✧ Captivating Cambodia

Captivating Cambodia Tour

14 Day Photo and Cultural Tour

November 18th - December 1st, 2012

Join Nick Melidonis, Frank Richardson and special guest, the renowned American photographer John McDermott, on an unforgettable visual and cultural journey to Angkor Wat and Cambodia, the centre of the most powerful empire in Southeast Asia for more than a thousand years ago.

Angkor Wat itself is one of the wonders of the world—the archetype of a lost city and the largest religious complex in the world. In the plains and jungles surrounding Angkor, there are dozens of   ancient temples and structures built to perfection by master architects and engineers. Most of the temples are left much in the same way as they were discovered by the early French explorers and accessible to explore and photograph.

In some temples, the roots of centuries-old trees entwine and grow through the structures and have been the subject of many movies. The magnificent Bayon Temple in the ancient city of Angkor Thom is home to over two hundred giant faces of Buddhas that gaze serenely over the forest. We also visit some of the most beautiful and mysterious outlying temples that are unrestored and surrounded by jungle and strangler figs. Saffron clad monks are still to be found in close proximity to the major temples and walk the ancient pathways of these lost civilizations. The vast Tonle Sap Lake swells to many times its size during the wet season and we will be able to capture images of drowned forests and villages on stilts, home to many communities and birdlife.

To see a YOU TUBE  video of Nick’s pictures set to music of this tour, please click HERE

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Be inspired with workshops over two days to prepare and inspire you in capturing photographs with the ‘Wow’ factor. Beginners through to advanced enthusiasts and pros will be catered for as well as alternative activities for non-photographers.
• Photograph magnificent ancient stone temples enveloped by giant roots from the surrounding jungle
• Enjoy a taste of Cambodian history, culture, cuisine and shopping with fun and informative sessions on Khmer life
• Marvel at the site of a sunrise and sunset at the largest religious complex in the world; Angkor Wat, surrounded by the ancient city of Angkor Thom
• Experience village life and capture the customs, warmth and smiles of the Khmer people
• Travel by boat in the vast Tonle Sap Lake to photograph the water communities living in their houses on stilts.
• Enjoy a special photographic treat capturing images of saffron clad monks and life in Buddhist Temples
• Visit the incredible galleries of renowned photographer, John McDermott and be inspired and learn during his workshop as to how he captured the amazing images from his new book ‘Elegy: Reflections of Angkor’
• Enjoy a farewell dinner at an iconic restaurant in Seim Reap

ABOUT THE TOUR LEADERS

Nick Melidonis, Master Photographer and three times winner of the Australian Landscape Photographer of the Year, will take you on a visual journey sharing his passion in creatively seeing the landscapes and people from this exciting destination. Feast and learn about Khmer cuisine and where to shop with our knowledgeable local guides. Frank Richardson has been professionally shooting Australia’s landscapes for years and has joined Nick on a previous shoot in Cambodia in preparation for this exciting tour. Renowned American photographer John McDermott has lived in Seim Reap for over a decade and his fine art photography is on display in his striking galleries. John has recently released his stunning book ‘Elegy’ with exhibitions in LA and New York.

INCLUDED IN THE TOUR

• All accommodation, breakfasts and some meals as per the itinerary
• Airport transfers for group flight option
• Bus and boat transport and day tours as per itinerary
• 7 day temple pass to the ancient temples of Angkor and special passes to the outlying temples
• Pre-tour travel advice and tour pack on Cambodia
• English speaking registered tour guide to assist us during shoots and activities on our tour
• Introductory  full day photography workshop and constant advice with Nick and Frank
• Special workshop with John McDermott and visits to his galleries. John will accompany us on some of our field shoots and share his experience on capturing those special images
• Cooking school session and a taste of Khmer cuisine, culture and shopping
• Shoots of the monks and life at some Buddhist temples

NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR

• Airfares to and from Cambodia
• Travel insurance (all participants must have appropriate insurance)
• Dinners and lunches other than those mentioned in the itinerary
• Personal expenses such as drinks, laundry and hotel phone etc

PLEASE NOTE

• Costs and itinerary subject to change without notice
• Tour starts and ends in Siem Reap and depends on minimum numbers

TOUR DATES AND COST

14 day/13 nights photographic and cultural tour

Sunday Nov 18th – Saturday Dec 1st   2012

Land content only; twin share AUD $5,390, Single supplement AUD $690

Deposit: $580AUD (land only); $690AUD (land and air fare). Non-refundable.

