I thought I would post a few photos of Greenbelt Festival 2005. This is kind of like a “20/20 in the morning hindsight” post, since really, it’s actually March 25th 2006 and I’m sitting at Eliza’s in Rochester, doing a few days of intense website updating. I remember wanting to tell folks about this festival because I was so impressed with it, but I’ve lost some of the vibrancy of the experience in my brain, so maybe the photos will help tell the story. By way of introduction, Greenbelt festival is Britain’s “… Youth festival, music festival, political festival, evangelical festival, development festival, broke festival, harvest festival… there’s something in all these myths about Greenbelt that is accurate, but nothing entirely true.” (Quote taken from www.greenbelt.org.uk ) Chris’ band, Aradhna, had been invited to perform there, so I got to check it out as a relaxed patron.

It’s been around for about 32 years, and shifted locations (I think) at least once from its original spot. I don’t know how long it’s been hosted at the Cheltenham racecourse, but that’s where it’s hanging out now. I was excited to see a festival that was a) recycling b) inviting speakers and artists with very differing opinions to speak or perform c) encouraging a wide range of musical styles, including some known musicians and some more “unknown” ones. It also had a great mix of food vendors offering a lot of great vegetarian food from all over the world at pretty great prices. Some fantastic art exhibitions, AND there was a vibe- happy beer tent. Nope, we weren’t in Kansas anymore, Dorothy. This was Gloucestershire!

It was chilly and just on the cusp of rain when we pulled in and set up camp not too far away from this lovely crop of teepees, which folks could rent for a fee.

My favourite place to hang out was the meditation yurt, wonderfully located only a minute walk from where we were camped. Hanging from the beautifully constructed roof opening, was this lovely mobile made by some kids, which was constantly in motion.

There were a few organized sessions during the day, but folks could just walk into the place and sit in silence, or browse through books as they pleased.

One of the many “perfect, right down to the retro luggage” VW vans enjoying the extra special attention of gawkers like us.

Pete (guitarist for Aradhna) and his enchanting British wife, Fiona, at the campsite.

“Life-style matters” reads Chris’ mug of coffee. Sleep matters also. I remember some kid goofing until almost 5 am, yelling nonsense rhymes about 15 feet from our heads. I still don’t know how someone can manage to do that for over 5 hours.

In awe, I explored the tiny tea tent that served a lot more thantea.

A drum circle that really did sound good!! (As you know, some drum circles can go terribly wrong.) A few steps towards the right put you smack in the middle of a rustic tea house scented by some of the nicest burning frankincense I’ve ever smelled.

The bubble guy kept even the adults entertained from the moment his booth opened up in the morning til closing hours. This is the trick where he blows bubbles into a bubble. The man has got to be a marketing genius. Not only have I just posted his website here, (since it’s on his shirt) he was probably the guy who sold the most stuff at the festival. You know where the kids were flocking to…every time I passed by, there must have been about 20 or more, running gleefully around, trying to pop as many bubbles as they could.

I’m not sure I could get away with wearing this hat in Toronto, so I didn’t buy it, but it sure felt nice to be a pixie for about 20 seconds.

Another favourite booth of ours was the candle powered steam boat place. Chris used to have a toy like this when he was in Nepal. What you’re seeing is a clever little gypsy home built by this guy into the back of a truck. He finishes off the place with a funky roof that hangs off the back (where he displays his merchandise)

The back door of the “candle powered steam boat” gypsy house

The steamboats run on a little bit of wax and some wick, motoring themselves around in a bucket of water.

I was extremely pleased with a tour of his living quarters in the back of the truck, featuring a cosy bed, and a small efficient kitchen. I also liked his pirate costume.

Pete and Chris, joined by their tabla player gets ready for one of their shows.

From Greenbelt, we left for India, headed for a month in Varanasi, which is where I really started to journal in earnest….. at least for a little while.