You could break it down into numbers: 14 000 people, 1231 photos, 172 video clips, 28 bands, 22 DJs, nine coffees, six noisy neighbours/vocal 4am conversationalists, two (virtually) sleepless nights, one lead singer of a top local rock band so distracted by the pair of legs walking past he forgets my question.

But those figures just don't add up to the full Rocking the Daisies experience. Certainly, it's a weekend of live music, breakfast burritos and a few too many vodka Red Bulls, but the festival out in Darling is really more about enjoying life. There was the couple who ended their drunken row on Friday night by making out in the grass next to the main stage.

Festival tales

There were the stories of lost wallets handed in (money and cards untouched) at lost and found. There was the brave/crazy man who proposed to his girlfriend from the stage. Yes, there were even apologies from the guy who puked outside my tent.

In that environment, it wasn't unusual to see Gang of Instrumentals jumping around wildly in the crowd during Goldfish's set, Just Jinjer's Ard Matthews staggering back to his accommodation at 8 the next morning, and Gazelle's frontman in full chic Afrique regalia pulling up in a 1980s Mercedes with brightly-coloured feather duster replacing the presidential flag.

Yes, there's an element of peace and love only reinforced by the tie-die clothing stall, crystals, and the event's overt green angle. SA's only eco-friendly festival is admirably big on renewable energy, recycling and hemp, with organisations like Greenpeace and WWF in attendance, and carbon offsets and a full environmental impact assessment scheduled.

Not just for hippies

But, as evidenced by the lack of a hummus stall, it's no hippie gathering either. Rather, Rocking the Daisies is all-inclusive, with quite literally something for everyone. And with the problems of last year — mainly caused by overcrowding — largely eliminated by improved infrastructure, there's little danger of this festival turning into Pushing Up Daisies.

Day 1: Robots, inflatable sharks and 2am car trouble

Day 2: Boardshorts, lilos, swimming and African dictators

In pictures: Rocking the Daisies '09