I am planning an around the world trip. Seeing how my 30th birthday is but a few months away I figured I had better do this before some lucky lady finds out what a catch I am and makes me get married.
My plan is start in San Francisco and go to Toronto. Ship the bike to London from Toronto and tour Europe pretty extensively.
So here is the Question: since I am an american we are not too popular in the middle east what is the best way to get around it???? I would love to see Iran and Pakistan but I dont even think I could get a Visa. I was thinking just heading through Africa and shipping the bike from South Africa to Australia? How is traveling through Africa solo? I saw one couple shipped their bikes from Isreal to India, anybody have any experience with that?
After that portion Australia/NZ and South America then back up to San Francisco.
Also any recomondations on a laptop and how do you keep the batteries charged in different countries that have different power and plug configurations?
I am budgeting around $35,000 USD and at least a year, which from what I read seems to be sufficient.
Thanks for you help and hope to see some of you on the road. By the way what a great website with loads of info on what to pack and personal experiences.
Thanks
Josh

Anyone who spends Christmas day on this web site deserves a quick reply.
I am only going to answer a small part though. David has set up a cigarette lighter type thingy on his bike that he is then able to recharge all sorts of things while we are actually riding. Like his shaver, the torch, mobile phone and I cant think what else at the moment. We do not have a lap top so i am not computor savvy enought to know if that would recharge a laptop but it will give you a starting point to work from.

Josh, excellent plan!

Check out the shipping section on the right - the links. Maybe you'll find something useful from there.

But i really think if you don't publicly annouce you're american and keep low profile you should have no probs, people are very friendly there. Middle-East are greate to see countries.

At least for Apple laptop's there're world-travel kit available. Quite cheap to buy too, even 12V charger available. Not sure what peecee-winza laptops have...

Margus

[This message has been edited by Margus (edited 25 December 2004).]

I've read it in a newspaper;

US-tourists dressed as Canadians. (for safety reasons)



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Freek (NL)

[This message has been edited by Freek (edited 25 December 2004).]

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Freek (NL)

Hi Guys,
Dressing up as Canadians is tacky. I'm a Canadian and dispise this way of travelling. Be proud of what you are, and be human, and people will accept you for yourself. Besides maskerades will not help you get an Iranian visa. It's difficult to go past Iran on a RTW. You can go via Russia and ship from Vladivostok to Japan by ship, and from Japan you can ship anywhere by airfreight, provided you bring money, which you do. US$35,000 is adequate for a year, and you can even splurge on this budget. My suggestion: try for the Iranian visa at their embassy in Ottawa, Canada, from where you'll probably ship your bike to London (the cheapest way), but be aware of the fact that an Iranian visa is valid only for three months from the date of issue. This will limit your "intensive" tour of Europe. You can, of course, apply toward the end of your European tour at their embassy in Berlin, or in another European capital. Iranian visas generally take 21 days to come through. So apply, do your touring, and call the embassy repeatedly to find out if your horse has come in. Of course you can go via South America or Africa, and ship from Buenos Aires or from Nairobi to, let's say, New Delhi, and continue from there. With plenty of money many things are possible, except getting an Iranian visa.

As far as laptop issues, here's what I've used:

http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...0201&pfp=srch1

It comes with a bunch of different adapters, one should fit your PC laptop. Also comes with a US wall-plug adapter, 12v, and airplane plugs. As far as other countries, it's a 120/240v switching supply, so if you get different wall-plug adapters (kits sold at REI, etc) then you should be just fine.

One thing, too... GET A SURGE SUPRESSOR. Clean power is hard to find in some places. APC sells a noteboot surge supressor:

http://www.apc.com/products/family/i...le%20Computing

Good luck... and enjoy!

Hi Josh,

I'll be doing an Africa trip and it makes sense in "tricky" areas to form a group - so let me know your plans. I'm departing Oct 05 from UK to go down East Africa ending in SA.

Regards,
Sandi


[This message has been edited by SandiGS650 (edited 03 January 2005).]

Howdy Josh,

People have a problem with Americans as a whole, but not so much as individuals. I say "I'm from California" instead of saying "I'm American" when they guess at my accent.

People ask if I'm Canadian. I think it's because Americans don't travel overseas much. Or maybe because I'm polite. I've heard of Americans passing themselves off as Canadians, but haven't met any yet. I did think about that, but figured I'd take the risks.

I wouldn't be able to keep with you since I'm on a 40 year old 250cc, but maybe I'll meet you somewhere. I'll be in Japan in a few months for a year working to save money for Asia and Europe. I'd love to go through the Middle East but I'll wait and see what Bush does (and see how much Europe will cost me).

--Dave

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Trying to ride (and work) my way round the world on a 1965 Ducati 250cc. Australia, New Zealand and Japan are first. http://nokilli.com/rtw/

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Not Ted Simon since 1970!
http://nokilli.com/rtw

I did Africa solo in '03, have a look at my website if you want to get an idea of life alone on the road: www.catchthepig.co.uk

Another one to have a look at is www.tifua.com

ps. hello Sandi, you've been missing out on a lot of greenlaning lately. Drop me a line and I'll let you know when we're going out again.