Moonflower 2009

Ok, so i met a bunch more people at the hostel that were interested in going to this electonic music fest in the middle of the woods. which was good, cause 2 of the people who said they wanted to go changed their minds. so now it was going to me, crazy aussie dave, annoying alaska chris, rose from england (who would be coming out the next day, dont ask me how she thought she would find us) and the 7 new people from england, the states, denmark and sweden. we did our last minute shopping and got everybody on a shuttle to the campground. the campground was quite small and trees were everywhere, nothing like the Gorge, for those of you who know it. but the location of this place is amazing. its right on the end of an amazing lake, surrounded by mountains, in the woods, stunning. but we ended up setting up our tents behind someones car, but they said that would be fine. dave, chris and didnt have a tent, but we had a rainfly which we strung up between the two tents. so we all had sandwiches for dinner, started to party (maybe a bit too early, cause apparently things dont get going at moondflower until about 1 am), and sat around the fire laughing and playing music. at 11 or so we headed out and saw this great band playing a funky mix of reggae, ska and dub music. it was so fun. we headed back to the campsite at around 1 to "get some beers" but ended up not making it back out to the music. that was our early night. dave, chris and i slept on the ground, which was uncomfortable, but i wasnt cold, which was suprising, considering everybody else was.

day two was very chill for most of the afternoon. we lay by the beach for much of the day. rose also somehow found us that day, which was good. as night time rolled around we had a late dinner of more sandwiches and put off drinking for a couple hours so we could stay out later. so again we sat around the fire playing music, drinking, singing, having a good time. i left to go to the bathroom at some stage and saw loads of people heading to the far end of the beach. i thought that maybe it was a special party thing over there, so i followed. there was a load generator type thing running though. i asked when i got out there and it was actually a fire. people were lined up in two lines from the lake into the woods passing coke bottles, thermos', 5 gallon jugs, frying pans...anything they had, back and forth to put out the fire. so i joined in and spent about a half hour taking water to the fire out in the woods. it was pretty intense, but after awhile there was a big cheer and it sounded like we got it out. an hour later everybody was back dancing and partying like nothing had happened. it was wild. we headed out to the music but this time there was not an amazing live band, but the DJ at the main stage was pretty good. and despite far too much trance music, it was still fun because everybody there was getting into it. that night we got back later, which was too bad, cause the brits and euopeans were leaving at 8 the next morning.

once they left it was just dave, chris, rose and me left to enjoy the festivities. the third day and night passed much like the first too (although without the fire) with the addition of a moon celebration on the beach. there was a massive bonfire and everybody was crowded around it singing and playing moon songs and then we all turned and looked towards the mountains and watched the moon rise, and chanted unitl it was fully visible. then we followed fire throwers and a massive dragon (much like what you would see if you were celebrating the chinese newyear) to the main stage and danced the rest of the night away.

then we went back to bolson, back to the hostel, stayed one more night and i left the next day for BA with rose, jen, and ilka, a girl i met back in mendoza. now we are here and in search of a sony shop, my camera broke during the festival. although it wasnt my fault, so maybe i get some money for it.