Life changing experience with a wonderful community along with remarkable art, neverending music, clever workshops, athletic events, and a wide range of experiences. It's a lot of hard work, but that contributes to the magic. Leave no trace event. If it's your first time, be sure to find a mentor and read through the Ten Principles, Packing Lists, and the entire BM website. Bringing food, water, lots of lights (including headlamp), dust masks, a bike, night and day goggles, and clothes for 40° to 100°F is mandatory. You'll also need a very durable tent (or RV) and the ability to stake it deep into the ground (the usual 8" spikes are not enough, your tent will blow away). read more

We have attended many years. We always tell people you find what you are looking for whatever that is. We wanted to enjoy good food and the art. That was and is exactly our experience. We recommend you pack enough water food to sustain yourself for the days you are there. Be prepared. Make sure you are prepared with shelter. Rv or tent. There are no hotels or restaurants. In our experience people are kind and many will gift you items. Don't have expectations and that's when the magic happens Again, best advice is take the time to plan ahead.... read more

BurningMan is controlled chaos, approaching full-bore anarchy. This can be wonderful; this can be dangerous. My 2025 experience was that teamwork got us through to Version 3 of the village where I stay. There were many that weren't prepared for the insane weather, but survived. Traffic and electric bikes slowed, as streets became badly rutted. Winds sent crazy amounts of moop, good, crap, and WTF across the city. People pulled together. Art was done, some of the best and most poignant art, ever. It is plainly ludicrous to go to BurningMan, which is why you need to go. You are ludicrous. So am I. The Upsides: -Wonderful people doing wonders -The Playa Provides -Much risk, much reward -Spectacular art and wicked mutant vehicles/art cars The Downsides: -Plainly a drugfest; many people in their own, not the current reality -Too many arrive unprepared, and can't be responsible -Occasional cloistering, clique-ishness instead of radical inclusion -Inability of BM.org to correctly locate loud sound camps It never was a light undertaking, but some people bring too many gadgets and not enough think-it-through. I fixed countless amounts of broken stuff, mostly generators and pretzeled shade structures. Think about not going if you need AC. Even serious planners could be thwarted; if anxiety controls you, stay at home, please. It was really hot, really cold, really dry, really wet, really lumpy, and really fun. And the ticket price BS was stupid. read more

Had to take off a star because the level of dust is never just right - either nowhere near enough or way too much! I mean come on, BMORG, how many years have you had to figure this out?! Amount of mustard was spot-on tho. read more

Total nonsense. So dirty. It's like nobody even cared enough to clean up the playa before we got there. You can't even bust out a couple vacuum cleaners or something? Also, I paid for a VIP ticket and I never found the VIP area. People just laughed at me when I asked where it was. Same with Rufus du Sol, who was supposed to play and never showed up. Wtf? I paid a lot of money for this ticket, and I demand commensurate service. 0/10 would never go back unless they promised to maybe clean up the all the dust first. read more

Note for burners: if you take your bike to burning man and have any hope of getting it back to a safe riding condition be sure to consider a minimum of $125 bill when you bring it to your local bike shop. Playa dust ruins brakes, chains and anything else with small moving parts. In an attempt to recover my ride afterwards I scrubbed the bejesus out of it by throwing it in the shower and dousing it with a 1/2 gallon vinegar. My local bike shop did a much better job of cleaning it than I did though. In addition to vinegar they obviously applied some elbow grease. In my opinion, you may as well leave your bike on the pile in Black Rock City. They donate bikes to African villages or something. Personally I think it makes more sense to save your money to put a down payment on a new bike. A better solution: how about keep those bikes in the U.S.? That's great that impoverished Africans get bikes but could we not save a few for the at-risk, upper income, burners? read more

Burning Man - Festivals Near Me

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The most adverse weather conditions with people partying outdoors like homeless in Los Angeles and thinking there must be something inherently wrong with a conventional way of expressing oneself. A make believe ghetto fairytale of mid evil weirdness costume jewelry and wanna be hippie intertwined with intellect of varying degree and a whole lot of money blowing in the wind to get to it Some of most beautiful young women show up and inevitably wind up looking like tramps in just a few hours from all the dirt dust and the gritty atmosphere mother nature forces upon the desert st any given moment and of course some really lousy weather to go with it Some of the food is outstanding some suitable for the garbage before it touches your mouth. There are no rules with it. You die you get the blame and its printed right on your admission ticket as a disclaimer The girls the food and the smog free sky are what got the 2 stars. Everything else about it why it never gets beyond a 2 star rating Keep in mind I didnt spend one hard earned cent of my mo money to be anpart of this "thing". To quite the contrary I was paid to be there and I still didn't like it very much. Hope that helps read more

Burning Man - been there done that - Festivals Near Me

Burning Man is an annual festival held on the last Monday of August ending on Labor Day. It's held at Black Rock City- a temporary community erected in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. The 10 main principles are Radical inclusion, Gifting, Decommodification, Radical self-reliance, Radical self-expression, Communal effort, Civic responsibility, Leaving No Trace, Participation, and Immediacy. The city is built with a series of concentric streets (alphabetically from A-L) in an arc composing two-thirds of a 1.5-mile diameter circle with the Man Sculpture at the very center. Radial street (2:00-10:00) extend from the Man to the outermost circle. So, for instance, if someone asks, you might say you are camping at 4:00 & G. Like other reviewers have said, it's almost impossible to describe in words what Burning Man is like unless you've been. I've been three times (2010, 2011, and 2015). Each time in a different camp (two different theme camps and one time "free-camping" in a different section of Black Rock City). Hot, cold, difficult, amazing, dusty, beautiful, mind-blowing. It's all of the above. 9:00 side is super fun (lots of sound camps) but can be very noisy. Do not expect to get much sleep. The incredible art with the backdrop of the Nevada playa alone is worth the trip. If you are a photographer (pro or amateur), this place is your dream. If you like electronic music (I do), you will be in Heaven. Spend your days dancing at Distrikt and Pink Mammoth. And Robot Heart for sunrise. The generosity of the camps is amazing. Imagine a place where drinks are free (bring your own cup), food is handed out (my favorite are grilled cheese sandwiches - nom nom nom), yoga/massage/meditation are offered, and the list goes on. My camp gave out champagne snow cones this year :) The only thing you can buy at BRC is coffee and ice. Bring your own food, water, and shelter. Also bring dust masks and goggles for storms. And definitely costumes!!! Be careful to light yourself with EL-wire when walking or riding your bike at night. You can get run over by art cars and/or bikes. Oh, and do bring a bike. Black Rock City is large... it takes 15-20 minutes by bike to get from one end to the other. And the population this year was 67,000! Watch the Man burn on Saturday night. And for a very spiritual experience, watch the Temple Burn on Sunday night (most people start leaving on Sunday). Go there with an open mind and heart, bring gifts, and be prepared to get dusty! read more

