Tales from the Playa #2- The Essential and Definitive Burning Man List… Including Cow Prodders and Periscopes
October 9th, 2008by Zoe Brock
SAN FRANCISCO, CA-
It’s Wednesday, August 20, 2008.
The Man burns in ten days.
In three hours one of your best friends will arrive from Australia. You have not seen him in two months.
In fourteen hours the person who your heart and mind and body desires most will arrive from Israel. You have not seen him in four months. He will be followed shortly thereafter by his father, who will arrive from North Carolina. You have never met him at all.
In three days you will all leave together, in convoy, for eight days in the searing, brutal and unpredictable Nevada desert, driving through the night to take part in an event so wild, so beautiful, so bizarre and so life-changing that your brain cannot yet begin to fathom the most basic aspects of it, let alone it’s myriad intricacies.
And you haven’t even packed.
Yes. You may vomit now.
Dano, your brother from another mother, arrives on Qantas flight whatever. Your excitement at seeing him is immense. Spastic jerking happy dances ensue at the airport. Once at home Dano carefully hands you the three precious containers of smuggled contraband you requested from the Motherland. You sniff the inky contents, dip a finger in the viscous tar, lick aforementioned sticky finger to ensure the purity of your prized black goo and, once assured, whisper with tremulous glee… “Ah. Vegemite. I love your work, son.”
Dano’s suitcase, when opened, looks like this….
It is an orgy of cuteness, a heaping of duty-free idiocy, a mess of koalas *.
* Made In China.
The fact that you have not yet packed or readied yourself at all is some bother to you. It is counter intuitive to your organized and somewhat busy nature. You like to be prepared. Fortunately, so does Dano, and thus you have both come up with The List.
Culled from websites and friends suggestions The List is a basic recipe for all of the ingredients you will need to keep you comfortable at Burning Man. It does not include foodstuffs (except for the most essential of all foodstuffs - something I assure you that you will crave if you don’t have it, even if you are vegan).
Without further ado… I give you….
ZOE AND DANO’S BURNING MAN LIST 2008
Essentials- DO NOT FORGET!!
BACON! (And none of that turkey bacon or vegetarian bacon, either. Bacon bacon only).
tent (unless you are a pussy and/or can afford an RV)
three-foot lengths of bent re-bar to hold tent in place (it’s a tad windy sometimes)
inflatable mattress and pump
sleeping bag/duvet
bike
camel pack (or a camel)
3 gallons of water per day
earplugs (no explanation necessary)
dust masks (again, no explanation necessary)
goggles and sunglasses x2
Ziploc bags (for everything, and I mean everything. If there were Ziploc bags with air holes you would want one for yourself, even though Ziploc bags with air holes would totally defeat their purpose.)
more bacon!!!
Basic stuff- TRY NOT TO FORGET!!!
umbrella/parasol
Leatherman/tools
plate/cutlery
toilet paper
blanket
pillow
towel
batteries
airtight plastic containers for clothes etc
garbage bags
lighter/matches
camera
extra camera bits
sun shower
coolers
WD40
bike repair kit
torch, personal and bike
head lamp
shade structure (it’s bright and hot out there)
Medical/Skin care-
sunscreen (STRONG)
unscented baby wipes (in lieu of showering. You will need plenty)
moisturizer
paw paw ointment
leave-in conditioner
foot cream
hand cream
first aid kit
electrolytes
mouthwash
toothpaste
toothbrush
sleeping pills
vitamins (5HTP)
painkillers
Dano’s anti-inflammatory pills
Something in case you get a rash on your botty
Clothing- (optional)
hats
boots
socks!!
beanie
gloves
scarves
coat
pants w lots of pockets
fluffy legwarmers
full body fish net- crotchless, of course
holsters
leather things
head-dresses
tutus
sulu/sarong
prom dress
tool belt
stilts
fluffy muff
frilly apron
lacy things
corset
anything that makes you feel beautiful, adventurous, free, comfortable, sexy, silly, regal, hard-core or just downright kinky.
The above portion of The List is fairly self-explanatory. The final section includes items that won’t necessary aid in your comfort, but might certainly aid in your enjoyment.