EARLY BIRD OFFER: If you book before 20th Dec 2011, you will receive a free full day private boat tour and wildlife shoot of the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary with lunch and guides including a visit by paddle-boat to the Prek Toal Village. The Prek Toal core bird reserve covers 22,000 hectares in the vast Tonle Sap Lake at the mouth of the Sangke River and is home to the largest breeding colonies of water birds in South East Asia. This will be an unforgettable day.

SOLE TRAVEL AGENT
Harvey World Travel (LIC No. 9TA00049)

East Perth – Shop 1/113 Royal Street

Nick Missikos – Owner/Manager
Tel:  (08) 9221 9977 Fax:  (08) 9221 5577
email: eastperth@harveyworld.com.au

FURTHER ENQUIRIES AND INFORMATION

Nick Melidonis Email: nick@nickmelidonis.com

www.nickmelidonis.com/tours/captivatingcambodia

Tel: 08 93364135

Click here to download PDF of tour

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive In Siem Reap and transfer to our comfortable four star hotel. In the afternoon we will go on a leisurely orientation walk around Siem Reap with visits to the nearby markets and the famous Pub Street with its colourful restaurants and pubs serving food of almost all cultures and flavours. In the evening, we have a special welcome treat to a stunning Cambodian cultural show and Apsara dance with a sumptuous buffet comprising both Western and tradional Khmer delicacies.

Day 2: After a hearty buffet breakfast, you are invited to attend a photography and photo workflow workshop at our hotel including lunch with Nick and Frank with lots of tips and techniques to prepare you for the rich photo opportunities that lie ahead. The workshop will be participant driven with split sessions to suit both beginners and advanced photo enthusiasts. Optional activities with  our Cambodian guide will be offered for those that don’t wish to attend the workshop. Later in the afternoon, we will visit the Angkor Temple’s ticketing office to obtain our temple passes and photo ID’s. We need to wear these whenever we are visiting the temple areas. We then proceed to the amazing ancient city of Angkor Thom for a sunset shoot. In the evening, you are invited to join us for a leisurely stroll to Pub Street for some fun and dinner. Don’t make it an all night session as tomorrow we rise early for one of the tour highlights.

Day 3: This morning we are taken to the World Heritage complex of Angkor Wat to capture a sunrise and explore this amazing religious complex bathed in the early morning light with our own guide. The tour leaders will guide you to the best photo spots. Breakfast packs will be provided by our hotel. We return to the hotel for lunch at our individual choice of restaurant. This afternoon, you are invited to an inspirational workshop at our hotel with one of Asia’s premier photographers, John McDermott. In the evening, we will take a relaxing stroll with John to enjoy one of his galleries and then on to a recommended restaurant

Day 4: A morning shoot and exploration with Nick, John and Frank of the Bayon, a richly decorated Khmer Temple built in the late 12th century. The Bayon’s most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on the many towers that jut from the upper terrace. Some believe these 216 gigantic faces are those of its builder, Jayavaraman VII. Without a doubt, this is one of Cambodia’s ‘must see’ temples. Monks can be seen and photographed in the early morning in a nearby temple. Time permitting; we will also shoot the smaller but exquisite temples of Ta Keo and Thommanon. We return to the hotel for lunch and a rest. In the late afternoon, we return for a sunset shoot at Angkor Wat and seen in a different light from the dawn shoot previously. We have the evening at leisure for your own exploration and dinner. On this and successive evenings at leisure, our tour leaders and guides will always make suggestions as to where you may want to eat at the many restaurants and enjoy the shopping malls near our hotel.

Day 5: Day at leisure to relax with optional activities offered. Nick and Frank will schedule a photo feedback session for those that would like to take part. A cooking class (part of the tour) will be offered in a top cooking school around lunchtime for people who are interested in trying their hand at Khmer food. Other optional activities may include a silk farm, Cambodian Museum or the markets.

