Myanmar a land like no other; beautiful people, colors, landscapes, awesome culture and tradition.
Myanmar… a land like no other.
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I saw her in the corner of my Eye… got drawn into the color…managed to get just one shot off before she put the water melon tray down. Mandalay - the burmese writing reads something
like no Vendors, Tuk-Tuk's etc., are allowed at this place.
(as per translation from my guide) Myanmar/Burma
Wow I made it…certainly a long time since my last post but then I have been away for some 5 weeks, fighting a cold after my return, editing thousands of images and catching up with my family and friends.
I randomly selected for this post only a few photos from some of the places in Myanmar, Cambodia shall follow in my next post, this time not so far off…promise.
My very special THANKS and gratitude to all the participants who joined our last Photo Tour/Workshops to Myanmar - Cambodia and your kind and nice feedback.
(Testimonials) Thank You!
Almost like a United Nations assembly again, the participants came from: from Canada, USA, Singapore, Switzerland, Germany, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Philippines and Australia.
You have been all outright terrific!
They took some awesome photos, saw incredible places and on top of it all had lot’s of fun…
We already posted the images “Behind the Scenes” and some of the participants work at these LINKS.
Of-course it goes without saying many thanks to Arj, my trusted assistant who did an excellent job, the ground staff in Myanmar, to our super guide Tin and the drivers who made our Myanmar experience just perfect. Thank you all!
Thanks also to my good friend Hubert Weber who joined me on my second leg through Myanmar and Cambodia, thanks for your friendship and putting up with me... the old geezer, he, he.
You might note that we have updated also our Photo Tour/Workshop Calendar for 2013/2014 including some exiting trips to Sri Lanka (end of Feb) and a very special one into the Thar Desert, Rajasthan India in early March 2004.
The Thar Desert trip is almost fully booked and we have only 3 more spots available, so if you like to join this amazing Journey let us know a.s.a.p.
(this photo tour/workshop in India is for max. 8 participants only.)
This one promised to be awesome... a very special Itinerary and I have my special local guide onboard whom I have worked with many times before, getting us to some great and of the beaten track places. Plus a super bonus… towards the end of our journey in India we celebrate Holi… the festival of Color.
Later this year (2013) we have yet another trip to Cambodia and Myanmar, check out all the details on our GD Photo Tour/Workshop Calendar or you can contact me via e-mail.
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/gdphotoworkshop/page1/calendar.html
Now a few selected images from Myanmar, a land like
no other…beautiful people, colors, landscapes
and awesome culture and tradition…

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Cooking in the Monastery…Yangon - Myanmar/Burma
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A very happy vendor selling sugar cane, near the Yangon River - Myanmar/Burma
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Surrounded by cartons of Eggs this worker at the
Yangon River proudly showing his Tattoos to me…
Yangon - Myanmar/Burma
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A novice Monk in Bagan having fun with his
little green ball, Myanmar/Burma
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Reflections…Inle Lake, Shan State - Myanmar/Burma
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Early morning mood on Inle Lake, Shan State - Myanmar/Burma
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Traditional fishing at sunrise Inle Lake, Shan State - Myanmar/Burma
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The last light at this Monastery in Bago - Myanmar/Burma
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A Monks "soccer game"… Bago - Myanmar/Burma
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The magic of Bagan Myanmar/Burma
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Novice Monk at a Bagan Monastery, Myanmar/Burma
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Smoking away… the local cheerot cigar, village near Bagan. Myanmar/Burma
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Hpa An, Myanmar/Burma
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Hpa An, Myanmar/Burma
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Muslim school children, Hpa An, Myanmar/Burma
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At the Maha muni temple, Mandalay, Myanmar/Burma
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At a Monastery for buddhist Nuns, Mandalay, Myanmar/Burma
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U-Bein Teak wood Bridge in a different light at sunrise, Myanmar/Burma
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Please Note: I visited Mingun or Nan Oo Pagoda after our PhotoTour/Workshop
during my extension in the Country and this place will be part of our next Itinerary.
The Pagoda was build by King Bodawlaya in 1791 in Mingun, Sagaing Mandalay,
Myanmar/Burma
Just one more…
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The many Faces of the Bayon Temple, Cambodia,
taken after my Journey through Myanmar.
Please stay tuned for my next post on Cambodia, very soon…
GD
Travel Photography Cambodia: The story behind the photos, a remarkable woman called Chea Samy
The story behind the photos… a remarkable woman called Chea Samy, the survival of traditional Khmer Dance in Cambodia.

