EXPERT MIKE YAMASHITA

15 DAYS OF ADVENTURE

TIBETSPIRITUAL WORLD OF TIBETAN BUDDHISM

MIKEYAMASHITA

NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC

PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTOGRAPHY WITH PASSION

Better Moments CEO and founder: Christian Nørgaard

Graphic design: Anders Lundgren

Text editor: Jeff Grant

All images and text in this catalog are under Internatio-nal Copyright Legislation.

However, Better Moment’s guests and potential custo-mers may download the catalog for private use, but not for any commercial use.

Any violation of the International Copyright Legislation will be reported to the International Court of Justice of International Copyright Legislation

Cover photo by Mike Yamashita

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Thanks for choosing Better Moments for your next adventure workshop.

Better Moments was founded in 2011 by Philip Boissevain and me, two experienced veterans of the international professional photography industry. We met when working at Hasselblad, Philip as the Global Marketing manager and me as the Global Photographer Relations manager.

Today Better Moments has become the leading photo workshop platform organizing high-end workshops for photo enthusiasts worldwide.

You will learn from the world’s most experienced photographers within their fields to refine your personal style and sharpen your technical skills. Additionally, we want you to share your excitement for photography and enjoy great moments in life. And we want you to explore your passion and expand your photographic skills and vision.

Better Moments mission is to deliver exclusive workshops in landscape, wildlife and travel photography at unique locations around the world. I want you to explore your passion for photography and work and earn from the world’s most renowned photographers who all have excellent teaching skills, local knowledge and experience.

Photography with passion,Christian Nørgaard

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SPIRITUAL WORLD OFTIBETAN BUDDHISM

Travel through the historical Kham region of Tibet from Chengdu to Yushu along the north route of the famous Tea Horse Road, where Chinese merchants have traded tea for horses with Tibetans since ancient times. From there we will continue on to Tibet’s capital Lhasa.

We shall also have the opportunity to photograph nomads with their tents, Tibetan mastiffs, yaks and sheep in the grasslands and spectacular Tibetan monasteries. We shall visit ancient printing temples, the Tibetan white pagoda forest, pilgrims, local festivals and much more.

Photo by Mike Yamashita, Dêgê in Garzê Tibetan

MIKEYAMASHITA

NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC

PHOTOGRAPHER

TRAVEL WITH PASSIONBetter Moments’ mission is to deliver exclusive workshops. We want you to explore your passion for photography and to work with the world’s most renowned photographer, Mike Yamashita during your Tibet expedition.

HIGHLIGHTS

Ancient Tea Horse Road.

Tibetan buddhist monasteries.

Ancient watchtowers of Danba.

A sky burial stage, the ancient burial tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

The traditional printing temple of the Gengqin Monastery, a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site.

Spectacular mountainous land-scapes and heavenly lakes of Tibet.

Tibetan white pagoda forest.

The Potala Palace – political center of Tibet and former residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

Learn about how to approach the unique challenges of travel and landscape photography, how to capture candid moments and portraits and how to capture spaciousness, dynamic energy and the simplicity of natural landscape photography.

ON LOCATION

Teaching and training in the best techniques with personal hints

and advice.

Composition and focus on lines, golden section, perspective, foreground, middle ground and background.

Work in different lighting and with short/long exposure times and aperture.

How to handle equipment with care on location.

Private hands-on lessons that can help to take your photography skills to the next level.

IN CLASSROOM

Expert review and constructive criticism of the images taken during the day.

Workflow in Photoshop and/or Lightroom, and printing.Portfolio Review.

A Better Moments Certified Photo Instructor is available during the entire workshop to offer assistance with camera settings, the basics of composition, guide and help in general.

Photo by Mike Yamashita, Pagoda Forest

PRICE & BOOKING

MIKE YAMASHITAMichael Yamashita has been shooting for National Geographic magazine for over 30 years, combining his dual passions of photography and travel. After graduating from Wesleyan University with a degree in Asian studies, he spent seven years in Asia, which became his photographic area of specialty. Upon returning to the US, Yamashita began shooting for the National Geographic, as well as other American and international magazines and clients.

