Journey as Destination

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4. Journey as Destination - HD

by Dave A

2 years ago

3. Tsampa!

by Dave A

3 years ago

2. Cycle Touring the Tibetan Plateau

by Dave A

3 years ago

1. Tibetan Timescapes - HD

by Dave A

3 years ago

An exploration of some of the highest, most remote, and most challenging roads in the world, filmed while on a 4500km cross-Tibet cycling trip in 2007. A visual account of the local culture, the challenges faced there, and a sampling of the cycle touring lifestyle.

**UPDATE! This film won first place in Portable Film Festival/Lonely Planet TV's "Worldwide Encounters" competition! portable.tv/film/post/lonely-planet-announces-competition-winners/**

Pardon the nasal-sounding voiceover-- I had a horrible cold when I made this!

Credits

155 Likes

luis azevedo
4 days ago
ken_1997
5 days ago
Przemek Kiesio
5 days ago
julius pilijevas
1 week ago
Ben Collins
1 week ago
PhineasPoe
2 weeks ago
春暧花开
2 weeks ago
Bartek
2 weeks ago
Sarah Boyd
3 weeks ago
Rhys Prosser
1 month ago

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Dan Valentine 2 years ago

Dave, this is so bloody wonderful I can't express how much I like it. Having starting only last year in filming travel docos, I am always left in awe of other people's experiences. You did a fantastic job in filming and capturing the essence of what Tibet is all about. I've never been there, but I felt you took me into it so well that I was actually there. And what a way to travel about, excellent.

Can I ask what you filmed with? And are you going to get this on DVD or to TV at some stage? (I assume there's a much longer version?)
Dave A 2 years ago

Thanks, Dan, for your kind comments!

This was filmed with a surprisingly simple setup. A single Sony HC7 with a satchel full of tapes (filled 18 of them on this trip!), small shotgun mic, a small + light tripod, and a 25W solar panel to keep it all running. Traveling by bike meant I really did have to keep things to a minimum size and weight.

I actually have quite a lot of other video left, mostly relating to the social/cultural conflicts in Tibet, and did at one point (and still do) have designs on editing a longer film together, to delve deeper on those issues which I merely glazed over in this vid. I actually have a slightly different viewpoint than a lot of the staunch 'Free-Tibet' supporters which I'd like to someday share in more detail. So. We'll see yet :)
Dan Valentine 2 years ago

Yeah, I had 19 hours of footage for a trip I did with a guy over 6 days in the Wimmera Mallee (visit whiparound.com.au) and edited the whole thing back to 53 minutes for a possible TV showing. The DVD version has another hour of bonus material including deleted scenes, outtakes and an interview. I can put you onto a guy who can evaluate your product one day if you wish. He's got 25 years experience as a producer/director for New York TV.
jtk 2 years ago

Dave, this is stunning. I get pleasure from many videos on this site, but this one stands out - it calms and inspires. It's a great feeling to see a careful documentarian expand and challenge my perception of Tibet and its peoples. Thanks for capturing such beauty and sharing your experiences with us all. Planning another journey anytime soon?
Dave A 2 years ago

Thanks, jtk! nothing planned right now, but definitely want to do some similarly crazy trip again soon!
Matt 2 years ago

Great Job, really beautifully done film.
Martijn Doornenbal 2 years ago

Beautiful film! Looks like an amazing trip.
Dave A 2 years ago

Thanks a lot, Martijin! It's funny how that even 2 years later, I still am full of stories and videos and photos from this trip. I still remember almost every hour of every day from those 3 months, which considering my memory skills, is saying quite a lot :)
Andrea Busnelli 2 years ago

Great trip and great film! I really enjoyed the challenges, the stunning views and above all the intimate contact with the land and people. Hope you don't mind: I've featured it on alphahutte.com... and good luck with the Portable Film Festival!
Kris Van de Vijver 2 years ago

wow, this blew me away ...
Michal MISHOX Svec 2 years ago

Clicking LIKE and leaving you comment is not enought to express my regards to you. Good trip, hope you brought something in you from tibet.
richNYC 2 years ago

This is simply an amazing short. Even now, three years later, after my solo cycling journey around the Himalayas (I was in Western Tibet in October '06), I remember vividly the places from your video. Brings back fond memories: colors and people of Kashgar bazaar, remoteness of the Aksai Chin plateau, tranquility of Kailash Kora, Nepal, and much more... Thanks for sharing it;) I'd be interested in a DVD, too...
mmeiser 2 years ago

