Hi

Go this note some time ago from Paul Ackland which I found useful:

"re the weather in Turkey and Iran. We found the more northerly
route through Turkey (Erzerum, Dogubayzit) cold and we did this route with
winter gloves but no electric gadgets, heated grips or such like would have
been appreciated at this time. This route takes you over 4 high passes a
couple of which had some snow lying around but none on the road itself. The
snowiest of these had been cleaned by a snow plow (or something) as snow was
in small banks on either side of the road. We did this run in the last week
of October and some we can only guess that there would be more snow and it'd
be colder!.

On a positive the roads were not at all crowded, sceenery was lovely and
hotels were centrally heated. We really enjoyed a hamman after a cold day.

Road surfaces were excellent and the routes were very gradual- no steep
sections. Road speeds are enforced by the cops; we were stopped doing 65-70
once and told it was a problem. Dicussion immediately shifted to football
and the speeding thing seemed to have been dropped

We did deliberate about taking the southerly route entereing Iran west of
Orumiye. Other travellers travelled Eastern Turkey without any sense of
trouble re the Kurdish issue. More importantly this route allows you to
travel at a lower altitude much further east and only has one high pass.
Unfourtunately as we never went this why we can't comment on the road
surface.

If I was you I would consider this option as a possibly warmer way into
Iran.

Iran itself was not the hot desert country we thought it would be. We were
rained on once for a whole day; like the UK!. It could be warm in the sun
but once on the bikes it was 'wrap up as for a chilly day at home'. Roads
are really fine and once out of towns you can leave the traffic behind. We
found the north busier than the south. The country is made up of flat plains
with areas of rocky mountains out cropping which often are ridden around
rather than through.
Petrol is easy to get and costs about a quid to fill my 43 litre tank! So
far such a big tank has been unnecessary but convienient.

Like Turkey hotels and guest houses in Iran were warm. Some times too hot;
we wondered if the Iranian's were doing all they could to use up their oil
reserves ASAP. "

Hope this is of interest



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Sean

__________________
Sean

Hai boy's and girls,

August 2002 I will leave on this route from europe (holland) to OZ. Research has dictated that I should leave half august. Then I will not drown becouse of rain and I will not freeze. Iran should be an avarage of 17 degree's and little or no rain in sept. The same goes for Pakistan (a bit warmer)
I wil drive from India to thailand through bangladesh and myanmar (burma does not exist anymore) I should have no problem with the visa.
From Singapore I will take a ferry to Sumatra or Java and go down the Islands by ferry. I know that I can fly from Timur to Darwin with the bike (uncrated) for aprox. $100.

My journey will not stop in OZ. I'll also do NZ and from there jump to South America. Now that is still a problem as there is only one airline that fly's to Buenos Aires and they don't like to take "dangerous goods". But I'll sort that out wen I get there. I mean, if we arange it all from the comfy home, what adventurers are we anyway?

I will just follow the climate couse I don't like rain ;-)

Anyone like to join me?

Maarten
==============
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[This message has been edited by Grant Johnson (edited 22 January 2002).]

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Hi Maarten

Route sounds interesting, I'm planning on leaving around the same time on a similar route...

Can you provide more info on getting from India to Thailand without having to fly. I'm sure a lot of guys will be interested.



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Sean

__________________
Sean

Hai Sean,

From India to Thailand overland:
I have the exact route not with me here at work, but roughly it goes like this:

Calcutta (India)
Dhaka (Bangladesh)
Imphal (Myanmar)
Mandalay (Myanmar)
Yangon/rangoon (Myanmar)
Chiang Mai (Thailand)

Ofcourse the exact route is not definite. The situation in Myanmar is a bit rocky, so I have to inform to the situation just before entering.
A visum is no problem only the (military) goverment wants you to exchange a certain amount of cash ($200). There are a few area's you have to avoid when in Myanmar, but they are mostly up north.

I know there is a discusion going as to wether or not you should visit this country, but the simpel fact is that since tourists have visited the country, the civilian situation has improved dramaticly. So, what is more important: Politics or poverty.
My choice is to ignore the politic boycod since my presents in the country helps (OK, it's just a bit, but every bit counts) the locals.
Lonely planet online has some good info on these isues (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinat...t_asia/myanmar)

Ofcourse a lot depents on the situation at the time I get there, wich is somewere in november 2002.
(Ask a sahara traveler for the political situation in the country he will visit, and most of the time he can't tell you couse it can change overnight)

Something else:
What are your plans exactly, maybe we can combine?

Maarten

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Been off line for a while but it's good to be back and see so many plans and so much info.

We also have concerns about getting the bike from India to Thailand, a Bangladeshi friend of ours maintains that there is a busy shipping route but I have yet to research this.

We've changed our plans due to this weeks events, we originally intended to ride to, then ship from Morocco. I think that until the USA have made a definitive move, avoiding any country with strong Muslim links is prudent. We're therefore shipping the bike from the UK to Namibia and will be in Cape Town for Nov and Dec if anyone else is around.

Our website is now up and running although we havn't finished it www.gooseontheloose.com

Grant-Sorry I havn't updated the link yet, will do it shortly.

Goose.

[This message has been edited by Goose (edited 15 September 2001).]

Hai there,

My previous message (about crossing Myanmar)might be a bit to optimistic.
Although the border is open (Int. border Tachilek-Mae Sai), it seems you need a permit to drive your motorbike into Myanmar.
At this time I am waiting for an awnser from the Myanmar ambasy at Bonn, Germany to clearafy this isue.
As soon as I have more info I will post it here.

Just to be safe I also am inquering for "china-options", but I don't think this will work out.

Any other info about this?

