Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Sea U Site 2006

Over the last many years I have attended the Sea U Site festival.. in the past few years we have had continuous attention from the local authorities in the form of police (normal and riot) as well as dogs and helicopters.
This year was different once again... Thankfully closer than the last year's it was almost smack in the middle of what the Germans like to call The Bathtub of Berlin, Kuehlungsborn. Funnily enough the first 2-3 Sea U Site parties I remember were also held nearby.
We left Holland on Friday afternoon and as per usual drove for about 5 hours just to cross the border (What is wrong with this country) which should only be 200 klm across.
After that is was more or less smooth sailing to Berlin where we bunked down at Andreas's for the night.
Saturday was a lazy start and then we left Berlin for the north, 200 km north to Kuehlungsborn where we drove around lost for just a little while. We found the Bremer folks pretty quickly and set about setting up camp.
The weather was not the best and I am continuously thankful that I have a all season tent that always manages to keep me dry. Sat night was held inside one of the empty buildings with a bit of music and other catch ups. But I was really happy to go to bed fairly early and wait for morning.... which came with lots and lots of rain... in fact it rained so hard most of the morning we just stayed in our tents and waited for it to end.
Finally it stopped we headed out to see what was happening in the world of the Sea U Site 2006. It had far more building than the previous years if you don't count the gigantic building complex near Pora on the Island Rugen.
The usual gang from Bremen and Berlin and Hamburg were there, and it took some time to get into the mood but we eventually as the clouds and rain moved on.
It all seemed to move quickly but the day moved nice and slow.
danced a little, explored a little and watched a great sunset.. all in time to hang out a bit longer that evening and then head to bed just as the sun was about to make another appearance.
Monday was beautiful and I took my chances to jump in the water and swim in the Baltic sea, something that I try and do at least once a year.
The drive home was not that exciting and after stopping for some food and rest in Bremen was headed across the boarder to Holland.
The best part was, there was no police this year to bother us, kind of an anti climax though.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Fusion Festival 2006

The same as the last 8 or is it 9 years running I have been attending the Fusion Festival in Germany between the former East German holiday locations of Mirow and Wipperow around the Flugplatz Lärz. I love this place and besides the ever increasing numbers that attend this is still a very special festival and unlike any other I have ever attended.
More than less happy people running amock and having fun.I realizeee that now that I have left this way to long to log any really long important blog entry so you will get bullettt points:

it was really hot/ hotter than I remember ever in the past 9 years in June.
  1. for the first time I a. took a warm shower b. swam in the canal c. visited the Goa dance floor.


  2. only climbed 3 hangers


  3. arrived by plane and train/ taxi.
Friday was hot and only spent catching up with every one I knew
Sat was much the same only spent longer at the tower stage until long after dark
Sun was the lake stage as usual under the trees with all my friends having fun, the one strange note would be that Guddi and I went for a walk and saw that over in the parking lot was something on fire. many people did not notice but many more crowed to the top of the hanger near the tower stage to get a better look, thrubber necker'sss. And oddly enough it turned out to be someone I knew from Bremen who's camper/ home was on fire due to faultywiringg. Months later I found out that he lost almost everything he owned and was relying on the kindness of strangers to get him feed, clothed and fed for the months to come including my lovely German "parents" who have helped him in many ways. And to dissuade her from climbing the hanger we headed off in the direction of the Goa floor. Which was strange to say the least. In the past the only reason to go there was because they had the bestfalafell stand at the party.
At some point on Sunday night we secured a bottle of Malibu from Sabine and spent even more time wandering out Bar 25 and Datcha hanger
Arriving in Berlin on Wed evening and after a good nights sleep and a better breakfast headed for the train station to make our way there... a longish and hot journey via taxis and trains we arrived at the location.. same as every year.
Thankfully Gudrun, Sascha and Crew had already set up not only the camping place but also my potato beetle attracting tent. What does that mean exactly, well potatoe beetles happen to love the colours, orange, yellow and light green... my tent is two of the three.
We had a few drinks, and went for a wander around the land to see what was happening and what was new this year.
A somewhat early night Thursday because there was still 3 more days to go.
Friday we woke to another really really hot morning and went to test out the warm showers passing already a whole bunch of freaky people on the way and a very large pile of orange rinds. On the way back we ran into Frau Fox who I have not seen since the last Sea U Site.
Back for breakfast and catching up with old friends and of course the all important coffee to get my day going.
Did I yet mention it was HOT that whole weekend? Well it was kind of unbearable hot but thankfully there were showers and the nice Canal that you could swim in just down the road.
We did not do much on Thursday other than a few drinks and wandered around before going to sleep.

Sat morning started out really hot as well. after a nice glass of OJ (check out the piles of oranges) and then after a long wait for a refreshing shower we went to go and see what was happening
Sat seemed to fly by walking around and checking out the sights and sounds.

It seems so long ago now that I just can't remember all the details.

Needless to say it is a wonderful party with great people, almost zero agro and many many many things to say and do.

My favourite new thing? the new hobbit forrest habitat they built under the trees.
Sunday was just as hot, they sent in as usual the fire brigade to cool us down and it was just nice to hang out and spend time with my friends. On Monday it was hard to believe that we had to go and after getting dropped off at the train station only to realize that the trains only came every 3 hours or so, and it was a tiny little thing that could barely squish everyone on board. And then back to Berlin and the comfort of Andreas and Christiane's flats and hospitality.

Next year? I am taking a car!



Uit Festival Den Haag

Last Sunday I did a 2 hour workshop at the YogaShala studio which was wonderful, one hour of Ashtaga Yoga and one hour of Yin Yoga. My arms still are sore but it was well worth it as I was inspired to try new things and learnt new things as well. The owners of the studio were both talented and very good at what they did. All in all a really nice experience that I might be tempted to try more of.
Afterwards Helen and I headed over to the Uit Festival here in Den Haag. We went mostly because Circle percussion was playing and she had done a workshop with them in Spain just a few weeks ago. It is a troup of player of Japanese Kyoto and African Drums.
It was fun and very energetic and well worth a watch. We were going to go stick around and watch the poets sitting in the trees but we decided it was more important to eat.
A good weekend busy with meeting people and also sleeping long nights.

Guilty Pleasures

I have ot admit it, I really love watching Extreme Home Makeover it is just such a nice thing to watch families get what they deserve, it almost always chokes me up.... simple and sweet.
and apparently I am not alone http://youcantmakeitup.blogspot.com/2004/11/extreme-home-makeover-with-cry.html