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Traditional Khmer dancer outside at the Royal Performing Hall
at the Phnom Penh Grand Palace, Cambodia.
This post is about a remarkable woman whom I meet in Cambodia exactly 20 years ago, it is also my last post for 2012. Still busy with all the arrangements for our upcoming tour to Myanmar and Cambodia in February and March.
1992… the Mekong River… on assignment for Animan Magazine; traveling through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia for some 3 month following the Mekong River where ever possible.
…I arrived on a hot humid day in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; it was the same day the United Nations Peace keeping forces swarmed in from all over the world, trying to stabilize the war ravaged but ever so beautiful Country.
I was still on my Mekong trip but now found myself right in the middle of all this chaos and UN berets, I had completed Thailand and Laos, now it was Cambodia where the mighty Mekong River is part of everyday life. The next stop was Vietnam by road from Phnom Penh but that is another story. BTW…the Mekong story got published a few month later and became a 24-page article in Animan Magazine.
Hanging around those days was a very different story, it was almost like “Wild West” in the streets of Phnom Penh with Pol Pot still hiding deep in the Cambodian Jungle. Besides the country was littered with land mines and venturing out in the countryside was a high risk factor.

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Traditional Khmer carvings APSARA can be found at Angkor Wat
and many other Khmer Temple Ruins in Cambodia.
Part of my Mekong River story was to capture also the traditional and culture aspect; places the Mekong touched on his long Journey and this is how I found this truly remarkable women in Phnom Penh.
Her name was Chea Samy… dedicating her time to the traditional form of Khmer dances, unfortunately Chea passed away some years ago but she will be long remembered for her passion and dedication to Khmer Art.

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Chea Samy, preparing one of the traditional Khmer dancers at
the Royal Performing Hall at the Phnom Penh Grand Palace, Cambodia.
Chea Samy was a teacher before Pol Pot arrived, but went into hiding as a vegetable vendor during the horrific times of the Pol Pot regime that had no tolerance for Intellectuals or for the art in Cambodia.
Having survived the horrific years of Pol Pot, Chea was instrumental in reviving the traditional Khmer dancers.
I meet her in an old damaged school house where she was teaching the Khmer Dances, at the time Chea was the only surviving person who could teach these traditional dances.
I took some photos but thought it would be nice to see them also perform again at the Grand Palace adding the grace to their almost forgotten art.
So I went to work… after three days of red tape and countless discussions I finally got permission from the Ministry to photograph this group of dancers with Chea Samy at the Royal Palace.
When I told Chea the news a few days later a big smile crossed her face and she beamed with joy.
Though Chea Samy has since passed away the APSARA Arts Association is still very active in preserving traditional arts in Cambodia, an important part of Cambodia's Culture and rich History.

