Learn Travel Writing in the Himalayas2 April - 15 April 2012
Seasoned Australian travel writer, photographer and author Angus McDonald leads this tour of the Kangra Valley, India, an undiscovered gem of the Himalayas that is the home of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan exile community. For beginners and experienced writers alike – master the art of travel writing for your blog, journal or publication. Meet the local Indians and Tibetan refugees who live in this idyllic region, and tell their stories to the world. Our journey begins in Delhi with a day acclimatizing and soaking up the dynamic bustle of India’s booming capital city. We then drive up to Dharamsala, the home of the Dalai Lama, where we explore the streets of this fascinating hill town and meet some of its characters. Our base for the next 10 days will be a community centre outside Dharamsala, where we interact with women working for the development of their village. We explore the Kangra Valley in a series of day tours, including visits to nunneries, monasteries, villages, historic sites and mountain treks, accompanied by expert local guides. With guidance from Angus, participants observe, take notes, and conduct interviews in the field. In evening workshops, you will learn to create compelling articles, journal entries and blog posts from the material you have gathered during the day. You will learn about descriptive writing, rendering character, using quotes, story structuring, and other essential techniques for the successful writer. Classes in photography are also an option. The best work will be selected for publication in the Moonpeak magazine and website.
ItineraryDay 1: 2 April 2011 Arrive Delhi International Airport – Rest of the day at leisure. Evening meeting with Angus and introduction to the writing course. Overnight New Delhi Day 2: 3 April 2011 Sightseeing tour around Delhi. Evening – writing class. Overnight New Delhi Day 3: 4 April 2011 Leave early morning for Dharamsala by car. Travel through the plains of the Punjab and into the Himalayan foothills. Overnight Jagori, Rakka Day 4: 5 April 2011 Morning – writing class. Afternoon – visit McLeod Ganj, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Temple and Tibetan Museum. Evening free. Overnight Jagori, Rakka Day 5: 6 April 2011 Visit the Tibetan Children’s Village and surrounds. The Village is a thriving, educational community for Tibetan children in exile. Visit the local town of Dharamsala in the afternoon. Evening – writing class and sharing work. Overnight Jagori, Rakka Day 6: 7 April 2011 Visit Norbulingka Institute with a guided tour of the workshops to see traditional Tibetan art and the preservation of Tibetan culture. Evening – writing class, sharing work. Overnight Jagori, Rakka Day 7: 8 April 2011 Rest, journal writing, observation of local community. Optional return visit to McLeod Ganj/Dharamsala for individual note-taking. Evening – writing class, sharing work. Overnight Jagori, Rakka Day 8: 9 April 2011 Trek to Triund from Dharamkot village. Evening free. Overnight Jagori, Rakka Day 9: 10 April 2011 Drive to Palampur and onto DGL Nunnery for a discussion with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo at her nunnery (her schedule permitting). Visit the ancient temple at Baijnath. Return to Dharamsala via Kangra Valley Railway (schedule permitting). Evening free. Overnight Jagori, Rakka Day 10: 11 April 2011 Rest, journal writing, observation of local community. Evening – writing class, sharing work. Overnight Jagori, Rakka Day 11: 12 April 2011 In the morning visit Tangde Gatsal thangka painting studio and interview Indian Thangka painter Sarika Singh. In the afternoon visit Gyuto Monastery. Have public audience with the 17th Karmapa (both schedule’s permitting)..Evening – writing class, sharing work. Overnight Jagori, Rakka Day 12: 13 April 2011 Visit to Garli-Pragpur heritage village. Evening free. Overnight Judge’s Court, Pragpur Day 13: 14 April 2011 Leave early morning by private car to Delhi. Overnight New Delhi Day 14: 15 April 2011 Tour ends today after breakfast.
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© 2011 Ekno Experience Tours & Travels Pty Ltd |
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