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Amazing Myanmar
October, 2010 with Photojournalist Karl Grobl

Rudyard Kipling once described Burma (Myanmar) as: "quite unlike any land you know about." Join us as we explore this Golden Land, perhaps the least discovered country in Southeast Asia. Our itinerary includes Yangon's Schwedagon Pagoda, the ancient city of Bagan where the landscape is dotted with more than one thousand temples, Inle Lake, where we will photograph local fishermen, bustling local markets and lakeside life seemingly unchanged for centuries. In Mandalay we will photograph monks crossing U Bien's bridge, a 1.2 Km teak footbridge. The major points of interest on this trip include Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, and the Inle Lake. Each location affords us a wide variety of photographic opportunities including street photography, landscape photography, environmental portraiture and still life. Burma is truly one of the few "authentic" destinations remaining in this moderm, ever-homogenizing world.

Yangon, or Rangoon as it was once called, is the largest city in Burma and contains the amazing Shwedagon Pagoda. The origin of the Shwedagon Pagoda dates back over 2500 years. Gautama Buddha presented eight strands of sacred hairs to two merchants, who offered it to King Okkalapa on their return. The king built a pagoda on a hilltop overlooking the port city of Okkalapa, in which the sacred hairs were enshrined. Successive monarchs enlarged the pagoda by building outer structures over the original. The present stupa reaching a height of 326 feet was completed in the mid 1450s by Queeen Shin-Sawpu. The last renovation of the Shwehtidaw (literally meaning the "Golden Umbrella" and comprising the Diamond Bud, the vane and the shaft) was successfuly undertaken by King Mindon in 1871.

Mandalay is the modern center of Buddhism and Myanmar arts, but was once the old royal city. Mandalay, 670 km north of Yangon, is now the home of traditional artisans - including wood and stone carvers, silversmiths, weavers and those producing gold leaf. The former capitol, prior to British rule, and second largest city in the country, Mandalay takes its name from the nearby 240-meter Mandalay Hill, and is rich in monasteries and pagodas.a

Bagan is one of the richest archaeological sites in Asia, it is located on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River. Once the capitol of the Myanmar Empire, Bagan covers an area of 42 sq. km containing over 2000 well-preserved pagodas and temples of the 11th - 13th century. At its height, in the early 11th century, Bagan was the world center of Therevada Buddhism, with more than 13,000 pagodas covering the plains bordered by two sides of the Ayeyarwady River. But the city fell to the invasion of Kublai Kahn's hordes in 1287 and was abandoned, leaving to this day thousands of pagodas remaining in the midst of the Mongol destruction.

At 875 meters above sea level, Inle Lake is surrounded by high hills that help to keep the waters calm and lake area misty. The huge and beautiful lake not only contains a marvelous microcosm of aquatic life and activity, but is also home to a hormonious blend of national races, including the Bamar, Danaw, Danu, Intha, Kayah, Pa-O, Shan, and Taung-Yo peoples. Inle Lake also supports a thriving farming community that produces a wide range of vegetables and flowers. Rice is cultivated at the northern end of the lake on extremely fertile, man-made floating islands. The local men also produce silver and brassware, pottery and lacquerware, while the lake's women are highly skilled weavers.

"Please note: Just like last year, we are running this trip on what I will call the "shoulder season", meaning that it preceeds the height of the tourist season. By doing this, we avoid the crowds, however, we might encounter fome brief rain showers. During last year's trip (2008) it rained on us about 3 or 4 times, mostly in short bursts lasting less than 1 hour each. Each brief downpour was followed by clearing clouds and "glossy" streets, resulting in images of color saturated fruits and vegetables in the market places and wonderful white, billowing clouds in our landscape shots.Whenever it started rainging, the few tourists who were at the sights with us vanished, leaving us with unprecedented "private" photo opportunities." - Karl Grobl

To view some of Karl's images of Myanmar click here

To see Karl's video slide show of the 2008 tour click here

Itinerary . . . .

Day one (Oct 2):  Guests arrive in Yangon, are picked up at airport and transported to Kandawagyi Palace Hotel. Yangon, formerly
Rangoon, continues to be a city of the p ast, as seen by its lyongi-wearing pedestrians, its street vendors, and its pungent smells. If you are
arriving early today, you will enjoy having the afternoon free to relax or venture out and exp lore this amazing city. Afternoon or evening
orientation meeting at hotel, then dinner at Sandy's Myanmar Cusine. Spend the night at Kandawagyi Palace Hotel.

