Myanmar-Nepal Adventure Travel Photo Workshops in 2013
Final and confirmed schedules for our February & March 2013
Adventure Travel Photo Workshops to Myanmar and Nepal
Myanmar-Nepal 2013
Adventure Travel Photo Workshops
MYANMAR
Yangon - Bagan - Mandalay - Inle Lake - Yangon - Mawlamein and Hpa An - Yangon
Feb. 19 - Mar 03, 2013
Optional:
USD 2985 ( 9 nights / 10 days)
USD 3485 (12 nights / 13 days)
Feb. 19 - 21: Yangon
21 - 24: Bagan
24 - 26: Mandalay
26 - 28: Inle Lake (on the 26th experience the Full Moon with festivals and a Moon rise over Inle Lake)
28 - (end of 9 nights)
28 - Yangon
Mar. 01 - 02: Yangon to Mawlamein and Hpa An)
03 - (Yangon Departure)
NEPAL
Kathmandu - Pokahara - Kathmandu
Mar. 5 - Mar. 15, 2013
Optional:
USD 2975 (11 nights / 12 days)
Mar. 05 - 08: Kathmandu
08 - 13: Pokahara
13 - 14: Kathmandu
15 - (Departure)
For more information and detailed Itineraries please contact me direct @ gdeichmann@mac.com
Adventure Travel Photography ASIA : A very beautiful morning in Sri Lanka…now on PhotoShelter, plus a lot more
A very beautiful morning in Sri Lanka…
plus a lot more
Sunrise at Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
The alarm went off at 3:00AM, oh boy…this was an early start and of course no chance for breakfast or coffee.
Joerg and myself had to cover some 2 hours, traveling through winding roads and catch the sunrise at this particular spot in the Mountains of Sri Lanka, also called “World's End” - Nuwara Eliya.
I had checked out this location the day before but it was way to late for any decent Landscape shots that day. So I decided to have another crack at it the next day… the painful thought of getting up real early crossed my mind, but at the same time I could visualize that this was the right location. Crossing my fingers, hoping that the weather would play along the next day.

Morning mist/clouds just on Sunrise at Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
We arrived at my selected spot; our timing had been perfect, it was still dark but about half an hour later we were greeted by the appearing sun and got blessed with perfect light, and clouds covering the valleys below.

Early morning mist/clouds in the valleys below, at Nuwara Eliya,
Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Wow…what a sight, nature at its best, the pain from the early morning wake up call was gone in an instant; even the withdrawal symptoms from not having any coffee that morning had disappeared.
This very special and magic moment lasted only 30 min.; a nice reward for the early morning call and making do without coffee.
Oh…I almost forgot to mention…the famous Ceylon Tea, we actually drank more of this then Coffee on this Journey, very nice indeed.
Please Note: The latest photos from Sri Lanka are now residing in my PhotoShelter Gallery and Archives, (you can view all the images from this mornings event at PhotoShelter now).
Followed soon by the latest from Bhutan and Nepal.
Sri Lanka is in my opinion totally underrated; it has wonderful people, a rich Buddhist culture and many historical sites not to mention the beautiful Mountain ranges that reach up to 2524.13 m.

Tea Plantations at Hortons Place, Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
In a Village near Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Enjoying the Ice Cream… Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com

School Girls on an outing,Fort of Galle, Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com

In Colombo,Boy and his Cricket Bat, Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Ravaged by a long lasting civil war that just finished some 4 years ago, Sri Lanka is definitely on the way to recovery.
I also visit the Beach area where on December 26, 2004, the mammoth tsunami took thousands of lives; life is “almost” back to normal, and here you find the unique still fisherman of Sri Lanka trying to make a few Rupees.

The unique still fisherman of Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com

The unique still fisherman of Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Yale National Park: The elusive Sri Lankan Leopard in Yale National Park unfortunately eluded us (perhaps next time) but we got rewarded with other interesting animals including a spectacular display by a mating Peacock.