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I felt extremely privileged been treated to more then
just one exceptional performance that day
at the Grand Palace Royal performance Hall…
a day I always will remember.
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One of the dancers at the Grand Palace in 1992.
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It was the very first time after the fall of the Pol Pot Regime that these girls performed
in the Royal Dancing Hall at the Grand Palace in Phnom Penh.
Traditional Khmer Dances – it takes 6 years to learn and 9 years to perfect for these amazing and beautiful dancing skills.
It was the very first time that these girls performed in the Royal Dancing Hall of the Grand Palace in Phnom Penh after the notories Pol Pot Regime. …a first for them and me.
GD

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It takes 6 years to learn and 9 years to perfect these dancing skills. Not only for their movement but also in understanding the meaning of all the different dances that date back to the ancient Khmer Empire.
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The very first time these girls performed in the Royal
Dancing Hall of the Grand Palace in Phnom Penh

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At dusk in 1992,
the Royal Dancing Hall of the Grand Palace in Phnom Penh
NOTE: All photos taken with Kodachrome Film.
_________________________
If you interested and like to discover the undiscovered with me in Cambodia, Myanmar/Burma or some other Asian destinations please check our Adventure Travel Photo Tours on our Calendar for 2013.
Note: Cambodia special Photo Tour for 8 participants only in late 2013.
For more Info CLICK HERE
Combining 55 years of experience… 35 years of Photography and 20 years traveling through out Cambodia and other Asian Countries. Gunther has not only produced numerous articles for international Magazines but he knows also the right locations at the right time of the day.
We guarantee that you get the quality time you need on each and every destination with Gunther and his team.
____________________________________
To my family, my friends, Photo workshop participants, supporters & readers
thanks for all your support over all these years.
Cheers Gunther
Wishing YOU all Merry Christmas
& a colorful HAPPY 2013.

Photography: Gunther Deichmann’s Solo Photo Exhibition in Paris, France Nov. 2012
"Photography is light… …light is photography,
an endless Journey through Color and Time." - GD
Photo Exposition by Gunther Deichmann at the ANA Gallery in Paris, France, showcasing special selected photos from Australia, Tibet, India, Cambodia, Myanmar/Burma, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.
GALLERY ANA
NOV. 29th 2012 until Jan.15th 2013 PARIS,
6 avenue René Coty 75014 Paris, France
Available as Limited Edition signed prints 1/9 only;
print sizes from 45x67 cm and 50x70 cm.
Short Bio
Gunther Deichmann is an internationally multi-awarded Australian photographer. He has published 12 Books & in 2006 published his Book "Journey Through Color and Time."
In December 2011 - Gunther together with Steve McCurry and Michael Yamashita was again on the Judging Panel and a Celebrity Speaker for the One Asia Festival - Celebrating the Images of Asia Event in Singapore.
Gunther's work in the international media: His coverage about the killing of Australian wild horses for the German magazine, Stern, helped stop the practice. The message of his 11-page photo essay in Stern found its way to other publications, and the images of carnage soon were seen worldwide, appearing not only in print but also on television, including CNN.
As a result of this, the Court for Animal Justice (U.N.) in Geneva, Switzerland, invited him to be the key spokesperson to condemn the killing of horses in an inhumane way. Similar works followed in Stern Magazine with the exposé on other animals such as wild camels and buffalos.
Gunther's images have appeared in major international books and magazines including; The Racing Game, National Geographic, Time-Life, Reader's Digest, BBC (London), and in magazines such as the cover of TIME Magazine.
Der Spiegel (cover), Bunte (cover) (Germany), articles and photos in National Magazine (South Africa), New York Times (USA), Sued Deutsche Zeitung (Germany), Grand Reportage (France), VSD (France), GEO (France), GEO Germany, Terre Savage (France), Figaro (France), Travel + Leisure (USA), Asian Geographic Magazine (Singapore), Asian Geographic Passport Magazine (Singapore), Singapore Straits Times, Muy Interesante (Spain and Portugal) and National Geographic Traveller (GB) and many others.
Australian Professional Landscape Photographer of the Year, and the Australian rock band, Midnight Oil, used one of his images for the cover of their album, “Blue Sky Mining”
He was also featured in a documentary titled Visions in the Making, which was broadcast on ABC (Australia) and of the four selected Australian artists; he was the only still photographer.
Other highlights of his career include writing and directing the music video for the English band Electronic (Warner Bros. (USA ) in 1991. Also, the first 35mm MTV production in the Philippines of the single “Get the Message”, which enjoyed top ratings on international music charts.
The NT Press Club Annual Media Awards in Australia awarded Gunther Deichmann the ‘Pictorial Excellence Award'. He also received the ‘Sheraton Award' for pictorial promotion of tourism in the Northern Territory, Australia.
For a more detailed Biography please Click Here
Besides working on his new Book project, Gunther is leading Expedition Adventure Travel Photography Tours through out Asia and beyond. For more info please Click Here
Travel Photography: Festivals, cremations, Sadhus and animal sacrifice plus updates on our Photo Workshop Tours in 2012.
The story behind the Photos… Water and a full moon festival,
cremations, Sadhus and animal sacrifice in Nepal.
After Sri Lanka and Bhutan I just finished my editing from my last trip in April 2012 to Nepal; I fell a bit behind with this one due to other urgent matters, but now the latest photos from this destination are in my PhotoShelter archives and galleries.
These are only few images on today’s post, all other photos you can view at my PhotoShelter site. I might also mention the Photos have been processed and edited using Aperture 3.3 using only the basic RAW conversion and adjustments with no other manipulation.
My recent visit to Kathmandu coincided with the full moon festival at the Boudhanath Stupa, the Balaju mela Hindu bathing festival and at Pashupati a lot of cremation took place at this time. Not to mention a visit to the “bizarre” and strange animal sacrifice rituals held twice a week at Dakshinkall Bungamati, Khokana.
There is never any shortage of things to shoot in this part of the world, when it comes to color and subjects. Sometimes it can be quiet difficult to decide and isolate your subjects, be it for a story or just for this one great image, there is always so much happen all around you and a lot of patience is required.
___________________________________
Lets start at Pashupati the local cremation area, a place I have visited many times before, there was a lot going on this time with scores of monkeys roaming around amongst the many cremations on this particular day.

