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GUIDED PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
MYSTICAL MYANMAR; THE LAND OF GOLDEN LIGHT 15th to 22nd October 2016
Join award winning photographers and mentors, Mike Browne and Simon Taplin on a photographic journey of of a life time. The MAGNIFICANCE of MYANMAR, the MYSTICAL CHARMS of BAGAN, and the GRACE and TRANQUILITY of MANDALAY AND INLE LAKE through your lens. Forge New Friendships and make a positive difference to the lives in Myanmar.
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8D/7N 15th to 22nd October 2016. Price: USD$5200 (Twin Share) USD$5500 (Single Supplement) USD$3900 (Non - Participant) Limited to 12 participants minimum 8. To reserve a space a 50% non-refundable deposit* must be made with final payment by 1st July 2015. *Deposit will be refunded in full if we do not meet our minimum booking of 8 participants.
Further enquiries email us at
[email protected]
Included in the tour price:
Not included in the tour price:
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Accommodation & breakfast
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Personal & Travel Insurance
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All photography tuition and mentoring
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Drinks & Meals
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All entrance fees
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Visa fees
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Transfers and tours with English - speaking local guides
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International air tickets to/from Yangon
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Boat rental at Inle Lake
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Overweight luggage
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Domestic flights
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Service charge, room tax and baggage handling
Organised by Raising funds in support of
GUIDED PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
MYSTICAL MYANMAR; THE LAND OF GOLDEN LIGHT DAY 1: YANGON Arrive at Yangon airport by evening flight and be welcomed by our tour guide. Transfer to the hotel and check in only. Overnight in Yangon. Meet and greet in preparation for your photographic journey of discovery ahead.
DAYS 2+3: NYAUNG
U, (BAGAN)
After breakfast, bright and early, you will take an early morning domestic flight to Bagan where thousands of ancient monuments await you. Bagan, arguably Myanmar’s most renowned city founded in 1044 by King Anawrahta, you will find over 2000 temples and stupas dotted around this 42 square km plain in central Myanmar. Our expert guide will plan and present you with the most interesting photographic subjects, opportunities and timings allowing you to capture the dreamy charm of Bagan. Photography highlights include: the Shwezegon Pagoda, a 1,000 year old temple whose glittering bell-shape dome became a model for pagodas throughout Myanmar; the Ananda temple built in the Pagan valley, is an architectural wonder fusing the Mon and Indian architectural styles. This Buddhist temple houses four standing Buddhas, each one facing the cardinal direction of East, North, West and South; in the evening, you will witness the breath-taking view of Bagan red brick Pagodas from the top of an old Temple platform, be ready for an awe-inspiring panoramic view of ‘Old Bagan’ under the stunning rays of a golden Sunset. Here we will have time to consolidate all our beutiful pictures for group critique and open discussions. In the early morning of Day 4 before our flight to Heho for Inle Lake, you will experience the simple life of local people at Nyaung Oo market. Amidst the early morning haggling over price, fish and meats being diced and sliced at your feet, do not miss capturing the thanaka-daubed and smiling faces of the charming locals and the innocence of the Monks on their daily their way to daily prayer.
DAY 4:
BAGAN-MANDALAY-AMARAPURA
After early breakfast, transfer to airport for flight to Mandalay. On arrival, drive to Amarapura, located 11km south of Mandalay. Amarapura had been the royal city twice in Myanmar’s monarchic time. Visit Bagaya Kyuang, the largest monastery in Burma. It is a huge 19th century, wooden monastery with a large population of monks. See the famous U Bein bridge, a magnificent teakwood structure spanning Taungthaman Lake for a distance of about 1 kilometer. Built in 1849, it comprises 1060 teak posts, most of which are original. Although historic, it is still in daily use by local villagers. Proceed take a tour to the venerable Mahamuni Pagoda including a traditional gold leaf workshop. Sightseeing tour include SHWE INBIN, one of the most outstanding monasteries in the country, SHWE NAN DAW KYAUNG or GOLDEN PALACE MONASTERY, a superb example of a traditional wooden building, KUTHODAW PAGODA known as the world’s largest book consisting of 729 marble slabs engraved with Buddhist scriptures.