Burning Man - Burning Man 2015 - Festivals Near Me

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Where to start... Burning man changed my life so I thought it fitting to have it be my 300th Yelp review! I met my wife here in 2014 (my 4th burn and her 7th) and having that connection has been the heart of our relationship and a foundation for an awesome life. I'm writing this review just after returning from the 2016 burn where we had our "Playa Wedding", celebrating our love for each other in the place where it all began! I have to mention that it is a bit weird that Burning Man is even listed on Yelp. I was in line to enter this year and was curious so I looked it up. I had a good laugh when I read 1 star reviews of people (you know who you are) that whined about dust and no trash cans. These are obviously people that missed the whole concept and should have never left the comfort of their couches to witness and be a part of such a radical movement. In a way these folks left a review of themselves and how they totally missed the point of what could have been a life changing experience... That being said, it is impossible to describe this event. If you just "go" to Burning Man looking for a show or whatever, you are missing the point. Burning Man is us, we create it and enjoy it. Spectators are not what this festival is about. I always say that "If you are curious, go, but pARTicipate". There is no better way to prepare than to befriend a seasoned burner and commit to being a part of the event, not just someone who shows up unprepared and comes home whining that there was no shower or Coachella is a better value. It's not the same in any way. Being a part of a camp that has been there for years will surely give you the option to shower, it might not be 150 degree water and clean towels like in Reno but it's sufficient to keep you comfortable. Burning Man is a gifting community, bring what you think you can offer people and others will bring things that you will need. There is no money exchanged once inside the event. The only thing for sale is ice for obvious reasons. Your melted ice water can actually be used to shower with using a solar shower and you CAN have a hot shower... Now to try to explain what you might see there. Burning Man is an Art festival, each year there is a new theme and artists from around the world have an opportunity to make epic pieces of art that may have never come to fruition without this great event that inspires such creativity. You might see a LED lit Helium Balloon Chain that is over a mile long floating across the desert sky. Or a temple that is the largest freestanding building in the world at 150 feet tall for about a week until they burn it to the ground with 300 foot tall flames. You might just find a couch in the middle of the desert that offers a comfy seat with a view of the night time playa that is lit as far as the eye can see with colorful lights and flame throwing mutant vehicles. Who knows what you will see? Music is also a part of Burning Man and although it's primarily EDM there has been a rise in live music performances in the last few years. In now way would I classify this as a music festival though. The sound camps are massive and have really bad ass sound systems and some have a facade that rivals some of the big EDM festivals like EDC. Keep in mind that these camps are built and funded by volunteers with no funding from Burning Man. Some Mutant Vehicles are mobile sound stages as well with light shows, lasers, and sound systems that are often times more awesome than the best club you have ever been to. I can say that this was my 6th year and I will keep coming back until I am able and I will keep being a part of what makes this event one of the most unique and life changing movements known to man. If you are afraid of dust and can't fathom packing out your own trash then stay home and wonder. If you are willing to be a part of something really awesome and ready for an adventure that could change your life, come join us in the dust next year! I camp @ Mohammed's mini martini and erotica @ the 9 o'clock porthole every year, come find me. Ask for "Fry"... read more

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U n b e l i e v a b l e !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go and you never come back to the same world. Check out the photos . . . and if you want to see the best (as opposed to my meager attempts), check out http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/pictures/burning-man-2014-trippiest-photos-20140910/fire-walk-with-me-20140910. read more

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This gets 5 stars - mostly because of the old adage: "You'll find whatever you are looking for at burningman!" You want to find loud jerks leaving garbage? You'll find it. You want a transformative, spiritual experience? You'll find it! You want to find a "summer love"? You'll find it. You want camaraderie and new friends? You'll find it. You know - pretty much like anywhere. People show up with loads of expectations of "playa magic" - but they don't always think about how they contribute to creating the magic (or lack thereof) for other people. I went in 2005 and 2006 -- and then skipped a few years. 2018 was a bit different -- a few more people (by 10k or so) and a lot more REALLY BIG art and art cars. Also - a heckuva lot more EL wire everywhere (vs so much more pyrotechnics before). Seems like a LOT more EDM and louder and more constant noise than in previous years. I also noticed folks grubbing for free "gifts" like little old ladies looking for beads at Mardi Gras. Basically -- announce a food related event and you'll have 200 people lined up to clean you out. It can make it hard to meet other vegans, for example, when a whole bunch of non-vegans line up at the Vegan Oasis to get free vegan food. I couldn't really even discuss the importance of a vegan diet with people in line with me because they were all like "MMM BACON! I eat EVERYTHING!" So, basically - I found people were mostly like they are in the "default" world, except dirtier and more likely to be inebriated. This is the first year I have had people proselytize to me at burningman -- first was an attendee in Center Camp Cafe trying to foist jesus-related christianity tracts on me (and not being ironic), the second was a worker at the cafe (while on duty) who started in on a manipulative spiel about some guru in India and all his dogma -- while trying to foist uncooked grains of rice on us as a symbol of plenty (seemed derivative of catholicism - I asked him if I could give my grains of rice back to him). Would I go back? Heck yeah! I really enjoyed camping with my friends and felt really good about being able to support my campmates in different things. I was with a bar camp that also had an art car and large playa art ... so we had a pretty good range of folks participating in different ways. That made it really fun. read more

