On fire in Nevada
Posted Monday, August 27, 2007, 5:00 PM by Lonely Planet
We've just left Reno for the final leg of our drive to the Burning Man Festival. Our 'last supper' was Boomerang Shrimp at the Outback Steakhouse. The cheap flicker of Terrible's Railway Casino and its neon neighbours is behind us, and the Great Black Rock desert, in front. 
From now on, basic survival is the mission as for the next seven days, 45,000 hardy party animals will converge on the playa, a salt pan so broad it supposedly shows the curve of the earth's surface.
All day on Hwy 80 from San Francisco we scanned for fellow 'burners'. As well as the distinctive Burning Man symbol and a giant, fluffy purple dinosaur protruding from one trailer, bikes are a sure give-away. The festival is 5km across, arranged in a semi-circle with the iconic Man towering at its centre. 
Two $50 cycles jostle for space in our PT Cruiser along with 30 gallons of water, plastic goggles, paper sanding masks, a space suit, assorted wigs, dayglo necklaces, water pistols and prism viewers. The plastic trinkets will be as vital as our gazebo in a temporary city where only coffee and ice are for sale and everything else must be exchanged.
As soon as we leave Hwy 80, we join a 100km queue for the festival. A Burning Man virgin, my excitement and nervousness are both mounting. After an hour, the playa appears in the distance, the green neon Man just discernible through a windstorm whipping up thick clouds of dust...
James is at Burning Man researching for a Lonely Planet book on worldwide festivals; check out the next in his series of blogs from the festival here soon. You can see more of Jonathan Clark's photographs at www.art-clark.com.
Labels: Burning Man, Festivals and events, Nevada, The Americas
Join the Discussion:
4 Comments:
Aaah, the playa. This place is amazing, with or without Burning Man. So vast and so empty, yet there's a distinct energy generated here. I stood in the middle of this, with just the cracks under my feet and nothing but the horizon before and behind me. If you want space - this is where you go!
Have fun at Burning Man, James!
(I featured this area in a video under 'travelfox' at lonelyplanet.tv): http://www.lonelyplanet.tv/Clip.aspx?key=FA90DABF3A18B8EF
Looking good guys..wish I could be there.
G.
Very nice and well informative story, I liked it very much. Visit my blog too its really interesting India Travel Directory
Nice but two clarifications for any one planning a trip after reading your account.
1. The only things you can buy at center camp are coffee shop beverages, ice and a bus ticket to the nearest town with a pay phone. You can now also buy ice at two other outposts.
2. You refer to exchange, although there used to be barter, Burning Man is now a gift economy, based on self-reliance. Bring everything you think you need (don't expect to trade there), but do bring gifts for those you meet - just don't expect anything in return. Also throw away trinkets are not as valuable as something you make or something that can be used (the glow sticks were an ok, if less eco-friendly choice).
Post a Comment
« Read more on the blog homepage