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Varanasi // Beyond Life from Aeyaz on Vimeo.

A film by Aeyaz (facebook.com/aeyaz)

Direction, Cinematography, Edit & Grade : Aeyaz (ayas@aeyaz.com) Sound Design : Rahul Prabhakaran (facebook.com/rahul.prabhakaran.7) Music : Ryan Taubert (Anamog We wish it was never light) Narration : Alan Watts (Recording from 1970s) _____________________

Varanasi, The spiritual capital of India - a place where people come from all over the country to breathe their last, and immerse the ashes in the holy Ganges for the beginning of a new life. A visit to Varanasi has always been in my bucket list, and being able to film there was like an icing on the cake.

Honestly, words fail to describe what I have seen while on this epic trip with Photowalk Dubai. No wonder Varanasi is called the "City of Life". Simply love this place. And this is my attempt to give you a sense of what it was like to experience the amazing "Varanasi" and the mysterious vicious cycle of life and death...

"Varanasi - Beyond Life" - A personal project shot, edited and directed by me. Have put my heart and soul into it.

Enjoy. Like. Share!!! _____________________

Completely shot on Sony A7s. _____________________

Transcript:

There really isn’t anything radically wrong with being sick or with dying. We can’t say that it’s a good thing for everything to go on living. In a very simple demonstration that if we enable everybody to go on living, we overcrowd ourselves. So therefore, one person who dies in a way is honourable because he’s making room for others…

It’s a far more amusing arrangement for nature to continue the process of life through different individuals then it is always with the same individual, because as each new individual approaches life is renewed. And one remembers how fascinating the most ordinary everyday things are to a child, because they see them all as marvellous.

It is not, therefore, natural for us to wish to prolong life indefinitely. But we live in a culture where it has been rubbed into us in every conceivable way that to die is a terrible thing.

Alan Watts

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Hong Kong Strong from Brandon Li on Vimeo.

A deep dive into the many layers of Hong Kong. A film about the madness and beauty of this seemingly impossible city in the days leading up to Chinese New Year. And an exploration of my own Cantonese heritage. Behind-the-scenes: http://goo.gl/bst4b9

Select clips available for licensing; email licensing@unscripted.com or visit unscriptedlicensing.com

Instagram @brandon_l_li; instagram.com/brandon_l_li Facebook: Facebook.com/RunGunShoot

Original score by Steven Richard Davis;
 srdmusic@me.com Produced by Ansley Sawyer Drone footage by aerialmode.com Drone footage by team-blacksheep.com

Mongolia: vimeo.com/150531350 Bali: vimeo.com/136405903
 Tokyo: vimeo.com/129171397 
North India: vimeo.com/116044343 Greece: citizine.tv/video/lost-in-greece-part-1 
Barcelona: vimeo.com/99401340
 Dubai: vimeo.com/88224399
 Turkey: vimeo.com/106755674 
South India: vimeo.com/113689725
 Arabia: vimeo.com/86774980 
Las Vegas: vimeo.com/147458521 
Australia: vimeo.com/98652051
 Guam: vimeo.com/138830005

Special Thanks: Albert Li Simon Lee Kobe Lee Blake Congdon Dorcas Ho Ivy Tse Venus Tse Edwin Lee Ruby Shing Mostafa Zeineldin

Featuring: Luk Chee Fu Martial Arts Federation: liondance668.com HK Urbex: facebook.com/hkurbex Wing Tsun Robin: facebook.com/wingtsunrobin HKAPA: hkapa.edu The Continental Restaurant: thecontinentalhongkong.com

geek stuff:
 Sony A7rii
; Sony A7sii; Sony A7s; Sony A6000; 
Sony rx10ii; Beholder DS1; DJI Phantom 3; DJI Inspire X5

