Announcements

**saralou** · #1 16 Jun 2018

For our last day of touring in the van we will head north west on the secondary roads towards the wine region near Margaret River.

Screen Shot 2018-05-15 at 20.56.44 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

This is a very scenic windy and perfect motorcycle route! There were maybe a dozen other vehicles all day.

Western Australia-20 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We arrived to Pemberton after 2 for a lunch of pies at the “award winning” baker and then we booked it to Pierro Winery by 415 to taste their chardonnay said to be the best of the region.

Western Australia-22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Western Australia-21 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

It is warm in the sun today, but we still need a sweater. After the tasting we rushed back to Gracetown beach (famous for the 2 recent shark attacks) to enjoy our wine and the sunset.

Western Australia-23 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Western Australia-24 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We had checked into the small RV park here with lots of kangaroos hanging around. We all snugged in the van to warm up.

IMG_2757 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #2 16 Jun 2018

We have just 265 km to go on our trip to Freemantle, but we backtracked back to Margaret River for a fab smoked salmon benny.

Screen Shot 2018-05-15 at 20.57.05 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_2764 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_2765 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We managed to finally hit the road after 1030. It is basically straight up the highway all day and we arrived to the Rv park about 330. We are celebrating the end of our road trip with some Margaret River Shiraz and some T bones.

**saralou** · #3 16 Jun 2018

We headed to the car wash to clean up our ride and then dropped our luggage at our rental for the next 3 days. The van drop off location is outside the city, but is just a few hundred meters from the metro station. We then took the train into Perth city to do some shopping and sight seeing.

It is an easy transfer to Fremantle via train as well. This is nice tourist town to hang out in and it is full of cafes, chic restaurants, and bars.

Western Australia-30 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Western Australia-34 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #4 21 Jun 2018

We had an Uber pick up at 645 am for the 30 km trip to the Perth airport, a 3 hour flight on Qantas to Darwin, a 2 hour layover, and then a 1 hr 1 5 min flight on Air North to Dili.

Screen Shot 2018-05-21 at 15.31.56 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Screen Shot 2018-05-21 at 15.32.20 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

You change time forward and then back and so we arrived at just before 5 pm. The air was hot and humid and we walked down the stairs to the tarmac. They have an efficient Visa process here on arrival. It is 30 USD (the local currency) and they just put a visa sticker in your passport. It was then a s second line up for passport control, but this was also efficient and easy.

Timor-Leste by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The taxi’s here are fixed rate and so no problem as well. It is 10$ to the city and most of the area around. Our accommodation is in a traditional Timorese home, that is actually the Mexican Consulate as well. We were greeted by the security guard who gave us a key and said that we could check in after 7. It is Timor Independence Day today and everyone is out at celebration events. We went for a walk in the neighborhood and had dinner at a local hotel on the beach. The people here are friendly and smile and wave. The driving is calm and courteous. YEAH! We returned to the Casa Sandalo to find the owners who warmly greeted us an d told us we had been upgraded to an apartment with a kitchen! We were in bed and asleep by 10 and woke up 12 hours later! We walked over to the ATM for some USD! Then around the corner to the grocery store frequented by the expats and NGO workers. Here you can get a decent coffee and croissant!

Timor-Leste-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #5 21 Jun 2018

Outside it is 34 and humid and the sun is a laser. Our mission first is SIM cards and data! We managed this easily just a few blocks away and got an email with the bills of lading and confirming the ship left Darwin 2 days ago at 430 pm. This means it should be in tonight.

The SDV is actually 3 blocks from out Hotel, but when we stopped in today they are closed until tomorrow. Bad news for Orvar we got an email from SDV in Darwin with the way bills they also sent an email admitting that when they loaded the bikes in the container on the 15 th (its the 21 st) They dropped his bike and smashed the windscreen!!! Bit late to tell us now since we can not replace it here in Timor Leste.

Timor-Leste-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Timor-Leste-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Timor-Leste-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Timor-Leste-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #6 21 Jun 2018

We arrived at SDV at 10 and they drove us over to Customs to get the carnet signed and then back to the office. The ship is being unloaded as we speak and our container will be off and available after 3. So we are to come back then, pay out port fees (120 USD each) and then we can go and get the bikes. To kill a few hours we walked into town for lunch and then toured the Museum of the resistance. This chronicles the history of their fight for independence, the genocide by the Indonesians, and the collusion of the USA and Australia with Indonesia to obtain sea oil rights.

Timor-Leste-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Timor-Leste-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_2789 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_2790 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #7 21 Jun 2018

At 3 pm we get our way bills payed and hop in a taxi to the port. Here we are met by a SDV agent and walked back to the container. They cut the seal and then unload the boxes in front. The 3 bikes are all upright at least and only OV’s is damaged. We unload them, get the batteries connected, and head off to get gas.

Timor-Leste-15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Timor-Leste-16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Timor-Leste-17 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Timor-Leste-18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Timor-Leste-19 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Timor-Leste-20 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Timor-Leste-21 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Timor-Leste-24 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Timor-Leste-30 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Frame-04-06-2018-21-11-01 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

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