Category: <span>Adventures</span>

Adventures

Dal Baht Power 24 Hour, Summit Day aka A.B.C.…

Good lord what a day this was! Annapurna Base Camp sits at 4,130m, (the highest we were climbing) and what a mission it was to get there. “Summit” day was one of the most challenging days yet, not because it was 3,500 steep stone steps, but because we hit some interesting weather along the way that really tested our desire to make it to our end goal.

The Soundtrack of Summiting: Dig Deep

The day started early as we were expecting it to take about eight hours to get to our final destination. The first part of the day involved crossing quite a few “bridges.” I honestly think the last time I ran across a bunch of rocks to get to the other side (there’s a joke in there somewhere), was when I was 12 years old playing in the creek behind my parents’ house. And even then, it was a creek I was running across not a river with gallons of rushing water per minute that could sweep you away at any moment. It was a solid reminder of how much more respect nature deserves from us.

The views throughout the first part of the day were exactly what I was expecting when I signed up for this adventure. The snowy mountain pass was not too far off in the distance with water from the river rushing loudly beside us as we trekked along.

Everyone seemed to be in a pretty joyous mood as we were passing through all this humbling beauty. The porters even took time to play on the snowy mountainside, climbing up the hill beside the path to slide back down the icy pass.

The weather started to change after lunch though and, that in itself is a pretty incredible thing to witness. From big blue skies one minute to dark grey clouds rolling in over the mountains, completely changing the landscape and sobering up the mood of the morning.

As the heavy clouds rolled in, we prepared ourselves for an unpleasant final two hours in the trek.

And those last two hours, with the rain coming down so hard we could barely see the path in front of us, were very unpleasant. I was cold from the weather but hot from all the layers and from trekking. It was slippery pretty much the whole way up and the snow that we were walking on would give way beneath our feet, making us fall through in spots. It was a slow moving and a very long two hours.

When we finally made it to base camp, the rain changed to snow. And there was nothing to see. The clouds were still too thick and heavy. Tragic, I know. But if there is one thing I learned from this experience, it’s that weather on the mountains is entirely unpredictable. And I am nowhere near as outdoorsy as I like to think I am.

Thank goodness though, after we all made it to the top and warmed up in the dining hall with hot chocolate (yes, hot chocolate at 4,130m) the mountains had one more surprise in store for us. The clouds were dissipating. And we would get a first glimpse of what we had worked so hard to see over the past six days. The Annapurna Mountain Range.

That first glimpse was pretty mind-blowing, even with the leftover greyness in the sky from the storm. But it did not compare to what was in store for us the following morning and even that night when the stars came out. The constellations were all upside down from what I am used to, and there were so many stars in the night sky. As well, the stars just seemed to stop where the mountains “covered” the rest of the sky. It was as if we were in a little bubble on earth.

Adventures

Dal Baht Power 24 Hour, To Annapurna Base Camp…

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… No amount of squats can prepare you for the Annapurna Base Camp (A.B.C.) trek. Looking back on my two-week trek, I definitely went into that experience unprepared and completely unaware about what it would entail. That being said, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

The Soundtrack of Tadapani: Moon Mountain

The views throughout the A.B.C. trek are absolutely incredible. From panoramic mountain views to glorious sunrises, from a rhododendron forest to a bamboo forest, and the incredible geometrical “steps” up the side of the mountains that support the plantings from the local farming communities, A.B.C. awarded some of the most awe-inspiring views.

Each day on the mountain also provided new challenges to overcome and new beauty to look forward to. Here are the stories from those two weeks.

Pokhara to Tikhe Dhunga

The trek to Base Camp began in the tourist town of Lakeside Pokhara. After three days in the dusty madness of Kathmandu, the calmness of Lakeside Pokhara was a welcomed relief. Situated on the bank of the lake with beautiful sunsets, the Annapurna Mountain Range can be seen in the distance on clear days, reminding tourists of what is to come or what they just conquered. And after a horrendously long and bumpy bus ride from Kathmandu to Pokhara, a walk along the lake to watch the sun set was needed.

From Pokhara we took a van up and around the winding roads of the mountains, with a quick stop at a beautiful Tibetan refugee monastery, to get to our hike’s starting point of Nayapul.

This first day of hiking was fairly easy, especially in comparison to what was awaiting us the next day. Although, since we were still at a lower elevation, it was very hot. After a few hours of walking slowly uphill, we passed by a waterfall where three young boys from a local village could be heard playing and fishing.

