Far East Asia – A World of Media

April 1, 2013

Latest Travel Geek Release from Documentary Taiwan: Part Seven

Tainan’s temples are the focus of this seventh part of Travel Geek: Documentary Taiwan series. From the Buddhist- and Dao-inspired templage to the oldest, finest and most genuine, architecture to reveal itself to Far East Asia’s history, Tainan is definitely the premier spot to visit the world of old warriors and emperors.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEiMVc8z7hw&w=560&h=315]

Traditional temples here are based on the old world style of Asian templary. They contribute to the larger assemblage of region. And they never fail to amaze. There are more temples in this area than most places on earth (of equivalent size). And with the exception of the Penghu Islands that I just visited, I’ve certainly never seen a more condensed collection of them in my life at any other place in the world.

Walking through this area, one may as well don a suit of armor and wield a samurai sword. You’d fit right in – if not become part of the ancient scenery.

Looking in all directions, my eyes kept searching for some semblance of recent times. And I couldn’t figure it out at the time, but the confusion was actually normal. There’s simply no sign that you’re in the 21^st century. It seems as though the grounds to many of these walled-off, palace-like places of worship (and residence) have been kept precisely as the original architects envisaged them at the drawing board.

The koi fish are likely not descendants of their ancient keepers, but they may as well have been transported right through the same time that these temples endured. The electric fountains are probably far cries from their mechanical predecessors – hand-cranked by myriad servants. And the shaped concrete walkways trailing throughout the gardens and over the watery moats most likely postdated a much more attractive and artful wooden assemblage of risers, pilings and intricately carved railings.

But as I’ve learned from the many wonderful experiences that I reluctantly behind: nothing lasts forever. Some might even argue that nothings lasts for very long at all.

In any case, these stoic relics of a more ancient time are testing the limitations of that ideology. And for now, they’re a treat to behold.

March 28, 2013

Latest Travel Geek Release from Documentary Taiwan: Part Five

The Penghu Islands are just epic. I don’t know of any other way to say it. In Taiwan, I have two favorite places (or, at least two top spots tied at first place); Taroko Gorge and the Penghu Islands. And perhaps this is because I am a bit biased on the side of geological marvels. But these places are just otherworldly.

For the common traveler, it gets no better than to rent a bike and be alone for a few days with no rules, no risk and no limitations. Once on the back of a simple 50cc scooter, one is free to putt around, buzz through the back alleys and drive right over the grass to reach these amazing sights. And in few places of the world are they more plentiful. They simply cast a shadow over the nearest conglomeration of natural wonders.

And did I mention they’re cheap? It costs around $30 to fly there from the mainland. It takes 45 minutes to get there. And once you’re there, pop a tent and spend your nights knowing that when you unzip your vestibule the next morning, you’ll be overlooking 500,000-year-old volcanic columns that were pushed up from the center of the earth… and a sunrise.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxbpxILGznA&w=560&h=315]

In addition to this portion of the film, I am also including one of my most recent uploads from the “Outtakes & Extras” section. Of the many outtakes that I had to refrain from including in the feature length film, I regretted this one a lot. It’s a nice, succinct introduction to the behemoth columnar basalt formations in the background and I wish it could have made it into the film. But as it stands, I simply had to trim all the fat if I was going to keep the documentary under two hours.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPZHmAqQaMk&w=560&h=315]

But as far as the bulk of my amazing experience in Penghu, this portion of the documentary really says it all. It’s got the best parts of the three-day trip that I took there. And what I didn’t release with the feature length documentary, I published to the web on the Taiwan film page of my website. So after you’ve watched this part, be sure to head over and check out those outtakes and extras. And if you feel so inclined, make a donation and support future trips.

March 3, 2013

Travel Geek: Documentary Taiwan Out now!

At long last, the film has been edited, finalized and uploaded.

And here it is:

————————————————————————————————————————

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UjwVuDBwas&w=560&h=315]

————————————————————————————————————————

Original YouTube description:

Follow Cyle O’Donnell, the Travel Geek, along more than 5,000 miles of trains, cars motorbikes, planes and boats — not to mention 20-or-so miles of hiking — through Far East Asia’s hidden gem. With filming spanning more than nine months, this trek covers everything from Chinese New Year in Tainan’s fireworks battle to Changhua’s legendary Lantern Festival; from windsurfing Penghu’s gale-force winds to eating raw pigs with Lanyu’s aboriginal natives; from high atop Taipei’s tallest towers, to the hinterland of tribal Taroko Gorge, this ultimate travel documentary is sure to inspire the mind and ignite the travel lust.

Travel Geek Documentary Taiwan has taken more than a year to complete. In the cutting room, the editors spent two-and-a-half months sifting through 114 Gigabytes worth of files spread out among 2,866 fils from 68 folders. And when it was finished, the final cut was one-hour-and-59-minutes long with more than four hours of outtakes, extra footage including marketing and subscriber media.

The experience of living and filming in Taiwan was amazing. And during the time the I spent in Taiwan, I also visited North and South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand and the Philippines. So this film is the culmination of much enjoyment and success. And throughout this time, I also changed a lot as a media professional, a photographer and even as a person.

It’s bittersweet to see this particular film released because in addition to finalizing the edits and releasing it, I have also closed off another important and learned time in my life. And as I watch this film, I can’t help but be nostalgic and reflective of all the times in between the shots that no one else will feel quite so moved by but me. And while this film was captured before I left for film school (meaning, I didn’t have quite the gear that I have now in order to make it a little more “professional”), I still think it turned out pretty well.

In any case, it is my pleasure to announce the latest release of films in the Moving Stills library, Travel Geek: Documentary Taiwan. If you enjoy it half as much I did making it, I will be able to call it a success.

A special note just to subscribers is sent out that offers how to get free downloads and discounted packages of the Full-HD, 1080p version of this film, along with director’s notes, a signed script and the entire photo gallery that I shot from this trip.

Be sure to subscribe and get free stuff and inside tips from all my trips, and the videos that follow.