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Burma/Myanmar

Nov 30-Dec 13 2015$8,100 double and $9,650 single. Deposit of $1500 Limited to 10 participants Reserve by Mail

I've been traveling to Burma since 2001 and visited for the 5th time in 2013. I find country endlessly fascinating for its history, its culture, the people I meet, and the rapidly evolving political situation. After decades of suppression under a military junta, the first stirrings of democracy have been seen in the last few years and the country is being welcomed, or more exactly courted, by its neighbors and the United States. On my first photo tour, I was lucky enough to work with Than Win Htut, who as an act of mercy asks to be called Robbie. Unlike most local guides, Robbie understands and works with photographers, including some of the most celebrated pros, and is a photographer himself. I won’t travel to Burma without him. He always goes the extra mile and will act as our intermediary and advocate. He’s adept at securing models among the locals. Jennifer and I have decided to limit group size to 10, a 5:1 leader to participant ratio or better. We stay in the most comfortable accommodations at each location without undue extravagance. This will be a fleeting opportunity to photograph a SE Asian country in the first stages of development where much of the past remains alive and visible. James Martin

Our Journey First we explore Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon and once the capital of Burma, now officially known as Myanmar. The Schwedagon Pagoda in the center of the city is one of the wonders of the world—a guilded, jewel-encrusted dome rising almost 100 meters above its base and surrounded by dozens of shrines and smaller stupas. Near sunset the gold gleams while a host of monks and worshipers circle the 2,500-year-old monument. The Golden Rock of Kyaiktiyo balances delicately atop a high ridge overlooking the plains and the Andaman Sea. Covered with gold leaf and glowing under artificial lights at dawn and dusk, it attracts thousands of worshippers daily, many spending the night outside. Expect to encounter a genial mixture of commerce, piety, and family life. We stay in a comfortable hotel walking distance from the action. While Yangon and Kyaiktiyo are ancient, Mandalay was built in the nineteenth century and served as the last imperial capital of Burma. In addition to its many photogenic temples, it is also the artistic center of the country and home to most of the nation's monks. A boat will ferry us to Mingun, a massive decaying temple intended to be the largest in the world for a morning shoot of the great ruin and the nearby “wave” temple We will shoot the iconic O Bein Bridge, the longest teak bridge in the world, at sunset. At dawn, the moat surrounding Mandalay Palace reflects the first pink tint, and at mid-day monks line up for their daily rice at a monastery. At dusk we’ll capture the forest of slender white stupas of Sandamani, each containing part of Buddha’s sutras, making it the largest book in the world. Situated on a dry plain, Bagan overwhelms the eye with thousands temples in every direction, covering 40 square kilometers. Many of the temples have recently been restored, but the largest and grandest retain their original materials and striking architecture. One morning we will offer an optional balloon ride over a landscape bristling with spires. Inle lake is home to a unique culture. Fishermen ply the waters by rowing with their legs, their unique conical nets poised for use. Women tend floating gardens, and a monastery on stilts graces the center of the lake. The lake is situated at near the hills separating Burma from Thailand, home to several local hill tribes. We’ll devote time to capturing images of Burma’s people. We’ll photograph old ladies puffing on thick cheroots, thick cigars wrapped in various leaves. Young ladies apply thanaka, a paste made from tree bark, before venturing into the sun. Both men and women wear longyis, a long skirt held fast by folding instead of knots or belts. Almost every male spends some time as a monk so we’ll see many young monks with shaved heads wearing their characteristic robes. Nuns, also with shaved heads, wear pink. This will be a spectacular trip at a pivotal moment in Burma’s history.

