Turkey - in Search of the Ark

May 25 - June 10, 2009
(17 days)

Turkey is one of the great
travel destinations of the world. Very few countries are so productive for the photographer. In Turkey you’ll experience 5000 years of history laid out against a pastoral landscape of traditional agriculture. Turkey is changing fast but our itinerary combines the best of both East and Western Turkey. The people, proud of their colorful heritage, welcome us among them. At the crossroads of Civilization since Paris wooed Helen, Turkey was center stage for much that was the glory of Greece and the grandeur of Rome!.

Since 1970, when I was a graduate student in Beirut, I have made well over a dozen trips to this fabulous country. Mehmet Ozbalci has been my guide and friend for over 15 years. He will become your friend in Turkey, too, through his untiring efforts to introduce you to his native land. He connects us with the people we meet, making it very easy to create wonderful images of the people and their culture.

We travel from Istanbul to ancient Kars, Mt. Ararat, Lake Van, timeless Mardin and Sanliurfa, giant heads at Nemrut Dagli (above Adiyaman), surprising Cappadocia, traditional Konya and seaside Kusadasi (Ephesus)--then back to Istanbul.

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Nature of Iceland

July 1 - 15 (15 Days)

Born of Fire and shaped by Ice is no exaggeration, few places on earth are so pristine and yet accessible. July is the perfect time to capture nesting seabirds; puffins fill your frame with a 24mm lens! Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Razorbills, Whooper Swans, Arctic Terns, Eiderducks are here in great numbers and much more approachable than elsewhere. The shaggy Icelandic Horses will charm you and the waterfalls, fjord scenes, masses of lupine and colorful fishing villages make for long busy days in the land of the midnight sun. Building on CUE’s very successful 2008 Explorer tour, we will again circumnavigate the island taking some significant detours up to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and on to the incredible bird cliffs at Latrabjarg. Lake Myvatn, nearby waterfalls and thermal area are other highlights. One the eastern coast at Skalanes, we spend a few days soaking up the atmosphere at an “eco lodge” in the making. In the spirit of Iceland, our accommodations are simple, we prepare many of our own meals and appreciate whatever the photo-gods have to offer. A soak at the famous Blue Lagoon will relax us for the flight home.

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Grand Tetons and Yellowstone

September 13-20 (8 Days)

Photograph in one of the great “hotspots” of the world. Stunning mountain scenery, glorious landscapes, historic log buildings, waterfalls—this is the place! Bison, moose, bear, elk and the occasional wolf parade before you—all in their best outfits preparing for winter. Late September offers exceptional light and fewer tourists, too. This trip is in support of the 2009 Photographic Society of America Conference in West Yellowstone (September 20-26). Begins and ends at Jackson, WY, Airport.

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Yellowstone Day Trips

September 21-26, 2009

While the Photographic Society of America is meeting at West Yellowstone, Close-Up Expeditions are providing a series of day tours from West Yellowstone in the unique CUE style of using a go-anywhere, stop anytime 12 seat Van with pro guide Don Lyon making sure that you capture wonderful images and have a great time. Information and registration (required for participation) is at www.psa-photo.org Sign up and pay for Day trips before August15 and receive a 20% discount.

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Indonesia's Islands

October 19- November 3 (16 Days)

Of Indonesia’s 17,000 islands we’ll photograph five of the best. Indonesia is not well known or understood in the US, but it is one of the most culturally diverse, rampantly colorful and tropically beautiful open heartedly friendly countries I know! Indonesia has long been on my short list of favorite photographic and travel destinations. Our trip begins and ends in Bali. From there we fly to old capital of Jogyakarta, visit Borobudur, cruise Borneo by river boat with frequent shore visits, explore Sulawesi’s (Celebes) Bugi villages and beautiful Torajaland’s exciting and colorful funeral customs. Back to Bali for 3 days exploring the closest place on earth to Paradise. $4391 with minimum of eight. Domestic airfare is $706. Single supplement $475.

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Irian Jaya Extension

November 3-7 (5 Days)

From Bali to Jayapura, Baliem Valley where we meet the extraordinary Dani people just recently emerged from the stone age. Photograph their traditional village life including a pig roast. Irian Jaya is the western half of New Guinea, now called Papua. Photographing and meeting the Dani people is an extraordinary experience—don’t travel all the way to Indonesia without including this exciting region. $1569 with minimum of six. Domestic airfare is $978 from Bali back to Bali. Single supplement is $150.

Faces of Burma

December 1-15 (15 days)

Burma (aka Myanmar) is perhaps the most exotic travel experience available for Westerners—the people, the experience of being there, will change you forever. Your guide for this journey is Sai Woon Sone (aka Daniel) who has an almost magical ability to pull red robed novices out of the bushes to act as models. With Daniel, you’ll travel by air from Yangon to Bagan to explore 16th century temples whose spires beckon mysteriously in the misty sunrise, to Mandalay, the royal city, where traditional crafts such as making gold foil, sculpting huge white marble statues of the Buddha, weaving silk and many more crafts are kept alive. On to the high plateau of Shan State (where Daniel is from) to live the colonial life of the old British Hill Stations, to stay the night in bamboo cottages, Shangri-La-like next to a lake where gold domes shimmer in the morning mist, and village maidens wash their long black hair. The cave on the hill is filled with over 9000 statues of the Buddha. Always a highlight, you’ll stay three nights in cottages perched on stilts in the middle of Lake Inle, home to the Intha people who fish and maintain floating gardens—propelling their dugout canoes standing with one leg wrapped around an oar. Try it if you like—the water’s fine. Our accommodations are very comfortable to luxurious throughout and mealsare heavenly under Daniel's care.

Burma 2008 pdf's (click on image to load)