Bhutan

http://paworkshops.net/bhutan-workshop

Bhutan

Dates: March 26 - April 9, 2010

Leaders: Moe Witschard and David Middleton

Location: Bhutan

Cost: $7495

About the Workshop

Largely isolated from the outside world for centuries, closed to foreigners until three decades ago, visiting Bhutan is like stepping back in time. Ruled by a series of highly educated and beloved kings, it has consciously cultivated both a fiercely guarded traditional culture and the world’s most well tended natural environment. A mesmerizing land of peace, prosperity and spiritual richness, Bhutan and its friendly people are a photographer’s paradise.

Tantric Mahayana Buddhism permeates all aspects of Bhutanese culture, and the workshop includes photographing a fantastically colorful festival with sacred pageantry and wondrous dance. Dance performances will go on all day amidst swirling costumes, ancient, magical masks, crowds of smiling young monks in training and fascinating sacred rites. Imagine the pictures!

Everyday will enchant us as we slowly explore this beautiful country on this customized itinerary created solely for us. We linger at a few spectacular areasâ€"Paro, Punakha, Bumthang, the Phobjikha valleyâ€"rather than blasting around the whole country always in a rush. If we see something we want to photograph, we will stop and take our time capturing the sights. Who would want to hurry through a thicket of prayer flags or a forest of blooming, tree-sized rhododendrons? We have picked spring for this trip rather than the more touristy fall for the lushness of the landscape and the beautiful quality of spring light.

Few destinations throughout history have generated the stir of anticipation among travelers worldwide that Bhutan created when it tentatively cracked its door ajar three decades ago. The few who have ventured in have been startled to behold the last intact Buddhist Himalayan kingdom. It is the last Himalayan country that has not been trampled by western tourism.

We invite you to seize the day, to experience Bhutan at this historic juncture, and travel and photograph with us to a land on the brink of transformation.

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