Everyone is filthy. There are no showers. Living quarters are DIY and when I went to the DPW depot to ask for help pitching my tent, they hurled insults and threatened to beat me with a crowbar. Ryan Reynolds never showed up for his talk, and each year they announce Daft Punk will be playing at the trash fence, but it's been 3 burns in a row and I have yet to see them. I'm beginning to think this event is all hype and no delivery... Like Fyre Festival but with more dust and actual fire. At least the water is free, and is provided by these trucks that spray it behind them as they drive down the street. They drive super slow, so you can chase after them and fill up your nalgene, but be warned: the water tastes terrible. If you get hungry, there are tons of concession stands scattered throughout the city, but whenever I helped myself to the food, angry hippies would yell at me saying "This is our private kitchen!", as if their entitled asses somehow had exclusive access to that stand for the entire event. The tickets are really expensive, so I signed up with Gate this year. I spent over 30hrs scanning people's tickets during the event and when it came time to collect my paycheck they told me it was all volunteer work! How can an organization treat it's employees this way? I'm planning on calling the union as soon as I find their website. It's frigidly cold at night and hot AF during the day, but if you ask for a frozen drink at any of the bars, they will serve you some disgusting cocktail made from warm beer, pickle juice, and rum. In short, I'm not sure why people even go to this festival. I'd give it -5 stars if I could. Needless to say, I won't be back. If you haven't been yet, you're not missing anything. read more

So, full disclosure that I was a full time employee of Burning Man for two years managing the Gate, Perimeter & Exodus department. Nothing in my review is intended to represent the opinion or position of the Burning Man organization and my experience here is my own. That said, to quote the burner trope: "It was better next year." Burning Man is One of those things. It is a place that it comes from nothing and goes back to nothing but is everything for many people while it is here. Each burn is characterized by a theme set by the organization and then actualized by the weather. This year's "I, Robot" theme and salute to recently passed Larry Harvey were well implemented by artists and participants across the city. #thanklarry tags and robots in many forms dominated the experience from the Burma Shave-style quotes along Gate Road to the man itself. The weather, however, provided several hour whiteouts on three of the event days and several pre-event build days. Burning Man is about what you do; it's difficult here and simple tasks are complex. Relationships grow stronger or grow apart here. For some, it's a giant dust rave party with all the drugs for others it's just the art and the experience of the city. If you take something back from Black Rock City, it should be unique to you and be part of some transformation that you were ready for but just needed a reminder that you can be anyone you wish to be. read more

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Wow, Jackson P. is really over it, isn't he? Maybe he should take his own advice and "IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO A LOCATION, DON'T F*CKING REVIEW IT ... "Durrrr I haven't been here but I think it sux!" GROW UP!" I guess the first thing I'd note is that I'm yet to see a negative review from anyone who's actually been to Burning Man. For what it's worth, here's my two cents: I've been in San Francisco for ten years now and the electronic music scene has always been a substantial part of my existence here, but somehow I always resisted Burning Man. I've never been that hard of a partier and I could not shake the notion that it was just one huge drug infested rave in the desert. Boy was I wrong about that one. I went to Burning Man for the first time last year, and had the time of my life. It's an incredibly special place indeed, and I feel very fortunate to have experienced it. Turns out Burning man is much less about the party and electronic music and the drugs - and much more about the art, the creativity, the love, and the amazing experience that is this temporary city in the desert. It's not something you can really give justice to through a description, it's something you've got to experience yourself, and honestly I feel like it's a real crime to live in San Francisco and not make the trip at least once. Things that make Black Rock City so unique and special: - The creativity, time, and energy that people put into Burning Man is absolutely staggering. At every turn, there is something to explore. Art is ubiquitous - from enormous multi story structures to small installments to huge metal sculptures to flaming everythings to parade float scale art cars to strange bicycles to motorized couches. You will spend most of your time exploring and when all is said and done, you'll have probably missed 80% of it. And that's just fine. - Everyone is wearing ridiculous clothes the entire time. You may not really realize the extent to which you immediately size someone up based upon his or her appearance. When everyone is donning some silly absolutely absurd outfit that they pieced together, feeling comfortable parading around in their skin, the judgment you don't even know you are walking around with is removed. - There's no commerce. You can't buy anything, other than coffee and ice - everything you need you are expected to bring in with you, and what you forget you can find a way to get on the playa. Contrary to what many may say, it's not a barter culture either. People just give you things. Last year I forgot lights for my bike, complete strangers were giving me some because they'd brought extra to hand out. Again sounds strange, but not needing to pull out your wallet for a few days, and having complete strangers happily giving you whatever you might need, is a truly unique experience. - There's no concept of time really, you just go off and explore. I mean, you could carry a watch and coordinate with people to be somewhere at some time, but that's not how I did it. I just went, and did whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. The ability to forget about time for days on end was incredibly liberating for me. Maybe that point is just for type As like me. - There's no cell phone service. Unless you brought a walkie talkie to reach one other person, there's no way to communicate other than face to face. Sounds stone age, but suddenly you're not worried about coordinating, you just go where you go, and stumble upon who you stumble upon. Put all these together , and you will feel like a child again. The sense of exploration and discovery is just profound. read more

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Burning Man is a celebration. It is a celebration of life and beauty, sights and sound, art and music, independence and interdependence. Burning Man is an outlet. It is an outlet for your emotions, creativity, individuality, and deepest desires. Burning Man is a mindset. It breeds counterculture, promotes the concept of "gifting," and encompasses the idea of live and let live. Burning Man is a festival of the masses, yet it's not for everyone. It takes a certain type of person to truly enjoy Burning Man. Your experience will be greatly enhanced through thorough research, having an open mind, grounded expectations, and possessing a deep and intimate understanding of yourself. Burning Man is the American dream. It allows you to shed your layers, take off your mask, and become who you are - who you've always wanted to be. Yet at the same time, Burning Man is wholly un-American. It is rooted in the idea of decommodification - that everything around us is priceless, unlike a commodity that can be bought or traded for. Ultimately, Burning Man can be everything, or nothing at all. It is entirely what you make of it. To me, Burning Man was an affirmation. It affirmed that life is, can be, and has always been beautiful. It affirmed that with the right mindset, one can accomplish anything. It affirmed that as individuals, we can be powerful; but as a collective, we can be unstoppable. read more

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Yer dewing it wrong. The food is horrible. Too hot during the day. Too cold at night. No room service. The locals are mean and shout obscenities at you. Everything was dusty. They wouldn't give me my money back and I heard someone even died! Fool me once, never again!!!! Update: It still sucks! read more