In addition to Yamashita’s focus on Asia, his work has taken him to six continents. Yamashita’s particular specialty is in retracing the paths of famous travelers and historical routes resulting in stories on Marco Polo, the Chinese explorer Zheng He, Chamagudao - the Tea Horse Road, the Great Wall of China, the Mekong River from source to mouth.

His feature documentary, The Ghost Fleet, inspired by his National Geographic story about the 15th-century Admiral, won the Best Historical Documentary prize at the New York International Independent Film Festival. Additionally, his National Geographic Channel documentary, Marco Polo: The China Mystery Revealed, based on his three-part magazine story, received two Asian Television and Film Awards. It was also included in the top twenty most popular NG Channel documentaries of the decade.

Photo by private

MIKEYAMASHITA

NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC

PHOTOGRAPHER

Explore Tibet together with National Geographic photographer Mike Yamashita

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A frequent keynote speaker for corporations and foundations, as well as a lecturer and teacher at universities and workshops around the world, Yamashita has received numerous industry awards, including those from the Pictures of the Year, Photo District News, the New York Art Directors Club, and the Asian-American Journalists Association. Major exhibits of his work have opened throughout Asia, in Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Taipei and Singapore, as well as in Rome, Venice, Frankfurt, and Perpignan, France. His work has been exhibited in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and at the National Gallery in Washington, DC

Yamashita has published eleven books (mostly inspired by his 30 National Geographic stories): 88: The China Collection; Shangri-La: Along the Tea Road to Lhasa; The Great Wall From Beginning to End; New York: Flying High, an aerial portrait of Manhattan; Zheng He: Tracing the Epic Voyages of China’s Greatest Explorer; Japan: The Soul of a Nation; Marco Polo, A Photographer’s Journey; Mekong: A Journey on the Mother of Waters; In the Japanese Garden; A Pictorial Tribute to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; Lakes, Peaks and Prairies: Discovering the U.S. Canadian Border.

While not traveling, Michael Yamashita lives with his family in rural New Jersey, where he maintains a studio and is an active volunteer fireman.

Photo by Mike Yamashita, Gyana Mani Monastery

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DAY 1

ARRIVAL IN CHENGDU

Arrive at Chengdu Airport, transfer to our hotel. Meet at hotel lobby at 5 pm for orientation meeting and welcome group dinner.

The 2500 year old city of Chengdu is known for its teahouses and local cuisine. Mahjong, a domino-type game, is played everywhere. Here, the lifestyle is leisurely and the pace of life not too fast.

DAY 2

CHENGDU TO DANBA

After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and drive 360 km northwest to Danba in our 4wd SUV (three clients per SUV). Today, we first drive on the highway to Yingxiu, on the edge of the 2008 earthquake area. We then drive through the Wolong Nature Reserve and the Balang Mountain Pass. In late afternoon, we arrive in the ancient watchtower city, Danba. Danba at an elevation of 1,800 meters is the entrance to Kham Tibet and famous for its hundreds of ancient watchtowers, built from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to the Qing Dynasty (1750-1800).

DAY 3

DANBA TO BAMEI TO TAGONG TO DAOFU

After exploring the watchtowers, we drive to the Garthar Monastery (at 3,550 m), which served as the temporary palace for the 7th Dalai Lama for six years.

Later, we drive to the Tagong Grassland and visit the 1000 year old Tagong Monastery (at 3,700 m), belonging to the striped hat sect. We will also photograph the Muya Golden Pagoda against the backdrop of the Yala Snow Mountain.

DAY 4

DAOFU TO SEDA

Today, we drive around 230 km to Seda via Luhuo. Seda Larong Monastery (at 4,000 m) was founded in 1980 and soon became one of the largest Tibetan buddhist red hat sect monasteries in the world, drawing tens of thousands of lamas and nuns to study and live here.