ITINERARY DAY 1 – ARRIVAL IN YANGON Upon arrival at the airport you will be met by a local guide, who will transport you to the hotel. After orientation, we will photograph the golden Schwedagon, the largest pagoda in the country, in late afternoon and dusk. DAY 2 – YANGON We will leave our hotel before sunrise to get in position to photograph the Schwedagon at first light. After breakfast, we will meet for several hours of instruction and critiquing. After lunch, we will visit a Taoist temple by the river, shoot activity around the port, the Sule Pagoda, and return to the rich opportunities at the Schwedagon. Day 3- KYAIKTIYO, THE GOLDEN ROCK Today we drive toward the famous Golden Rock. After our drive we will stop for lunch and then transfer to special vehicles for the climb to the top of the ridge. Our hotel is not far from the rock. Although this is a sacred site, it feels like a festival. Kids and young monks are playing, families picnic, and a row of food and trinket stands attract as many people as the Golden Rock. Holy men solicit donations, some in ancient costumes. The devout apply gold leaf to the surface of the rock. By twilight the gold glows as if from within from the artificial light, a dramatic contrast against the blues and magentas that precede full darkness. DAY 4- KYAIKTIYO AND YANGON Will return to the Golden Rock to shoot at first light. After breakfast we descend to our vehicle and drive toward Yangon, pausing along the way to shoot rice fields and the large stupa in Bago. Once in the city, we can explore some of the alleys and parks. DAY 5 – YANGON TO MANDALAY After an early morning breakfast, we catch our flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival, we visit a monastery to witness the monks lining up for their daily allotment of rice. After lunch, we devote the afternoon and early evening photography around the O Bein teak bridge including the sunset silhouette. DAY 6 – MANDALAY TO MINGUN After an early breakfast we cruise up the Irrawady (Ayeyarwady) River to Mingun, and other unique temples such as Hsinbyume, offering manifold photographic opportunities. We return to Mandalay for lunch. In the early afternoon will visit a reclining Buddha and photograph at a street where sculptors carve marble Buddha statues. Near sunset, we proceed to Sandamani’s slender spires. DAY 7 – MANDALAY TO BAGAN We catch a morning flight to Bagan, the city of pagodas. There are literally thousands of pagodas on the dry plain by the river, small structures and grand palatial temples shining with gold leaf. We will spend several days photographing the sacred landscape, temple interiors, monks, markets, women walking with brightly colored parasols, artisans, ox carts, and the Irrawady reflecting the setting sun. We will spend the heat of each day at our riverside hotel resting and reviewing our work, solving problems, and preparing to capture our next images when the light softens. DAY 8 – BAGAN Morning and afternoon photography DAY 9 – BAGAN Morning and afternoon photography DAY 10 – BAGAN, INLE LAKE After a final sunrise shoot in Bagan, we fly to Heho, the gateway to Inle Lake. A short drive takes us to the lakeshore where long-tailed boats takes us to our hotel, bungalows on stilts above water. Inle is home to the Intha people. They are famed as the leg-rower fisherman, plying the shallow waters with their conical nets. We will photograph them from above at our hotel and out on the lake. The lake abuts the hill country where numerous tribes abide. We will visit some of the tribal people, including the long-necked women or Padong. DAY 11 – INLE LAKE DAY An early start takes us to the Indein Temple complex on the far side of Lake. This is a cluster of small stupas, some in poor repair amid weeds. Here and there we find exquisite small carvings on the stupas. We’ll have time to visit the floating gardens, the temple on stilts, and markets. DAY 12 – INLE LAKE TO YANGON After morning photography at the lake, we return to Yangon and our farewell dinner. DAY 13 – YANGON TO BANGKOK Fly home. GETTING THERE We suggest getting a round trip flight to Yangon (RGN) in Burma arriving on October 30, 2015 and departing on December 13 (at any time). There are several flights a day between Yangon and Bangkok, Thailand. We will pick you up at the airport when you arrive. PRICE $8,100 double and $9,650 single. Deposit of $1500 to reserve your space. The remaining balance is due 150 days before the tour. Price covers: lodging, meals, transportation and boat ride. In addition, three flights within Burma are included, making the most of our time. Not included: airfare to and from Burma, tips, drinks, laundry, alcoholic beverages, medical expenses, travel insurance, additional hotel stays or activities that are not a part of the tour. REGISTRATION To register, click on Reserve a Spot for payment. ACCOMMODATIONS All accommodations are included. TRANSPORTATION All transportation within Burma is included during the tour.

INCLUDED IN TRIP COST The fee covers accommodation for 13 nights, food, water, guide fees, and transport within Namibia. A scenic balloon ride and helicopter tour are included. We tip the guides and drivers. NOT INCLUDED IN TRIP COST International airfare to and from Windhoek, Namibia. Drinks. Tips for porters to your room. WORKSHOP LIMIT The workshop is limited to 10 participants. We work with each photographer individually and as a group to enhance photography skills and mastery of the equipment.

Leader:

JAMES MARTIN James Martin has written and photographed professionally since 1989 with articles and photographs appearing in Sports Illustrated, Summit, Smithsonian, Outside, Backpacker, Climbing, Outdoor and Travel Photography, Boys' Life, Ranger Rick, Outdoor Photographer, Destination, Blue, Audubon, and Rock & Ice. His most recent books are Photography Night Sky (Mountaineer Books) in partnership with Jennifer Wu, Photography Outdoors, 3nd edition (Mountaineer Books) Planet Ice (Braided River), a survey of ice that elucidates the relationship between climate and ice, and the action of ice on the landscape. In the course of shooting he hiked to Everest Base Camp, soloed across the Andes, climbed Kilimanjaro and the Mountains of the Moon, visited Greenland end to end, and led trips to Antarctica. He wrote Masters of Disguise: the Natural History of Chameleons (Facts on File), the first comprehensive book on chameleons in English. Sasquatch Press published a series of his coffee table books on the mountains of the West, including North Cascades Crest, Mount Rainier, and Sierra. Extreme Alpinism (Mountaineer Books), written and photographed with Mark Twight, concerns techniques for climbing and surviving the most difficult mountains. The book won the Outdoor Retailer Award and the Banff Mountain Festival Award in 1999. He has written books for children on natural history, including Hiding Out: camouflage in the wild and Dragons in the Trees (both published by Crown), each declared an Outstanding Science Trade Book by the National Science Teacher's Association and distinguished as Selectors' Choices. They were also Booklist Editor's Choices, American Library Association Best Book selections, and ALA Notable Books for Children. Dragons in the Trees was named the 1992 Outstanding Nature Book for children by the John Burroughs Association and a recommended book for children by the Children's Literature Center of the Library of Congress. Crown published Living Fossils and Frogs in 1997. Getty Images represents his photography. His travels led him to Africa, Madagascar, Antarctica, Europe, Borneo, Indonesia, Burma, and all the other S.E. Asian countries. He leads photography tours around the world for Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris and leads workshops for the Phase One Digital Artist’s Series. JENNIFER WU Jennifer Wu, a professional photographer for over 15 years and one of Canon’s Explorers of Light, is best known for her nature and landscape photography. Before focusing on the nature’s elusive beauty, she specialized in journalism and portrait photography, publishing hundreds of images in newspapers, including The Sacramento Bee. She is well-known as a night sky photography innovator and expert. Mountaineer Books published Photography Night Sky in 2014. Her images, featured in magazines and books, have won dozens of awards. Canon uses her spectacular sky photographs in their professional camera brochures. She exhibits her images at numerous nationally recognized galleries. Jennifer attended CSU, Sacramento where she received a BA in Photography. She offers classes at Betterphoto.com and teaches photography at California State University, Sacramento, Aspen Photo Workshops, Afilm International Workshops (Barcelona, Spain), Lepp Institute, Canon U.S.A., and Sierra Club.