dead beat descendant

i've scanned in some polaroids from burning man. i don't own a digital camera. sadly, several packs of film succumbed to the heat and the dust and trying to stay cool in a cooler, so i've only got a few pictures. please go check them out in my burning man redux gallery.
the items shown above were gifts from our many lovely guests at Japanorama. I found the note tucked under a pair of sandals, properly placed toe-outward, on the edge of our teahouse. the sandals' owner was sleeping soundly inside. when he awoke we gave him some miso soup. on his left forearm he had scrawled in black marker "want to go Oregon" and on the right forearm "want to go New Mexico." we understood he was hitch-hiking from the playa, seeking more american good time. how do you say in japanese: on the road?

you can see the torii gate reflected in his glasses

the dust!!! arrgh.

these three dropped by from japan. they didn't speak much english. i gave them a couple of polaroid pictures and in exchange they gave me a cool postcard with an old japanese woodcut on it, and a pair of cute tabi socks.

this cute couple came to hang out in our pagoda lounge one afternoon. i think they were looking for the sushi camp, or something. they were adorable. too bad they left behind their polaroid gift.

this is one of my favorite things from the playa: a truly truly awesome (in the TRUE sense of the word) robotic, hydraulic dragon. Fire shot out of his horns. its neck is fully articulated. it fixed you in its gaze, teeth and eyes glinting, fires stoked and ready to blaze. Run!

how we got so lucky, i don't know. this artist came and gave more than thirty tea ceremony performances for us and our guests. ken hamizake and his crew were lovely and amazing and blessed us with their presence.

red lantern from the chochin fence

the torii gate, which will grace center camp cafe in future years

ah, maneki neko
you served us well - we were graced by such fabulous guests at japanorama!