Mating performance by a Peacock, Yala National Park Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com

Spotted Deer Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com

Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus),
Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Join me on one of my next Adventure Photo Expeditions to Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia or Sri Lanka and a super special one in Nepal for April ’13. (please note: Nepal is only available upon special request, and all participants have to be reasonable fit and be able to travel on Horseback for days, there is also no luxury accommodation except in Kathmandu our start and finishing point.)
If you’re interested please CLICK HERE
Just one more...
Lovely old lady along the coastal road, Sri Lanka
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
For all other 2012 and 2013 GD Photo Workshop/Adventure Travel calendar dates please CLICK HERE.
We have also updated my main Website (Home Page), added Bhutan, and changed some images from Nepal and Sri Lanka.
NEW SriLanka on PhotoShelter
GD
Travel Photography ASIA: In stark contrast to Sri Lanka & Bhutan, the Journey continuous through Nepal
I love contrast... and this was certainly an extreme
if you compare Nepal with Sri Lanka and Bhutan
A Sadhu during the Hindu bathing festival. Balaju Mela or
Lhuti Punhi, Kathmandu, Nepal
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
We sadly left Colombo in Sri Lanka and took the flight to Delhi en-route to Kathmandu, Nepal our second stop before leaving for Bhutan.
I love contrast and this was certainly an extreme if you compare Nepal with Sri Lanka (my next post) and Bhutan. I visited Nepal many times before, but every time I find something more unique or bizarre, I just love this place, its mix religion, people, culture, tradition and of course awesome colors.

Sadhu at the Pashupatinath Temple, the oldest Hindu
temple in Kathmandu, Nepal
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
In the streets of Kathmandu, Nepal
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Oh…those Eyes, Kathmandu, Nepal
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com

Boy selling sugar candy Durban Square, Kathamndu, Nepal,
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com

Durban Square, Kathmandu, Nepal,
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Yes, it can be a bit chaotic at times, and the traffic especially during festival times is a nightmare, but it is also very rewarding for photography a constant challenge isolating subjects amongst the crowd.
We made another stop over for a few more days on our way back from Bhutan and intercepted two festivals before hitting back home, this was a welcome change after the higher altitude from Bhutan, a sort of R&R.

The cool one...In the streets of Kathmandu, Nepal
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Child playing with large Prayer Wheel at one of the
Monasteries, in "Little Tibet" Boudhanath, Kathmandu, Nepal
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
A pilgrim during a Chaktsal prostration, a powerful way of
showing devotion at the Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu Nepal
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
One of my favorite places I keep returning to when visiting Nepal is the Buddhist stupa of Boudhanath, and my recent visit here coincided with the full moon festival. This ancient Stupa is one of the largest in the world. The influx of large populations of refugees from Tibet has seen the construction of over 50 Tibetan Compas (Monasteries) around Boudhanath. It is a UNESCO World heritage Site since 1979, the Stupa is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha. This area is also know as little Tibet.

Right next to the Boudhanath Stupa, this is where the Butter lamps
are kept during the full moon festival, Kathmandu, Nepal
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Movement… start of the full moon festival at the Boudhanath
Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
This is only a small selection of images on todays post, there will be a lot more once I am done with my editing and have uploaded them on to my PhotoShelter site, I keep you posted when that is ll done. I hope within the next few days, cross my fingers.
I might add Aperture 3 performed absolutely flawless, all photos have been processed using only Aperture 3 and only basic and RAW adjustments have been applied.

The ancient Swayambunath Stupa (also known as the Monkey Temple)
is Kathmandu's most important Buddhist shrine.
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Above: I waited a long time to get this shot, standing in one corner for ages, trying to capture a Monkey just in between those Eyes, the original image is only cropped, with no other adjustments except for the basic RAW conversion and a tweak on the color temperature.(Aperture 3)
Perched atop a hill on the western edge of the Kathmandu Valley, the ancient Swayambunath Stupa (also known as the Monkey Temple) is Kathmandu's most important Buddhist shrine. The sleepy, all-seeing Buddha eyes that stare out from the top have become the quintessential symbol of Nepal.
When this temple was founded about 2,000 years ago, Kathmandu Valley was filled with a great lake. According to Buddhist legend, a single perfect lotus grew in the center of the lake. When the bodhisattva Manjusri drained the lake with a slash of his sword, the lotus flower settled on top of the hill and magically transformed into the stupa. Thus it is known as the Self-Created (swayambhu) Stupa.
The earliest written record of the Swayambunath Stupa's existence is a 5th-century stone inscription, but scholars believe there was probably a shrine here as early as the 1st century. Even before that, it is likely that animist rites took place on this hill. Swayambunath is one of Nepal's oldest Buddhist temples and it has an ancient atmosphere, especially when one approaches on foot with the pilgrims.