Fun Stuff-
totems
flag
roo stamp and ink
kite
bike
stubbie holders (beer can coolers)
easel
whip
roll of paper and crayons
fake lawn
face paint
guitar
blinky things
journal
texta (sharpie) on a string
periscope
telescope
cow prodder
wig
pogo stick
And now you are ready. This is all you need and more. Feel free to take none of it and I’m sure you will be looked after. Remember that absolutely everything that you take in to Black Rock City must be taken out again. You can leave no trace. Remember that there is only one phone out there (not including the direct line to God) so chances are you will be out of contact with your Loved Ones for the duration of your stay. If this upsets you I suggest bringing your Loved Ones. If your Loved Ones are on the smallish side there is a camp called Kidsville where families congregate. Kidsville is Utopia for small humans.
Fall in love, find yourself, lose yourself, find yourself all over again just in time to lose your friends and make new ones. Confront your fears and insecurities. Give them away. Blow your mind and heart and soul wide open. Dance. Get dust in your eyes and nose and ears and bits. Discover Playa Boogers. Look after people, just as others look after you. Serve. Explore. Be stimulated. Be tested. Survive. Grow. This is Burningman. Before I experienced it I would roll my eyes at the people who claimed that it was indescribable. It IS indescribable. In the most wonderful way.
Perhaps you’ll know what I mean some day. I really hope you do. x
Tags: bacon, black rock city, brc, burning man, burningman, cow-prodder, dust mask, dust storm, festival, goggles, madness, periscope, playa, pogo stick, the playa, white out, zoe brock, zoebrock
Ever since I ventured to the most incredible small town in Queensland - Gympie - I have not been able to get enough of the delicious black tar of which you speak.
All hail the mighty mighty Vegemite!
I have two tiny bottles left (from the massive quantities I smuggled in upon my return over a year ago) and I’m already starting to cry when I think of running out.
Fortunately, I have friends in Southern Hemispheres unafraid of nefarious smuggling duties.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. best hang over cure in the world too. not that I’ve had many of them lately.
I love that you love it……. most Seppo’s run and hide at the very mention of Vegemite (or, as I prefer to call it, “boyfriend repellent”)
Must be all that Vitamin B!
Or maybe it’s just the dregs from the bottom of the beer barrel - there might be something to the ‘hair of the dog’ theory.
Man! I’m going to go get some butter and bread and go make me a sammy right now! YUM!
ps - email me for deets about a certain upcoming SF screening that might interest you. I’d be honored to have you as my guest, if you can make it!
LOVE TO. I sent something to the contact email on your website….. was that right? x
Who you callin’ a Seppo?
seppo.
the long-awaited list!! nice to see the euphoria of that experience is still with you
hoping life is being equally good to you. xo
you too mamasita.
KIDSVILLE!
perhaps after i get what i want out of it for me, but my first burningman experience will be all about/for me!!
Man can you do another with like twenty times more pictures?
Stilts.
yep!
Mr. Listi peaked my interest in Burning Man….wikipedia intrigued me….but you have made it abundantly clear that this is something I absolutely need to do before I die.
It’s on the List…it’s on the List in permanent ink with big stars around it.
Lots of stars…
cow prodder. and bacon.
DO NOT FORGET THE BACON. x
I got whipped with a riding crop at Burning Man by a woman dressed in a Santa outfit and black fishnets. Some of the worst pain I’ve ever experienced.
Now I want to experience this VEGEMITE you speak of.
WTF is it?
black salty crap to put on yer toast. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Bacon bacon - Does Kevin Bacon have his own brand of pork products?
Cow prodder, a whip and holster… those poor camels and koalas
xo
he should. it could be called 7degrees. I like it.
he should. it could be called 7degrees. I like it.
stutter.
Incredible. I haven’t had a piece of bacon in at least 12 years, but now I want one. And a koala bear.
What’s a sun shower?
Like meg, I think you’ve managed to put Burning Man on my life list as well with these posts. And now I know what to bring
My favorite pic is the one of the line to God. Excellent. Every street corner should have one of those.
I love your posts on Burning Man. My boyfriend and I have made a pact to go to burning man before we die. Or get too old to enjoy it. Sadly we are college students and too poor to even leave Scotland. But one day, Burning Man will happen.
I second that ‘I’m totally going to Burning Man’ notion.
Even more so after the Santa outfit/riding crop story.
I was waiting for part 2…..worth the wait.
What the fuck is that last picture? Yee-owww!
that is lisa. heh.
I’ve been famished for some zb. Thanks for writing, may my list be as bacon infused.
Yeah yeah, I know I’m late, but this blog has been on my list.
Now it’s not any more.
But bacon…. hmmmm…. there may be a breakfast-at-my-desk tomorrow. Chunky white bread, red sauce, brown sauce and a coupla slabs o’ best back bacon….
Smile Zozo!!
xxx