It's a party....that's all there is to it. You pay some 200-250 bucks to be the master of your own reality for 5-7 days. Although there are 40,000 people you can do the following: -be alone for days on end just observing installations. -Be with a small group of friends partying -be at a mega party with 500-1,000 people -build crap and fix your car like a dude in a garage....when something breaks, you have to get your inner dork or Mr. Wizard going to fix it. The good thing about it is that if you can't someone will help you;) The conditions, the drive and the cost keep the knuckleheads away so it's a good thing. Of course you get those tired ass BM folks that should have packed it up years ago but you ain't got to see em! Go, don't just base it from the douchebag local BM parties. It's like being a kid again but with flamethrowers and a Thunderdome! read more

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This was my first burn and like most people, I completely loved it. I also went alone and was almost immediately adopted into a really awesome camp who ended up feeding me and taking care of me (so I didn't even use almost any of the food/stuff I brought). But since you don't know how it'll work out, you really do need to overpack and bring all the things on the lists you read to see what you end up needing. Essentials for me: -huge bottle of lotion -chapstick -bike & bike lock -baby wipes/tp -sunscreen -big boots -cuteness (will get you everything you need not on the above list, but even that stuff too kinda) If you don't like these things you probs won't like BM: -nudity -hippies -drugs/other people taking drugs -drinking/other people being constantly shit-faced -getting dirty -heat -loud noises -people touching you -fun Random tips: *stay on the outer rim (L street) for a much quieter/more mellow time *stay near center camp/esplanade if you want to be in the middle of all the dancing/drinking/drugs all the time *the airport bathrooms really aren't that far from L street and are somewhat cleaner *wifi at the 3 and 9 o'clock plazas are best *don't come with any expectations; you'll figure out how much/what you want to do, and don't try to make the experience something you've built up *read all the internet shit you can about it to know what you're getting yourself into Things I didn't care for: *guys licking my ear (happened like 5 times and I'm still confused) *people believing in stuff like being able to move healing power with their hands by holding them over you *kids--not in general, but I really think this is an adult event and you need to get a babysitter for the week Even if you end up like bob h. and are all whiny about having gone, I think it's worth it if you think you might like it. If you hate it after two days, then just go home, cause it's only getting louder/dirtier/drunkier as the week progresses. read more

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I would have gone with negative a million stars if I could have, this place sucked. Very poor weather, no flowers for making crowns, it was very dusty and hot, hippies everywhere. Many of the "art" projects are unsafe. The main stage had literally no headliners that matter, like hello 2012 called and they want their EDM back, ew. I was told Avici would be playing levels at the main stage but then after he fuckin no showed the set I tried to talk to the customer service desk and when I asked for the manager the (very rude) attendant told me Avici was dead and had been so for several years. Needless to say I asked for my money back but was told "money does not exist here". Which I found offensive for without it can we really tell who is better then who. When I told this "attendant" I would like to be upgraded to VIP she told me there is no VIP. Honestly I just think this festival is dumb, no VIP no money, don't bother unless you like dirty people and shitty main stage sets. read more

Art is cool. Happy people are cool. Music is cool. People dressing like Waterworld meets Labyrinth is cool. I just keep wondering though, DO ANY OF THESE BROS LIFT? read more

"Last year was better." ;) This is more of an event you have to experience - you can't read about it - you might show up with expectations. Hint: Go with someone that's gone before. P*ss clear. Leave no trace. I've been going since 2002 - every year has something that stands out as incredibly awesome - but not one of those things would I be capable of describing accurately with words. Video maybe.... but prob not that either. It's pretty much a you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it kind of deal. read more

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This event / gathering is amazing and out of this world! Fantastic atmosphere and incredible energy. 80.000 people come to the desert and live for a week without running water, sewage, trashcans or shops. Money is of no value. Leave no Trace is the motto. How can this work? You just have to go and experience it yourself. It does work! And it is truly amazing. Many reviews have already been written and, if on a fence, you should read most of them and decide if it is something for you. Some advice: I would recommend either joining an organized camp or getting an RV. The playa is rough with a tent, without a fridge or proper storage. Take lots of sunscreen and water. Prepare for a sandstorm, make sure to have googles and sand mask.Take a bike! The Playa is big and vast, bike is a must. Take lots and lots of battery lights. Playa is pitch black, the only lights come from mutant vehicles, art objects and other Burners. You will bump into other people and camps if you don't have proper 'illumination'. Safety first! Make sure to have food and salty snacks, to refill all the minerals you will sweat out. Do not accept food and drinks if you suspect they might be laced with drugs. Do not take photos of anybody without their permission. Do take warm clothes and ear plugs, the desert is unforgivably hot during the day and punishingly cold at night. Have fun, but try everything in moderation. And please, LEAVE NO TRACE! Pack your trash and grey water. I hope to be back some time! Tickets are hard to get, but it is all worth it! read more

It takes a special kind of person to be able to appreciate this event. It's opposite Coachella on the festival spectrum--a noncommercial event that thoroughly saturates your senses. You'll feel jaded and bored for weeks after you return to the mundane world. It's silly, dangerous, loud, quiet, hot, cold, smelly, beautiful, terrible, bright, dark, crowded, desolate, and that's just the first day. It feels like it will never end. When it does you'll get a knot in your stomach as you realize that you must go back to a job and bills and traffic, with no fire dancers or costumes or art cars. I look forward to going home to BRC next year. read more

Burning Man - The Belgian Waffle ignites - Festivals Near Me

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Ah, Burning Man. What an adventure. This year was my first year, and the event just so happened to fall on my 30th birthday. So I got to celebrate a milestone birthday at one of the coolest places in America! Quite the honor :) The experience itself is like no other; very eye opening, and very revealing. The people are the best part. Everyone shows so much kindness and love! And at the end of the week-long event, everyone helps clean (what little there is left to clean, due to Burning Man's "leave no trace" policy). It's amazing! Definitely glad I got to check this one off my bucket list. With any luck, I'll be returning! read more

It's certainly not for everyone & conditions can go from harsh to unbearable, but there's nothing else like it. If you've been, then you know & if you don't know, then you don't know. If you're thinking about going for the 1st time, then do your homework I was introduced to this event by the girlfriend who 1st went over a decade ago. This year, for me, was a lot of fun & wonder in the most surreal playground on Earth. We didn't get nearly as battered by sandstorms as we did last year, which was nice. Other things still went wrong or were less than ideal, but the desert is a great place for a little perspective on the triviality of such things. There can be many hardships out on the playa, but it's all worth it if you bring the right mindset. On a final note, to the very small minority who are screwing it up for everyone: pack it in & pack it out, it's just not cool to leave your crap out on the playa & it's just not to cool see your trash by the roadside. read more