It's quite obvious that this is a completely original experience. I've seen hundreds if not tousands of accounts on crazyguyonabike and other forums of tours in india, china and other places behind the curtain or vail (suprisingly not many in africa). Very few of them pierce the vail of cultural divide. Even being someplace the barriers like language and politics are often insurmountable. Yet you seem to have come away with more then any other. Some greater window into anoter world. I hope you are writing about it. I just want to know when the book is coming out.
Paulo L 2 years ago

Wow, that was an awesome film! Great shoots. :)
Very inspiring.
Considering or planning another Journey??
Dave A 1 year ago

Always ;)
sudip khadka 2 years ago

Epic!
The Film Artist 1 year ago

Inspiring!
Sebastian S. 1 year ago

very amazing and inspiring!
Macrobiotico 1 year ago

Wow! =)
Fundación ECA Bureau Veritas 1 year ago

hey cool video! we're organizing a Cycle Touring Film Festival and maybe you're interested in submitting a video. you can find further information here: cycleandwalking.org/en/cycle-touring-film-festival
Dave A 11 months ago

Hello! Sorry I missed your comment, would have loved to have participated :)
Luke Milnes 1 year ago

Fantastic film. I met a fair few people journeying these great lands by bike and having traveled these roads, I have to say my hats off to you. Incredible, but very challenging and at times gruelling.

Its pleasing to have such a great record of these events. Keep planning and considering!
Richard ZHANG 1 year ago

Dave, this is just the most wonderful video I have ever seen about bicycle tour in Tibet. I myself spent 45 days there 2 years ago and I cannot express how excited when I first see this video. Now I just shared the video with 3 of my friends, they all like it a lot. We even set up a skype chatting room to discuss it...Hope that you can produce more perfect videos
Dave A 11 months ago

Thanks for your kind comment! Hopefully it helps inspire other people to take on similar journeys!
Stan Majcherkiewicz 1 year ago

Cool footage. Good job. Too bad it is all so short. I feel like you just started it...
Бlanche 1 year ago

What a nice video!
Want to see more videos of world cyclists who world conquer the world with their bikes? Take a look at "the World Cyclist 'on Vimeo and get inspired!
vimeo.com/groups/wereldfietser

¡Qué buen video!
¿Quieres ver más videos de los ciclistas de conquistar el mundo con sus bicicletas? Echa un vistazo a "el ciclista del mundo 'on Vimeo e inspírate.
vimeo.com/groups/wereldfietser

Was für ein schönes Video!
Wollen Sie mehr Videos von Radfahrer sehen die die Welt verobern mit ihren Bikes ? Schau mal auf "die Welt Radfahrer 'on Vimeo und lassen sie sich inspiriren.
vimeo.com/groups/wereldfietser

ما شريط فيديو لطيف!
نريد ان نرى المزيد من أشرطة الفيديو من راكبي الدراجات العالم الذين العالم قهر العالم مع دراجاتهم؟ نلقي نظرة على "الدراج العالم على Vimeo ومعرفة أفكار جديدة!
vimeo.com/groups/wereldfietser

Che bel video!
Vuoi vedere altri video di ciclisti mondo che mondo conquistare il mondo con le loro biciclette? Date un'occhiata a "Il Ciclista World 'su Vimeo e lasciatevi ispirare!
vimeo.com/groups/wereldfietser

真是一个好影片！
希望看到更多的视频谁骑自行车的世界世界征服他们的自行车世界？看看“世界自行车的Vimeo'得到启发看看！
vimeo.com/groups/wereldfietser

Что хорошее видео!
Хотите увидеть больше видео мировой велосипедистов, которые мир покорить мир своими велосипедами? Взгляните на "Всемирной Велосипедист" на Vimeo и получить вдохновение!
vimeo.com/groups/wereldfietser

Nə gözəl video!
dünya onların Motosiklet dünyanın qalib dünya Velosiped daha çox video görmək istəyirsiniz? "Vimeo üzrə Dünya velosipedçi" və ilhamlanmaq bax!
vimeo.com/groups/wereldfietser
Jack Williams 9 months ago

I am only 17 but an avid competitive road cyclist. I plan to do cycle touring after year 12 and will start small with a trip to another state in australia. But one day I want to do this, such a cool video man! so inspirational
stefano pedroni 5 months ago

Hi Dave, amazing journey, congrats! We just shared it on our Tibet FB Page facebook.com/pages/Tibet-by-Avventurosa/242719762423971

Happy Travels,
Stefano
Ira Cooper 1 month ago

Beautiful beautiful film. Not just in the filming, but there is an obvious story and an emotional one at that. A pretty picture in such a beautiful landscape is one of many pretty pictures taken. But your journey is unlike any one else's and that is what makes it such a unique documented event. Great stuff. I see you are in Vancouver. I'd love to go for a bike ride with you!