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General Playa Advice: From First Aid
to Thawing Salmon Loaves
from the Alternative Energy Zone crew
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Be prepared to be so overwhelmed with excitement that you forget something really important.
Like you walked back from center camp and forgot that your bike was there, and now it's
gone. And when that happens, remember to relax and not beat yourself up over it; these things happen.
From Jolly Roger
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Make your bike so outrageous that everyone will know it's yours.....and
where it is if someone "borrows" it...............
From Michael (will it hover with only one hand on the handlebar?)
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Speaking of bikes, bring crappy ones that no-one in their right mind would want to steal.
From Laura
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I take three ice chests
(for the 2 week stay) I try to keep them all in the shade.
1.Small one for the day of travel and the first day setting up: snacks, one light dinner and frozen water bottles to keep
things cold and later drink
2. Medium one for the first two full days in camp
3. The large coffin (2'x6') plywood box lined with 2" Styrofoam, covered with 1 reflective fireblanket.
This is not opened until the third day when camp is set up and we can begin to enjoy our bounty.
It's packed with ~100# dry ice and about 2 dozen frozen liter bottles of light
lemonade, in addition to 2 - 5 gallon plastic containers of frozen water (the ice melts and the water is
contained and drinkable).
Labeled frozen food is placed on one end near the dry ice.
Fresh food (vegetables, eggs, butter, salami, and a little milk and cheese) are in assorted
Tupperware in the end furthest away from the dry ice. Cans of soda and V-8 fill in the spaces.
Very important to me is that everything is contained. - I dislike to have to deal with partially decomposing food floating in dirty cold water.
We don't need to buy ice and the last two years I have returned home with some ice still intact.
Lemonade recipe: 1//2 to 1 cup fresh
squeezed lemon juice to 1 liter bottle, with a pinch of salt and sweetened to taste (I have tried various
sweeteners - sugar, honey, cactus juice, Stevia) Roger likes a little pomegranate
juice added to some for variety.
Frozen meals: I usually prepare several for potlucks (I don't like to cook on the playa):
Chicken curry, Gyozas, Chili, rice medley, I have a Borsch for this
year. Other food we take: Instant miso, nuts, dried figs and pears, the mayor's chocolates - dark bars and coca almonds.
And last but not least, Limes and Mangos for the Tuna Guys! I bring a bottle of olive oil, and one of soy sauce - salt and pepper. What more does one need?
Egg cups and silver goblets, of course. So now you all know what you can come to borrow if you forgot.
Last year on the third day - we were going to have our honeymoon reception potluck for which I had prepared a large salmon loaf (about 2 feet long). Way after noon, I realized that I hadn't even opened the big chest, let alone begun to defrost the fish. It was overcast so there was no help to be had from the weather. So we discovered a
wonderful playa method for food defrosting under such conditions. The large foil wrapped loaf was folded
in a large black trash bag and it was given to unsuspecting visitors. They could cool themselves off and help prepare the feast. Heidi proved to be the best at this work, she lay it on her body and invited others to lay on top. The proverbial hard work if you can get it. So
if any of you enjoyed my salmon loaf, human warmth was one of the main and not so secret ingredients.
Love - Anna aka Mrs Jolly "keep the mayor happy" Roger
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Drink lots and lots of water.
Then, drink more water.
Then, drink more water.
Then, drink more water.
Then, drink more water.
Sound (and wet) advice from Lucia
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If someone wants to help BMORG itself, volunteer for the
Lamplighters. Low stress, fun rituals, rewarding work. Hanging, lighting and maintaining
the kerosene street lamps all over BRC and you will find a group that does not
intimidate newbies - like some other groups might (dpw)
From Alavey666
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For newbies - the best advice is join a camp and ask to use setup stuff like kitchen or shower or the things you forgot and offer to help by supplying your manual labor. Join a camp or project and help them build it. Volunteer for something. Try to give more than you expect to
receive. Bring gifts to pass out that say something about who you
are.
From Jerry
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For the Staying Healthy & General Advice list.
This is a bit of advice for a newbie that they will probably not hear a million times somewhere else:
"Leave your booze at home"
Why? I like a cold beer or a margarita as much as anybody. But on the playa, it just makes me tired,
and then I miss out on all the fun surrounding me. It happens every time. It took me 3 years to be certain,
but it's true.
At Burning Man, resting or napping means you are
missing something(s) really fantastic somewhere, and why would you want to do that? At BM, there are at
least a million better things to do with your time and energy than sitting around feeling an alcohol buzz.
And if you end up absolutely jonesing for drink:
nearly everyone there will have more booze than they need.
From Marc
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How about this: You forgot to bring a tarp to cover your not-so-waterproof tent, and now that it has rained for 2 hours while you were wandering
the playa, your clothes are wet and your sleeping bag is soaked. Just go ask a neighbor
(in the AEZ where we are all buddies) for a blanket and dry spot to sleep. In the morning
(by noon for sure) your stuff will be dry and you will be fine.
From Jolly "an umbrella in the tent will keep at least one tiny spot dry"
Roger
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Shade for your body and eyes. LOTION, LIB BALM. Hat and a spare hat.
Portable H2o container, salty snacks. Leave your sandals at home. Good shoes,
flashlight, bike, bulbs, batteries, spare tires (bike), portable fm radio,
rain gear, good shoes, a sense of humor, tape, string, wire, tools,
music makers, full tank of gas (fill up in Reno - Gerlach is $$$$$$). Plenty of water,
toilet paper (just in case). Baggies of all sizes.
From HandyAndy (since '91)
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Look out for rebar, look out for rebar and look out for rebar
From Kerry
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Plan everything very carefully before you get to the playa, and be prepared to abandon those plans once you
arrive.
From Reverend Gadget
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Amen to that. Be prepared to be flexible!
From Sparks
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Bring lots of vitamins!
From Michael LightToys
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An ounce of prevention, as they say, can be had by bringing lots of blinky LEDs, lights, EL wire; for wearing and bike decoration,
so you are not invisible as you wander around on the Playa at night!
A good bike headlight is also worth the investment! :P
From Rick
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The one thing I wish I had was butterfly bandages. I stabbed myself in the leg the last day while packing up. I had the antibacterial wipes and the
Neosporin but had difficulty holding the wound closed. When I finally got the butterfly bandages they worked famously. Also, an
ace bandage would have made a good flexible cover for the bandages.
Hope I didn't gross anyone (or Anybody) out.
From Bruce R.
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in a pinch, krazy glue will work to hold a wound together...
from glenn campbell
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Duct tape works good when bandages keep falling off. Just put it over the
bandage.
From Michael
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Playa first aid kit: what do you bring to fix your hurts or keep you healthy?
Answer: Body Bag or enough wood to burn the carcass.
Your favorite bit of general playa advice: if you could tell a newbie one thing about preparing for burning man, what would it be?
Answer: Vaseline!
From Cody - thank you for being
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