Day Two: Morning guided tour of Shwedagon Pagoda, then drive to Bago, guided tour of Bago then drive back to Yangon for an evening
shoot at Shwedagon Pagoda. Gleaming in gold and decorated with diamonds, the huge Shwedagon Pagoda is a spectacular work of Burmese
temple architecture and is the holiest Buddhist shrine in Myanmar. Dinner and s pend the night at Kandawagyi Palace Hotel.

Day Three: Morning flight Yangon to Mandalay, where we are then transported to the Sedona Hotel. After checking in, we spend the
afternoon on a guided tour to visit Mandalay Hill and City Palace. Mandalay hill is known for its abundance of pagodas and monasteries ,
and has been a major pilgrimage site for Burmese Buddhists for nearly two centuries. The view from atop Mandalay Hill alone makes it worth
the climb up the stairs. For those not wishing to walk, there is also a one-way motor road. After dinner we are treated to one of Mandalay's
famous Marionette Puppet Shows. We'll spend the night in Mandalay .

Day Four: Mandalay all day: visit to Inwa, Sagaing, Amarapura and if we have enough time - Ubien Bridge. Amarapura, the City of
Immortals, was a capitol before Mandalay was built. In Amarapura we visit and photograph the Mahagandayone monastery, to observe the
morning meal of hundreds of monks. Then it's off to Segaing, a religious sanctuary with the town at the foot of the hills and hundreds of
pagodas, monasteries and nunneries tucked into the surrounding valleys and hills. It's a photographer's paradise, with some monasteries
made of brick in a combination of Western and Myanmar architectural designs, while others are contructed from massive teak wood trees.
We spend the night at the Sedona Hotel .

Day Five: Mandalay: breakfast at hotel then guided day tour to Mingun village by private boat. Mingun is home to the world's largest ringing
bell, weighing in at 87 tons. Mingun is also home to the unfinished Mingun Pagoda, which was built between 1790 and 1797 by King
Bodawpaya. we return to Mandalay, then after a break, visit and photograph monks at sunset, crossing the U Bein Bridge, the world's longest
teak bridge. Spend the night at the Sedona Hotel.

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Day Six: Mandalay: breakfast at hotel then visit the scenic hill town of Pyin U Lwin. This small colonial hill town has wide boulevards lined
with stately homes from a bygone era. It is well known for its unique "stagecoach" horse carriages. After visiting Pyin U Lwin, if time permits
we visit a coffee plantation fefore we return to Mandalay for dinner and spend the night at the Sedona Hotel.

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Day Seven: Morning flight from Mandalay to Bagan then transport to the Bagan Hotel. In the afternoon we visit Htilomindo Temple,
Ananda Temple, Memalaungkyaung Temple, with our final destination being Shwesandaw Pagoda where we photograph the vast pagoda-
filled horizon at sunset. Bagan's glory days may be over, but what remain are the fantasic temple ruins, ranking as one of the most amazing
sights in Myanmar and a genuine wonder of the world. Tonight we have Dinner at Saraba Restaurant.

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Day Eight : This morning we are up early to catch our horse drawn carriages for a sunrise shoot at temples near the Bagan Hotel. Then
we go for a day tour to see brown sugar, alcohol and plum juice production, on the way to Mt. Popa. Mt. Popa is a place of pilgimage for
Burmese of all walks of life and is home to Burma's nats. Locals climb the mountain to make offerings to the nats. We'll witness and
photograph this spectacle before returning to Bagan for a sunset shoot at Phat That Gyi Temple, followed by dinner at Bagan Hotel.

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Day Nine: Bagan: Once again we arise early for sunrise photos, this time at Minyangone or Shwesandaw Pagoda, depending upon lighting
conditions. After exhausting the good morning light, we return to our hotel using our now familiar horse carts. After breakfast guided tour of
lacquer workshop, Kyaukpataung City market, Chauk City Market and weaving village Minnandhu village. Optional sunset shoot at
a temple in Bagan. Spend the night at Bagan Hotel.

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Day Ten: Morning flight from Bagan to Heho, then transport to Inle Lake / Nyaungshwe, stopping to photograph the Heho market on
the way. Upon arrival in Nuangshwe, immediately board long tail boats and set out across Inle Lake to the beautiful Shwe Inn Tha Floating
Resort where we relax and unwind for a few hours. In the afternoon we are treated to a boat ride to photograph local fisherman houses on
the lake. Dinner at Shwe Inn Tha Floating Resort.