Been going on and off since 2009 and I love this event. It has changed over the years but don't believe those grumpy old-timers that it's a sellout or gentrified, or whatever. There's over 65,000 people that attend the event and many of the recent criticisms are directed at less than 1% of the BM population, which you will probably never see while you're there. The Temple is my favorite location. Not only because it's spiritually beautiful, and oftentimes a sublimely beautiful piece of art, but because everything else is enriched by visits to the Temple. I could go to a rave-ish sort of dance venue and have a good time, but if I stop by the Temple first, have a good cry, get some perspective, etc., and then go to a rave-ish sort of dance venue, the experience then transcends the normal sorts of highs (and lows) that I usually get at similar parties in the default world. Anyway, if you get a chance to go, and feel it's the right time for you, then definitely go for it! read more

As a former Bay Area denizen and now a full-time resident of Fernley, Nevada since 2017, I have seen both sides of the impact that this festival has had. In the Bay Area, the festival contributes to the better traffic conditions that the Bay Area experiences while the participants are away out there in the desert. That was considered a plus while I was living in the Bay Area. However, since living here in Fernley, Nevada full-time, I have seen an even uglier side to this festival, from the long lines to get gasoline on Labor Day to the pillaging of the foodstuffs we rely on to live out here. The participants may be hauling their trash out with them when they leave "The Playa", but they are leaving their wastes of all kinds on the way back home from the festival, from dumping their human wastes in regular garbage cans where they get gas in Fernley to the trash cans that the State of Nevada provides over at the Wadsworth rest area west of the Truckee River on I-80. The festival goers have outstripped the resources that the local area can provide and have pretty much worn out their welcome. Hopefully, the Bureau of Land Management can do something to alleviate the conditions the festival and their participants bring to the event and if the participants can not comply, the BLM should shut down this festival. The local communities have their own issues without the burdens of the Burning Man festival and its participants adding to those burdens. Labor Day itself is a normal working day here in Fernley, especially at the fulfillment centers along USA Parkway in the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center and adding to the hassles that those who work at these places have to cope with when going home to Reno or Sparks. With the Burners leaving the festival on Labor Day, they turn what could be a 30-minute commute into a 3-hour ordeal...the participants don't realize the kind of negative impact they are having on those of us who live out here and that there is no other alternative to commuting home to Reno or Sparks--I-80 is it. When it comes to Fernley, they are depriving the residents who live out here year-round of the resources we need, such as bottled water and non-perishable foods, and this is especially important because it isn't just the residents of Fernley that have to rely on these stores, but also the residents of the neighboring towns like Wadsworth and Silver Springs along with those that live on the Tribal lands north of Wadsworth, who have no such facilities in their towns. Unlike Sparks, it isn't like we can drive to Reno to find another store within easy reach, but that the nearest alternatives to Fernley are at least 30 miles away...we live in a desert here in western Nevada and nearby towns that have grocery stores are as close as Fallon, which has the same problems with the participants that Fernley has, and Sparks, which also has the same problems that both Fernley and Fallon have. This festival needs to find another venue, and find one that can support the populations that it is now attracting and let the lands in western Nevada recover from the over-population and the environmental devastation that the event has wrought over the years that it has been at the Black Rock Desert. read more

Hot, dusty, don't go. I've been going for 14 years and I still go just to make sure I don't like it. read more

You know when you wake up one of those mornings and you recall what you just dreamt about... the imagery that pops into your head. You think you saw your neighbor in your dream, except he was half-alligator, and while you were talking to him... a birthday cake drove by followed by a giant Cheshire Cat... Well, Burning Man is kind of like that except it's not a dream and you ARE naked and surrounded by GOOD looking people! But yes, oh yes, you are so dirty YOU don't even want to have contact with your own body. read more

Burning Man - Deep End - Festivals Near Me

Thank goodness there's a Yelp page, where I can finally warn people about this event. Take it from someone who went for the 3rd time this year - don't go. It's too hot, too cold, too dusty; weirdos are everywhere; and it's way too expensive. You'll die out there...or at least get a really bad case of cracked feet. Maybe next year will be the year it finally gets good, but I would say save your money and avoid this godforsaken place. read more

Some background info: -I'm allergic to everything involving the outdoors -I get sick at the drop of a hat. Most likely from the breeze of the falling hat. -I have never been camping -I'm sensitive to extreme conditions -Me = opposite of a hippie -I got my ticket 12 hours before going to burning man. 8 of said hours, i was sleeping. -the #1 thing i can't stand is being dirty - on the way to burning man, we stopped to get in-n-out burger, and happened to pass an outlet mall. the first words out of my mouth were "ooooh Ralph Lauren!" ________________________________________________ We stopped off in Reno to find that it was not only the 'The Biggest Little City', but also The Biggest Crappy City. A man on the side of the road in the middle of the desert made me a rose out of a palm leaf and asked for my number. At the gate of burning man, I instantly fell in love with a man. His name was Chopper. I thought it was meant to be and told him about my angry baby and that he should GET TO THE CHOPPA!!!!!! He invited me to his camp for a beer but I never saw him again. It was a short romance that simply involved ten seconds of eye contact and 3 minutes of conversation through a car window, but it was burning man love, nonetheless. I got my very own burn name (Firecracker) I started using burn lingo, like 'burn'. I was meeting someone there and found them literally within 5 minutes of arriving. I shook Larry Harvey's hand. I accepted food/drinks/ vodka freezee pop/homemade ice cream/ candy bars from strangers. I saw two giant cupcakes driving around in the middle of the desert. I said no to (some) drugs. I jumped on a trampoline in my bikini top when an older gentleman came by and said "Thank you for jumping on the trampoline". This made me feel like I contributed to Burning Man in some small way. I found a free bicycyle and rode around the desert in 100 degree heat. I wore a headscarf. I handed out tiny boxes of nerds candy to friendly strangers. I ate some pancakes from some strangers. They tasted unlike any other pancake I'd ever had. The men who made them said they dumped a whole can of chili mix into the pancakes. I then ate about 2 dozen more. (i got hella stoned) I started saying 'hella'. I created a really deep theory on why they burn the man, and why his arms go from being by his side to being raised when he is being lit on fire. . . and connected it symbolically to Jesus, even though i'm not religious. I went on a little rant about how funny it would be if the 6 "Indian Taco" places we passed on the way through the Nevada desert actually served tacos with Vindaloo and Curry. Indian, like India. . . get it? I don't think anyone else got it. And if they did, I don't they thought it was as funny as I thought it was. I lost my friends from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. I coughed real hard and then tasted dirt in my mouth. I woke up to a caravan of people with blasting music playing 'Easy (like a Sunday morning)' I tried to wash my feet/skin/face but the dirt didn't come off. And most important of all, I saw the mother fucker burn. read more