DAY 5

SEDA TO GANZI

Today, we drive to Ganzi, stopping at the Dongga Monastery. Here is a huge sky burial stage, the ancient burial tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

In Tibetan, Ganzi means the pure and beautiful place. Ganzi Monastery belonging to the yellow hat sect is the first and most important monastery of the 13 famous monasteries in Ganzi, Luhuo and Daofu.

DAY 6

GANZI 230 KM TO BAIYU

Today, we drive the off-beaten track to experience the Yaqin Monastery on an island formed by a U-turn of the Changqu River. Counting some 20,000 nuns at its highest, this is the largest nunnery in the world. Thousands of small, 1-2 m3 wooden huts stand here, where the nuns spend 100 days in winter, meditating and studying, only allowed outside to walk after sunset.

DAY 7

BAIYU TO DERGE

Baiyu is an extremely remote, humid and green town on the banks of the Yalong River. Local people first saw a motor vehicle in the 1980s and few tourists have

ever been here. We visit the 840 year-old Gatuo Monastery located on a 4800 m high cliff.

DAY 8

DERGE

En route along the zigzag road we will enjoy magnificent views of the Trola Pass at 5,000 m. Derge is an important cultural hub, and many famous Tibetan writers and singers are from here.

Inside the Gengqin Monastery we find the largest, still active traditional printing temple, founded in 1729. It is listed as a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site and one of the foremost cultural treasures of Tibet. Books are still being handprinted from hand-carved wooden blocks here.At the foot of the Trola Mountain Range, we photograph Lhamo Latso, the largest glacier lake at an elevation of over 4,000 meters.

DAY 9

DERGE TO SERXU

At 4,150 meters Serxu is the highest town in the Sichuan Province and the most remote county from Chengdu, 1,070 km away. Zhaxika is home of the most yaks in China. Local people are known for their singing and dancing.

DAY 10

SERXU TO YUSHU

Bage Mani Wall is the longest Mani wall in the Tibetan area. The Bage pile of inscribed prayer stones is 1.6 km long, 2-3 meters wide and 3 meters tall. The white Tibetan Pagoda connects with the Mani wall.

We visit the Shechen Monastery, housing in the grand hall the second largest golden statue of the Tibetan Future Buddha.

ITINERARYDAY 11

YUSHU

Jiagu Monastery, located on a hilltop of Yushu, gives us a panoramic view of new Yushu after the 2010 earthquake.

We will see the wall paintings at the Wenzheng Monastery and visit the world largest mini stones town. It is said, that there are 2.5-3 billion piles of mani stones at the Gyana Mani Monastery.

DAY 12

YUSHU TO XINING

Today, we fly to Xining and start our journey by overnight train to Lhasa.

DAY 13

XINING TO LHASA

We arrive in Lhasa in late afternoon, ascending to 3,600 meters. Free time to rest and acclimatise.

Lhasa, the holy capital of Tibet, still maintains its spirituality and mystique despite the growing population of Han Chinese and rapid development of the city in recent years. The early morning is the best time to appreciate the spiritual face of Lhasa.

DAY 14

LHASA

In the morning, we visit the most famous landmark of Tibet, the Potala Palace, the political center of Tibet and the former residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The approach to the Potala requires climbing many steep steps, so we take it slowly.

After lunch, we take a short drive to the outskirts of Lhasa, where Sera

Monastery gives us a wonderful view of the entire city. Here we will have a chance to print our own sutra texts on traditional long paper, and experience the debating courtyard, where nearly a hundred monks hone their debating skills in an elaborateclapping ceremony.

DAY 15

LHASA

Our trip ends. Flights home.

PLEASE NOTE

Itinerary may be subject to change. Participants should allow for flexibility due to changes in weather, natural events or other logistical arrangements deemed necessary by our local guide.

PRICE & BOOKING

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GETTING THERE

Better Moments can make your bookings for flights to and from China as well as additional overnight stays.

VISA

All visitors are required to have a passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay. It is the responsibility of each traveller to obtain all valid travel documents and visas before arrival at this destination.

