Things I learnt at Rhythm and Vines

I'm so glad Rhi finally decided to post on here, it kinda felt like I was talking to myself for a bit...

Anyway, a week ago today I got back from the Rhythm and Vines festival in Gisborne, New Zealand. I camped (roughed it) at BW Campgrounds for a whole week, and somehow actually survived. When people tell you it's like the slums, believe them...

Our campsite on new year's eve, before people started setting fire to things...

I learned a LOT of interesting things that week, so I thought I'd compile a list of the 10 most important lessons learned.

1. It is unacceptable to start drinking at lunchtime.
You should have started at 11am. Except on the first day. Getting drunk in the line for the campground will impair your tent pitching skills and result in a tent that sags in the middle for the rest of the week.

2. A 35 year old tent will withstand 100km/h winds better than a brand new 10 person tent.
As will a $40 Warehouse tent. Better yet, befriend someone with a 10 person tent and use their tent as a windbreak, storage space and shelter for when it rains.

3. The Portaloos in the shade smell less than the main ones.
They may, however, spontaneously combust.

4. Your chairs will get stolen.
We started the week with 13 and ended up with 1. The chairs that don't get stolen may get set on fire on the last night, so hiding them in your tent might be a good place to start...

5. If you run out of balloons, condoms will do the trick.
(for water bombs, of course...)

6. Jandals and mosh pits do not mix.
Wearing jandals in a mosh pit will result in you spending the rest of the night convinced you have a broken foot.

7. Make friends with your neighbours.
We thankfully knew everyone tenting around us, but I heard some horror stories about some people's neighbours backflipping off their tents and others who woke up to find their neighbours peeing on their tent.

8. You don't need somewhere to sleep.
Sleep where you drop, I can assure you that you won't be the only one doing this. Nobody will judge you.

9. This is the one week of the year you can stop caring what you look like.
Seriously. I had an afro and wore the same clothes all week. I'm pretty sure nobody remembers, let alone cares. DON'T be that girl in the bathroom straightening, then curling her hair.

10. If you have to get up at 6am to leave the campground before anyone sees you...
then spend the day at your hotel room getting ready, before finally returning to the campground (with straightened hair and perfectly applied makeup) at 5pm, perhaps you should consider a different new years destination... Auckland maybe?


I know that's 10 lessons there, but I'm going to leave you with one more, the most important lesson I learned all week...

DON'T BE THAT GUY.