My 900th Yelp review and I'm going to review the Burning Man festival which is very un-Burning Man like of me. I love irony. Burning Man is supposed to be what you want it to be as evidenced by the fact that they strategically place it in one of the most remote and inhospitable places in the United States and it has the potential en masse to do just that. But Burning Man also has some rules and limitations, one of them being their complete disdain of anything corporate. Hence the ridiculous notion of writing a Yelp review for such an event. They are way too cool and counterculture to be sucked into the microscope of a Yelp review. Here we go! In typical Yelp review fashion I will stick to just the facts ma'am. First thing's first: Surviving At Burning Man (BM): --There is no food for purchase. This means that you will need to bring an appropriate amount of food for yourself and/or your camp. Having said that throughout the day you can (fairly) easily stumble across camps that are "gifting" food like the amaze-balls French Toast party our Art Car stumbled across one random Thursday afternoon while driving down road G at 3:30. --Navigating At BM: The entire layout is shaped like a clock. The Man is in the middle. The temple is at 12. All of the camps run down the lower half from 9 o'clock up to 2. The streets that run the other direction from the "times" are all the letters of the alphabet. Hence you reference where you are at by saying "I'm at 5 o'clock and H". When you arrive you have to be careful as to where you set up camp as many of the camping spots on the clock have been claimed years ago by massive groups of people (called theme camps) so don't step on any toes. If you like a certain location you can, of course, always ask nicely to join their camp. --There is no money exchanged at BM since this is gifting economy. The only exceptions to this are the purchases for coffee and ice. Coffee is purchased at the coffee pavilion. There is only one coffee pavilion. --The environment at BM is tough. The playa is very beautiful but the white sand has a texture of baby powder. It will be everywhere (popular BM motto: "In Dust We Trust!"). You can't get rid of it. It will be in every orifice of your body, it will fill your hair like a 17th century wig, if you take a shower in an outdoor shower it will be back on your body in 10 seconds. There are massive (read: F2 tornado) force winds where there will be a complete white out of dust throughout the day. You can't breathe or move. Which brings up a sub detail: --your tent will not hold with regular tent stakes. You must hammer them down with rebar --you need a "pee funnel" for your tent so that you can easily pee into a bottle for those times you can't see to make it to a port-o-potty. --There are no showers at BM. Bring spray bottle of vinegar unless you have a shower. --You will always be thirsty even when you don't know it. This is due to an insanely hot, dry climate. At minimum of a gallon of water a day is a must. --If you tent camp get ready for the inside of your tent to be covered in dust. Your camera will be ruined (mine was) unless you buy one of those "tough" ones. You won't be able to stay in your tent during the day (after about 9AM) because it is so hot. At night the temps plunge near freezing so bundle up. --If you come in on opening night expect long wait times. We got stalled in traffic at 7PM 30 miles outside BRC. We didn't get in until sunrise (12 hours later). The festival organizers purposely stage the traffic to where vehicles move every so many miles then you turn off your car for an hour. This goes for the same when leaving the festival. There are no gas stations. Plan accordingly. --At night everything is pitch black so you MUST have lights on both your body and your bike. Or you might just get run over by an art car. Which means: --You don't have to have a bike but you should. The festival is too big. Don't bring an expensive bike here though as the dust will kill it. --Your hair is going to be a mess thanks to the wind and dust. Put it in either braids or dregs. I had to pay a stylist to help me get the knots out when I came home as I had so many. It took her 3 hours to do so. People at BM: Smart. Creative. Engineers. Architects. Artists. Hippies. Having Fun At BM: --People who have never been ("virgins") ask me, "what do you do all week?". Those who have never been cannot truly fathom the amount of things to take up your time. When you pull into the gate you get a very thick booklet of daily activities that are happening at the various camps. But this is only a fraction of the stuff. There are plenty of 'unofficial' things going on that aren't in the booklet. If you never slept the entire week you would still only see a fraction of what this place has to offer. This will be one of your greatest adventures yet. read more

Burning Man is a highly manufactured gathering of people who feel the need to escape their default lives for one week every year. There is nothing to "get". It's not a life-changing experience unless you haven't had a very adventurous life or have never partied your ass off with a lot of fun people. There IS a lot of partying going on in constructed clubs in the middle of nowhere that appear overnight, so that is pretty cool. There are some neat art cars and if you pay attention you can get a sense of the work and dedication put into a lot of the art projects. Last year there was a movie theater along the perimeter fence that magically appeared out of a dust storm one night when my honey and I were walking along the fence to discover what was out there--highlight of the week. There are a bunch of kind souls giving out free booze, lots of fun activities during the day and plenty to explore whenever. There's a schedule/program that tells you about all the fun stuff going on, so if you're sweating in your tent and bemoaning the dust, go out and find something to distract you for a few hours until the sun sets. I grew up in the desert so didn't find the environment to be all that challenging. Common sense items like hats, sunscreen, shades/goggles and plenty of water will all serve you well. So will not being an idiot and finding some shade to relax in during the day instead of riding around naked on your bike chugging beer after beer. People who feel like they've accomplished something special by surviving for a week in the desert, when they're surrounded by people who will most likely help them out in a pinch, probably don't get out of their comfort zones very often. The mantra of BM is radical self expression and radical self reliance. I've seen plenty of people who weren't necessarily radically expressing themselves and plenty of others who would die if it weren't for their campmates taking care of them, so I wouldn't say you have to do either in order to survive and have fun. It's my opinion that the hype surrounding how "radical" ANY of it is--the art, the weather, the sometimes naked bodies drifting about, the faux fur, all the damn techno music--is overly pronounced. It does require a lot of money, time for preparation, work, planning and it's a hell of a drive if you don't live in Nevada. Is it worth it? Can be. Would I do it again year after year? Nope. I haven't subscribed to the cult mentality that most burners have about Black Rock City being "home" and there are too many other things and places I'd rather see. And yes, it is also very, very white. And I live in Seattle, so that's saying something. read more

