In yet another installment of yesterday’s #PlayaTales, our hero celebrates White Wednesday, explains what LSD is really like, and sees Diplo… sorta…
We made it back to HOTD and waited for the Degenerates to come by. This was “Guys Night” – though there would be women amongst us. We have had adventures together, but this was the first time out and about at Burning Man. And I was unsupervised… with a head full of acid.
I get asked what it is like on LSD. There are lot of misconceptions about what it entails and more importantly what you see. In the War on Drugs, hallucinogens were Enemy Number 2. Stories of going insane, having children with birth defects, seeing your dead grandmother crawl up your leg, or jumping off roofs filled the ears of kids.
Most of what you have heard is bullshit. I have been doing this for over 30 years and have had hundreds of trips. I have never seen my dead grandmother, never thought I could fly from the roof, and my children are a little weird, but otherwise just fine. My sanity is probably better than it should because of its use.
LSD temporarily re-wires your brain. How long is dependent on the amount and quality. Some lasts a couple of hours, some may last significantly longer. Your senses are being directed to different areas that you don’t use as often. Your brain is trying to take in this redirected data and make sense of it.
I have never seen something that wasn’t there. I have seen a gentleman of short stature and with a comment about him looking like an elf, overlay everything to some Tolkien fantasy land. I have had someone humming a tune become the soundtrack for the night. LSD enhances what you are experiencing. And yes – I have done some very dumb shit on acid too, but that is a different tale.
Our first destination was to Opulent Temple – one of the big sound (read: rave) camps. They always have an AMAZING lineup, if you are into that sorta thing. I like EDM and was down for the adventure. We were supposed to see Diplo, world famous DJ.
The journey there was 15 or so people in various states of inebriation trying to stay together. Thankfully we are exceptional professionals – we have done this enough times that we have our procedures. We look out for each other, and stop when we need to. No Degen left behind!
We arrived and found our place amongst the peoples. I looked around and thought I saw some familiar faces of the celebrity kind. But – I also knew I wasn’t seeing things clearly. After a while (time also is perceived differently on acid) Diplo took the stage and started playing.
I know not to always trust my perceptions – but this was a large black man up there. In reality, we were watching Carl Cox play Diplo’s music. Still highly entertaining, even more so given how much of a douchebag Diplo is.
We left Opulent Temple and went walk about in the city, looking for good times. We came across some afterparties. We walked past a camp that was giving out fresh cooked dumplings. We were laughing and fucking with each other. But this Fellowship of the Trip was having problems… or maybe I was just perceiving it that way. We were going in circles. Different people called out to lead while others were trying to lead. A sit down was called for – mostly because I’m old and fat.
We all sat down at a collection of couches. I was out of water (had I forgotten to fill up or just drank that much water? Did I say that out loud?). After a few minutes, I looked around the camp we were at – it looked strangely like my back yard. There was even a giant Falcor in the corner. Then I looked closer and realized we were at Barbie Death Camp & Wine Bistro. If you get bored – look it up.
We got up to go on our way. As we moved, I realized I missed my zebra. White Wednesday was our night and tradition. I told my friends I was out and going back to camp. They understood and we parted.
Always get your landmarks firmly in your head before you go out with any kind of substance in you. I always know my way back to camp.
The night was still young. Time to shift gears!