APERTURE ASIA . ITINERARY
GUIDED PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
MYSTICAL MYANMAR; THE LAND OF GOLDEN LIGHT DAY 5:
HEHO (INDAING, INLE LAKE)
Inle lake is so rich for photography by popular demand we have added an extra day to the tour here. Upon your arrival at Heho airport, you will proceed on a comfortable 45 minutes to an hour ride by road to Inle Lake. Inle lake is a fresh-water lake in the State of Shan with a surface area of 116 square km and is inhibited by about 70,000 majority ethnic Intha people, many living in simple stilt houses of timber or bamboo in villages bordering and on the lake. Here an excursion by long tail boat awaits you. You will be greeted by the stunning and serene beauty of Inle Lake and its friendly and obliging inhabitants. The long tail boat weaves smoothly through floating gardens, Burmese cheroot making and traditional weaving ‘factories’ as well as numerous villages on stilts. We will not miss pulling up alongside the famed local fishermen rowing with one leg wrapped around the oar, and simulaneously fishing with the cone shaped net. All these will present countless magical moments to capture on camera.
DAY 6:
HEHO (INDAING, INLE LAKE)
After breakfast, take a boat for a cruise on the lake. Pass villages built on stilts in the lake, inhabited by the local Intha people. Along the way observe the leg‐rowing fishermen and see their floating gardens built from strips of water hyacinth and mud, anchored to the bottom of the lake with bamboo poles.In the afternoon, visit Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery, which houses dozens of Shan Buddhastatues. Continue on to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf. Explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with a stop at the weaving village of Inpawkhone and a cheroot factory, where typical Burmese cigars are made by hand.Overnight in Nyaung Shwe.
APERTURE ASIA . ITINERY
GUIDED PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
MYSTICAL MYANMAR; THE LAND OF GOLDEN LIGHT DAY7:
HEHO (INDAING, INLE LAKE)
After breakfast, early morning proceed to Sagar which is the main attraction in Sagar is the sunken stupas, 108 old stupas often flooded by water, but it is the natural beauty, friendly people, local lifestyles and serene waterways that make this day trip an unforgettable adventure. Set off this morning for your lakeside hotel for Sagar, the far southern region of Inle Lake. Very few tourists make the trip down to this region yet it is one of the most beautiful places in the Shan State with the mountains forming a backdrop for the small villages and fishermen on the water. The area was only recently opened to tourists in 2003. The boat journey takes 2.5‐3 hours but is full of fabulous views and home to many unique species of birds, both indigenous and migratory. Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride! Around 2.30 the boat will begin its journey back to the main section of Inle Lake. Traveling back inthe afternoon the light has shifted and the route looks much different on the return, with differentactivities occurring on the water and in the villages. Transfer to Nyaung Shwe and overnight at hotel in Nyaung Shwe.
DAY 8:
HEHO, YANGON
Sadly, all good things come to an end. After breakfast, you will return to Yangon via a domestic flight from Heho. In Yangon, our tour guide will be at your disposal until your connecting international departure in the later afternoon or evening. If you wish to extend your stay either side of the tour dates we will happily provide you with our local tour operators contact to make your own bookings in advance.
