Burma : Build SKILL - Rustic Pathways GAP

Skills – Burma
Develop your photography skills in one of the most visually stunning places on earth!

Burma is perhaps one of the last few places in Southeast Asia that still feels as it did before globalization. Outside of major cities, rural Burma looks as though it is much closer to the beginning of the 20th century. This is a country that has hardly discovered the Internet, where gardens float on lakes, and most rural traffic moves without a motor.

If you have ever wanted to spend a month traveling through one of the most photogenic places on earth, this is your chance to do it! It is estimated that there are more than 130 different ethnic groups in Burma, the geographic crossroads of the Asian subcontinent. Imagine men in longiys, pressed white shirts and red teeth, faces painted with thanaka, ox-drawn carts on dusty roads, thousands of monks eating together.Spend time in a teahouse or explore the bustling river port in Mandalay. Your journey will take you from the tropical coast up into the central plains dotted with palms and temples, and on to the highlands, home of Burma’s famous tea farms.

Burma will prove to be one of the most interesting places you can work as a photographer. Burmese live a mix of ancient, colonial and modern history, all of which will be explored.

Come prepared not only to develop your skills as a photographer, but also togrow as a person. Burma’s modern history has created a society in turmoil. This program requires you to understand that political, economic and social realities are extremely different under a military junta. You will be safe and comfortable, but you will experience a country that exists with a very different set of norms. This program is recommended for mature travelers.

Your instructor will be Sean McGann, a professional photographer who has traveled and photographed extensively in Southeast Asia, including stays in Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. He has created this trip as one of a series of programs designed for the photo enthusiast. Sean attended the Missouri School of Journalism and longs for the day he can return to teaching photo programs in Burma.

Come prepared to play an active part in your growth as a photographer. You will play a dynamic role in determining your own goals and participating in constructive critique sessions. Instructors will develop custom-tailored assignments to match these goals, provide meaningful feedback, and open your vision to all Burma has to offer.

This trip is sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

For more information on this Gap Year module or any of our other extensive Gap Year offerings, please e-mail us at gap@rusticpathways.com.

BURMA PHOTO WORKSHOP GAP YEAR 2009 ITINERARY

Day 1 – Rangoon

•        Arrive in the afternoon
•        Meet with guide at the airport
•        Transfer to hotel
•        Check into Hotel, drop off bags
•        Visit Shwedagon Pagoda
•        Debrief/ Initial look at student work/goals
•        Return to hotel
•        Sleep

Day 2 – Travel to Kyaiktiyo

•        Breakfast at hotel
•        Van to Kyaiktiyo
•        Lunch
•   Check in to hotel
•        Sunset walk
•        Dinner
•        Sleep

Day 3 – The Golden Rock –

Today we will make a sunrise visit to one of Burma’s most famous Buddhist sites.

•        Predawn hike up to the Golden Rock
•        Golden hour photo shoot of monks meditating at the perfectly           balanced Golden Rock
•        Breakfast at Hotel
•        Travel by private van to the back to Rangoon.
•        Lunch
•        Check in to hotel
•        Rest a bit after an early morning and travel back to Rangoon
•        Sunset photo walk
•        Dinner
•        Evening photo review
•        Sleep

Day 4 – Travel to Thaundwe on Burma’s beautiful Andaman Coast

•        Breakfast at hotel
•        Morning Flight to Thaundwe
•        Check in to hotel
•        Lunch
•        Relax on the beach
•        Sunset photo shoot
•        Dinner
•        Night Market
•        Return to Hotel
•        Sleep

Day 5 – Andaman Coast

•        Photograph local fisherman preparing to head out for the day in an    early morning photo shoot
•        Breakfast at hotel
•        Afternoon at the beach
•        Lunch
•        Return to Hotel
•        Dinner
•        Return to Hotel
•        Sleep

Day 6 – Andaman Coast
•        Breakfast at hotel
•        Transfer to Hotel
•        Transfer back to Hotel
•        Dinner
•        Return to Hotel
•        Sleep

Day 7 – Andaman Coast
•        Breakfast at hotel
•        Return to the Hotel, relax for a bit
•        Dinner
•        Return to Hotel
•        Sleep

Day 8 – Travel to Bagan

Bagan is an ancient temple complex along the Irrawaddy River which rivals Cambodia's Angkor complex. This area is wonderful to photograph in with its savannah like environment, dusty roads, small towns, markets and river life.

•        Breakfast
•        Transfer to Airport
•        Morning Flight to Bagan
•        Transfer to Hotel/Check in.
•        Sunset riverboat ride
•        Return to Hotel, relax for a bit
•        Dinner
•        Return to Hotel
•        Sleep

Day 9 – Bagan

•        Sunrise Temple visit
•        Breakfast at Hotel
•        Lunch/Afternoon rest and photo review
•        Sunset Golden Hour assignment
•        Dinner
•        Evening “Painting with Light” assignment
•        Return to Hotel
•        Sleep

Day 10 – Mt. Popa

We will take a day trip to Mt. Popa, one of Burma's most revered sites. There is a saying in Burma that goes, " in Burma we worship the Lord Buddha, but we respect the Nats." It is not Buddha who is worshipped here, rather Mt. Popa is home to a shrine in honor of Burma's many Nats; powerful spirits who affect the day to day lives of rural Burmese.

