots.

We had a cop problem in 04-06 but HSMF fought with the town to get it resolved, now we have been virtually cop free since 07!!! Its AWESOME.
STill have to watch out driving on the way in, though.

I know, TL/DR but fuggin A I was excited to talk about my "other" event.......The thing that is sad is that I will have to choose one or the other in future years. HSMF is July 4th weekend BTW. 2013 I am taking a BRC break and will be working HSMF again, but in 2014 I might have to skip my first HSMF ever for the Burn. Ouch........Not sure what to do yet. HSMF is so very important to me as music is my major interest.....But part of me would rather perform my shitty ditties at Burning Man and keep expanding.....I'll have to have them trade off every other year. The reason for that is because the Hubby wants to go traveling more, (and he can't burn) so I'm down with that!!! Alaska here we come!!

[ygmir]

HSMF sounds fun Red...........I may have to check it out!!
Do they have "gate and perimeter" type departments?

[RedHeaven]

HSMF sounds fun Red...........I may have to check it out!!
Do they have "gate and perimeter" type departments?

Indeed they do, gotta keep the wookies and sasquach out, ya know....

It's all the music you Don't hear at Burning Man....haha....with a few minor exceptions like March Fourth Marching Band.

Sold out for the first time this year. However drastically different than BMan. It happened during the event, and we rejoiced with victorious glee.

[RedHeaven]

Anyone ever see that big event in Europe where it's like a week long adult spring break like beach camp out rave? Can't remember the name.....looks.....not my thing

[Ugly Dougly]

Yep, I'm open to "different". In general I'm interested to know if there is something out there similarly life impacting to Bman.

Volunteer. Help out some people in your neighborhood.

[theCryptofishist]

Burningman is just like the rest of the world, subject to it's same glories and pains.
I'm not really fond of the human animal these days, with it's politicking and self-aggrandizing. I know this will pass, and I know I haven't spent much of my time thinking that this was different, but I've been going through the whole knife in the gut territory on and off since the burn started...

There are all sorts of events, open to all sorts of people that change their ways in all sorts of ways... That you think burningman is "better" has more to do with your interests and opportunities than the exact nature of the burn. I'm sure the olympics changed the life of more people as drastically, and in a wider variety of ways.

[MoBo]

Anyone ever see that big event in Europe where it's like a week long adult spring break like beach camp out rave? Can't remember the name.....looks.....not my thing

Are you thinking of Kazintip Republic?

http://kazantip-republic.com/

[MacGlenver]

It's all the music you Don't hear at Burning Man....

You had me until you said that . Volunteering is a great idea, as is traveling to third world countries. I've volunteered some and really enjoyed it, but havent done enough. I've travelled as well, but never to a developing nation. Adding these to the thought process....

I've been going through the whole knife in the gut territory on and off since the burn started...
...
That you think burningman is "better" has more to do with your interests and opportunities than the exact nature of the burn.

What do you mean by "knife in the gut"?

As for "better", I guess all I mean is that bman is the best I've found in the category of "an event that I could go to", in my opinion, since it covers so many of the things that I love (music, preparation & challenge, freedom, openness, people). That said, it doesnt necessarily cover EVERYTHING I love, so I'm interested to hear from such a diverse and intelligent group what they've found that I might love as much as Burning Man (and possibly for very different reasons).

[wh..sh]

Is there anything?

I'm asking seriously, as I know there are many people out there with widely varying experiences and who may be better explorers than I am. Is there anything "better" than B-man, or is there something/some event you cherish equally that is just different? Is there something that at least comes close? I only discovered Burning Man 2 years ago, so surely I've missed some similarly amazing things out there.

This is so subjective.
To me, it's almost sad when people are unable to see beauty and life outside BM.
Personally, some of my best time offs was not even at BM... it was spending couple of days at Great Basin National park with no one around and having Grand Canyon to myself during peak winter.

You will find what you seek... in my opinion. If you are seeking something to similar, the European "NoWhere" would be worth a try.

I am from a "developing country", so, I do love going there. Gosh! That does make me sound uber cool when I say that!!

[theCryptofishist]

What do you mean by "knife in the gut"?

I'm referring to the the feelings of rage, pain and betrayal that I have been going through--in part displayed on this board--in responce to the demise of my camp and my village this year.

[ygmir]

Is there anything?