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Cremations at Pashupati, Kathmandu, Nepal

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A Sadhus Mirror, Pashupati
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A body is prepared for Cremations at Pashupati,
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Sacrifice at Pashupati temple, Kathmandu, Nepal
___________________________________
Then there was the Balaju mela Hindu bating festival were thousands of people worship all day long, passing along the water spouts offering rice, flowers and other items, creating an almost carnival atmosphere, yet another colorful spectacle.

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The long line at the water spouts, Balaju mela
Hindu bathing festival, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Balaju mela Hindu bathing festival,
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Balaju mela Hindu bathing festival,
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Balaju mela Hindu bathing festival,
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Balaju mela Hindu bathing festival,
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Balaju mela Hindu bathing festival,
Kathmandu, Nepal
___________________________________
At the full moon festival at the Buddanah stupa; the area also know as “Little Tibet”, here hundreds of Buddhist Monks from surrounding Monasteries gathered that day, a beautiful atmosphere and by nightfall the whole area was lit by butter lamps and candles.
Challenging photography but yet so very rewarding, especially when I got permission to get very close to the main prayer area at the base of the Buddanah Stupa with all the Buddhist Monks.
Later I wondered around through the ally's; vendors selling candles and other offerings and exploring in low light the base of the Stupa where the Butter Lamps been blessed and kept alight. A wonderful experience, a great evening with the pleasant smell of incense all around.

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Buddhist Monks at dusk, beginning of the full moon festival at the Buddanah stupa,
the area is also know as "Little Tibet" Kathmandu, Nepal
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Spinning the Prayer wheel just outside the Monastery
opposite the Buddanah stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal
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During the full moon festival
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During the full moon festival, Butter Lamps and candle light at the
base of the Buddanah stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal
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In the ally's during the full moon festival, near the
Buddanah stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Preparing the candles, Kathmandu, Nepal
___________________________________
A more bizarre and not for the faint hearted, a strange ritual (not strange for the locals mind you) is been held twice a week about 2 hours drive from Kathmandu (all depends on traffic on this winding road) at Dakshinkall Bungamati, Khokana the animal sacrifice temple which is truly a “bloody” event.