APERTURE ASIA . ITINERY
GUIDED PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
MYSTICAL MYANMAR; THE LAND OF GOLDEN LIGHT
MIKE BROWNE I’ve been a social, industrial and commercial photographer since 1993, have always had a love of travel and new cultures - and passion for sharing my knowledge with others. Which, according to the 1000’s of lovely emails and comments I receive - I’m very good at. I have worked for all kinds of clients from high end weddings to hotels and electronics manufacturers. I have awards from Kodak and Fuji, been sponsored by FujiFilm, had exhibitions displayed by the Romanian Ambassador in London, The Master Photographer’s Association and the Royal Photographic society. Travel photography is my no 1 passion because it involves all photographic disciplines, landscape, portraits, candid, food, close ups – all of it. 17,500 hours of video is watched on my youtube channel each month, I have a teaching qualification and a sense of mischief ;-)
SIMON TAPLIN With his breadth and depth of international experiences across an extensive repertoire of photography genres, Simon Taplin is probably one of the most versatile photographers who confidently embraces a holistic conceptualisation approach in visual presentation. Patient and sensitive to his students’ needs, he has a knack for transforming the most technical jargon into easy-to-understand analogies that help ensure their learning is memorable and fun at the same time.With a strong classical training from Salisbury College of Art & Design, Simon’s career began in London, where he worked with some of the finest photographers from whom he gained holistic knowledge and skills across extensive areas of photography. Moving to Asia in 2002, Simon then worked for Shooting Gallery Asia, one of Southeast Asia’s premier photography studios where his unique marriage of technical and creative skills were sought by the world’s leading advertising agencies including JWT, Saatchi & Saatchi, Leo Burnett, BBDO and Corbis. His clients’ list also includes Unilever, P&G, Nokia, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, MasterCard and Heineken. Simon has certainly created a lasting impression with industry awards and lists from D&AD, The One Show, Communication Arts and publications in Luerzer’s Archive, and the best in stock imagery photography awards Photo District News 2011.
APERTURE ASIA . PHOTOGRAPHERS
GUIDED PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
YOUR PARTICIPATION MAKES A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE. It’s our philosophy to make a positive difference to the destinations we travel to.With support from your participation on this tour we hope to raise funds in support of Ben Cheong from the magic light foundation and his 10th School in Myanmar. In Ben’s his own words...... “My life changing experience… On a holiday trip to Myanmar in March 2010, I had a rare opportunity to visit some remote villages in Pakokku Township, Magway Division of eastern part of central Myanmar. To my surprise, many of these villages do not have schools! A chanced encounter with a village chief who expressed his wish to raise fund to build a school for his community changed my life since. Without hesitation, I decided to contribute, as I believe that education is the only ticket for these children to change their destiny and the empowerment of their own future. But the niggling feeling of not having done enough for the other villages never went away. In January 2011, I decided to create the Myanmar Schools group on Facebook to share my belief with families and friends on the importance of giving these children a fair opportunity to education with my families and friends, and help increase understanding of the dire situation the children in these remote villages were facing without a school. I had hoped that by creating this awareness, I would encourage those who care to contribute funds towards building schools for these children, hence, providing them with basic education and a fairer start in life. Not in my wildest dreams that within a short period of less than four years, with generous support from families, friends, and friend’s friends, we have raised enough funds to build eight primary schools schooling about 1,400 children. Our ninth school is under construction in the same area will be ready by early 2014. In 2013, we hope to raise enough funds to start our most ambitious school building project to date, after the wet season. It is our aim is that our tenth school will be sustainable Eco-Friendly school built by using many readily available natural materials within it’s surroundings: mud, clay, straw, bamboo, stones, sands; and deploying cost-effective innovations to circumvent challenges posed by the lack of energy and water management infrastructures such as tapping sunlight as a source of light by placing glass panels on straw roofs; using solar panels to generate electricity, and installing rain collection tank so digging wells for water if the ground is suitable to ensure adequate water supply for the school. I am very excited with this project and hope it will become a blueprint for our future school building projects, going green and being more mindful of the environment. Apart from using the Myanmar Schools group on Facebook to raise awareness and funds for this project, we begin working with APERTURE ASIA, as it is our common hope to reach out to even more people who are interested in touching and helping lives of these children one village at a time”.
Ben Cheong Founder, the Magical Light Foundation
APERTURE ASIA . MAGICAL LIGHT FOUNDATION
GUIDED PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
MYSTICAL MYANMAR; THE LAND OF GOLDEN LIGHT
FAQs WHAT LEVEL OF SKILL AS A PHOTOGRAPHER DO I NEED? A: Photographers of all skill levels will benefit from one of our trips. If you are an absolute beginner then we’ll start with the basic and build up your skills with guidance and tutoring in the field as we go.