Day 6: We will be up early for a dawn shoot at the intricate and elaborately decorated, pristine temple of Bantay Srei. Surrounded by a moat with lotus flowers, the early dawn light will reveal why it is widely praised as ‘The Jewel of Khmer Art’. We will endeavour to take a couple of monks with us as models at Bantay Srei. On our way back from the temple, we will visit the impressive Butterfly Park for some macro photography (Nick and Frank will demonstrate macro photography). After lunch and a rest, we travel in the late afternoon light to photograph by land and boat; the striking village on stilts – Kampong Kleang. The friendly villagers will make great subjects as the sun sets over the water and the village. Evening at leisure.

Day 7: Early breakfast at the hotel and then on to a shoot with John, Nick and Frank to the stunningly beautiful temple of Preah Khan. Preah Khan was built on the site of Jayavaraman VII’s victory over the invading Chams in 1191. It was described by early explorers thus ‘Preah Khan, for the beguiler, the romancer and the artist, is an entrancing mastery deep in the jungle, soft and alluring in the twilight made by heavy ardure”. Afterwards, we enjoy lunch and a rest at the hotel and later in the afternoon, John, Nick and Frank will lead the group for a shoot at one of Angkor’s most popular temples, Ta Prohm. The temple was featured in the movie ‘Tomb Raider’ with Angelina Jollie. Ta Prohm has been left in much the same condition in which it was found where the photogenic and atmospheric combination of trees and roots growing around and through the stones, make it one of Angkor’s most amazing sights. John McDermott will complete a superb day with a walk to his second Photo Gallery and then on to one of his favourite restaurants.

Day 8: We spend today enjoying the landscapes and life on the vast Tonle Sap Lake. The lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and is considered a natural wonder. This great lake exists as an ecological anomaly. In early June, at the start of the rainy season, the water level of the Mekong River rises and it redirects into the Tonle Sap. This forces the current to reverse direction and by the end of October, the lake increases its size almost tenfold. When we visit, the high water will present spectacular vistas of floating villages on stilts and bird life. Weather permitting, we start the day with a sunrise shoot on a hill overlooking the lake. We then we explore the lake community of Chong Kneas and afterwards, we enjoy an exciting boat ride through the drowned forest to the bustling village on stilts. After lunch, we offer a second visit to Chong Kneas to wander around the raised platforms and (weather permitting) catch an amazing sunset over the raised houses and fishing traps. Evening at leisure.

Day 9: Day at leisure to relax and catch up with your photo images. For participants who qualified for the early bird offer (late birds are welcome to book this tour as well), this will be a magic day to explore by boat; the largest water bird world in Southeast Asia; the Prek Toal Bird Reserve. This Sanctuary is home to the largest spot-billed pelican colony and only fresh water Milky Stork colony in the world. It also has the largest Painted and Openbill Stork colony in Indochina. Evening at leisure.

Day 10: Today, John McDermott joins Nick and Frank to explore the remote and mysterious forested ruins of the temple complexes at Koh Ker and Beng Melea. This journey beyond Angkor, will take us past Cambodian rural life to the outlying temples rising through the lush jungle and left almost as they were found by the early explorers. Evening at leisure or join the tour leaders to one of their favourite restaurants.

Day 11 and 12: After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and store our main luggage bringing an overnight bag for our journey to Battambang Province. Battambang is the kingdom’s second most populated city set on fertile alluvial soil that provides the highest quality rice crops and known as ‘The Rice Bowl of Cambodia’. The province is also famous for its rubies and emeralds. We journey by private boat along the Sangker River through interesting river and lake vistas and rural scenes to the lay-back town of Battambang and overnight at our hotel. We spend the next day exploring the French Colonial architecture, rural villages and emerald green rice fields; pagodas, mountain scenes and caves. We also have fun riding Battambang’s famous ‘Bamboo Train’.

Day 13: After breakfast, we return by bus to Siem Reap and check into our hotel. We have the afternoon to pack and do any last minute shopping. This evening, we enjoy a farewell dinner (included in the tour) to celebrate our time in Cambodia at one of Siem Reap’s most romantic and well known restaurants where the tables are set amongst candle lit pools.

Day 14; after breakfast, we check out and transfer to the airport for our return to Australia or continue to other destinations. The tour ends today.