Hi Moto32,

I trust you will have no regret in choosing these countries. You will definitely enjoy your travel. When are you starting your journey?

Cheers,
Borneoman

Sorry for the late reply... I thought I would get a notification that you'd answered my post, but I didn't.

Thanks again for taking the time to post more pictures and info. It really is interesting and encouraging to read your experiences. Your pictures are great too...

We start our journey from Portugal. We first had in mind to follow your route through Iran and Pakistan, but then ended up considering the Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan route. These countries sound really interesting too. However, we still are unsure as to what to do when we get to Kyrgyzstan! I read on a forum that it is possible to fly our bike, and ourselves, from Bishek to New Delhi. Can't get a confirmation about this unfortunately. Now that I read your posts I am wondering whether we should go the Iran/Pakistan way which would simplify things.

Are you planning to visit Portugal? Send me a PM if you do (before the 7th of September). We can put you up and you can use my garage to do any maintenance on your bike. If you are in Spain you aren't far...

Hi Moto 32,

I have no experience in those countries that you had planned to go to, so I am not able to share any advise how to go about it especially about flying out your bike from Bishek to Delhi. However through my personal experience, everything is 'doable'. For example when we failed to get our visa for Iran before we started our journey, we just planned to airfreight our bike from Pakistan to Turkey. Fortunately, when we were in Lahore, Pakistan, things took a change and we managed to get our Iran visa through a different party. So, it just made our travel easier.

You are right about riding through Iran and Pakistan, it is simpler than avoiding them. Iran and Pakistan are beautiful countries and a 'must see'.

Thank you for the offer house us in your place and definitely will contact you if we are able to make it.

Cheers,
Borneoman

Good point, everything is indeed doable.. I'm sure we'll work quite a few things out as we go along.

Hopefully you can make it to Portugal. Please pm me if you do so that I get your message as early as possible.

Have a happy and safe journey.

Hi
I live in Barcelona, Spain, I can show you the city and we can meet there
Contact at victorsashue@gmail.com

It has been quite sometimes since my last ride report.

After Iran, we crossed into Turkey. The border procedures were quite easy and fast on the Iranian side but however it took about almost 3 hours for us to get our entry into Turkey sorted out since the official at the border seemed to be a bit confused about visa protocol. No issues with the bike and we only had to pay about USD15 for 1 month insurance to ride in Turkey. The insurance office was just near the custom office. No carnet de passage required to enter Turkey for the motorcycle.

Once cleared at the border, we headed to the nearest town, Dogubayazit, about 25 km away. The roads in Turkey are good and road signs are very clearly written in Turkish and English so getting around was quite easy. We stayed for 2 nights in Dogubayazit before heading to Ezurum. We decided to ride the Northern part of Turkey, following the coastal road from Rize to Sinop.

The petrol cost in Turkey was the most expensive we have encountered, about USD2.50 a litre. In Iran, it was USD0.30 a litre so it was a big amount to spend.

We spent about a month in Turkey from 18 June till 17 July and the routes we travelled in Turkey are Dogubayazit – Erzurum – Rize – Trabzon – Samsun – Sinop – Ilgaz – Goreme – Ankara – Istanbul - Tekirdag.

Below are some photos from Dogubayazit until the city of Rize.

Cheers,

Turkish flag


Dogubayazit - the view of Ararat Mountain


Dogubayazit - horses seen from the main road leading to town


Dogubayazit - Ishak Pasha Palace


Dogubayazit - Ishak Pasha Palace


Dogubayazit - another view of the palace from far


Dogubayazit - the Black V


Dogubayazit - the Black V


Dogubayazit - tombs near Ishak Pasha Palace


Dogubayazit - Tombs near Ishak Pasha Palace


Dogubayazit - view of the town and surrounding from the mountain


Dogubayazit - Ishak Pasha Palace


On the way to Erzurum from Dogbayazit


Erzurum - landscape along the road to Erzurum


Erzurum - another view of the landscape


Erzurum - a mosque in the city


Erzurum - another view of the mosque


Erzurum - statue by the town square


Erzurum - modern bus


On the way from Erzurum to Rize. Taking a break


Beautiful view along the way from Erzurum to Rize


Another view along the way


Erzurum fruits market


Borneoman on the road


Taking shelter from the rain on the way from Erzurum to Rize


On the way from Erzurum to Rice - restaurant serving local food

Hi Victor,

Great, we will contact you when we are nearer to Barcelona. It is one of my favorite city.

Cheers,

More photos of our travel in Turkey.

From Rize we traveled to Trabzon, Samsun, Sinop (all along the Black Sea) and Ilgaz.

Ilgaz is a small town south of Sinop as we are on our way down to Goreme to visit Cappadokia.


Riding on the road to Trabzon, Turkey (from Rize)


Local boat near the shore of the Black Sea


Total mileage covered from Malaysia till Trabzon - slightly above 12,000km


The guys who did the motorbike servicing in Trabzon, Turkey


Tasted the local food. We ordered a second fish after that.


The famous Sumela Monastery situated south of Trabzon, Turkey


Inside Sumela Monastery


Inside Sumela Monastery


Inside Sumela Monastery


Inside Sumela Monastery


Inside Sumela Monastery


A mosque situated along the road leading to Samsun (from Trabzon)


A shopping street in Samsun, Turkey


A local market in Samsun, Turkey


A mosque in the shopping area in Samsun, Turkey


One of the shopping areas in Samsun, Turkey


Dinner in Samsun, Turkey


Riding to Sinop, Turkey


One of the government buildings in Sinop, Turkey


With the local policeman in Sinop, Turkey


Camping in Sinop, Turkey


Met Stuart on his Vespa in Sinop, Turkey, traveling from London to New Zealand


Sunrise in Sinop, Turkey


Sunrise, taken from inside the tent.


Riding to Ilgaz, Turkey


Captured this 'Fort' on the way riding towards Ilgaz, Turkey


View captured while riding to Ilgaz, Turkey


Wild camping up the mountain just before Ilgaz. Beautiful view and surrounding


Hardly any people around except for the dogs, donkeys, ducks & the birds and the bees


Dinner prepared by Celeste, very 'yummy'

Thank you, have a good trip

Hi Borneoman. I am interestingly following your travels. Should you be passing Windhoek on your way to Cape Town I would like to meet up.

Hi Drummer,

Yes, Windhoek is in our plan, but still a long time to get there probably in March next year. We definitely will catch with you.

Cheers,