Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - Finding Freedom...World Wide Ride

OVER VIEW 2017-2018

Serbia
This time we spent more than a few hours here in this country. The roads are in pretty good shape and the riding is nice especially along the Danube. The food is meaty, but good.
Bulgaria
Fantastic riding to be had here especially if you have some local knowledge. We were lucky enough to have Assen from Bumot motorcycle luggage guide us here for 4 amazing days. Friendly people and really great food! Addicted to the Schopka salad

Turkey
We started out with a bad taste when the border insurance guy tried to rip us off for 300 Euros, but it was all up hill from there. Turkish people are very friendly and if you stop your bike for more than 60 seconds you will certainly be offered tea by someone. Very hospitable. There is some nice riding here, but because of our time line we could not spend anytime on the west coast or the southern part and this is where many of the ancient sites are located. We will be back.

Georgia
The drivers here are angry and aggressive and all of us could not wait to get off the road every day. Out of their cars they are very nice actually, but behind the wheel watch out. Fantastic mountain riding and scenery despite the mud!

Armenia
We did not know what to expect and were pleasantly surprised. There some nice riding here, but we spent most of our time in the north and dealing with visas. The riding in the south is scenic. Yerevan is a very nice and cosmopolitan capital with a lot to see.

Iran
The people here are what makes it so special. They are the most hospitable and welcoming people we have met so far. They are so keen to meet and speak with you and quick to tell you that the Iranian people are not the regime. The riding is long straight 4 lane roads for 400+ km a day, but you are here to meet people of a unique culture anyway. We had a mandatory guide, which was good and bad, but we managed to make it work for us in the end. Drivers here are totally oblivious to anyone around them. They just drive where they want. Disappointed by the trash and general cleanliness level.

Turkmenistan
This is a strange country for sure. Very difficult to access and cut off from the rest of the world. It is a bit Orwellian here with the grand boulevards and the massive and ornate buildings lining them. The people for the most part were very friendly and the women wear the most stunning colourful traditional outfits.

Uzbekistan
There are some nice spots on the silk road, but the riding is not scenic and hot. We felt the population control here and the police state nature. The black market and lack of benzene made things a bit more challenging. We had the strange stalkers for 3 days and were not sure if they were criminals or government agents? Mostly courteous drivers and very clean country.

Tajikistan
Surprisingly nice here. Clean and well maintained. The drivers here are again normal. There is a larger police presence here, but we were not hassled too much. The Pamir was everything we expected and more.

Kyrgyzstan
We did not know what to expect here and were very pleasantly surprised. There is some great off road riding and the night we spent at Song-Kul lake was epic. 20% of the drivers are aggressive and dangerous. Despite rumours we were never pulled over by police.

Kazakhstan
This is a huge country and there is almost nothing between the south at Almaty and the north at Astana. Astana itself is a very strange Disney like Capital. We had been told the police here were the worst, but in 5 days they never even gave us a second look.

Russia
We were so happy to find the people here are warm and friendly unlike the brash and loud Moscovites you meet when they are abroad. The roads and full of truck traffic and construction. It was nice to be back in a first world country (clean bathrooms and TAP).

Mongolia
This was the total package with a completely unique culture and surroundings. A physical and mental challenge at times. This was EPIC for sure. We had very high expectations of Mongolia and it did not disappoint.

China
You will love and you will hate China and the “Chinese Way”. Drivers are distracted disrespectful and dangerous. The pollution is INSANE! The rigidity of though and rules is extremely frustrating. Having a guide is always a major challenge. But the culture is ancient and fascinating. Tibet was a special frustration and fantastic adventure at the same time.

Laos
We did not get enough time in Laos. The riding is fantastic the people friendly and there is no traffic.

Vietnam
We did not bring the bikes because of the cost and guiding required. There are way too many people and scooters and the place is covered in trash.

Cambodia
Very friendly smiley people, great food, and incredible ruins. There is not much for riding, but the drivers are courteous. There is a terrible garbage issue here.

Thailand
Ahhh back to the first world. Civilized driving and no garbage! We made the mistake here of not going back to the north of Thailand, which we loved so much the last time we were here, but we are “Asiaed” out.

Malaysia
Was a real surprise and as we had no expectations it was a good one. This is a very culturally diverse nation where people seem to be very tolerant of race and religion. We are here at the edge of the rainy season and it is still wet and hot some of the time.

New Zealand
So nice to be in the first and western world again. This is the most like Canada of any country we have been. We had to deal with the massive sticker shock of course. The riding here is no adventure as even the off road routes open to the public are tame. The scenery here is very nice, but not as spectacular as much of what we have experienced already. The speed limits are almost alway 100 even when the conditions say it should be less. Kiwi’s in general are speeders and tailgaters!

Australia
PAIN in the ass! We had been told that the hassle was not worth it and they were so right. Outside of Victoria, NSW, and Queenstown there is NOTHING! It is hot and wet or hot and dry here. The bureaucracy of Oz customers is unrivalled. Australians are comparatively not very friendly. Despite this we have quiet a few very friendly Australian friends. We have also run into a lot of racial intolerance, which gets worse as you get to the NT. WOW!
Timor Leste
Nice to be back to a bit of an adventure. Small country but varied riding.

Indonesia

Great riding on Flores and Sulewesi, but the ferries are a real drag and dangerous 2 sank in the 2 weeks we were there. Covered in garbage unfortunately. Friendly people.

Brunei
Weird little country with not a lot going on.