Day 1 –Arrive Bangkok International.  If there is time we may visit some of Bangkok’s many cultural wonders.  Otherwise, we’ll get you settled in to the hotel, grab some dinner and perhaps a show or massage and start getting you over the jet lag.

Day 2 - We will begin the day with an early morning flight to Yangon.  Once settled in we will visit Schwedagon Pagoda, one of the most revered sights in the Buddhist world.  It is believed that Schwedagon holds strands of Buddha’s hair!  The afternoon will be spent getting to know one another and having an initial photo review session.  Students’ ability levels will be discussed and individual goals set!

Day 3-5 - The next few days will be spent in Bagan.  Bagan is a place of exceptional wonder!  The plains along the Ayeyarwaddy River are home to over three thousand ancient temples, rivaling Cambodia’s Angkor complex.  We will take day trips on wide rivers and wander dusty roads shared with ox-drawn carts pulling goods to market.   We will visit palm and sesame farms, ancient temples, and Mt. Popa, shrine not to Buddha, but to the Nats!

Day 6– Today is a travel day.  We will from fly Bagan to Mandalay.  We’ll get settled into a hotel and then take a trip out to Amarapura for a sunset shoot on U Bein’s Bridge, the longest teak bridge in the world.

Day 7 – This will be an early day of photographing for a couple of great reasons.  We will start at Mandalay’s harbor, where the bustle of river life begins early.  We will grab a quick breakfast and head back out to Amarapura where we will watch as over 1000 monks have their daily meal in silence. Later this afternoon we will travel up into the mountains to Pwin U Lwin

Day 8-Pwin ULwin, or Maytown was the summer home of British colonialists escaping the summer heat.  Now it feels more like the commercial and ethnic crossroads of Burma.  It is also home to Burma’s military academy.  With such a wealth of cultural diversity it is a great place to photograph!

Day 9– Today is a travel day from Pwin U Lwin to Hsipaw.

Day 10–12 Hsipaw will become our home for a few days.  This is a small, beautiful city situated between the mountains and the river was once home to Shan royalty.  We have many friends in Hsipaw and our staff love to visit.  A small village just outside Hsipaw is where you will work on the long-term project.

Day 13 - Again, a travel day to return to Mandalay.  We will take it slow, stopping at markets and teashops along the way!

Day 14–Today we fly back to Yangon.  We’ll have lunch in the old quarter and have a final photo edit!
Day 15 – Back to Bangkok and onto your next adventure!

***** A Special Note: With our photography programs, we always try to take advantage of activities and festivals that are unique to the country at the time of our travel and sometimes, they come up in a moment’s notice!  With that being said, please keep in mind that our itinerary is open for change and this is only an example of what we have done in the past.  Just like a photojournalist gets surprised with a new assignment everyday, we like to offer that fun opportunity to our photography students as well!  Hopefully this helps you get a feel for what our photo students might expect.

SE Asia Packing List
Again, a friendly reminder: To avoid delays and expensive fees on internal flights within most of SE Asia, you will want to keep your checked luggage under 15 kilograms (33 lbs.) in weight. Stick to the necessities and remember that the lighter your bags, the easier the trip.

Clothing

            *Please bring at least a few items appropriate for temple visits, (knees and shoulders covered)

• 1 long pants or skirt
• Underwear (5 to 7)
• Socks (7 to 8) If you are bringing shoes, lightweight quick dry athletic socks work best.
• T-Shirts (10) 3-5 cotton, 3-5 quick dry shirts made of capilene or polypropylene
• 1 light sweater/sweatshirt
• Rainproof Jacket
• Shorts (3-5 pairs)
• Swim Suit (1 or 2) Girls please be considerate of our more conservative hosts, thanks!
• Athletic Shoes.  Shoes you can hike short distances in that protect your feet are best.  Shoes should be quick drying as they will get muddy and dirty so don’t get too attached to your footwear.
• Sandals and/or Flip-Flops.  YOU WILL LIVE IN THESE SHOES IN SE ASIA.  It is recommended to have a pair of strap on sandals that will not fall off in water Tevas or Chacos brand sandals work great!
• Hat
• Towel (NOT white)  Large travel towels are great!
• One nice casual outfit for Final Dinner (not too fancy or bulky)

Toiletries/Personal Items
            As a note on toiletries, bring those items from home that you must have.  Basic items can generally easily be purchased along the way.  This would include; soap, toothpaste, shampoo, …
            Here is a list of items that should be considered things to bring from home:

• Shampoo and Soap (preferably with little or no fragrance because of bugs) you can find non-fragrance and biodegradable soap at natural food stores and outdoor adventure stores. Dr. Brauner’s and Mountain Suds soaps are both good.
• Non-Fragrant Deodorant
• Toothpaste and Toothbrush
• Medications (must tell staff about)
• Sunscreen
• Insect Repellant (2 bottles 35% DEET)
• Anti-itch Cream (1 Benedryl Anti-itch Gel works great)
• Hand Sanitizer (1 or 2 small bottles per week)
• Contact lenses and accompanying paraphernalia
• Tampons are harder to find than you may think.
• Small Personal First Aid Kit (our guides will have comprehensive first aid kits on hand, but having a small personal kit is always helpful)
• Band aids
• Triple Antibiotic Ointment
• Medical Tape
• Moleskin or preferred blister care
• Preferred Mild Pain Reliever
• Antihistamine (Benedryl or preferred type)
• 2 Non-adherent, sterile dressing
• 2 Gauze dressing
• 5-8 After Cuts and Scrapes Wipes