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Zentsuji Temple (Kagawa Prefecture, Japan) Zentsuji is the birthplace of one of the most revered figures of Japanese Buddhism, the high priest Kobo Daishi, or "Kukai". He built this temple himself when he returned from China in 807 and named it after his father. As I explored the temple grounds, looking for architectural details, I found this intriguing perspective and tried to compose it creatively. I achieved the super shallow depth of field with a Leica Summilux 35mm f/1.4, one of my favorite lenses for travel photography. (at Zentsuji-shi, Kagawa, Japan)

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Happy Diwali (London, United Kingdom 2016) Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is the most popular of all the festivals from South Asia. It is also the occasion for celebrations by Jains and Sikhs as well as Hindus. The word Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word deepavali, meaning "rows of lighted lamps". I shot this at Trafalgar Square in London last year, where the local Hindu community held a massive celebration with incredible live shows and amazing food. I highly recommend the experience if you're in London in October! (at Trafalgar Square)

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Where the land meets the sea (Lang Co, Vietnam 2009) Lang Co is an amazing island-like stretch of palm-shaded white sand, with a turquoise lagoon on one side and 10km of beachfront on the other. As we drove from Hue to Hoi An, this scene of a fisherman's canoe at the edge of the lagoon caught my eye. Had I not had my camera at the ready as we crossed the bridge, I would have likely missed the shot! (at Lăng Cô Beach)

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Xijiang, home of the one thousand families (Guizhou, China 2016) Located in Eastern Guizhou, the village of Xijiang is home to the largest Miao community in China. Nicknamed the village of 1000 families, its many traditional dark wooden houses have been restored to their original appearance in a bid to boost tourism. As the sun set over the Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, I captured this scene where you can really appreciate the layer upon layer of stilted houses, built along the contour of the hill, and the Baishui River passing through at the bottom of the mountain. This journey to China was, without a doubt, my best photo trip of 2016. Thanks to @Nomad_Photo_Expeditions and the great @tinosoriano. (at Xijiang, Guizhou, China)

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Dinner in Pontocho (Kyoto, Japan 2015) Pontocho is one of Kyoto's most atmospheric dining areas. It is a narrow alley running from Shijo-dori to Sanjo-dori, next to the Kamogawa River. The alley is packed with restaurants on both sides offering a wide range of dining options from inexpensive yakitori to traditional and modern Kyoto cuisine, foreign cuisine and highly exclusive establishments that require the right connections and a fat wallet. This was my first experience with Kobe Beef, renowned for its flavor, tenderness, and fatty, well-marbled texture. It didn't disappoint!!! (at Pontocho Alley)

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Azul y Blanco (Havana, Cuba 2012) Groundhog day reminds me somewhat of life in Cuba, where little has changed in the past half-century. The first impression you get when you land in Havana, is that time froze decades ago, from the old classic cars to the decaying colonial architecture, but thanks to the resilience of its people, life goes on. Yank tank or máquina are the words used to describe the many classic cars present in Cuba with an estimated 60,000 of them still driving the roads today. I captured this on the Avenida 10 de Octubre, a short walk from the Malecón. (at Diez de Octubre)

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Enlightenment (Old Bagan, Myanmar 2013) Statue of a sitting enlightened buddha at the Thitsarwadi Temple in Bagan. King Anawrahta started the building of temples on this dusty plain nearly a thousand years ago, and it continued for hundreds of years. Of the nearly 10,000 monuments constructed, about 2,230 still remain. The sheer density of temples is a marvel to behold, even today. (at Bagan, Mandalay, Burma)

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Mursi Warrior (Omo Valley, Ethiopia 2014) As I made this portrait of a Mursi Warrior, it struck me how even men would wear such elaborate the head ornaments, a sign of social status within the tribe. The Mursi are a Nilotic pastoralist ethnic group that inhabits southwestern Ethiopia deep inside the Tama Wildlife Reserve. Surrounded by mountains between the Omo River and its tributary the Mago, the home of the Mursi is one of the most isolated regions of the country. Photo made during a #NGExpeditions trip to #Ehtiopia, exploring the Omo Valley. (at Mago National Park)

