HONG KONG | February 1 - 10, 2008

Mentors | Chris Alvanas & Mark Edward Harris

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RECAP

Our photography workshop began in Beijing, the countries' capital and the political, educational and cultural center of the People's Republic of China. On first afternoon we went to the Temple of Heaven and were lucky enough to have dinner with a local family in the Hutong neighborhood as they demonstrated their skills and shared with us their drawings. Afterwards, we experienced an authentic rickshaw ride through their village.

Travel with our mentors and try out all of the latest equipment from Nikon! Including world class digital SLRs, Nikkor lenses and the Coolpix line of Digital Cameras.

The next morning found us at the Great Wall of China, with a long and but rewarding journey to the top. This 2000 year old historic Great Wall allows views of the dragon-like architecture that winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus from east to west China.

Our following days in Beijing afforded us many photographic opportunities with stops at the larger-than-life-size human and animal stone statue avenue of the Sacred Way, and the Summer Palace's imperial court temples, gardens, pavilions, and lakes. We also visited the Olympic Sites as Beijing gears up for the 2008 Summer Games. A highlight was the Forbidden City and Coal Hill Park, where we were able to view the entire Forbidden City from a bird's eye view.

We started the Hong Kong portion of the trip by taking a tram ride to the Victoria Peak vista, located 1,810 feet above sea level offering an abundance of breathtaking views of Victoria Harbor. We witnessed authentic boat people living a traditional “fishing village life” in the Aberdeen Harbor as we negotiated the waterways on a sampan (flat bottomed Chinese wooden boat) ride. We also saw Repulse Bay, and Stanley Market.

The next morning, nice and early, we visited the New Territories district, and captured “real Hong Kong life” including the Lo Wai Walled Village, Man Mo Temple and Tai Po Market.

A real highlight in Hong Kong was the exciting and festive Chinese New Year -- including the traditional New Years Parade, complete with the famous multi-colored Dragon Dance that winds its way along the parade route, followed by a dazzling firework finale exploding with color high above the Victoria Harbor. We were truly able to witness how the locals celebrate their New Year, as they enthusiastically welcomed the Year of the Rat.

Finally we visited the eclectic city of Macau where a unique blend of quaint Mediterranean style meets with a Las Vegas-like nightlife on the China coast. We fancied amazing photo opportunities on a fantastic cable car ride to Lantau Island - known as “the lungs of Hong Kong” due to its abundance of indigenous mountain forest - and home to the Po Lin monastery and the world's largest Buddha measuring 85 feet high. An incredible photographic journey to be remembered for many years to come!