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Day Eleven: Guided tour with private boats from Shwe Inn Tha Floating Resort to visit different lakeside markets where the hill tribes

come to buy, sell and exchange all types of goods, including fish, produce, farm implements and handicrafts. In addition to all the lakeside

market activities we photograph, we will also visit such sites as the Jumping Cats (Nga Phe Kyaung) monastery, and a traditional silk factory

where old weaving looms are used. In the evening return to Shwe Inn Tha Floating Resort for dinner.

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Day Twelve: After a leisurely breakfast our private boats take us from Shwe Inn Tha Floating Resort to Nuangshwe town and check into
Amazing Nuangshwe Resort. Today you will have the afternoon free to explore Nuangshwe town, with its shops, monasteries, pagodas, and
bustling markets. Dinner at Golden Kite Restaurant.

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Day Thirteen: This day we rise early to photograph monks from the local monasteries, walking through town collecting their daily alms
from the local population. Later we have a guided walking tour of Nuangshwe town including the many monasteries, pagodas and the local
market. Those wishing to hike or rent a local bicycle are free to do so. Spend the night at the Amazing Nuangshwe Resort. Dinner at the hotel

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Day Fourteen: After breakfast we are transported back to Heho for flight to Yangon. After checking into our hotel, we have the afternoon
to relax, shop or continue photographing, including one last optional visit to Shwedagon Pagod. This evening we have a farewell dinner, then
spend the night at Kandawagyi Palace Hotel .

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Day Fifteen (Oct 16): Today guests are transported to the airport for flights back home or to Siem Reap for those taking the
Cambodia/Angkor Wat extension.

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Or..............

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A UNESCO World Heritage site set against the dramatic backdrop of lush jungle greenery and verdant fields,

the stunning ruins of Angkor is a collection of over one hundred temples containing the magnificant remains

of the different capitols of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th centuries.

Day Fifteen (Oct 16 ): Guests on Cambodia/Angkor Wat extension fly to Siem Reap and visit Angkor Wat for orientation and a
sunset photo shoot. Upon our arrival in Siem Reap we are met by a local tour operator and transported to our hotel, the beautiful
Pavillon Indochine. After checking in and grabbing a quick snack, we are transported to the entrance gate of the famous Angkor Wat
where we purchase our 3 day entry passes and continue into the Angkor complex for an introductory, sunset shoot at the main temple.

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Day Sixteen: Angor Temples: With the help of our English speaking Angkor guide, we spend all day exploring 3 or 4 major Angkor
temples and several "secret ones" too. We even schedule an optional model shoot at Bayon, using one of the traditionally dressed
Apsara dancers and visit a famous Buddhist monk who might be perfoming ritual cleansing baths for Cambodians who come from all
over the country to seek his treatments.

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Day Seventeen: Tonle Sap village / boat tour & Beng Melea: First we drive to Kompong Khleang, one of the largest settlements on the
Tonle sp lake. Over 20,000 people live in high stilt houses which tower up to 10 meters over the water. It is a spectacular place which
only gets a small number of visitors. There is a small island at the centre of the village which has a bustling market. We take a boat tour
to see the floating market, then return for a lunch of fresh fish prepared in Khmer style at our boatman's house. After lunch we drive to
the remote and recently "de-mined" Angkor site of Beng Melea for some amazing, "Indiana Jones" type temple exploration. Beng Melea
surpasses even the famous Ta Prohm for atmosphere. The whole site of Beng Melea is bathed with dappled light from the jungle canopy
making it a fabulous temple for adventurous photographers.

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Day Eighteen : Sunrise shoot at Ta Prom: This morning we wake very early to explore and photograph sunrise at amazing
Ta Phrom, where jungle tree roots still cover the ruined temples. After our morning photo shoot we return to the Pavillon Indochine for
breakfast, then you are free to spend the remainder of the day re-visiting and re-photographing your favorite ancient temples and
traditional villages around Angkor, or grab a guide and seek out your own new temples! In the evening we are treated to a gourmet
dinner at the famous Café Indochine.

Day Nineteen (Oct 20) : After a lesiurely breakfast, you are transported to airport for flights from Siem Reap to Bangkok or home.
(or if you book a later flight out of Siem Reap you'll have an additional free day in Siem Reap.)

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