Well I'm flying over in two weeks time - have planned this for about a year so I'll see what's happening when I get there. I spoke with someone who was there last week and she felt fine. But things can change rapidly.

To Syria
 

Hey

Dicky: Thanks for your offer, very kind! I will have to take you up on that :clap:
It's funny, i have actually seen your Adv Rider page a while ago, before I had even read this thread, pictures look amazing! (im also on an xt660r bier)

Adastra: Ahhh so your flying to the Mid East? Then purchasing a bike or shipping yours over? Where are you starting from (flying to) and heading for? if you dont mind me asking!

Have fun!

Tarzan,

I don't know how you've got your XT660R kitted out but the best mod I've made to mine has been to fit a sheepskin seat cover from these guys

Motorcycle Seat pad: from Lambland UK Online

Comfortable and keeps your bum cool in the heat. Wish I'd had it when I went to East Turkey.

Cheers,

Dicky

Hi

Starting in Turkey - Picking up a bike I brought in UK in Greece and then making way down Western Turkey into Syria, back out to Eastern Turkey into Iran (assuming the visa comes through) then back up Northern Turkey to finish at Istanbul - that's the plan but visa's and politics will determine where I actually end up :-)

Adastra

hi
 

currently in Iran. no problem entering from the south ( pakistan) just required to have police escort to Bam which is a real pain.

Syria
 

Hi!

Thanks for the link Dicky. I was considering getting a sheep skin throw over but had completely forgotten about it! I bought the one from the link you gave, ive already got it through the post.... and its cuddly:clap: lol so thanks for the tip!


Adastra, well, dependent on visas and politics i may see you in Turkey, syria or on the road somewhere!

have fun!

Andy

Hey david. I'm in Izmir right now and was wondering if i can crah at your place. I do not have a planning, take things as they come. But probably will be there from tomorrow untill tuesday. So maybe tomorrow or monday? I pick my girlie up at the antalya airport on saturday.......

If possible and ok by you can you sent me your adress by email to me?

Kaledegrote@hotmail.com

Thanks in advance!

Best,

Marco

[quote=Marco K;331356]Hey david. I'm in Izmir right now and was wondering if i can crah at your place. I do not have a planning, take things as they come. But probably will be there from tomorrow untill tuesday. So maybe tomorrow or monday? I pick my girlie up at the antalya airport on saturday.......

Hi Marco,

Nice to hear from you. I must admit to being a bit confused by your mail regarding picking your girl up from the airport and being here at the same time. Antalya is a good three hours ride from Kas (See the map on the link)

Kas-Antalya, Turkey - Horizons Unlimited

I assumed that you may want to stop over in Kas on your way to Antalya.

Cheers,

Dicky

Hi david. I'm aware it's a bit confusing however......

Today I'm dropping somebody off in Kas, tomorrow collect my girlfriend from the airport, then head back in the direction of Kas, i'm a kind of motorcycletaxidriver :-)

Best,

Marco

Hi Marco,

PM sent.

Off down town for a couple of hours so will be contactable on my mobile.

Cheers,

David

Thanks!

Syria
 

Hı Adastra and others hopıng to travel ın Syria. We left there yesterday after 5 days of bıke travel. We were based ın Aleppo and want as far south as Palmyra. Made welcome everywhere and only felt uneasy when stopped 3 tımes ın an hour on moutaın roads between Mysaf and Crak de Chavllier Castles by non-unıformed guys wıth weapons. Make sure you carry your docs at all tımes. Bab Al Hawa boarder a real test for the ınexperienced. You must have euros or dollars for the temp carnet for your bıke. My advıce pay a fıxer 10 dollars to help you but allow at least 2 hours. Return we managed ok. Good luck Julıan and Alex. :thumbup1:

Hi Julian,

Are you still heading for Kas?

Cheers,

Dicky

Traveller safety in Syria
 

A friend working in UN agency in Syria sent links
//www.sana.sy/eng/21/index.htm, which is state run, and
//english.aljazeera.net/indepth/spotlight/syria/
Her assement of the situation is that you are safe enough, she didn't mention the traffic, which is your main risk. Very "inshallah" driving.
A tip, shops closing early and street hawkers disappearing is always a bad sign. Local people will always give you a "heads-up" if something nasty is likely. Park your bike off the streets to avoid damage in riots, and keep a full tank, because a fuel shortage is likely if there is unrest. Retreat and avoid any sudden gatherings of younger men around public areas, especially near mosques and public buildings, because this is always going to attract the security forces, and they can be very heavy handed.
The country is a bit "pressure-cooker" at the moment, and the Assad regime are not very flexible, so there is a potential for violent confrontations.
That said, it is a country well worth visiting, Damascus is the oldest inhabited capital in the world. You can't put a spade in the ground without finding some historic remains, so the Syrians have a very nonchalent attitude to them, life goes on.
Safe travels
Peter, in Oslo

Hı,

I came through Syrıa ın February wıth no Problems at all. But that was before the major troubles started. Comıng from Jordan I got the vısa at the border (German PP), they stamped the Carnet and made me buy an insurance for the bıke. The whole procedure took 3 hrs. At least 4 people checked my PP several tımes from the fırst to last page, probably lookıng for Israeli stamps.

Am ın Adana (Turkey) rıght now, departıng to Iran tomorrow.

Cheers
Harry