•        Breakfast at Hotel
•        Travel to Mt. Popa
•        Lunch
•        Climb Mt. Popa, visit Nat shrine,
•        Return to Bagan
•        Sunset Temple visits
•        Dinner
•        Evening shopping
•        Return to Hotel
•        Sleep

Day 11 – Bagan

Today we will take a day hike out into the beautiful palm and sesame plantations surrounding Bagan. This is a beautiful agricultural area where sesame seeds are harvested and sugar is made from palm oil. Imagine a pair of oxen pulling a wooden cart down a dusty, palm-lined road, loaded with bags of sugar candy!

•       Early Breakfast in Bagan
•        Catch a ride out into the sesame and palm fields
•        All day hiking among palm oil farmers, sesame fields, goat herders,
            ox drawn carts, palm sugar shacks.
•        Picnic lunch
•        Dinner Bagan
•        Return to Hotel
•        Sleep

Day 12 – Bagan

You cant get enough time in this super-photogenic area so we'll spend one last day photographing men in longyis and pressed white shirts, faces painted gold with thanakha, temples in the early morning light, a game of tekraw or villagers bathing in the Irrawaddy.

•        Morning assignment
•        Breakfast in Bagan
•        Rest, photo review
•        Lunch
•        Sunset assignment
•        Dinner
•        Return to Hotel
•        Sleep

Day 13 – Overland to Mandalay

•        Breakfast in Bagan
•        Depart for Mandalay
•        Lunch on the road
•        Photo stops at local markets, rice fields
•        Dinner in Mandalay
•        Sleep

Day 14 – Mandalay

•        Breakfast at hotel
·          Transfer to Amarapura
•        Visit Maha Ganayon Kyaung where you can photograph thousands of monks eating their daily meal together
•        Lunch
•        Afternoon visit to Inwa
•        Sunset walk across U’Bein’s Bridge and long tail boat ride back to    bus
•        Dinner in Mandalay
•        Return to hotel

Day 15 – Mandalay

•        Sunrise visit to Mandalay’s river port, a bustling look at river life on the Ayeyarwady River
•        Breakfast
•        Rest and lunch
•        Afternoon trip to Mandalay Hill, Jade market, the Monk District or Shwe In Bin Kyaung Monastery
•        Dinner in Dali
•        Evening walking tour of the night market
•        Return to Hotel
•        Sleep

Day 16 – Travel Day, Mandalay – Pyin U Lwin

Pyin U Lwin or Maytown as the British knew it was the colonial escape from the heat of lowland Burma. If any one city can claim testament to the more that 100 different ethnic groups living in Burma it would be Pyin U Lwin. Burma not only sits at the crossroads of Asia and the Indian subcontinent, but is also home to many of it's own native cultures. They all seem to come together here! It is also home to Burma's military academy and on certain days the small town is also overrun with soldiers on leave. All said and done, this is one of the most incredible places to shoot in Burma!

•        Breakfast at Hotel
•        Morning departure for Pyin U Lwin
•        Lunch at a tea shop along the way
•        Check in to Royal Parkview Hotel
•        Afternoon visit to Shan Monastery
•        Dinner
•        Review session
•        Return to Hotel
•        Sleep

Day 17 – Pyin U Lwin

•        Morning Alms assignment
•        Breakfast at hotel
•        Afternoon swim and picnic at a local waterfall
•        Return to town to photograph in the market
•        Dinner
•        Evening walking around Pyin U Lwin
•        Return to Hotel
•        Sleep

Day 18 – Pyin U Lwin

•        Breakfast at Hotel
•        Morning visit to local Shan Monastery
•        Lunch
•        Royal Gardens
•        Dinner
•           Sleep

Day 19 – Hsipaw

A small wonderful city in the heart of Shan State still open to tourism! Hsipaw is a great place to find a short-term personal project or explore one of the many ethnic groups that live in the surrounding areas, including the Wa people, one-timeheadhunters who were never completely brought under colonial rule.

•        Breakfast at the Hotel
•        Transfer up to Hsipaw
•        Check in to Mr. Charles Guest House
•        Lunch
•        Afternoon visit to Wa village
•        Dinner
•        Review session/prep for short-term project
•        Sleep

Day 20 – Hsipaw

•        Breakfast at Hotel
•        Transfer to Local village for to begin 24 hour “Day in the Life”                      project.
•        Lunch in village
•        Dinner in Village
•        Late evening return to hotel

Day 21 – Hsipaw

Early transport to village
Breakfast with families
Finish 24 hour project around Lunchtime
Return to Guest house
Rest
Review and edition session

Day 22 – Hsipaw

•        Breakfast at Hotel
•        Morning trip to Bawgyo Paya
•        Lunch
•        Afternoon trip to market
•        Late afternoon trip to Shan Palace if open
•        Dinner

Day 23 – 24 Namhsan

We will hop into a 4-wheel drive and head uphill from Hsipaw into some very rarely seen country. Known as the Switzerland of Burma for its mountainous region, Namhsan is Burma's tea country. We'll make friends with growers, explore hill tribe villages and follow the production of tea from plant to finished product.