If you are an advanced amateur or even professional, you’ll benefit from the richness and culture of the destinations we travel to. In addiition there will be ample opportunitiy to share and review feedback from your professional mentors and peers on the trip.
WHAT SORT OF TUITION IS PROVIDED? A:
You will be travelling with professional photographers at all times whose sole job is to help you improve your photography. Tuition and workshops generally occur in the field (as well as over lunch, over dinner, on the bus, train or plane) and will vary depending on the skills of the photographers. Needless to say we eat sleep and breath photography on these trips. We also hold regular review/critique sessions of each person’s work and we find these feedback and peer review sessions to be invaluable. Through peer interaction and the mentors’ on-going guidance, we are confident you will develop a new perspective that will help you “see” new images as we wander the streets and push you to step outside your comfort zone.
I DON’T HAVE A FANCY DSLR. DOES THAT MATTER? A: Photography is often more about the person behind the camera than the camera itself. There’s no doubt a
DSLR will help you in certain situations and will give you flexibility in others, however it is not absolutely necessary. We would however recommend a camera that has at least a manual control capability. On the tour, your expert mentors will guide and help you better understand your tool (camera), enhance your technical skills and creativity to maximize your potential in photography as you shoot on the tour.
WHAT’S THE STANDARD OF ACCOMMODATION LIKE? A: Accommodation varies depending on the trip but in general we stay at the best Hotels that value has to offer for the trip. All hotels are good, safe and clean on all our trips.
ARE MEALS INCLUDED? A: Breakfast included. Lunch & diner/drinks are at own cost.
APERTURE ASIA . FAQ
GUIDED PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
MYSTICAL MYANMAR; THE LAND OF GOLDEN LIGHT
FAQs IS THERE ANY FREE TIME INCLUDED? A: Yes, some free time is included on most trips. Of course we politely hint that you might still want to take your camera with you when you head out.
HOW FIT DO I NEED TO BE? A: Whilst it depends on the trip, you generally only need a good level of fitness. The trekking is not difficult but we do spend many hours on our feet, whether hiking or walking the streets.
DO I NEED INSURANCE? A: Yes. All guests must have personal travel insurance . As you may have expensive camera equipment and a laptop we suggest you take a close look at your coverage for these items if lost or broken.
DO I NEED TO PAY FOR ENTRANCE FEES OR LOCAL TRANSPORTATION? A: The tour package price is inclusive of all entrance fees and local transportation. However, it does not include tips for the tour guide and bus driver. You are not obligated to tip. Tips are reward given to them for providing you with good service. The amount of the tip is entirely at your discretion.
WHAT SORT OF EQUIPMENT WILL I NEED TO TAKE? A:
An equipment list will be provided for all trips when booking.
CAN I GET A VISA ON ARRIVAL? A: Yes you can, but it is USD $100 as opposed to $30 if you go to the Myanmar Embassy,
WE STRONGLY RECCOMEND you obtain your visa in advance. Travel visa is valid for 3 months on date of issue.
WHAT CURRENCY IS COMMONLY ACCEPTED & HOW MUCH MONEY SHOULD I EXCHANGE? A: Myanmar’s national currency, the kyat (pronounced chat). The best rates are obtained at Yangon International airport.
US Dollars are best exchanged, but make sure you have clean un-torn bills otherwise they will not be accepted. USD $150 will be more than enough for expenses unless you are going to do gift shopping. Don’t worry about having excess Kyat at the end of your trip, as you can easily exchange them into US dollars or selected home currencies at the airport. Myanmar is only just starting to introduce ATMs, and even then only in Yangon and major tourist hubs. Currently these should not be relied upon, and participants should bring enough US dollars to cover their entire trip when they enter Myanmar.