I could feel the fever kicking in two weeks ago. The heat, the pulse building up. Friends, strangers -- one of the same ... all gearing up for the pilgrimage home. But all signs were pointing to no: work meetings, lack of ticket, shortage of time, funds, planning and no shortage of self-doubt. No, no, no. It's not right. It's all so very imperfect, everything. And that is entirely the point. Burning man is becoming one with imperfection -- in yourself, in your environment, in your lover's choice of words and your lover's choice of lovers, in the way the way you think that next year you can do Burning man better. It's about getting comfy in your clothes in your skin. Wear a belt around your head, some socks and your fave pair of underoos. Give that girl passing out iced tea to thirsty mad-maxers a hug, damn it. So back to last Wednesday: Slowly, just when I thought it was a no go (ok, in the blink of a text message and a nod from my beautiful boss) the universe opened a window and I crawled through, to the other side of life and into the bowels of hope, loss, innocence and spontaneous creative combustion. I fled to the desert. 80, 90, 100 miles an hour. Every second ticking, counting down, giving me the evil eye. Watch for the speed traps, feel out the random guy selling tickets on the side of the road, trust, give him cash, get in the car and go go go again. And ... and ... I'm there. Some surreal dream where the moon greeted me, hanging literally a foot over the desert, huge orange and all aglow. Is it real? Yes, it is. It's my religion, my release, my wake up call, my community. The playa is my hot, hot sex and my long lost love who comes back to me every year. It transforms me from the outside in, inside out to the goddess, the mother and the warrior waiting for just the right moment to burst out of my fragile American seams. That moment is dust. Lots of it. It's pixie dust, moon dust, alkaline caustic magic fairy dust. I imagine Burning Man is what a post-apocalyptic world would look like. Forget the end though, it is rebirth and it is the future. If you haven't been, you should, just so you know where you are headed. Go Home already. read more

I am no longer a virgin. I survived and here is my story: Enter the gates of the playa. Is it the gates of heaven or the gates of hell, mwahahaha! To many at my work (corporate), when I told them where I was vacationing to. A lot of them raised a brow and looked at me differently. What? Do you wanna do a drug test on me when I get back? Do you think I'm a nudist or orgy fanatic? Truth is, I am none of those things. I am one of the most modest girls out there whose drug of choice is music, booze and art. When my friend said, its going to change your world when you get back. Honestly, I think "if you're on drugs", but no worries. I am still the same person and proud of it. So let's get down to the nitty gritty. What's important about camping there. 1) Camp with people you know you're going to have fun with. Who you camp with will make or break your experience. I didn't have dinner for 3 nights, so that is as far as I will go to describe my camp experience with strangers. Oh and a dude named Space Horse who was a professional porn star too. 2) Be prepared (food, water, shelter and such) Oh and always bring a cup with ya out and about. We went to a champagne lounge without a cup and they made us get on my knees and only poured bubbles into my mouth once. Just keep swallowing until you consume the whole bottle. You can do it, cuz I did. 3) Understand the heat will wipe you out. As much 5 hour energy drinks as I chugged, it did jack poo poo. Try to rest as much as you can and stay cool y'all. You need to dance your ass off, so know you will need a few days to acclimate to desert weather 4) Sharing is caring, so bring little nick nacks to pass out to strangers, because you'll get the same. Got free lip balm, bike seat cover and even someone hanging out quesadillas out in the dessert. 5) Bring your bike. You won't regret it. Biking out in this giant playground was my heaven. And there is so much to do there too. They even give you a booklet on what to expect each day. Whether its free snow cones, crepes, wine tasting, face painting, comedy shows or what. You're going to want to plan as soon as they give you that bible at the gate. Because all come in a limited supply or they can be on different sides of the playa. 6) If your friend tells you they are a 9D, that don't mean anything. Make sure to have some kind of landmark where they can find you. I didn't find any of my friends out there. It was redunk-culous. Oh and I hate Rod's Road. I think its the Bermuda Triangle. Honestly, I picked the worse year to go, because of all the dust storms galore, but I learned so much. The good and the bad, will I do it all over again. Honestly, its a yes, but I will do it MY WAY this time. I can truly say, I know how to prepare for next year. I plan on camping with all my besties, and we will be fed well, we will find ways to stay cool and we will have fun till the sun comes up. I guarantee it!!! read more

My friends and I have a saying: Burning Man sucks. Don't go. When someone starts ranting about how much this or that sucks, it's useful to just agree with them. Burning Man sucks. Don't go. Hopefully, it helps keep them *here* while we're out *there*. So far, it's seemed to work pretty well. Maybe that's what Jackson P.'s really trying to do with his over-the-top rant. Burning Man sucks. Don't go. This year (2007) will be my 14th trip out to the playa. Why do I keep going back? The Art: There is more incredible, mind-blowing art out there in one week than you could see in a year of visiting museums. The People: I've met so many brilliant, inventive, creative people out there on the playa I couldn't begin to count them all. Many have become life-long friends, and most tend to be very successful in their careers and their lives. The Desert: Hey, after a summer of San Francisco's fog, I *love* to get out where it's hot and dry. Also, living in that harsh environment is a welcome challenge after sitting at a desk most of the year. Building shade structures, art cars and other things that will withstand 70MPH winds is really rewarding and a great learning experience. The City: I've been watching this event grow from about 800 people in 1993 to over 35,000 -- maybe 40,000+ this year. I haven't loved all the changes that have taken place, but it's been fascinating to watch how it has grown and evolved. But none of that sounds like your cuppa tea? Well, yeah, you should probably stay home. Remember: Burning Man sucks. Don't go. read more

