Adventure Travel Photography ASIA: The story behind the photos… carving a giant Phallus
The story behind the photos…strange cultures and tradition.
Carving a giant Phallus… was he the "Master Phallus Carver" in this Village?
It was during our last Adventure Photography Workshop; I strolled through the traditional Bhutan Village of Sopsokha, when a man approached and indicated that I should follow him, of course curiosity got the better of me and I went along.
After a few minutes we arrived at this house, he unlocked the door and politely ask me to come inside…did he invite me for a cup of tea I thought? But right there in the dark corridor, I saw WOW… the largest wooden Phallus ever… it was at-least some cool 5 foot in hight.
Without any explanation my new acquaintance picked up a chisel and hammer… gave me a cheeky smile and started to continue his craft. chopping away on this super large penis.
Carving a very large Phallus in the village of Sopsokha,Bhutan
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Shops selling carved penis and traditional houses decorated with Phallus symbols
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
I had seen many other Phallus symbols in Bhutan, painted on Houses and for sale in all shapes and sizes in local souvenir shops, but this one was somehow special, not to mention its size.
Our craftsman kept on chiseling away at this monster… as we stood silently in this dark corridor in disbelieve… except for a big WOW that crossed our lips. Hubert who saw me wondering off earlier with a "strange man"…had followed me, he was also amazed seeing such a super large phallus…a first for both of us.
Against evil spirits; prayer flags, arrow and a
carved Phallus. right: A Phallus Handicraft shop
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Phallus paintings and carvings in Bhutan are esoteric symbols, which have their origins in the Chimi Lhakhang monastery near Punakha the former capital of Bhutan. The village monastery was built in honor of Lama Drukpa Kunley who lived in the 15-16th century and who was popularly known as the "Mad Saint" or “Divine Madman” for his unorthodox ways of teaching, which amounted to being bizarre and shocking.
These explicit paintings, though embarrassing to many urbanites now, this folk culture is now informally discouraged in urban centers, but can be seen painted on the walls of houses and buildings throughout Bhutan, particularly in villages and credited as Kunley's creations. Traditionally symbols of an erect penis in Bhutan have been intended to drive away the evil eye and malicious gossip.
You find these paintings on almost every house in particular at the
traditional village of Sopsokha,Bhutan
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Worship of the phallus was believed to be in practice even before the arrival of Guru Rimpoche and Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal…what is know about it, has been past on over many generations.
Phallic symbols are, generally not depicted in community temples and Dzongs (Fortress) which are most revered places of worship where Lamas or Buddhist monks reside.
But I seen them also during festivals in Bhutan, showing them off during dance performances and rituals.
Rural and ordinary houses continue to display them, in particular in the traditional village of Sopsokha where I found (or he found me) this master phallus carver.
After taken some shots I thanked our craftsman for his hospitality, I turned around at the door for one last look, and could not help noticing a big grin on our carvers face.
I guess he seen our stunned looks a few minutes earlier, I am sure he was very proud of this super Phallus he was creating, otherwise he would not have invited us into his home.
GD
The latest images from Bhutan are now on my PhotoShelter site, just click the large image on the Home page.
http://gdeichmann.photoshelter.com/
For more info go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phallus_paintings_in_Bhutan
Asia Travel Photography: First impressions, the Journey continuous in Bhutan with GD Photo Workshop.
Bhutan… Land of the Thunder Dragon
After a long Journey I have returned and only now found the time to update my Blog…it has been over 6 weeks since my last entry.
My Journey started in Sri Lanka then to Nepal and from there to Bhutan where I meet most of the participants for our GD Photo Workshop who flew in from Bangkok, Thailand.
View of the Himalayas with a perfect view of Mount Everest.
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Flying from Nepal to Bhutan was just breathtaking, we had a superb clear sky and the 45 minute Journey via Druk Air (Bhutan’s only Airlines) took us along the Himalayas with a perfect view of Mount Everest. Then came the approach to Paro Airport… wow that was exciting, flying through Valleys before touching down.