A quick dip in the waterfall looked very inviting so our group hiked on down to the waterfall. That was probably the best decision we made. That waterfall was one of the most refreshing swims I’ve ever had. And with a crowd of people to watch them now, the boys stopped fishing and one of them leaped off from the top of the waterfall into the pool below, while the other two scrambled down the rocks to join him in the water.

Stopping shortly thereafter for a Dal Baht lunch, we could see dark clouds rolling in over the mountains, signaling to us that the weather was about to change. And what a change it was! From the hot, sunniness of the morning, the sky quickly got angry and opened up releasing a fury of hailstones. Fortunately, we weren’t too far from our rest stop for the evening, so we only had to run up a few steps for cover.

Stairway to Ghorepani

One of the things you will probably hear from anyone who has done an Annapurna trek is how many stairs there are. Seriously though, it’s neverending. And because it’s on the side of a mountain, each step is of varying height making the climb even more challenging. Some steps are big, some steps are small, some are cracked and some are wiggly. But all in all, they’re steep. And the steepest, most challenging day of steps was the second day of our journey. No easing into it. Just start climbing!

Local lore says that there are 3,500 steps during this leg of the trek. A guide counted them once. I think he was lowballing that number so as not to discourage the trekkers.

The only encouraging break from the steps is, halfway up to Upper Ghorepani you get the first amazing glimpse of the snowy peak of Annapurna South. I mean, it does take 1,750 steps to get that first glimpse, and even then its only visible on a clear day. But then you only have another 1,750 steps to go. And hopefully, not too many mules are heading downwards, needing to get by, because there are some pretty narrow, tight spots along the route.

Poon Hill

So I would be lying if I told you the steps got better after that “Stairway to Ghorepani.” They do get less intense (for the most part) and, personally, even just after that one day of climbing, I felt stronger so the climbing did (sort of) become easier.

After the previous day’s climb, I would have been quite happy to never see a stone step again in my life (honestly it was exhausting and no, I am not being dramatic). But with the promise of a beautiful sunrise at Poon Hill, I found myself climbing, yet again, more steps. This time at 4:30 a.m. Because… You know… Sunrise.


It was actually pretty cool doing that trek in the darkness of the early morning hours. Little headlamp specks could be seen dotting their way up the mountain, looking like stars that had fallen from above to guide the way, along with the light from the moon. As the dark night sky started to fade away into the first greys of the morning light, a sense of urgency washed over me.

I did not wake up at 4:10 a.m. to still be walking up steps when the sun shone its bright little face over the mountains.

I made it though. With plenty of time to spare.

I was fortunate as well to be one of the first few people to get up there so, I had the pleasure of experiencing a calmness at the top that quickly disappeared as the rest of the trekkers made their way up. Poon Hill is a destination for many trekkers. Some simply do Poon Hill because it is a shorter four to five-day trek, while most add it in as a side stop on their way to A.B.C.  Once the sun is really close to rising over the mountains, Poon Hill is covered with trekkers who are there for the morning show (and possibly a cup of joe, a nice surprise to drink at the top).

The sunrise truly was spectacular though. There is a beautiful view from Poon Hill of the whole mountain range with snowy peaks visible in the distance and the wind whipping the snow around making the peaks look like soft serve ice cream cones. The sun popping up over the mountains provided for some stunning contrasts between light and dark and accentuated the blues of the surrounding mountains and sky.

Ghorepani to Tadapani

After the must-see sunrise at Poon Hill, we headed back down to Ghorepani for breakfast before continuing on to our next destination at Tadapani, known for its panoramic views of the mountains.

The hike to Tadapani was a lot more pleasant than the Stairway to Ghorepani. It was more of a steady increase and decrease in elevation and not as steep. This hike also took us through a rhododendron forest which is one of the most interesting things I’ve ever seen.

The trees themselves were twisted and warped and covered in moss. Not many trees were blooming while we were there but the few that did have the red and pink flowers on them were stunning. With the snowy mountains visible in the background, this hike was surreal for me. There’s a bit of a disconnect between seeing the mountains in the background, mountains that aren’t that far from where you are, and then walking through the eerie forest of rhododendrons, followed by hiking alongside cool rivers and through villages and farms.

Chhomrong to Himalaya

The route from Chhomrong to Himalaya was a beautiful and hot one. The first part of the day was completely out in the open, with no cover from the sun until we reached the village of Bamboo where, you guessed it, a bamboo forest provided cover from the hot, hot sun.

