We came really early. Me and my group of friends, I mean. We wanted to sit around and catch up over some beers before it became impossible with the throngs that will submit themselves to the DJs later on in the night and relax in a carnival atmosphere that has yet to warm up.
And submit they did. The crowd grew thicker and thicker as renowned DJs graced the stage with their presence and mind-blowing sets. What really sent me spiraling up into a state of exhilaration was Carl Cox and later on into complete euphoria, so much so that the world faded into oblivion and all that was left was me and Armin Van Buuren – my reason for paying $58 to enter.
It’s amazing the lengths people go to, to prepare for this event. Friends I know go for expensive haircuts, buy new beach wear, hit the gym just to look extra good for the night. And there I was at home gorging on Mcdonald’s chicken nuggets while watching reruns of Friends in dumpy clothes. Heck, the only preparation I did was to type in the ZoukOut 2007 website because I was bored online.
Maybe it did pay off because it was a stunning parade of beautiful people. Girls clad in teeny tiny bikinis and men with washboard abs in shorts and even swimming trunks gyrated away while green lasers licked all the sweaty bodies.
And no, I didn’t feel bad that I stuffed my face with solidified trans fat the previous day, thank you very much even though I was dancing amidst a dozen hot, sweaty and tanned chunks of muscle.
But dancing on the platform till the sun rose was really something. It was inspiring to move to such great music under the velvet night sky and watching clouds swirl by as the horizon changes into a beautiful shade of sapphire with an energetic crowd eager to lap up anything the DJ throws at them.
With Armin’s amazing sets, I found myself in a cathartic state of mind where I felt like I was one with the music, the lighting effects, the people, the sights and the sounds. I achieved a state of euphoric delirium like never before and at one point when one of his sets climaxed, I can’t remember which, I found myself blinking tears away.
The sight of people jumping, gyrating with their hands up in unison was a spiritual sight to behold, and I think somewhere in there, something touched my soul deeply.
“Oh I experience that every week,” a friend said as I was telling him about it, “… it’s called church.”
“Then this will be my religion.” I replied. 
Pictures are by me. Please drop me a note and link back to me if you wish to use them.
ZoukOut 2007