Sri Lanka was absolutely fantastic again with some spectacular landscapes and wildlife and Nepal wow…my trip coincided with some cool festivals there and on my way back from Bhutan via Kathmandu we picked up the full moon festival in little Tibet.
But these stories and Images have to wait until I am done with Bhutan…so lets start with the Land of the Thunder Dragon the amazing Kingdom of Bhutan.
On our second day we left Paro and set off for the famous Monastery the Tigers Nest perched high on the cliffs at approx. 3200 meters. We all decided to go by Horseback and my experience from the Outback of Australia came in very handy with the exception that the track took us along the cliffs ever so close to the edge… our return Journey for more than hours had to be made on foot since it is to risky for the Horses on the way down.
Last light on my walk down from the awesome Tigers Nest,
at 3200 meters Bhutan,
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A Monk on its way to the Tigers Nest, Bhutan, he is not sitting on a chair, but behind him is his backpack a heavy load to carry but easy for these spiritual Monks, about half way up.
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Bhutan is a destination like no other. Identified as one of the 10 bio-diversity hot spots in the world, this ancient kingdom first cautiously opened its doors to tourism in1974. Ever since, visitors have been mesmerized by Bhutan’s timeless Buddhist culture, soaring snowcapped peaks, and magnificent landscape dotted with numerous monasteries, temples and Dzongs (fortresses).
The Dzong (fortress) in Paro Bhutan
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Amazing architecture at the Dzong (fortress) in Paro Bhutan
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Nowl I like to thank all the participants who joined this GD Photo Workshop in Bhutan and thanks to Joerg who came along with me to Sri Lanka and Nepal.
It was another super cool group and many familiar faces amongst them, Luis M. Harder and JP Yulo from the Philippines, Joerg Schueler from Germany/Shanghai, Hubert Weber from Switzerland/Philippines and Massimo Casal from Italy/Jakarta.
Trongsa: Lama performing a blessing ceremony at the village of Wangdiphodrang
near Trongsa, Bhutan.
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
A Monk at the Trongsa Dzong, fortress, Bhutan
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In due time I post again the Images behind the scenes and of course the participants work, you see all the fun we had, not only from the Tigers Nest but from very cold mornings “chilling out” at higher altitude.
My sincere gratitude and thanks to our Bhutanese Guide Sonam Dendup and Driver Tschering, who certainly were some of the very best I ever worked with.
Oh… not to forget… the Bhutanese people they were exceptional friendly and charming where ever we went…they are very beautiful people and so traditional.
This and so much more made our Journey very special and enjoyable…just awesome.
Thank you all!
Pretty young Bhutanese Girls in the traditional Village
of Sopsokha, Punakha District, Bhutan
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Image above: At the Talo Tshechu Festival, I only found out later, after showing my Guide Sonam Dendupthe photo that the old Gentleman on the right is the famous Bhutanese singer Ap Dhopay who is from Talo under Punakha district. He has been serving the 3rd King for many years and later joined the Royal Academy of Performing Arts (famously known as Royal Dancer) He sang many traditional songs and is keen in the preservation of the culture and tradition in Bhutan. He was awarded a Silver Jubilee Gold Medal in the year 1999 by the 4th King of Bhutan.
Monks and locals getting ready for the Talo Tshechu Festival with
Dramitse Nga Cham (sacred Mask dance of Drum and Stick) Bhutan
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Local and some foreign spectators at the Paro Festival, Bhutan.
Durda Chham, dance of the Lord of cremation and the dance
of wrathful deities.
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Talo Tshechu Festival with Dramitse Nga Cham
(sacred Mask dance of Drum and Stick) Bhutan
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Talo Tshechu Festival with Dramitse Nga Cham
(sacred Mask dance of Drum and Stick) Bhutan
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Colorful Bhutan… Talo Tshechu Festival with Dramitse Nga Cham
(sacred Mask dance of Drum and Stick) Bhutan
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Colorful Bhutan… Talo Tshechu Festival with Dramitse Nga Cham
(sacred Mask dance of Drum and Stick) Bhutan
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
In due time, once I have finished my editing I share more images with you on my Photo Shelter site updating my main website and on this Blog. For today I have selected only a few images, first impression from Bhutan the “Land of the Thunder Dragon.”