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The Drying Line (Sigüenza, Spain 2015) I came across this scene in a small village of Castilla-La-Mancha. The area is full of amazing medieval towns, including castles that have been faithfully restored as incredible hotels such as the Parador of Sigüenza. Turn off your navigation system and allow yourself to get lost in the countryside for a while, it won't disappoint! (at Sigüenza, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain)

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Happy Year for the Rooster! (London, United Kingdom 2017) The Chinese zodiac is divided into 12 blocks (or houses) just like its western counterpart, but with the major difference being that each house has a time-length of one year instead of one month. This year, it's the Year of the Rooster, the 10th animal in the cycle. The next Year of the Rooster will be in 2029. Today we decided to celebrate by braving the constant rain and going to London's Chinatown in search of the best-tasting dumplings (my favorites are still Mama Lan's in Brixton Village). How did you celebrate? (at Chinatown London)

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Discovering Jabreen Castle (Bahla, Sultanate of Oman 2017) As I explored the interiors of Jabreen Castle, this door leading to one of the palace courtyards really caught my attention, inviting the warm outside light to penetrate inside the cool interior of the halls, full of shadows. Built in the late 17th century, Jabreen Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in Oman. What makes this castle so unique is that it was built during a time of peace, constructed as a palace by a ruler who was passionate about science and art and that made it the most beautiful historic castle found in the Sultanate. The castle is three stories tall, features two towers, numerous receptions halls, dining areas, meeting rooms, a courtroom, a library, and classrooms. The interior design of the castle features decorated windows, wooden balconies, arches with inscribed Arabic calligraphy, and breathtaking ceiling artwork. Photo made during a #NGExpeditions trip to #Oman, traveling the sands of time. (at Jabreen Castle)

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Muttrah Fish Souq (Muscat, Sultanate of Oman 2017) One more from the Muttrah Fish Souq. As I wandered around the market, I looked for creative ways to compose my visual story, describing the sense of place, the chaos, the coming and going of people and fish which has been going on for thousands of years in this trading port. Photo made during a #NGExpeditions trip to #Oman, traveling the sands of time. (at Mutrah Fish Market)

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Wadi Aday (Muscat, Sultanate of Oman 2017) Tucked away between the mountains outside Muscat, Wadi Aday is the largest dry riverbed in the area. I captured this posed portrait of Zahra in an abandoned house, alongside the wadi. I wonder how much daily life has changed since the original owners used to live between these mud brick walls. Photo made during #NGExpeditions trip to #Oman, traveling the sands of time. (at Wadi Adai)

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The Bronze Age Tombs of Al-Ayn (Ad Dhahirah, Sultanate of Oman 2017) Lined up dramatically atop a rocky ridge, the beehive tombs of Al-Ayn are one of Oman’s most celebrated prehistoric sites, representing one of the most complete and well-preserved ensembles of necropolises from the 3rd millennium BC worldwide. Little is known about these stone structures or the culture that constructed them. The archeologists have concluded they formed a necropolis, even though not a single human or animal bone has been recovered from the monuments. Behind the beehive structures of Al-Ayn, stands the impressive backdrop of the Jabal-al-Misht (‘Comb Mountain’). This panoramic composite of 7 vertical photos helps you appreciate the sense of place this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Photo made during a #NGExpeditions trip to #Oman, traveling the sands of time. (at Archaeological Sites of Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn)

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The Minaret of Masjid Al Rasool Al Adham Shia Mosque (Muscat, Sultanate of Oman 2017) The Masjid Al Rasool Al Adham Shia Mosque (or Mosque of the Great Prophet) is located right next to the Muttrah Souq in Muscat, which is perhaps one of the oldest marketplaces in the Arab world. With the world's largest natural harbor, Muscat has seen immense trade in the age of sail, being strategically located on the way to India and China. This colorful details of the mosque's minaret against the dark sky really caught my eye. Photo made during a #NGExpeditions trip to #Oman, traveling the sands of time. (at Souq Muttrah, Muscat, Oman)