On a whim and less than 24 hours planning, a friend and I got our shit together and drove out to join burners we knew at Black Rock City aka Burning Man. I say "burners" like I'm old hat at this. I don't know what I'm talking about. This place is a HUGE 24/7 party. Words and pictures don't do BM justice as the desert comes alive at night with music, parties, costumes, fire, neon, boobies, mutant vehicles, moving art, floats and whatnot. You can be a spectator and have a GOOD time, or be participant and have a GREAT time. I didn't see any law enforcement, but there's an order to the madness. Something for everyone here, from Naked Barbie Death Camp to Dance Dance Immolation where you dance wearing a fire retardant suit and get BLASTED with open flame if you can't hit the beats! That's HOT! I'm keeping this PG-13, so I'm not going to mention the other theme camps. I saw some wee kiddies there, but mostly the 20s, 30s, 40s demographic and surprisingly a large number of grannies and gramppies. There was an article in the Chronicle about it, so it must be true. I saw an old long-haired fool roller skating naked wearing only a head band and black stockings. He was rocking out with his cock out. He was so awesome cool and disturbingly pretty and I hope he gets arrested if he ever does that in SF. The fireworks preceding the burning of the Man was a nice touch. I could feel the flush of heat on my face during the explosive finale. On aside, I think it should be a Burning Phoenix, cos a phoenix can live again. They can call it Burning P. That same evening, they blew up an oil rig, which I guess symbolizes bad corporate America and its' worship of oil. Whatever, I just like watching big structures being blown up. Watching it EXPLODE was awesome cool and I was in the FIRST row, screw safety! In Iraq they get to watch this entertainment everyday minus the admission fee. The worst part of BM was leaving. It took 4 LONG HOURS to drive out of the parking lot to the town of Gerlach which is only 10 miles away! I say this so that you might as well enjoy the Indian Tacos they sell on the side of the road. I took a pass, but you might get First To Review and that would be so cool. I'd go again but next time I'd consider an RV. And flying in. And creating a DYL Theme Camp. Cos that would be super awesome! read more

I went to my first burn this year. Some of it I was expecting while others I didn't. Overall, it was a great experience--not the best--but a great one that I'm happy I did and I already want to go back and do again. Prep: It took a couple of months for me to get ready for this. You need 1.5 gallons per day you are out there. Clothes for the hot weather in the day and clothes for cold weather at night. Figuring out if you want to rent an RV and/or car to get sleep in or getting a tent. I recommend renting a car unless you are ok with your car getting dirty inside and out. The dust gets everywhere. It's like getting ready for an extreme camping trip. Communicating with members of your camp or people that have gone before is really key to doing a good job in prep. Amenities: Just port-a-potties. They did a great job of cleaning them out every morning and resupplying with new toilet paper. Not that bad. Lighting: Always have a flashlight or some type of light on you while cruising or walking around the playa at night. It gets dark out there and you want to be seen for those riding around. Food: You can buy ice for cheap but that's about it. You are expected to bring your own food in and pack out the trash. Cooler come in handy to store food or you can buy canned food, jerky, trail mix, and granola bars. There are some camps that give out food on certain days. Breakfast burritos, grilled cheese sandwiches, and pancakes were some things and that always made my day. Nudity: There's lots of it. The people: I noticed that there are a few groups of people you will encounter. The older people that are the coolest, have a great sense of humor about it all, and just want to have fun. The noobs or first timers like myself that are enjoying it but overwhelmed and having moments of burn out. The ravers or people that are just there to party, party, party. I felt like 80% of the population was either drinking or high at some time or another. However, this is Burning Man--what can you expect. Environment: It's harsh. It gets really hot in the day and really cold at night. There are also dust storms. Don't expect to ever feel clean. Eventually I just became one with the dust. On that note, googles, sunglasses, a sun hat, and a face scarf (or mask) are necessary. Art: There's lots of amazing art out there. All the art cars I saw out there can put the Disneyland Electric Parade to shame. Riding on an art car is really fun. You don't know where they are going and the majority of them are blasting music so it feels like you are on a mobile club. Overall, Burning Man is a surreal experience. I can't say it changed my life, but it made me feel like I wasn't in reality, and I didn't have to take any type of drug out there to feel that way. I was fortunate to have camped with experienced and first-timers in my camp and they helped to enrich my experience out there. read more

This was a complete nightmare, I was so thirsty all week, they never even thought to build drinking fountains in the desert! The center camp totally didnt know how to correctly make an Espresso au lait, and i couldn't find a t-shirt of this year to save my life! Where's the Merch booth!? I couldn't believe it, my Uggs even got dusty!! That wouldnt be much of a problem, but i couldn't find the showers anywhere, and I looked for hours! And to top it all off, I couldn't find an outlet to save my life! Who would even go to this concert!? 1 star for a boring, dusty, festival read more

My first Burn was in 2010, and when I say that it provided the grounds for one of the most life-changing experiences of my existence, I'm not kidding. When I'm 90 years old and look back at my life, 2010 will forever be one of the most significant time periods for me. Why? Because Burning Man happened. I went again in 2013, and while the experience was nowhere near as intense because the novelty of the "first time" had worn off, in many ways it was better because I was much better prepared for it. There is a certain magic that I will never be able to put into words, a certain magic that only happens on the Playa. "Synchronicity" best describes it: like running into someone who lives 5 minutes from my house in a dust storm of 70,000 people, the incredible people I randomly met that I still keep in touch with, and the fact that most people's fears and inhibitions drop away as soon as they enter the BM mindset, opening up more possibilities to learn and experience something new every moment. Most of the reviews here are skewed either towards UBER-POSITIVE or UBER-NEGATIVE. And this is true. Either you will go once and think it is the worst experience ever, or you will go once and find yourself completely enamored by the entire thing. I'd say there are several requirements to making your BM experience a positive one. And it all starts with YOU and the mindset you have before even buying your ticket: 1 - Have ZERO expectations. Everything you've heard? Great. Those are stories and interpretations of someone else's experience based on their own lens of life. Ditch it ALL, and make your own. 2 - Keep a positive mindset. 3 - Be willing to forego your luxuries, your comforts, and everything you're used to in your sheltered, first-world, modern-day life. Think of it like this: the goal of this trip is to show you more about yourself, happiness, and Life -- beyond the comforts of ego. 4 - Once you're completely open to new possibilities, are willing to expand your comfort zone, are willing to take risks and grow, you're ready for BM! Be open to ANYTHING! Especially if it challenges your current beliefs, your current mindset, and everything you've come to believe as absolute truth. Go with the flow, come in with a smile, and be sure to do something you've never done every single day. Last but not least, take your insights with you into your daily life. Things like "leave it better than you found it" and "we are one" are insights I gained there that I still integrate into my life, every single day. read more