Additional Items

• Passport and Wallet.  Travel Wallet that can be hidden under clothing is a good idea.
• Photo Copy of Passport.  2 additional photocopies should be carried.
• 4-6 extra passport photos
• Watch or Clock with an Alarm
• Small headlamp or flashlight with extra batteries
• Heavy Duty Garbage Bags (2) *for packing wet and dirty clothes/shoes
• Large (one gallon) Ziplock© Freezer Bags (4)

OPTIONALITEMS:

• Burmese, Shan or Karen/English dictionary
• Deck of Cards
• Small photo albums from home are a great way to make friends.
• Frisbee, Aerobee, Hackysack, Football, Soccer Ball or Volleyball

Photo Equipment, Thoughts & Ideas
•  Any type of camera is fine, just plan on getting better!
·For those of you who really don't know much about photography: WELCOME! You are in the majority and you won't feel out of place here.

·  For those of you who are more advanced in your study not to worry.  Our staff our professional photographers and educators, you will improve!

·  Our staff carry computers and portable hard drives to edit and back up your photos. Film can also be purchased in larger cities such as Bangkok.  However you may have to wait to get home to process it.

·  Southeast Asia is a wet environment so please have a good case that keeps your camera safe from elements like rain and dirt.

•  Film can also be purchased in larger cities.  However you may have to wait to get    home to process it.  Please keep in mind that heat sensitive film may not make it, as there is no refrigeration as we travel. 

·  We do a good deal of exploring on foot.  So however much or equipment you choose to bring make sure you have a comfortable way of carrying it around

·  If you are traveling with expensive equipment, I’d strongly suggest you have it insured. We do our best to stay in safe areas, but theft is always a possibility.  Weather and accidental damage also pose a threat.  Ask your parents for help!  If equipment isn’t already covered by an existing policy, Personal Articles Policies are a great inexpensive way to protect your gear against just about anything.

            Remember, YOUR ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR EQUIPMENT
In your camera bag:

·Extra batteries, memory cards and film.   If you are shooting with a digital camera, consider the size of the file you shoot, ie. Jpeg or Raw, and plan accordingly, we’d suggest at least 4 gigabytes.  Film shooters should estimate their daily usage. 

·Lenses – only those that your will use and want to carry!

·A small cleaning kit.

·  Portable hard drive – if you will be shooting with a digital camera, I’d recommend a 100 gig drive.  Rustic used to burn DVD’s as backup but have found that they are too easily damaged and cumbersome.

·Your camera’s manual.

·  A couple of small plastic bags and a small roll of duct tape -  good for everything!

·  Skylight filters for each lense – every lense should have one of these as extra    protection against dirt.

·A small notepad and pens.

·  Small, lightweight tripod – if you are interested in long exposure shots.

·  Power adapter.

·  A tripod and flash if you would like to work with them.

·  Extension rings are a great, lightweight substitute for carrying extra lenses.

Welcome to Myanmar (or Burma)

How do we get to Burma?
Your international flight will arrive and depart Bangkok International Airport.  From there we take an hour-long flight to Rangoon International Airport.

Is Burma Safe?
Rustic Pathways would not be conducting programs in a country we felt was in any way unsafe.  Yes, the country has an ongoing history of internal strife.  These areas are strictly off limits to foreign nationals. 

Where will we stay?
We’ll stay at hotels and guesthouses.

What are the accommodations like?
We’ll be in nice clean rooms with hot water showers and western style beds.

How often can I do laundry?
We’ll be able to wash our clothes every few days.

Are the mosquitoes a problem?
There are mosquitoes.  They’re usually not too bad, but you will want to have a long sleeve shirt and long pants in the evenings.  Also bring a small bottle of insect repellent containing DEET.

What will I need to spend my allowance money on?
Burma is a great place to buy local handcrafts such as woodcarvings, longyis, or silk.  We’ll be stopping at a couple of markets and visiting local artisans where you’ll have time to pick up souvenirs.  Allowance can also be used to buy the occasional comfort food or give alms to a monk if you like.
What is the weather like?
It’s hot, and humid in the day and a little cooler in at night.  The mountainous regions tend to be a little cooler.  Daily downpours are short and give way to sunny skies.  Be prepared for heat and dampness.  Synthetic fiber clothes are great because they dry fast and don’t get as mildewy as cotton can.

How often will I have access to email and phones?
The Burmese government imposes severe restrictions on Internet and cell phone use.  You will have the opportunity to call and email home upon arrival to Bangkok.  Occasionally we may come across an Internetcafé that manEdad to get around government restrictions on the Internet.   Plan on speaking to your parents at the beginning and end of the program.  No news is good news while you are in country!

How many staff members will be on this trip?
We never have less than one staff member for every five students.  Traveling programs generally have a ratio of 1 staff member for every 3-4 students.