8milesfromhome

Hi All. After we made our cinematic video series about our adventures in Thailand. We were challenged by Tripfilms.com to drive to Bangkok and create 6 Short Travel Video Guides in just 3 days. This is what we came up with.

Video 1: Bangkok - First Impressions. ChinaTown. JJ Market & Lumphini Park.

Video 2: The Grand Palace. Wat Po & Wat Arun.

Video 3: Bangkok Public Transport. What we used to get around the city.

Video 4: Backpackers in Bangkok. Khaosan Road.

Video 5: Eating Out & Nightlife.

Video 6: Day trip to Ayutthaya.

It was a rushed and exhausting journey but we had fun making the videos. Afterwards we wished we had more time to sit back and just enjoy the many things to see and do in Bangkok. We'll be back.

@8milesfromhome

Jmayel, Sacha & Eden - 8 Miles from Home

I have always supported this and defended the couple against posters who had a go at them, but I have got to be honest and say it is starting to get on my nerves a little now.... The videos are becoming too "try hard". Too many tricks, angles, text on screen etc. Cant you just make one epiisode without all of that student <deleted>?

Also, started to notice how you rarely reply to anyone on this forum? Kinda selfish, isnt it?

think theyre busy playing with their $8k worth of equipment. someone is a daddy's girl...

I actually can't believe some of the hostility we have received from these comments. The reason why we don't reply to the posts is because reading them hurts us personally.

We are far from rich and we saved every penny we earned for years to buy the equipment we use. Our work is entirely self taught, we are just trying to create a different life for ourselves by creating videos for a living. I don't understand why some people have such a problem with what we are doing?

In fact we put the text in episode 6 instead of a voice over because so many people were insulting our voice over abilities! Is it necessary?

Sacha and I work extremely hard to create these videos and hopefully one day we may be able to make a living from it. If you really have such a problem with us then please keep your personal insults to yourself. Constructive criticism we can deal with but the rest is totally out of line and I bet if those people were to see us face to face they wouldn't dare speak to us in the same tone. The internet is a great shield like that.

In future if you don't see replies from us. You'll know why. We're not selfish, we just don't appreciate being ripped to pieces for trying to enjoy our lives.

8 Miles from Home. Episode 6 (Visa Run to Burma)

8 Miles from Home is a cinematic representation of the lives of Sacha & Jmayel El-haj. Who left their ordinary life in the UK to experience a path unknown in Thailand with their dog Eden.

Episode 6 is about their first Visa Run to Tachileik in Burma. Visa Runs are an unavoidable requirement for most expats in Thailand & most people hate the experience.

However this journey had a much deeper purpose for Jmayel, whose mother is Burmese and left the country over 40 years ago during a time of war and conflict. No-one from his family unit had stepped foot on Burmese soil since that time, Jmayel & Sacha change that fact and mark a new iconic moment in their lives.

Episode 6, Visa Run to Burma will be the first glimpse into what J's family left behind.

To read the story behind this Visa Run and for more in depth information we have written about the experience here:

http://8milesfromhom...-and-into-burma

http://8milesfromhome.tumblr.com/

@8milesfromhome

or search for us on facebook.com/8milesfromhome and don't forget to subscribe to youtube.com/8milesfromhome to be the first to see the latest videos.

We hope you enjoy the series.

Episode 5

I thought it would be interesting to post our actual cost of living in Thailand, as before we arrived here I was searching for something like this!!

http://8milesfromhom...and-one-couples

We are in our late 20's with a Cocker Spaniel dog, living in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand.

Hope you find this useful.

8 Miles from Home.

@8milesfromhome

http://8milesfromhome.tumblr.com/

Nice video , enjoyed it, very well edited. Can I make some suggestions?

Sometimes the 'non horizontal ' shots don't work, pans of scenery maybe better truly horizontal, as are shots in houses.

Other effects, speeding up, slowing down, distract a bit

Your voice overs are great for your friends, but are often obscured by the high level of the music track. I can't do voice overs unless I practice to slow down A LOT, maybe go back and listen again? You can always fade down the music while you are speaking then raise it again if you want.

I've just got back from that area,it's great, very leafy at present. If you go again, try to visit Mae Hong Song, a wonderful Wat on the hill, great little town, less 'touristy' than Pai. The airport is amazing, almost in the high street.

Cheers

( BTW my previous comment was just a send up, great videos but maybe not 'the best')

Thanks for your feedback msg362.

We appreciate all comments and realise that not everyone will react positively to things that we make public. That is the double edged sword that is the internet.