Bizarre and strange faces…Kathmandu, Nepal
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
No explanation needed…street scene Kathmandu, Nepal.
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Hard working…Kathmandu, Nepal
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Carrying heavy loads in the streets near Durban Square, Kathmandu, Nepal
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Carrying heavy loads in the streets near Durban Square, Kathmandu, Nepal
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com

Women with her heavy load in the streets
of Kathmandu, Nepal
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Sadhu at the Pashupatinath Temple,
Kathmandu, Nepal
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Sadhu at the Pashupatinath Temple,
Kathmandu, Nepal
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
The Pashupatinath Temple the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. It is not known for certain when Pashupatinath Temple was founded. But according to Nepal Mahatmaya and Himvatkhanda, The deity here gained great fame there as Pashupati, the Lord of the Animals. Pashupatinath Temple's existence dates back to 400 A.D.
The richly-ornamented pagoda houses the sacred linga or holy symbol of Lord Shiva. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come to pay homage to this temple, that is also known as 'The Temple of Living Beings'.

Wicks are mixed with butter and then set alight, burning for hours during animal offering at the Dakshinkall Bungamati, Khokana Animal sacrifice Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Worshiping at the Dakshinkall Bungamati, Khokana Animal sacrifice Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
The full moon day of April, Lhuti Punhi, is important for both Hindus and Buddhists the full moon festival took place in the evening at the Boudhanath stupa the other festival on the same day but in the morning was the Balaju Mela or Lhuti Punhi

Hindu worshiper during the bathing festival. Balaju Mela or
Lhuti Punhi, Kathmandu, Nepal
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Here Devotees celebrate the festival by visiting Balaju (or Lhuti), about 3 km north of downtown Kathmandu, to take holy baths under the 22 dragon-headed stone water spouts and pay homage to the reclining image of the Hindu deity Budhanilkantha. People also climb the nearby Jamacho hill to worship the Buddhist stupa located at the top.
The hill is held sacred because ages ago, when the Kathmandu Valley was a lake, it was from this summit the the Bipaswa Buddha had cast a lotus seed into the water which blossomed into the flaming holy lotus over which the Swoyambhu stupa now stands.

Near the Nepal traditional vilages of Bugmati/Khokana, Lolitpur
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Did I say in my first sentence…We sadly left Colombo in Sri Lanka… yes that is correct, but I was also extremely happy when I arrived in Nepal…the contrast was just awesome.
Please stay tuned for the next and last part…amazing Sri Lanka featuring some awesome landscapes and wildlife, another very contrasty piece.
Also as a reminder we still have a few spots available for our next Journey with the GD Photo Workshops into Myanmar starting June 29, 2012, book now this workshop is filling up very fast and final bookings have to be made by latest May 20th, 2012.
I am going to announce once I have updated my main website and my PhotoShelter with the latest, more images from Sri Lanka - Nepal and Bhutan.
I hope you enjoy the images from Nepal today, until soon from Sri Lanka…and the contrast continues…
GD
Aperture 3:Travel Photography...Tip for Places, use your iPhone or your Digital Camera with a GPS

Recent visited places from Mindoro Isl., Puerto Galera, City
of Batangas, Makati and Manila shown as Satellite Map
If you're not using a Digital Camera with a GPS function that is Ok. just use your iPhone and whenever you stop or from the Car window take a quick shot. Later import the photos from your iPhone into Aperture 3 activate Places and the rest is easy. I be writing a lot more about this cool addition from the road. Click on the Places icon at the upper right hand side at the toolbar to get you started.

Recent visited places in Makati and Manila shown as Road Map
10 days ago I went to the Island of Mindoro/Puerto Galera and I took some happy snaps with the iPhone, then on the way back I also stopped in Batangas and then back to Manila. Of course there have been some gaps where I didn't stop to get some images but all the rest had been recorded, very accurate I might add, see the attached screenshots. Map options are Satellite - Road or Terrain.
Ok the only "drawback" is that my wife from now on always knows where I am or I have been, ha, ha. but that is fine with me too, nothing to hide.

Recent visited places in Makati and Manila shown as Terrain Map
To activate your Places before they work you have to go first to the Aperture 3 Preferences settings and activate it, then click on the Advanced setting a small drop down menu appears and you see Look up Places, the default setting is on Never just click on the Automatically and you're done.
Again an excellent new addition to Aperture 3 and as you can see I am getting fine tuned for my big trip starting next week.
GD


