Hello guys,

I have just spent the last 10 days riding down through Yemen from Salalah and must say that it was great! Nothing of the 5 days I waited for a boat to Djibouti at the end of it tho :-( The place is quite poor which you will notice as soon as you cross the border but the coast road is all Asphalt (Not good for TKC80 tyres)!

If you ride down through this country be prepared to be asked a million times how many $'s your bike costs and to have about 50 locals surrounding you when ever you stop! This even happens out in the middle of the desert, don't ask me where they all come from?

Fuel is plentyful and cheap, accomodation is cheap (didn't camp once) and people are super friendly! I did find every one I met real friendly except for one shipping agent at Al Makha who wouldn't let my bike on a boat!!! But the immigration guys are very friendly as well as the police there. As I was there for several days I got to know these guys very well. I was even invited for the Friday meal with the Chief of Police there, So there was me and about 30 of the Yemeni police and military sitting around eating arab style......haha. Then came the chewing of Qat!! Won't say anymore about this but you have to experience it at least once in your life. You will see it as soon as you enter Yemen, as well as the stained teeth of all the men!

Boat trip across took about 20 hours! When I put the bike on the boat and saw the rest of the load they had on I really thought that we would sink! I even kept all my valubles in my day pack so if we did I would have my passport and money anyway.....haha. Arrived Djibouti port at 19:00 Tuesday night and they said they would take my bike off next day. (If you do this trip over make SURE your bike comes off when you get there)!! I was back at the port next morning at 8 to collect the bike but the boat was 3rd in line to be unloaded. Bike didn't come off until 18:00 that night! Beware! Oh btw, you will constantly be hounded for money from guys at the port, who ever touches any of your gear wants money so insist that you can do it alone. Cost me $50US to get the bike taken off the boat but I it had to be lifted up onto the dock.

Ok, just a little info for this wonderful country, please go there and enjoy it.

Cheers
Ivan