Working the narrative into the video is difficult because we don't own all the professional equipment you'd need for a proper studio set up. That means the audio can sometimes end up with a lot of background noise which can only be subdued so much in post production. That is why we don't dip the audio all the way down when the voice over begins. Otherwise it would sound quite terrible.

We obviously do play the videos back over and over before we publish them. On our system it sounded good this time. But there is always room for improvement and better equipment over time.

With regards your comment about the non horizontal pans and speed shifts. Most modern edits (music videos, MTV cribs, General Cinematography) contain these techniques to add interest and fall in line with the bars of music. Usually to keep the audience focused on whats important.

Can I ask if you make videos yourself? You seem to be quite analytical with your comments towards our work and I was wondering if you create videos also? I'd love to see some.

Again thanks for your comments, we genuinely take everything on board.

P.S we are in fact going to Mae Hong Son for my birthday in August. We traveled through there years ago as well. So you can expect that we'll make a video about it.

Hope you enjoy the future episodes.

- 8 miles from home

http://8milesfromhome.tumblr.com/

@8milesfromhome

Episode 5 is a testament to the beauty of North Thailand. Sometimes overlooked by holiday makers coming to Thailand, the North really has some stunning scenic areas to visit that are full of culture and relaxing atmospheres.

In this episode Sacha & Jmayel Celebrate their 1st year wedding anniversary by driving their old mk1 escort to Pai in the Mae Hong Son Province. There they visit the places that they remember from their Round the World Travels years ago when they were just 21. But this time with Eden the Dog in tow.

Returning to the Iconic Coffee shop that made them decide to move to Thailand in 2012. 'All About Coffee'. And climbing to the top of 'Wat Phra That Mae Yen' to soak in the beautiful panoramic landscape views.

Until Next Time, Enjoy this sweet taste of Thailand!

- 8 miles from home


If you like what we do, find more at:

8milesfromhome.tumblr.com
www.facebook.com/8milesfromhome
www.twitter.com/8milesfromhome

8 miles from home Episode 3 (Real Living in Chiang Mai Thailand)

Episode 3 sees our travelling trio experiencing the reality of emigration to Chiang Mai in Thailand. It's not all plain sailing as some might believe.

Sacha, Jmayel & Eden El-haj give you a cinematic insight into what can actually happen when you uproot your entire life and move country.

In 3 weeks they have had to tackle numerous time consuming tasks such as;

-Renting a house in Thailand

-Buying a car in Thailand

-Finding a mechanic in Thailand

-Shopping for household equipment in Thailand

-Learning Thai to communicate with the Thai Locals

& many more issues that will be covered in later episodes

8 miles from home Episode 4 (Driving a mk1 Escort from Bangkok to Chiang Mai)

A cinematic vlog of our adventures in Thailand. In this episode J is burdened with the responsibility to travel from Chiang Mai to Bangkok alone on the night train. Buy a car from a man he has never spoken to and drive 700kms back home in time to move house before the landlord returns from his holiday.

As with all adventures, not everything goes to plan...

More coming Soon!

8 Miles from home (Moving to Thailand) Episode 1

A Cinematic Travel Vlog. Detailing the lives of a Man, Woman & Dog as they embark on an adventure to emigrate to Thailand in search of a new start. This is a real life story of a couple that have always wanted more than an ordinary life and decided to do something about it.

Sacha & Jmayel El-haj are a married couple from the UK. 7 Years ago after a One Year Round the World Trip, they set out to find a way to make money online so that they could fund a more permanent travel solution. In the episodes to follow you will find out how they set this plan into action, and how the resulting lifestyle change will affect them.

8 miles from home (Songkran Festival Chiang Mai 2012) Episode 2

A few days after arriving in Chiang Mai to start a new life. Our Team of adventurers ended up in the center of Songkran Festival 2012. Where 1000's of Thai people and Farangs hit the city streets dowsing each other in icy cold water and jumping into the moat surrounding the city.

Chiang Mai is reported to be one of the best places to experience this unique festival which marks the beginning of the Thai new year. The celebrations lasted for 5 days so if you didn't want to get wet, you didn't go outside.

The '8 miles from home' team got straight into the heart of the action to produce this cinematic video of Songkran Festival 2012. Its possibly the Best Songkran Video you can find online at present.

If you like what you see... We'll see you in Thailand Next Year.

If you were there for Songkran Festival Chiang Mai 2012 then check to see if you made the cut into the final video. There are some funny clips!