Trip Itinerary:

Day 1
Relax and prepare yourself for your adventure on world-class Singapore Airlines. Meet other students, watch on-demand movies and unwind. A Rustic Pathways Flight Leader will accompany each of our escorted group flights from Los Angeles, making sure that your journey is easy and enjoyable.

Day 2 (Wednesday)
Ghost Day - After flowing through different time zones and passing the International Date Line today is ‘lost’ in the ambiguity of international travel. Don’t worry - you’ll be able to pick up a free day on your flight home.

Day 3 (Thursday)
Sawatdee and welcome to Thailand! The morning begins as you arrive into Singapore after midnight. You’ll be greeted in Singapore by Rustic staff that will show you the way to our coach bus, which will take us to Hotel 81 not far from the airport. We’ll get you checked in and you’ll be able to get some well-deserved rest until morning. You’ll get a wake-up call to come down and enjoy a nice buffet breakfast outside at the pool. Go for an early morning swim if you’d like before packing up your things and heading back to the airport for the connection to Bangkok.  Arriving in Bangkok early afternoon, you’ll be greeted by many staff and program leaders who have been eagerly awaiting your arrival. After a quick ‘meet and greet’, we’ll head enjoy a relaxing massage followed by a nice meal before boarding the overnight VIP bus for Mae Sot.

Day 4
Mae Sot is the gateway city to Burma. Take a visit into Myawaddy on the opposite side of the border.  This is a border city alive with life.  Ride a trishaw past busy construction, men in brightly colored longyis, and women with gold-painted cheeks. Stop off at a teashop thick with the smell of sweet, bitter (whichever way you prefer) and always delicious drink. Stay alert for candid expressions of a very photogenic people. Here we’ll witness the seemingly peaceful day-to-day activities of a richly diverse country. Back on the other side of the border, we’ll take our experiences from the day and add layers to our understanding by visiting a museum dedicated to the tumultuous history of Burma’s last half-century. Soon you’ll recall the faces on the opposite side of the famous Salaween River. As you learn about the military dictatorship tightly controlling the country and the plight of the Karen—a distinct group within Burma who’ve been the target of brutal oppression and ongoing civil war, don’t be surprised if you find yourself wondering what lay beneath the surface of their expressions. Head further north to Maela refugee camp where you’ll peek behind barbed-wire fences into the crowded area of Burmese refugees.  You’ll make photos here that will transcend your journey, documenting the lives inside the camp.  Don’t forget to set your camera down every once in a while to shake a hand, offer a hug, or even share a smile with people eager to see you.

Day 5
Continue on to Mae Sariang, site of Rustic Pathways Hill Tribe Orphanage Project and location of the Tribe-to-Tribe marathon.  Get comfortable, enjoy a meal prepared by Sun—a five star chef, and wind down for a good night’s sleep because the next day will be a flurry of activity!

Day 6
Kick off the marathon by cheering on the runners and snap pictures of the event.  Celebrate this one time event and the anniversary of Americas independence with you good friends and a dozen elephants newly arrived from the Two Ton Trek program.

Day7-9
The next few days you’ll spend taking pictures and getting to know the deeper story of the Karen people as you bid farewell to Mae Sariang and travel deeper into the mountainous region.  We’ll get settled in Niyom’s village where you’ll further hone your photography skills and develop deeper relationships with the Karen.

Day 10
We’ll arrive in Chiang Mai, a favorite Thai city for Rustic Staff for it’s rich diversity and notable sites like Do Suthep temple that offers a stunning view of the region.  Explore the night market after one last delicious dinner at the Antique House.

Day 11
Travel to Bangkok to connect with your next flight taking you either back to America or your next adventure abroad.

Tribal Shooters 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.