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16 Sep 2001
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Still safe to travel to Turkey-Iran-Pakistan?
We are due to leave the UK next Sunday 23rd to travel overland to India.
In view of recent developments the FCO is advising against travel to Pakistan.
Any thoughts - we are reluctant to change our route so drastically but also don't want to find ourselves in the middle of a war?
Would appreciate the views of anyone in the area.
Best Regards
Lisa
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17 Sep 2001
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To be blunt, I think you should completely forget about such plans any time soon. I expect there to be, um, a LOT of military activity in the region in the near future.
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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250
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17 Sep 2001
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To be blunt, I think you should completely forget about such plans any time soon. I expect there to be, um, a LOT of military activity in the region in the near future.
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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250
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17 Sep 2001
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I do not agree. Pakistan is a western-friendly country. As long as you stay away from Afghanistan borders I don't think there would be a major problem. Ofcourse the situation could escalate, but that is just an other risk of traveling around the world. Think about crossing africa. How many times do you not know if the coutry your in is at war or not until you are in the middle?
Ofcourse this is only my humble opinion, but traveling is an adventure. The world itself has changed so much the last few years, there is not much adventure left in traveling around it. Almost anything is insured, every where you can use a mobile phone or get on internet. What is adventurus about that all? And now there "might be" a problem, and upfront you decide it is "unsafe". OK, it is wise, it is safe, but it sure is not adventurous.
I will go there soon, and unless there is a war on, I will enjoy the country, I will enjoy the people and I will enjoy the adventure of not knowing what the next day will bring me.
Maarten
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17 Sep 2001
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I do not agree. Pakistan is a western-friendly country. As long as you stay away from Afghanistan borders I don't think there would be a major problem. Ofcourse the situation could escalate, but that is just an other risk of traveling around the world. Think about crossing africa. How many times do you not know if the coutry your in is at war or not until you are in the middle?
Ofcourse this is only my humble opinion, but traveling is an adventure. The world itself has changed so much the last few years, there is not much adventure left in traveling around it. Almost anything is insured, every where you can use a mobile phone or get on internet. What is adventurus about that all? And now there "might be" a problem, and upfront you decide it is "unsafe". OK, it is wise, it is safe, but it sure is not adventurous.
I will go there soon, and unless there is a war on, I will enjoy the country, I will enjoy the people and I will enjoy the adventure of not knowing what the next day will bring me.
Maarten
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17 Sep 2001
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we too are in three minds.we were due to leave on sunday.as much as we want to ride the same
route as you, we think it would be foolhardy to ride straight into a warzone. you can ship london-bkk £300 or fly £600(bike).or how about the trans siberian express!we are probably going to start our trip in thailand and hopefully slot that bit in at the end.or something.get back to us as soon as.
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17 Sep 2001
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we too are in three minds.we were due to leave on sunday.as much as we want to ride the same
route as you, we think it would be foolhardy to ride straight into a warzone. you can ship london-bkk £300 or fly £600(bike).or how about the trans siberian express!we are probably going to start our trip in thailand and hopefully slot that bit in at the end.or something.get back to us as soon as.
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18 Sep 2001
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From the Brit FCO site
Afghanistan/Pakistan
We strongly advise against travel to Afghanistan. In view of the heightened tension we are advising all our nationals who, despite our travel advice, are currently in Afghanistan to leave the country with immediate effect. We advise against travel to Pakistan until further notice unless there are compelling reasons to do so. We advise all British nationals still in the North-West Frontier Province, Baluchistan and the Northern Areas to leave immediately. Those concerned about friends and relatives who are UK citizens in these three areas can call 0870 121 5151.
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18 Sep 2001
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From the Brit FCO site
Afghanistan/Pakistan
We strongly advise against travel to Afghanistan. In view of the heightened tension we are advising all our nationals who, despite our travel advice, are currently in Afghanistan to leave the country with immediate effect. We advise against travel to Pakistan until further notice unless there are compelling reasons to do so. We advise all British nationals still in the North-West Frontier Province, Baluchistan and the Northern Areas to leave immediately. Those concerned about friends and relatives who are UK citizens in these three areas can call 0870 121 5151.
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18 Sep 2001
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I think the massing of the Pakistan army on one side of the border, and the taleban sending large numbers of artillery and rockets to the other side should give you a clue!
Don't forget that there are a lot of people in Pakestan who support the Taleban and I think there will be serious rioting and possibly much hard feeling towards westerners if Nato uses Pakistan to attack points in Afghanistan.
Looking at the map you can see that for geographical and political reasons Pakistan would be the only realistic base from which to operate against points in Afghanistan.
Personally I would stay well clear.
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20 Sep 2001
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I am already embarked on the 1st leg of a UK to India journey, currently in Eastern Europe.
Any ideas about how to get to India? There have also been warnings about Iran, but does anyone know if it is possible to go by ferry or ship from southern Iran, or even Turkey?
I dont think it is possible to go north of the Black Sea because cant get through China.
Anyone elso in the same position? There must be a way through...
Regards,
Graham
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22 Sep 2001
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I am also on route to India, currently waiting around in Turkey trying to find out if I could ship the bike from here or southern Iran direct to India. Anyone done this or know how it could be done?
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23 Sep 2001
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My old man reckons it may be possible to get a boat from Abadan (on the river Shat in South East Iran), but how to go about finding an agent....?
Another alternative from Turkey could be to travel through Syria, Jordan, Israel and into Egypt and ship from there. Does anyone know if this route is possible for UK passport holders or if it is possible to ship from Egypt?
Regards,
Graham.
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25 Sep 2001
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All travellers in Turkey should contact the Istanbul community, (it covers all of Turkey - see the community pages at http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/community/contactEnglish.shtml) let them know you are there, and where you are heading.
They have offered to help, and since there are a number of people in the same predicament, if you all get together you can work out the best solution, perhaps you can get a deal on shipping 10 bikes at once.
So far from our research it seems like air is as usual the best way - fly to Delhi or Bangkok from Ankara or Istanbul. We will be putting up a new page in the tripplanning / shipping section on Thursday, and as we receive more info we will update. In the meantime, if you learn anything of interest please pass it on here, and if you get good shipping info please post it on the Shipping info submission form on the shipping page.
They do report that the border to Iran and Syria is open, and all seems normal as of afternoon of the 24th.
You may also want to contact each other directly - remember you can get each others email address from the mail icon at the top of each post.
Thanks, and good luck,
------------------
Grant Johnson
Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com
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Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
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28 Sep 2001
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Peeps
Are some of you being serious about wanting travel in these areas in the current climate.
You would be totally mad to even think about it with the military build up.
As much of a pain as it is to rearrange travel plans at least you won't end up in a possible war zone. There is real bad anti western feeling in certain parts and not only on the Afganistan border as some people are speculating.
Common sense should prevale.
Julio
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