The Travels of Cypris – DOOF
I thought that i had a ride taken care of to get to the festival, but everything fell through at the last minute. I started posting on the event page for a ride, which seemed to get no response. Turns out, lots of people were providing solutions, but i could not read them becuase they were all in Hebrew. Luckily, a kind American girl sent me a message letting me know I could ride with them.
I took a bus to Herzlya, about 30 mintues out of the city, and was able to make my stop thanks to a gentle mother figure. I have found the Isrealis to be a very kind people. Although, I have learned that kindness does not equal politeness here. Interactions sometimes feel abrupt lacking any please or thank you. Sorry is not a word people use, which i found out through my over use of it. I have learned that when i need something, ask directly, do not apologize for not speaking Hebrew, or start the conversation with, ‘Excuse me, please may I….” People have walked me for blocks and blocks when i was lost, helped me with cab rides and ensured i was home safely, and refused to give up on translational issues insisting we figure out some way to communicate.
So I made it to the central bus station in Herzlya and was picked up and taken to this great mutli-level house in the city. The sun was shining and I enjoyed the view of the water from the comfy couch. I was fed musili and yogurt as the group packed. After car tetris, we headed North. The traffic was pretty terrible, but once we got out of the city the scenery started to fly by. My giant back back took up the whole center seat and I could not see my travel mates. We rocked out until our stop at what seemed like just a regular gas station. Around the back were a few little restaruants: noodle house, coffee shop, and arab food. We went for the hummus, falafel, tahini, chips, and taboli. I was able to buy an airmatress in the gas station and was happy to atleast have a sleeping bag and something to place it on.
I did not have a way of contacting my hosts and had no idea where they were camping. Thankfully, the people that gave me a ride offered to let me stay in their camp. They had a shade structure so i set up my air mattress and sleeping bag alongside the tents. By the evening the camp was full and a kind women offered to let me sleep in her tent. I was so glad to have shelter provided! I was ready to get my hands into the Trance scene and my body into the Sea of Galili.
I found the Magaya stage where i would be performing and spun to the accoustic jam that was going on. I was in the right place, surrounded by creative people, vegan food, great music, and free hug signs. I felt like i had been transported back to the 60’s hippy movement. This feeling only increased as the festival went on. We dressed in costumes, sang songs, paraded around the festival offering chai and baked goods for sale, free hugs, and attempting to pass out flyers. We were not super well recieved by some of the festival goers. I felt at a loss because I could only understand body language and my flyer passing out was really piss poor because no one wanted one or could understand what we were trying to do. I spent the afternoon spinning on and off at Magaya with a few moments of shared friendly flow.
As night rolled around the trance set in. And boy did those BPM’s ramp up. I spotted someone spinning glow poi on the out skirts of the crowd. He was Russian and did not speak a word of English. Thank goodness flow is an international language! We spent hours jamming together and showing each other moves. It felt freeing to be with out words, but still able to communicate. The security guards came up to us and offered words of, “Beautiful, I like very much, and good good.”
I went the wrong way back to my camp and heard someone saying something in my direction in Hebrew. I walked up to a completely deserted bar where a guard and a bartender were standing. They let me know that I could not get out the way i was going. I took the opportunity to chat them up. Our conversation led to many questions about my reason for coming to Israel. Instead of explaining, i started spinning and everything became clear.
The next day began with a dip in the Sea of Galilee. It took a lot of effort to get in the water. The water was dingy and there was a lot of trash floating about. I have never scene so many plastic bottles strew throughout the beach front and the reeds. But, I had to get over myself and get into this place of supposed miracles. Once away from the shore, with my back to the festival, i enjoyed the surrounding mountains. I imagined what it was like before our over populous invasion.
As the night set in, i found myself wanting to get away from the generators, bright lights, and music. I started wandering down the shore in search of some quiet darkness. Just as i was in the shadows, i heard a group offer hellos. I followed their voices and was invited to sit. It was Russian friends who had come to hear the trance music from afar, not wanting to pay to get in. They adopted me and fed me kebab, sausages, hummus, salad, and the liquor of Israel – Arak. Arak is an anise flavored clear liquor that turns translucent when mixed with water. I like it mixed with lemonade. One of the ladies of the group was a poi enthusiast who got very excited by my flow toys. I shared a few transitions and then let loose and completed my spin to great applause.
Upon my return to the festival, I saw fire from afar. My fire gear had not arrived yet, so i gravitated toward their flame. I found myself at home with group of you-tube spinning dorks. I was able to get a nice poi spin in, then we all headed back to camp to have a flow geek out. It was my first fire in Israel!
The rest of the festival i dipped in and out of the water, got my trance dance on, and enjoyed entertaining camps as i wandered. One of my favorite moments was when a man walked up to me with my fins and asked to show me a video. He saw Buugeng on you tube months ago and has been searching and searching to figure out what they were. His absolute glee in seeing Dai’s website was priceless! He thanked me every time he saw me with tons of hugs and smiles.
The trip was topped off with one of the best meals i have had since being here. We met up with the rest of our camp at what looked like a truck stop. We sat, with our dirt and paint covered selves as the server kept brining out dishes upon dishes of hummus, two kinds of egg plant, two kinds of cauliflower, beet salad, tomato and cucumber salad, taboli, chips, until the table was completely covered in food. We moved outside so everyone could smoke and were then served coffee, tea, pastries, and candy. I wish i could have that meal after all the festivals i go to!