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A chicken waiting for it's "turn" Dakshinkall Bungamati, Khokana
the animal sacrifice temple, Nepal 
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A Goat is sacrificed at Dakshinkall Bungamati,
Khokana the animal sacrifice temple, Nepal 
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Worship at Dakshinkall Bungamati,
Khokana the animal sacrifice temple, Nepal 
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After the worship and sacrifice a goat is prepared
in boiling water at Dakshinkall Bungamati, Khokana
the animal sacrifice temple, Nepal
___________________________________
All this happens during our last Photo Workshop: we arrived from Sri Lanka with a stop over in Nepal on the way to Bhutan. Then on the way back I did spend a few extra days in Kathmandu to intercept all those festivals, these extra few days were well spend and rewarding.
Of course I might as well mention all those other interesting places like: Bhaktapur (love this place) or the daily life in and around Hanuman-dhoka Durbar Square, the traditional villages of Bugmati/Khokana Lolitpur or for just a warm-up on your first day you could stroll around the Thamel area with it's bustling street live, shops and restaurants.

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Colored powder used for rituals at Dakshinkall Bungamati,
Khokanathe animal sacrifice temple, Nepal
___________________________________
Our next trip to Nepal and this one will be very special in 2013, is an Expedition and Adventure trip in late March - mid April 2013, you have to reserve this one early as we take only 8 participants on this tour.
Note: This is NOT our normal workshop...this will be an Expedition into some very remote and seldom visited parts of Nepal, traveling on horseback and camping, this is by invitation or upon request only. The final itinerary will be available by 3rd quarter 2012.
For more details please contact Gunther Deichmann
See below also some of our other upcoming Expedition Adventure Photo Work Shop Tours in 2012 and you don’t have to be a pro to be part of this, we except all levels of experience.
LAOS - VIETNAM - CAMBODIA – Myanmar 2012 starting on September 8th. You can choose either one of these tours or combine them, for more info and the complete Itinerary please contact me.
Or check our GD Photo Workshop calendar for 2012
Note: Please make your reservations early for Myanmar; due to the recent positive changes in the Country we have to make Hotel bookings way in advance.
Tour starts on October 05 - October 16, 2012 - 11 special days of pure adventure and amazing photography. Max. of 10 Participants on all Tours unless stated otherwise.
Please do not hesitate in contacting me if you have any special request or queries.
On this special journey through Myanmar we will explore the remote parts of the country but also some of the known places. We promise that this will be a very special trip.
This photographic tour of Myanmar takes guests from the captivating capital of Yangon where the sparkling Shwedagon Pagoda glistens at sunset. From Yangon guests take a short flight to Bagan where it's difficult to ever put your camera down.
Countless temples and pagodas are scattered across its desert like plains. Crumbling architecture adds to the inherent beauty of the place.
Visit Tayokye Pyay, an elevated temple with sweeping panoramic views of the plains below. Then Wetkyi-In Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple with exquisite jataka mural paintings and the elegant Ananda Temple, one of the most impressive masterpieces.
We also head to Myinkabar and Old Bagan to discover lesser-visited sites with unusual stone inscriptions. Enjoy an unforgettable sunset from the terrace of a temple.
For Testimonials from previous participants, please Click this LINK.
Details and bookings/reservations, please Click this LINK
GD
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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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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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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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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In a Village near Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
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Enjoying the Ice Cream… Sri Lanka
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School Girls on an outing,Fort of Galle, Sri Lanka
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In Colombo,Boy and his Cricket Bat, Sri Lanka
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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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The unique still fisherman of Sri Lanka
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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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Spotted Deer Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
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Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus),
Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
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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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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