I might add Aperture 3 performed absolutely flawless, handling with ease almost 20,000 images during the duration of the entire trip.
I am going to alternate my Blog post’s, next in line is from Nepal and then Sri Lanka, please stay tuned for a lot more in the coming weeks.
In the Traditional Village of Sopsokha, Punakha District, Bhutan
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
A heavy load for this old lady…Traditional Village of
Sopsokha, Punakha District, Bhutan
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Near the traditional Village of Sopsokha, Punakha District, Bhutan
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
On the way from Trongsa to Thimphu, Bhutan. along the road paintings
of Buddha on Cliff face. (Chendepii) Paintings of Buddha & Guru
Rinpoche from the Buddhist movie "travelewrs & Magicians" produced
by Dzongsar Jamyang Khentse Rinpoche Nove. 2002
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Paro Festival, Bhutan. Durda Chham, dance of the Lord of cremation and the
dance of wrathful deities.
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Just one more…
Crossing the road in Thimphu, Bhutan
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
FYI… our next GD Photo Workshop in ASIA starts on 29th of June in Myanmar, and I might add, this is a very special one with some exciting new locations.
Later in the Year we have also trips to Laos-Vietnam and Cambodia, scheduled for September 2012.
For more information please go to our GD Photo Workshop Calendar for 2012 and 2013.
BTW… for those who live in Manila, Philippines we have a special workshop at the Power Mac Center, Greenbelt 3 starting on Monday, “the Digital Darkroom” a three-day event in cooperation with the Ayala Filipinas Heritage Library.
GD
Travel Photography: One beautiful afternoon at the U Beins Teak Wood Bridge, Myanmar
Just one beautiful afternoon in Amarapura,
Mandalay, Myanmar.
Thank you for your continuous support, wishing you all
a very Happy New Year!
It was during our last GD Photo Workshop near Mandalay in Myanmar when we visited the U Beins Teak Wood Bridge in Amarapura at sunset. What a beautiful afternoon it turned out to be, blessed and lucky with the weather we encountered some stunning light right up to dusk.
U Beins Teak Wood Bridge in Amarapura, Myanmar
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
The 1.2 km wooden footbridge (longest teak bridge in the world) built by the mayor U Bein salvaging the unwanted teak columns from the old palace during the move to Mandalay.
U Beins Teak Wood Bridge in Amarapura, Myanmar
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Local boatman at the U Beins Teak Wood Bridge in
Amarapura, Myanmar
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Join us for another breathtaking journey through Myanmar on our upcoming GD Photo Workshop in June 2012, visiting not only the well known places but also more remote parts of this truly amazing Country.
Please check for more information and complete itinerary with our exclusive travel agent & partner EXOTISSIMO Website.
Testimonials from previous participants please CLICK THIS LINK.
U Beins Teak Wood Bridge in Amarapura, Myanmar
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
U Beins Teak Wood Bridge in Amarapura, Myanmar
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
For our other published destinations: Sri Lanka - Central India - Bhutan - Vietnam - Laos & Cambodia please CLICK this LINK our Photo Workshop Calendar in ASIA for 2012
GD
U Beins Teak Wood Bridge in Amarapura, Myanmar
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Local boatman near the U Beins Teak Wood Bridge in
Amarapura, Myanmar
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
U Beins Teak Wood Bridge in Amarapura, Myanmar
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
View more images from Myanmar and other destinations in my Photoshelter Archives & Galleries, please click this LINK
Announcement: Important info for GD Photo Workshops in Asia, effective new dates Sri Lanka - Central India - Bhutan 2012
New confirmed and final dates for
Sri Lanka - Central India - Bhutan 2012
Check our GD Photo Workshop Calendar for more info
SRI LANKA - INDIA 2012- 5 more spots available
March 11 to March 25, 2012
Max. of 10 Participants
Join us for two amazing Adventure GD Photo Workshops to Sri Lanka and Central India.
