Sunday 4 March 2012

Open your eyes..

Quick little update on goings-on, I will hopefully be leaving between 16-20th March, preferably the 17th, this is due to me finding out that Dragon Festival is happening from the 16th til the 26th this year. The first time I was at this festival, was also the only time I've ever been, and it left a lasting impression on me.

Without a doubt one of the craziest places I've been, I'd say it was very very loosely organized chaos. But full of the most interesting people, most of them living some form of alternative life-style; travelling by all kinds of van, bus etc. with the biggest sound-systems I've ever seen. It claims to be Europe's biggest free festival, and advertises itself (advertising is definitely not the correct word) as being open to all performers, travellers, soundsystems and free people.

I have also made some further arrangements on couchsurfing.org, and should hopefully be staying with a guy in Bordeaux, I figured I'd try to couchsurf only in cities, if I find myself in the countryside of any sort, I will jump on the opportunity to wild-camp. I have been reading 'The art of camping' which is getting me geared up for the great unknown. I have also spent many hours trawling the internet for information on wild camping, although I suppose one can only do so much reading about camping.

When you get to a quiet piece of woodland in the late afternoon and set up your tent, no amount of reading will prepare you for what will happen. I suppose I have reached a point here in England, where I have some sort of disregard for my own well-being, as long as I am experiencing living, minor danger or anxiety is nothing compared to being out there.

Not quite sure how its going to turn out being at a festival by myself, but we shall have to wait and see. The good thing is I don't have a strict time schedule to stick to, as long as I keep my HelpX hosts informed of when I will be arriving all should turn out well. Saying that, I have literally just found out that the first hosts I am visiting have some form of connection with the people I lived with, with my family about 12 years ago. Interesting. I don't know whether that is a good or bad thing, I have sent them a message to enquire as to whether they are based in the same location I lived.

Now another question I have pondering on; is it selfish of me to travel and live in some form of freedom for as long as my budget will stretch?

I don't think there is a definitive answer to this question, however I have recently been influenced by various sources, and it is clear to me that life is for living and I don't enjoy my time here in the same location, repeating routines. The idea of mild danger and not knowing what I will be doing the next day appeals to me greatly. I can see that this probably doesn't appeal to everyone, but I would like to ask these people whether they are truly happy in their position. Working for the majority of their time, for what? So they can impress? Does that flat your paying for make you genuinely happy? Does your car that you lowered make you feel better about yourself? DO those clothes you're wearing make you a better person? These aren't for me to answer; as the saying goes, each to their own.

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