Day 24 – Namhsan

Day 25 – Travel day Namhsan to Hsipaw

•        Breakfast
•        Return to Hsipaw
•        Lunch on the road
•        Check in to Mr. Charles
•        Dinner
•        Return to Hotel
•        Sleep

Day 26 – Travel to Mandalay

•        Breakfast at Mr. Charles
•        Travel via private transport back to Mandalay
•        Lunch on the road
•        Arrive Mandalay, check in to hotel
•        Dinner
•        Review session
•        Sleep

Day 27 - Inle Lake

•        Breakfast at Hotel
•        Early morning flight to Inle Lake
•        Lunch
•        Transfer via boat to hotel
•        Check in
•           Afternoon visit to Kakku
•           Return to hotel
•        Dinner
•        Return to Hotel
•        Sleep

Day 28 – Inle Lake

•        Breakfast at Hotel
•        Depending on the day of the week we will have a morning trip to a great hill tribe market.
•       Lunch
•        Afternoon sightseeing on the lake
•        Dinner
•        Return to Hotel, Final review session
•        Sleep

Day 29 – Inle Lake

•        Breakfast at Hotel
•        Final day of sightseeing on Inle Lake
•        Lunch
•        Visit to local village, fisherman and floating farmers
•        Take Sky Tram up to Victoria’s Peak for sunset
•        Dinner
•        Return to Hotel
•        Sleep

Day 30 – Hong Kong / Onwards
•        Breakfast at Hotel
•        Early morning transfer to Heho airport
•        Flight to Rangoon
•        Depart Burma on connecting flights onward

An Important Note about Schedule Changes:
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.

Burma 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

Optional items:

Local/English dictionary
Deck of Cards
Small photo albums from home are a great way to make friends.
Frisbee, Aerobe, 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, i.e. 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.

Do we need to get visas for this program?
Yes. It is your responsibility to get a tourist visa for this program. Current information can be found at:
http://www.mewashingtondc.com/visas_passports.htm

How do we get to the program?
You will be responsible for arranging your own transportation to and from Yangon. Please notify us of your reservations.

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

What are the accommodations like?
Accommodations are comfy, western style hotels and guest-houses.

Will the students be drinking bottled water?
Yes! All water served on this trip will be bottled or filtered. Students will always be supplied with safe drinking water.

What kind of food will we be eating?
One word… delicious! We will be sampling both the local fare as well as some great colonial influenced western dishes.

Can Rustic Pathways cater to specific diets on this program?
To a certain extent, yes. If you have any serious dietary issues please contact our USA office prior to booking your trip to make sure that we can accommodate you. Vegetarians are easily accommodated.

Where will we be eating most of our meals?
Almost all of our meals will be eaten at local restaurants with some meals at friends of Rustic Pathways homes and in small villages along the way.

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. 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 to spend time on the internet.

What costs are not included on this trip?
This trip includes all of the student’s accommodations, in addition to three meals a day, drinking water, transportation, entrance fees and other related group entertainment costs. Optional activities, such as massages, internet use, phone calls home, snacks, souvenirs, etc… are extra costs. For this program, we typically recommend between US$100-200 per week for allowance depending on the student’s spending habits, and basic souvenirs. This can vary greatly, however, as some students may spend very little and others may spend much more if they plan on making a big purchase.

What is the weather like?
SE Asia at this time of the year is hot!

How often will I have access to email and phones?
We will make the occasional stop at an internet cafe. As we are fairly removed from civilization for significant parts of the trip, access may however be intermittent.

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

What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
Rustic Pathways only requires an up-to-date Tetanus shot, however the Center for Disease Control often has recommendations that are kept updated regarding Burma. Since we do not know your child’s medical history, we recommend you reference the CDC website at: www.cdc.gov or the World Health Organization website at: www.who.org for more information. We also suggest consulting with your local travel doctor prior to your travels for further information.

Are there any extremely physical or strenuous activities on this trip?
No. But be prepared to do quite a bit of walking while exploring the country.

What sort of electrical voltage adapters do I need to bring?
If you are just bringing chargers for cameras and mp3 players you will not need any adapters. If you need an adapter, look for a universal adapter that will accept almost any plug and plug into almost any style of outlet. They cost around twenty dollars and are available at office and travel supply stores.

Is there a language barrier, and will this be a problem for me?
A lot of people in the larger towns speak English to a certain degree and your local guides can help you translate. It can be a lot of fun trying to use your own made up sign language as well! People will be as interested in hearing about your culture as you are in theirs.

How does this program connect to other programs?

Skills Burma connects seamlessly with any Gap Year programs in May.