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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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
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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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
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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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Amazing architecture at the Dzong (fortress) in Paro Bhutan
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
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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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
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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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
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
