Journey as Destination

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4. Journey as Destination - HD

by Dave A

6 months ago

3. Tsampa!

by Dave A

1 year ago

2. Cycle Touring the Tibetan Plateau

by Dave A

1 year ago

1. Tibetan Timescapes - HD

by Dave A

2 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 was submitted for the Portable Film Festival/Lonely Planet TV's "Worldwide Encounters" competition and ended up winning first place! portablefilmfestival.com/lptv.php

Credits

37 Likes

David Li
8 days ago
chris magyar
13 days ago
Leigh Cooper
14 days ago
mmeiser
17 days ago
Marcelo Jardim
24 days ago
Rich NYC
24 days ago
Cameron Williamson
25 days ago
g50pointer@hotmail.com
29 days ago
num3ric
1 month ago
adown
1 month ago
See all 37 likes

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Dan Valentine 6 months 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 6 months 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 6 months 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 6 months 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 6 months ago

Thanks, jtk! nothing planned right now, but definitely want to do some similarly crazy trip again soon!
Matt 6 months ago

Great Job, really beautifully done film.
Martijn Doornenbal 6 months ago

Beautiful film! Looks like an amazing trip.
Dave A 6 months 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 5 months 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 3 months ago

wow, this blew me away ...
Michal MISHOX Svec 2 months 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.
Rich NYC 24 days 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 17 days 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.