Maarten

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Latest we have on China is that it is possible - but you need to go through a huge amount of bureacracy, ($$$ and lots of time - months or even years) have a guide all the way in their own vehicle, and, oh yes, they only gave out 3 permits last year. So not a good option. Someday we hope...

------------------
Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Hi Maarten

Originally my friend and I were supposed to be setting off on our travels September/October this year, but had to postpone for various reasons. Kind of glad we did now....

We only have 6 months off work to get from UK to Aus, so it's a bit of a whistle stop tour really, and some would say a bit optimistic.

We plan on riding through eastern europe to turkey, iran, pakistan (KKH) and into india as quickly as possible.

Spend about 2 months in india/nepal with no particular agenda before flying the bikes from Delhi/Katmandu to Bangkok. Then a leisurely ride down to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore and ship the bikes to Darwin. I don't think we'll have enough time to island hop through Indonesia. How much time we spend in Aus depends on how quickly we get there, but head for Cairns, Sydney and fly home.

Intend to stay mainly in cheap hotels, roadhouses and hostels, but take a small tent just in case we're caught out somewhere.

Currently the trip is rescheduled for August/Sept 2002, which at least gives me more time to save up and put an oil cooler on the GS!

Stay in touch and let me know how your plans develop.



------------------
Sean

__________________
Sean

Hai,

It has been a while, but behind the screen (and scene) the planning goes on. I'll still leave half august 2002. The bike is getting more and more prept and the route-info is getting clearer and clearer... sometimes a bit to clear when I encounter an unbreakale barier.
I'll just forget about myanmar. Even though I have heared some positive sounds, the general idea is and remains you can enter the country with your bike, but you MUST leave at the same point.
I'll try to fly from Dhaka,Bangladesh to Chiang Mai, Thailand. I know it will probable be easyer to fly from nepal or india to bangkok, but my goal is to travel as much as possible over-land.

In south-america I face a similar problem with Colombia. I'll take my chances with the Brazilian jungle.

Also the camping (read surviving) gear is almost up to date, so the only thing I still have to face is... getting about 30 shot's with all kinds of vaccin's (and who said travel was fun???)

Actually... if it was up to me I would leave today... but I'll better stick to my climate-plans.

How are you all proceeding?

Maarten

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Hello Maarten,

I will be travelling on the same route, Belgium to Indonesia, leaving in April.

What can you tell me about shipping your bike from Dhaka, Bangladesh to Thailand? Is there a flight from Dhaka to Chiang Mai?

Richard, did you get more info from your friend in Bangladesh about shipping to Thailand?

What did the Burma embassy in Bonn tell you about going overland through Burma? Did anybody actually try to do that?

What about taking a ferry from Singapore to Indonesia (Sumatra)? And from Sumatra to Java, etc. Seems there are no ferry's taking cars and motorcycles...

Did anybody ride (or is planning to) his motorcycle into Bhutan? Any experiences?

All the best,
Diederik

Hai Diederik (and the rest ofcourse)

Shipping from Dhaka to Bangladesh should be possible. Thai-air fly's from Dhaka to Bangkok. I have not yet found a fligth from Dhaka to Chiang mai, but according to my info Chiang Mai has an international airport, so it would be logical to asume it might be possible (would, assume, might, hahaha)

From the Myanmar-ambasy in Bonn I heared nothing but ultimate silance. Very polite chap's. The dutch ambasy in that region could not help becourse they had no contacts in Myanmar.
From a Myanmar travel agency (www.asianbiketour.com)I got the helpfull awnser: It's impossible!
From Daniel Vetter I got a long Email explaining all the rules (he live's there)
He also told me: a guy, who was heavely sponsored by Vespa, rode in and had to fly out. Even though he had masif sponsoring by a vespa-inporter there.
I am afraid it really is not possible... only if you want to do it iligal, slip in and slip out :-(

As far as I know (and have heared) there is a ferry from (near) Singapore to Sumatra and from Sumatra to Jave etc... etc... all the way to Timur. I plan to use them and fly from Timur to Darwin.

Well, that's it for now.
CU on the road.
Maarten

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Am joýnýng the dýscussýons rather late ýn the day but may have some useful ýnfo.
We left the Uk on September 21st headýng for Indýa and then SE Asýa and Afrýca. We are currently ýn Eastern Turkey where ýt ýs cold but not unbearable - we have so far managed to avoýd the raýn and the snow. We plan to cross ýnto Iran ýn the next week.
Our websýte www.chasingthesun.org has full detaýls of our trýp so far - but ýf you have any specýfýc querýes please emaýl us.
Safe and Happy Rýdýng
Lisa

We're currently in S.Africa aiming to be in Zambia for Xmas then continue North for the middle east.

All's going well so far, with the exception of a few cuts and bruises after dumping the bike last week our trip has started well.

To those in the thinking about it and planning stage we'd say don't let ANYTHING dampen your spirits. It took us four years to plan and the agro is well worth it.

Anyone want to meet up on the way? We should be hitting the Middle East early part of next year then trying to avoid the rain in India.

Goose www.gooseontheloose.com

friends,

will arrive in melb. april, 24th. for some outback-riding towards the center. if anybody want to join for some time, you can send me an email

-=helmut=-
=======================
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[This message has been edited by Grant Johnson (edited 22 January 2002).]

__________________
regards...
-=airhead=-
http://www.euroheads.org

After a number of problems which forced me to forgot my trip for a while, I am back to the initial planning again, hopeing to set off next november or so (no fixed plans as yet).

I want to travel from the UK, through France, Spain and then around Africa, leaving Eygpt, back to Europe, through Asia onto Australia.

Does any once have any advice on routes, on the best places to enter / leave Africa and the best route through Europe / Asia onto Oz?

Any help is appreciated