Breathtaking wildlife and awesome scenery in Sri Lanka plus amazing culture including the Dambulla Cave Temple dating to the first Century BC and a lot more will be on our itinerary. Explore the beauty of Sri Lanka and discover the undiscovered. Our central India workshop will take you back in time; to some seldom seen Cave temples, namely the Ellora and Ajanta cave system.
BHUTAN 2012 Only 3 more spots available, hurry this workshop is filling up very fast. Bookings will close by latest September 15th, 2011
March 27 - April 05, 2012 - 9 Nights
Max. of 8 Participants
This trip covers the highlights of Western Bhutan and focuses on Talo festival. Talo Tsechu is held in the ground near Talo Dzong or Monastery. The village of Talo, high on the hills above Punakha is located at an altitude 2800m. The village is scattered along the hill slopes. Talo Sangnacholing is built on a plateau with has majestic view of surrounding villages. More details and the complete itinerary is available soon.
For bookings and reservations CLICK this LINK
Exciting updates on GD Travel Adventure Photo Workshops, Culture & Nature expeditions through out Asia and beyond.
"My creative process begins when I get out with the camera and
Interact with the world. A camera is truly a license to explore.
There are no uninteresting things.
There are just uninterested people." - Jerry Uelsmann -
Discover the undiscovered… with Gunther Deichmann, Expedition Leader and international multi awarded Photographer. For his full Bio please click this LINK.
These Photo Workshops take you beyond the normal tours, designed for only small groups to give you the maximum attention throughout the Journey.
(Depends on our destinations max. number is between 8 and 12 person.)
Adventure and fun at the same time, stress is not on our agenda, everyday has its little surprises and rewards, from culture experiences, wildlife encounters and fantastic photo opportunities and the whole search is for the unknown, so you can really expect the unexpected.
Learning alongside Gunther, with his vast experiences in Asia and Australia who has traveled these parts of the world for international Magazines for over 30 years.
Gunther’s experience and knowledge brings you closer to your subjects and you learn how to see things in a very different way and light. It is Gunther’s Philosophy about Photography that exposes you to a very different kind of image… a quote by Oscar Wilde says it all; “To look at a thing is very different from seeing it."
GD Photo Workshops are unique in many ways…besides creating beautiful images and experience different cultures there is always an element of fun amongst the participants no matter what nationalities attending. Read some of the testimonials from previous workshop participants. Click here.
More from Behind the scene from our last workshop and the students work click the LINKS.
We take Photography very seriously but at the same time find the precious hours after the shoot to relax and talk about our daily adventures, sharing each other’s experiences and the images we created.
Gunther will also guide you through the process after the shoot, the Digital Darkroom, he has years of experience on a variety of Software including producing Multi Media Presentations.
He is on the Apple Aperture Advisory Board Asia and an Apple Certified Pro Aperture Trainer.
But most of all... "Lets look at the world through our eyes, not through photo-editing tools."
Please Note: Our workshops for Laos-Cambodia 2011 is now fully booked and we have only one more spot for Myanmar but if you're still interested you have to confirm your bookings by the 20th of August.
We have also announced our destinations and Calendar dates for 2012 and working very close now with one of the Top Travel Agencies in Asia (soon there will be a major announcement regarding this exciting new development)
Besides Sri Lanka and Central India in 2012 we travel also to Mongolia - Tibet and a very exciting adventure Journey through Vietnam -Laos and Cambodia by road.
Please note the dates for our Bhutan Trip might change slightly due to some festivals which we don't want to miss, we advise very shortly. There are only 3 more spots available for this amazing Journey into Bhutan. Booking for Bhutan closes by September 15th latest.
Vietnam Delta
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
In 2013 Gunther will lead a very special trip to Australia his home Country which he knows only so well; the outback and the amazing wildlife of Kakadu National Park. A 14 day Journey to some places seldom seen by others. More details will be announced later @
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/gdphotoworkshop/page1/calendar.html
Rare Aboriginal Ceremony Central Australia
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia 2010
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
“Journey means travel. The more you travel, the more you
broaden your horizon and experience different cultures.
And to me that translate into photography." - GD -