The bamboo forest was quite the sight to see. Tall stalks of green bamboo shot up amidst the old, warped rhododendron trees. With a waterfall on the opposite mountain, cascading down from the mist above, it was hard to believe how different the environment could be from one spot to the next.

We officially hit 2,900m in elevation. It was noticeably chilly up here and, with the proximity to the waterfalls, the cold was a damp one that got into my bones.

It took us this long to get here but we were finally at our last stop before trekking our way up to A.B.C. Although at this point the days had started melding into one and it was hard to remember where we were even just two nights ago.

Adventures

An Overview of My Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Somewhere along the way to Annapurna Base Camp (A.B.C.) I had an epiphany. I’m going to be thinking quite often to myself “what the fuck was I thinking.”

I actually couldn’t even tell you how many times I thought that during my trek to A.B.C. but it was at least once a day. Writing this, and looking back on the trek, I can’t help but think “what the fuck.”

All in all, I spent 10 days on the mountain with a Lebanese, an Israeli, a Brit, a Polish girl, three porters and one guide. The trek itself takes you 4130m (13,549 ft) to the base camp that is surrounded by the Annapurna Mountain Range, including Annapurna I, Annapurna II, Annapurna III, Annapurna South, Mount Machapuchhere (Fishtail)… Pretty much the whole Annapurna Mountain Range. There’s 3,500 stone steps climbed on the second day of the trek and approximately 160 kms traversed from start to finish.

No amount of squats can prepare you for this.

We had one hailstorm, two rainstorms, and a snowstorm while on the mountain, got up for three sunrises including the sunrise trek from Ghorepani to Poon Hill at 4:30 a.m., crossed 19 bridges that were either just rocks or tree branches laid out over a rushing stream, passed through a rhododendron forest and a bamboo forest, got stuck multiple times behind herds of goats, sheep and mules, and had a snowball fight at the top.

I got two blisters, 53 bug bites (yes I counted), sucked on by three leeches, and developed a sinus infection after reaching the top.

And when I look back on the trek, and read through what sounds like absolute misery, I am happy and proud of myself. And have nothing but joy at the memories, even the ones that sound horrendous like trekking with a sinus infection or accidentally popping the leech that had jumped into my boot (that actually still makes me squeamish).

Adventures

Hidden Temples of Kathmandu

I don’t know what it is about Nepal that has always fascinated me but when choosing where to go this April, Kathmandu seemed like the most logical place for me. After flying in over the Himalayas I knew I had made a good decision.

Before starting my trek to Annapurna Base Camp I decided to spend a few days in Kathmandu. Or “dustmandu” as the locals call it.

Kathmandu was a whirlwind three days for me, spent walking around the city, lost most of the times since street names are not a thing in Nepal, visiting the oodles of temples scattered around the streets.

There are so many temples to see in Kathmandu, the temples being the street markers that will guide you back home. My favourite discovery was coming upon the Seto Machhen-dranath Temple (Jan Bahal). This temple is hidden away, not directly on the streets of Kathmandu, so finding this gem was a true delight.

After already having had walked by and stopped at a handful of temples, I was admiring the beauty of one temple, surrounded by clay pots and people selling fruits and flowers amidst the dustiness of the city and the rubble from surrounding buildings that had been affected by the 2015 earthquake, when another tourist came over and informed me how to get to the Seto Machhen-dranath Temple.

“There’s another temple hidden beyond those walls,” she said. “Go around the back of this temple and walk through the blue archway.”

Had she not gone out of her way to tell me this, I probably never would have found that temple. So taking her advice, I went around back of the first temple at one of the many junctions in the city, passed by clay pots stacked up to my shoulders and went through the blue arch.

Coming out on the other side was like stepping through into a calm oasis amidst the craziness that is “dustmandu.”

Seto Machhen-dranath Temple is completely surrounded by buildings, tucked away in a courtyard, sheltering it from the dust and traffic outside.

The temple itself did not appear to suffer much damage from the earthquake and was surrounded by a beautiful large gate that appeared to protect it from the outside. There were many different little places to worship around the temple before entering the large iron gates to walk around Seto Machhen-dranath.

Inside the gates, the temple had doors on each of the four walls that people would touch before continuing around to the next door, walking all the way around until the returned to the entrance (or exit) of the temple.

It was remarkably quiet in this little courtyard, the noise of cars honking somewhere far off in the distance, the sounds of pigeons cooing and people murmuring being the primary sounds. So it comes as a bit of a shock when you walk back through the blue arch and in to the dusty streets of Kathmandu, motorbikes whipping by.

