Afrika burnt

I am aware I keep making promises, but really, you do want to hear about this experience. I am going to talk about my life again, but this time with a lot of other lives intertwined. And yes it's late, about 2 months late, but I am still going to do it. Is that okay? Because Tankwa Desert Burnt.

It was a place of excitement that I will never forget. And kids, believe it or not, its true you have to experience it to understand it. I am going to try to describe this magnificent dream I just had. So in between these sentences—or if someone is reading it to you—try to close you eyes and imagine it. Would love to hear it later, or maybe see it.
You start on a dirt road a little less than four hours outside Cape Town. Here the mobile connections are non-existant, but the adventure’s very alive. The six of us made our way through the stoney landscapes and manoeuvred our 4X4 through the beds of dust. While singing we were fascinated by the rising sun in the moon-like landscape.
After this bumpy road the first signs of life begin to apear as big stretch tents and imposing sculptures in the distance. To let the festival ‘enter’ you, you hit the gigantic gong at the entrance, which is something every ‘first burner’ has to do to loose their virginity.

So what is so impressive about Tankwa Town? What is it that makes so many people go through these long preparations and stay in these harsh environmental circumstances? The first thing that comes to mind is the freedom. Freedom from a country ruled by such a huge value for hierarchy [I think wording is weird not sure how to fix], freed from money matters, from family problems, from expectations, from what exactly differs from person to person. These are normally common in a person’s day-to-day life, but at Afrika Burn you are in another world.
Besides this, it is definitely the chance to be startled everywhere you go. The astonishments you feel are everywhere to be found. You could leave your camp, bump in to a driving bat who brings you to the festival’s centre, where the sun is setting and the burns starting. Where a burning running dinosaur takes you to a world of glowing eyes and amazement, pass the famous tin-tin rocket on fire. Ending up at a party at a pirate ship while dancing in a sand storm like a true trooper.
One day we woke up to see the sunrise, stood on the top of a light house and got invited to come to one of the theme camps to get some pancakes. Here we listened to live music next to a spanking theme camp, when someone asked us if we wanted to do a scavenger-hunt. This hunt led us to a doodle tent, a blown up earth, but most surprising of all, it brought us to the trees… in the desert! Someone brought actual trees to a desert, brilliant!
I came across the most beautiful theme camps and art wagons; all built by volunteers, created with love. I saw a riding turtle, a huge snail, a rhino, a penis (riding ones, dancing ones and hanging ones), a rabbit, and a lot of dressed-up bikes living the life.

Everywhere you can feel free to express yourself. There is no judgement and no one who tries to convince you of their beliefs. Sure, it took some time for everyone to adapt, since there is some de-toxification time, but after two days it felt as if running naked between the fires wasn’t going to attract anyone’s pointing fingers.
The only ‘system’ is sharing. And no, not trading, sharing. Everyone gives and so everyone receives, how the circle of life is supposed to be. You make sure you are prepared when you are going to the desert for a week, but for this festival you also bring a little extra for others. Because of this people hand out food, alcohol, shows, music, talent, but I also found a book store, a spa, an airport with actual flights and the possibility to receive a passport, a bike repair shop, a circus and a cinema.
Besides these unbelievable creative camps and cars, there where people who made little gifts for others. Sophie I made bracelets tgether, which we handed out to people with whom we shared impressive moments. Others made candy, necklaces, little shows, food or drinks, ice cream, key chains and someone even gave me a decorated umbrella!
And not only the gifts, the people gave you something extra by reflecting their creativity in their outfits. Everyday had a different theme and some camps had their own. I found tutu’s everywhere on Tuesday, leopard and other animal prints on Thursday, all purple dressed people getting married on Saturday, but also Indians, nude people, cowboys, gypsies, sea animals, mythical creatures, and especially a whole lot of steampunk—Google.
I won’t go into more detail about the way of partying and what all happens when crazy people gather in the South African desert, this is something we can discuss privately when the children (and grandmother) are not around.

My first question when I cam back, after if I could take a shower, was why there aren’t more places like this. Why is everything about power, money and greed? Honestly, I think we have to accept this is apparently how—a big part of—mankind works and we really have to stop thinking that humans are perfect. Just because we place ourselves higher than the rest of nature, doesn’t mean we are. But, let’s not throw you off your beautiful image, because you are still vividly imagining these beautiful descriptions right? Right.
Let just say this week showed me that there are more and more people who are starting to want to see a change. There are already sixty-eight places where they feel the urge to celebrate this sharing system, which shines a little bit of hope on mankind, right? Right.

Let me end this blog with this thought. To keep it a little bit about others.
With how Josse and I found our way from this desert towards Namibia, will aunty Doris enlighten you the next time. But we made it safely, even without the knowledge about where to go, except that we where doing a kayak trip on a certain date, somewhere on the Oranjeriver, without a clue of the company’s name, time we had to arrive or any place nearby. I know, impressive.

Enjoy the day, warm hugs.
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