WEATHER

The weather is highly unpredictable, and three to four seasons could appear within a span of 24 hours. Hail and snow over the high mountain passes is quite common.

RELIGION

Religion is extremely important to the majority of Tibetans, and travellers should endeavour to respect their customs and beliefs. Always walk around Tibetan Buddhist religious sites or monasteries in a clockwise direction, and when in a monastery do not wear a hat, smoke or touch frescoes. In addition, refrain from climbing onto statues, mani stones or other sacred objects.

LANGUAGE

Khams Tibetan is used by the majority of people in Kham, but this vast region is inhabited by over 14 culturally and linguistically distinct ethnic groups. At least one-third of Kham residents are speakers of Qiangic languages. Mandarin is also used.

HEALTH

Check with your doctor which vaccinations or medications are recommended for this destination. Remember to plan well ahead with vaccinations. Allow up to six weeks to receive the full course, as some vaccinations require more than one dose, and some should not be given together.

Because of the elevation, the sun is going to be very strong. Bring

and use sunscreen. Also bring warm close for bad weather.

CURRENCY

Chinese Yuan.

QUICK GUIDE

Kham is a historical region of Tibet covering a land area largely divided between present-day Tibet Autonomous Region and Sichuan, with smaller portions located within the Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan provinces of China. The terrain is mountainous with deep valleys and several large rivers such as the Brahmaputra, Yangtze, Salween and Mekong running through. Here you will find ancient Tibetan buddhist monasteries, nomads and yaks, pagodas and pilgrims, teahouses and prayer flags flapping in the wind.

Kham is also the core area of the famed Tea Horse Road, where Chinese merchants traded tea from the Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces to Tibetans in exchange for horses over a 3,000 km network of mountain trails. On this trip we travel along the north route of the Tea Horse Road from Chengdu to Yushu, and from there on to Tibet by the rail on the roof of world.

The highest elevation is over 5,000 meters, the highest overnight lodge is 4,200 meters above sea level. During the whole trip, three people share one 4 WD SUV with a local driver. The lodgings will be the best local hotel available, but equal to 2-3 star hotel standard. A hot shower is not available daily.

QUICK GUIDE

Photo by Mike Yamashita, Garthar Monastery

We wish you to travel with the greatest possiblecomfort and to know that you have received as much

information as possible

PRICE & BOOKING

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EQUIPMENT

CAMERA

Photo by Mike Yamashita

Whether this is your first trip or your ”hundredth” workshop with us, it’s always helpful to have a rundown of what items you may want to pack so you have a travel checklist. Bookmark this packing list, because you’ll want to refer back to it to make sure you’ve thought of everything you might want to pack.

The camera list is for inspiration, since you know better than any-one what equipment you prefer.

Bring you own laptop compu-ter and storage medium

Camera bodie(s)

Lenses, 24-70mm zoom and 70-200mm zoom or similar

Bag for all camera gear

Light bag for easy hiking with camera bodies and accessories

Cleaning kit for cameras and lenses

Rain/dust covers for cameras and lenses

Charger for batteries

Spare batteries

Standard power converter

Raw processing software

Memory cards and card wal-lets

Memory card reader

USB key to exchange images

NICE TO HAVE

Tripod

Lens extenders

Camera straps for ease of changing from one camera to another

Graduated filter set

Filter holder

High quality polarizing filter

Lens belt

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BETTERMOMENTS.COM

PHOTOGRAPHEROF T

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The award has been granted because of Unni’s unique ability to capture and portray people in various situations and environments. She simply makes compelling images.

Unni has participated in four of our workshops – Bhutan, Tanzania, Burma and Indochina. The award winning photograph of the month was taken on our Bhutan workshop, at one of the most beautiful monasteries, Punakha Dzong.

Unni Hjellnes was awardedPhotographer Of The Month, December 2016

Each month we select a photographer from one of our many workshops who deserves special recognition. The Photographer of the Month is chosen by the Better Moments workshop experts, including Better Moments CEO, Christian Nørgaard.