Adventures

What Was I Thinking?

For the two days leading up to my planned trip to Nepal, I was filled with dread, randomly crying and felt like puking because I was so scared. I had seven panic attacks in one day and took a half hour shower during which I spent 20 of those minutes sobbing. All I could think was “what the f**k was I thinking.” It would have been so much easier, and so much safer, for me to stay at home.

Saying goodbye to friends and family sucked. I felt like I was dying rather than travelling for an unknown period of time. My going away parties had a morbid, funeral, vibe to it.

It wasn’t until I spoke to friends who have taken similar journeys that I realized all of this, my fears and worries and dread, were normal. As one friend put it, you get used to living with the daily anxiety of the unknown. I don’t know if that was supposed to be comforting, but in a way, it was.

I’m not far into this trip (it hasn’t even been a full day yet in Kathmandu) but the panic attacks have subsided and I’m getting more and more excited for the unknown experiences and adventures I am bound to have over my next month in Nepal.

And who knows? Maybe I love it so much I extend my stay.

Adventures

Southeast Asia – The Boring Safety Stuff

Before heading over to Southeast Asia, I spent a solid month reading and taking notes on the Canadian Government’s Travel Advisory website. I researched the different countries I want to visit, and the different countries I may inadvertently go to, compiling more than 30 pages of notes about safety precautions, entry and exit requirements, and legal differences and customs in these countries.

Safety precautions for any country in the world will change based on a variety of factors, so I will not be including that in this post. However, below you can find a list (in alphabetical order) of the visa requirements, entry fees (if any), and currency per country I plan to visit. It’s boring, but important stuff to know.

Brunei

Currency: Brunei dollar (BND) – USD traveller cheques recommended; ATMs available
Consulate: Bandar Seri Begawan, 5 Floot, Jalan McArthur Building, No. 1, Jalan McArthur; T: 673 (2) 22-00-43
Visas: Tourist Visa Not Required – unnecessary for stays up to 14 days.

Cambodia

Currency: the riel (KHR) – USD widely accepted but only new and undamaged banknotes; traveller cheques accepted but not personal cheques and credit cards
Consulate: Phnom Penh, 27-29 Street 75, Sangkat Srah Chak, Khan Daun Penh; T: +855 023 430 813
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – may be purchased upon arrival; valid for 30 days, may be extended once.

  • $30 USD
  • two recent passport-size (2″x2″) photos
  • onward or return ticket, and proof of sufficient funds required

Guam

Currency: USD
Consulate: Pohnpei (See Palau)
Visas: Tourist Visa Not Required – unnecessary for US overseas territories.

Japan

Currency: yen (JPY) – credit cards accepted in major cities
Consulate: Tokyo, 3-38 Akasaka 7 – chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, 107-8503; T: +81 (3) 5412 6200     –     Fukuoka, c/o Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. 1-82 Watanabe-dori 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, Japan, 810-8720; T: +81 (92) 726-6348     –     Hiroshima, c/o Chugoka Electric Power Co. Inc., 4-33 Komachi, Maka-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima-ken, Japan, 730-8701; T: +81 (82) 246-0057    –     Nagoya, Nakato Marunouchi Building, 6F, 3-17-6, Marunouchi, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken, Japan, 460-0002; T: +81 (52) 972-0450     –     Osaka, c/o Tsuda Sangyo Co. Ltd., 1-8-19, Hirabayashi Minami, Suminoe-ku, Osaka, 559-8550; T: +81 (6) 6681-0250     –     Sapporo, Canadian Place, Poseidon Maruyama 2F, 26-1-3 Odori Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Japan, 064-0820
Visas: Tourist Visa Not Required

  • onward or return ticket, confirmed accommodation arrangements, and proof of sufficient funds

Entry Permits: maximum of 90 days; photographed and fingerprinted upon arrival

Laos

Currency: kip (LAK) – USD and Thai Baht widely accepted
Consulate: Vientiane, KM4, Thadeua Road, Watnak Village, Sisattanak District; T: +856 (0) 21 35 38 34     –     Bangkok (see Thailand)
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – may be obtained upon arrival.