I'm asking seriously, as I know there are many people out there with widely varying experiences and who may be better explorers than I am. Is there anything "better" than B-man, or is there something/some event you cherish equally that is just different? Is there something that at least comes close? I only discovered Burning Man 2 years ago, so surely I've missed some similarly amazing things out there.

This is so subjective.
To me, it's almost sad when people are unable to see beauty and life outside BM.
Personally, some of my best time offs was not even at BM... it was spending couple of days at Great Basin National park with no one around and having Grand Canyon to myself during peak winter.

You will find what you seek... in my opinion. If you are seeking something to similar, the European "NoWhere" would be worth a try.

I am from a "developing country", so, I do love going there. Gosh! That does make me sound uber cool when I say that!!

*runs out to find uber cool Whoosh poster*

[Dr. Pyro]

Hedonism II was pretty good...

[wh..sh]

*runs out to find uber cool Whoosh poster*

*worried* I really hope you don't find any of those posters.

[BBadger]

Join the Peace Corp. I know of at least one person that it changed his life from not knowing what he wanted from life to a new outlook. He even met his wife there (he went to Mongolia). Someone else I know joined because he was so sick of what he had did for over a decade (PhD). You get to help out in developing countries, learn a language and culture, and live out a different life. It'll be more than just visiting some country or place as a tourist, or attending an "event."

[Just_Joe]

Sold out for the first time this year. However drastically different than BMan. It happened during the event, and we rejoiced with victorious glee.

Yea, sold out, and here you go with your own little version of "The places you'll go at HSMF"
Great. Just great.

[trilobyte]

Giving this a nudge over to philosophy.

[Lowz]

Default is definitely better. After a week of BM, i just want to run away from there

[Nipple]

I'd have to agree. For me being out there is like cookies. A sometimes treat.

(I'm trying to maybe sometimes say no to cookies. I hell of said no to free mini cupcakes the other day. Wh..sh yelled at me for ordering salad in a restaurant.)

Anyway... Birmingham all the time? "It would be like if the Queen woke you up every morning. Too Special."

After a week my body was starting to break down to base components. I was disintegrating out there, starting with the backs of my knees.

[mudpuppy000]

Last year I went to something called "high desert test sites" near Joshua Tree. It's basically a driving tour around the valley looking at art installations, some of them permanent, some temporary. I volunteered to help one of the artists set up their installation out in the middle of a dry lakebed, which obviously brought back a lot of memories. It was just us out there, no other installations for miles. A few of the locals cruised by wondering what the hell was going on. Sitting out there in the dark after we had finished the setup, drinking beer, and looking at the stars was incredible.

Another artist built a saltwater pool/climbing wall out in the middle of nowhere out of a form they had previously used to build a sculpture, and you had to jump 10 feet down into the pool to get in. Super sketchy, but so much fun.

It's a very different event than burning man, so I wouldn't say either is better or worse than the other. I did feel more "free" at HDTS however, and thought the art was more conceptual than the flashy/blinky/shiny/'splodin' stuff at BM.

http://www.highdeserttestsites.com/hdts

[graidawg]

I used to go to Celtica in northern Italy, in fact it's how i found out about BM, its changed now but like BM its out in the middle of nowhere, in a valley (valle d'aosta) and at night you look up and "it's full of stars" one of the most beautiful places i have ever been. not that i have seen much.

i suspect like most of the contributors here have said it depends on what you are looking for. there is a whole world out there waiting to be discovered and nearly all of it can be life changing.

for me i just want to be close to my friends, the more i travel the more i find its not where you are its who you are there with that makes the experience.

[theCryptofishist]

...the more i travel the more i find its not where you are its who you are there with that makes the experience.

As the hippies say, "Wherever you go, there you are."

[wh..sh]

(I'm trying to maybe sometimes say no to cookies. I hell of said no to free mini cupcakes the other day. Wh..sh yelled at me for ordering salad in a restaurant.)

If I must correct you - "Wh..sh yelled mildly at me for ordering salad in a restaurant."

I just didn't want you to think that no cookies meant salad. There is plenty of stuff inbetween that will give your eveyday serving of "finding-yourself", sometimes even with some pesto.

[theCryptofishist]

Going out to dinner with Wh..sh sounds like a serious undertaking...

[wh..sh]

Going out to dinner with Wh..sh sounds like a serious undertaking...

*waits for Nipple to come back and fix the image defloration*

[Nipple]

The mild yelling was ok... it was the implied physical threats that got to me.