APERTURE ASIA . FAQ
GUIDED PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
MYSTICAL MYANMAR; THE LAND OF GOLDEN LIGHT
TERMS & CONDITIONS • Upon booking this tour , Aperture Asia (AA) shall not be held liable for (A) any damage to, or loss of, property or injury to, or death of, persons occasioned directly or indirectly by an act or omission of any other provider, including but not limited to any defect in any aircraft, watercraft, or vehicle operated or provided by such other provider; and (B) any loss or damage due to delay, cancellation, or disruption in any manner caused by the laws, regulations, acts or failures to act, demands, orders, or interpositions of any government or any subdivision or agent thereof, or by acts of God, strikes, fire, flood, war, rebellion, terrorism, insurrection, sickness, quarantine, epidemics, theft, or any other cause(s) beyond their control. The participant waives any claim against AA for any such loss, damage, injury, or death.• By registering for a AA course, the participant certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical, or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other participants. AA and its designated tour operator reserve the right in their sole discretion to accept, decline to accept, or remove any participant on a AA expedition. AA reserve the right, without penalty, to make changes in the published itinerary whenever, in their judgment, conditions warrant, or if they deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of participants.• AA shall not be liable for any air carrier’s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket to or from the participant’s departure city. Baggage and personal effects are at all times the sole responsibility of the participant.• Basis of rates: All prices and fares are quoted in US dollars. The rates are based on current tariffs and are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. While we will do everything possible to maintain the listed prices, if it is necessary to levy a surcharge, we reserve the right to do so, and notify cation will be given at the time of final invoicing.• Included in expedition cost: Accommodations and breakfast as indicated in the itinerary (pre-departure information; entrance fees, excursions, and tuition noted as included in the itinerary; • Not included: Air transportation and related fees (except as indicated in the itinerary); activities noted as optional in the itinerary; gratuities for hotel staff; guides unless otherwise noted on the itinerary page; passport and visa expenses; baggage/ accident/cancellation insurance; personal expenses, such as laundry, telephone calls, and alcoholic beverages; and any other items not specially noted as included.• Single/shared accommodations: A limited number of single rooms are available at an extra cost (single supplement charge) on a first-come, first-served basis. We will assist persons requesting a roommate. Participants will be notified if a suitable roommate is not available, in which case the single rate will be charged.• Payments, cancellations, and refunds: To reserve space on AA destination training courses a 50% non-refundable deposit must be made with a final payment due one month prior to course commencement date. AA reserve the right to cancel any trip because of inadequate enrolment that makes the trip economically infeasible to operate or because of good-faith concerns with respect to the safety, health, or welfare of the participants. If a course is cancelled prior to departure, we shall provide you with a full refund (minus adminstration and bank charges that may apply) of monies paid to AA; except in the event cancellation is due to a significant event that makes it infeasible to operate the expedition as planned, in which case we will provide you with a refund and/or credit toward a future AA course equivalent to monies paid to us for up to 12months. If we cancel the trip in progress, you will receive a prorated refund based on the number of days not completed on the course. In the event of trip cancellation, we will not be responsible for any refund for non-refundable airline tickets or for any airline tickets purchased by the passenger directly from an airline or travel agent.• Trip cancellation insurance is available at an additional cost and is strongly recommended as is your own personal travel insurance.• Itinerary changes: The itineraries and staff presented in this brochure are subject to modification and change by AA. Every reasonable effort will be made to operate programmes as planned, but alterations may still occur after final itineraries are sent.• Health requirements: You must be in good physical and mental health. Any physical condition, diet, or treatment requiring special attention must be reported in writing when the reservation is made.• Photography: AA reserve the right to take photographs or videos during the operation of any expedition or part thereof and to use the resulting photography for promotional purposes. By making a reservation with AA expeditions, participants agree to allow their images to be used in such photography; participants who prefer that their image not be used are asked to identify themselves to their expedition manager at the commencement of their trip.• Other: Additional terms and conditions may apply to some expeditions and will be provided with pre-trip mailings. By registering for a AA expedition, the participant agrees to the responsibility statement and the terms and conditions herein.
APERTURE ASIA . T&Cs