  • $42 USD
  • two recent passport-size (2″x2″) photos

Entry Stamp: obtain upon arrival

Malaysia

Currency: rin ggit (MYR)
Consulate: Kuala Lumpar, 207 Jalan Tun Razak, 17 Floor, Menara Tan and Tan 50400; T: +60 3 2718 3333    –     Penang, 3007, Tingkat Perusahaan 5, Prai Industrial Park, 13600 Prai
Visas: Tourist Visa Not Required – unnecessary for stays up to 90 days
Port of Entry: required to register fingerprints

Myanmar (Burma)

Currency: kyat (MMK) – USD widely accepted but only new and undamaged banknotes; credit cards are rarely accepted and there are no ATMs; currency exchange available at Yangon International Airport
Consulate: Yangon, 65 Sule Pagoda Road, 9 Floor, Centerpoint Towers; T: +95 1 384 805     –     Bangkok (see Thailand)
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – obtain prior to arrival.

  • valid for 28 days

Port of Entry: use same port to enter and exit to avoid problems with immigration (Yangon International Airport)

Indonesia

Currency: Rupiah (IDR) – carry cash when visiting remote areas
Consulate: Jakarta, World Trade Centre, 6 Floor, JI. Jend Sudirman, Kav. 29, Jakarta 12920; T: +62 21 2550 7800     –     Bali, Jalan Tantular No. 32, Renon, Denpasar; T: 62 361 241 118
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – may be obtained upon arrival.

  • valid for visits less than 30 days
  • may be required to show return or onward tickets

Departure Fee: must be paid in cash – price varies

Nepal

Currency: rupee (NPR)
Consulate: Kathmandu, 47 Lal Darbar Marg, P.O. Box 3596; T: +977 1 444 1976
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – may be purchased upon arrival.

  • $40 USD for 30-day Visa; $100 USD for 90-day Visa
  • one recent passport-size (2″x2″) photo in colour

Palau

Currency: USD – ATMs available; credit cards widely accepted
Consulate: Pohnpei, H&E Enterprises Building, Kolonia, Phonpei, Micronesia; T: 691 320 5448
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – issued upon arrival.

  • valid for visits up to 30 days
  • required to show return or onward tickets

Departure Fee: $50 USD

Papua New Guinea

Currency: kina (PGK) – USD traveller cheques recommended; credit cards accepted at major hotels
Consulate: Port Moresby, Godwit Road, Waigani NCD; T: +675 325 9333     –     Canberra, Commonwealth Avenue, Canberra ACT, Australia 2600; T: +61 (2) 6270-4000
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – may be obtained upon arrival at Jacksons International.

  • onward or return ticket, and proof of sufficient funds required

Philippines

Currency: Philippine peso (PHP) – credit cards widely accepted; ATMs available in larger cities
Consulate: Manila, Floors 6-8, Tower 2, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City; T: +63 2 857 9000 / +63 2 857 9001     –     Cebu, RD Corporate Centre, 96 Gov. M.C. Cuenco Avenue, Cebu City 6000; T: +63 32 256 3320
Visas: Tourist Visa Not Required – unnecessary for stays up to 30 days.

  • must present an onward or return ticket

Departure Fee: 750 PHP – can be paid in local current of equivalent in USD (cash only)

Thailand

Currency: baht (THB)
Consulate: Bangkok, 990 Rama IV, Abdulrahim Place, 15 Floor, 10500, P.O. Box 2090, Bangkok 10501, Thailand; T: +66 0 2646 4300     –     Chiang Mia, 151 Super Highway, Tambon, Tahsala, Arnphur Muang, Chiang Mia, 5000; T: +66 0 5385 0147 / +66 0 5324 2292
Visas: Tourist Visa Not Required – unnecessary for visits less than 30 days; may re-enter within any 6-month period from the date of first entry for a cumulative duration not exceeding 60 days.
Entry Stamp: must be obtained from an immigration officer at the point of entry

Vietnam

Currency: Vietnamese dong (VND) – credit cards accepted at major hotels; ATMs available
Consulate: Hanoi, 31 Hung Vuong St. Hanoi; T: +84 (4) 3734-5000     –     Ho Chi Minh City, 9 Floor, The Metropolitan, 235 Dong Khoi Street, District 1; T: +84 (8) 3827-9899
Visas: Tourist Visa Required – must be obtained prior to arrival; extensions may be obtained.
Entry Requirements: registration with local police upon arrival

Adventures

Five Favourite Moments from Coachella Weekend Two

My lungs are still hacking up dust from last weekend’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, and the sadness of having had to leave the Polo Fields for another year is still very fresh in my mind. To help me get through this though, I have put together a list of my five favourite moments from last weekend’s festivities.

1. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

One of the best moments of Weekend Two was being a party to the energetic and interactive performance of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. When lead singer Alex Ebert pranced out on stage barefoot to begin the evening set, he did not stop dancing during the entire 50-minute performance. Straight from the get-go, Ebert set the tone for the evening, climbing the crowd barrier to wade deep into the Coachella crowds. Throughout the performance, fans could find Ebert singing in his soothing voice right above them, or dancing and hopping around the stage, mic in hand. At one point, he called out to the crowd, asking for someone to sing the next verse. One fan nervously accepted the challenge amongst the encouraging cheers of the surrounding fans. Later in the set, Ebert tossed out a compact video camera into the crowd, informing everyone to take a video of themselves dancing before tossing it on. For the next few minutes, a tiny green camera could be seen hurtling through the air from person, to person, to person. And what better way to end such an energetic, happy set than with stories from fans as the sun slowly set behind the mountains? With such amazing energy from Ebert and the band, and such good vibes from the crowd, along with beautifully happy music all taking place during the stunning Coachella sunsets, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros put on an unforgettable performance that still brings tears to my eyes (happy tears, of course).

2. Anderson .Paak and all his surprises

Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals started off their set with some funky jams, revving the crowd up with their energetic performance and inciting all the booty popping and hip swaying that comes with their tunes. With no expectations of any surprise performances, Anderson .Paak began to build the crowd’s excitement as he announced midway through his set that the thing to do at Coachella is to bring out surprise guests. Lo and behold, Kendrick Lamar came out to perform “Back Street Freestyle” on the small stage with Anderson .Paak. As if that surprise wasn’t enough for Anderson .Paak and hip hop fans alone, the crowd was blessed with a second surprise: a performance by legendary hip hop producer and N.W.A. member Dr. Dre. Although Dre and Kendrick had already performed with Ice Cube the night before on the main stage, this surprise was so unexpected the two hip hop artists ended up performing to a smaller crowd in the Mojave tent, providing fans lucky enough to be there with a more intimate, yet highly energetic performance. And yes… California does know how to party.

3. Finding the “Big Fish” stage

Do LaB proved once again as to why their stage is my favourite stage at Coachella. With a unique crowd that vibes off one another’s positive energy, and a different lineup from Weekend One to Weekend Two of talented DJs and up-and-comers, this stage is well-worth discovering and walking over to in The Terrace. While the stage never ceases to impress with it’s pyrotechnics, acrobatic dancers and bumping beats, this year’s joy came from the energy of the artist painting on the live art wall. Anticipation for Sunday night’s surprise guest was growing throughout the crowd during Kraddy’s (incredible) set, until finally Diplo’s face appeared behind the decks being set up to takeover the stage. As the crowd grew, hordes of young electronic fans piling into the Do LaB tent, Walshy Fire picked up a microphone, and Jillionaire and Diplo started revving up the crowd in the background. Major Lazer hit the decks and, the artist hit the wall… The artist painting the live art wall had so much energy, whipping his brush on the wall to paint beautiful blue strokes and effectively creating the story of Major Lazer at Do LaB with each flick of the brush. He jumped to the music, swinging his arms in beat and flinging paint on fans nearby, with a huge grin on his face. It looked like he was loving every minute of what he is doing and where he was doing it.

4. Getting lost in Black Coffee’s Yuma set

I got yuma’d. It’s a thing. Especially during Black Coffee’s two-hour set. The struggle with the sandstorms was real Friday, and Yuma provided shelter from the dust and the wind, along with an epic set by Black Coffee. As much as you may go into Yuma with the intention of leaving after 45 minutes to go catch another artist, the energy, lack of windows, and the beauty of the disco ball shark have the power to suck you in for three times as long. While coming out of Yuma after two-hours of non-stop dancing can be a bit of a shock to the system, doing so during Black Coffee’s set was well worth it and he quickly became one of my favourite new discoveries of the weekend.

5. Water fights in the campgrounds

Camping at Coachella is not for everyone, and it is definitely not for the faint of heart. High winds this year tore down the majority of campers’ EZ-Ups on the first day of the festival, leaving many people without the much sought-after and needed shade for the rest of the weekend. Broken down metal pieces could be seen scattered around the campgrounds, looking like very large, damaged spiders. But camping at a festival, you learn to roll with the punches and make the best of any situation. The wind did not stop all weekend and neither did the party and the fun and games. One of my favourite moments camping at Coachella Weekend Two came during a (somewhat) spontaneous water fight. Armed with beers, a kiddie pool, and water guns, new friends hosted a water fight that provided lots of fun in the sun on Sunday afternoon, along with relief from the intense heat, quite a few nip slips, and fond new memories.