Aust Timor Indonesia Aug/Sept 2013
 

Looking at putting the bike on the barge to Dili and taking a flight from Darwin to Timor sometime late August to early September and then after having a look around Timor Leste, making my way up through Indonesia for two months +. After that it's anybody's guess but one way or another I have to be in Chiang Mai by Christmas.
Happy/keen to talk to any other riders heading that way or coming from the opposite direction and of course any HU groups in Indonesia. :scooter:

Me Too ;-)
 

I am also looking at doing a similar trip about that time. Although I am only in the very early stages of planning.

Going to other direction, now having mandatory 2 month break...

OK Stay in touch then.
 

Other than planning for the International Driving Permit and the Carnet and getting details about the shipping of the bike I'm not planning too much at all. I've decided to just take it a day at a time.

Trip Postponed
 

Since my last posting I have been made an offer I couldn't refuse and am now working in Dili, Timor-Leste for the next 12 months.

Let me know if you need me to do any research here for you.

Good for you
 

Hey that's great news for you and yes I'll probably be asking you about a cheap place to stay for a few days while I'm waiting for my bike to arrive.
Still haven't fixed a date but it'll still be around the end of August or early September. Thanks for the update.:thumbup1:

Let me know your budget and I'll see what I can find. I don't know if there is much available within walking distance of the port, but taxis are cheap and plentiful here.

I'll also see if I can clarify exactly what the clearance protocols are here, so you can make sure you have the appropriate documentation arranged.

El Cheapo
 

Hey thanks. Budget will be the cheapest livable room/bed I can find. I'm still on track to leave by early September and will be in touch when I have some dates firmed up.
:palm::scooter:

Accommodation
 

I found the Dili Backpackers, it is almost walking distance to the port. Rates from USD8 per night for a shared accommodation up to USD20 for a single room, with shared bathroom. I didn't go in and have a look, but it seemed pretty clean, and the operators speak English. I'll start looking a bit harder when you have confirmed dates.

Dorm is fine
 

Hey thanks,
The dorm bed will be fine, I'll contact them when I have a firm date. Will be talking with Toll this week about barge sailing dates and will get the bike booked.
Don't take any trouble looking for other places, from what I've been reading the room rates in Dili are pretty high.
Enjoying the job there?
:scooter:

A good idea is to check www.couchsurfing.org; for it was just perfect. We stayed with some local Portuguese there and had a lot of fun and help as well! CS works for Indonesia and Timor just great. Maybe have a look, like I said for us it was just perfect.

Good luck and have fun in Timor and beyond, next time we go to Timor we gonne stay longer there...

Thanks for the tip on couchsurfing.
 

I have my IDP and the carnet sorted and tentative booking on the barge leaving on the 26th of August. I say tentative because the shipping schedules are subject to change. Such is the nature of travel, I'll go with the flow and sit on a beach if I get delayed. :Beach:

I've been flat out at work since I got here. I've had about two days off in the last two months. I did get outside Dili to Liquica today. I hope you have a good solid bike, the road was as bad as any main road I have seen; huge patches of bitumen missing and 6-8 inch drops down to the gravel underneath. Lucky I wasn't driving my car :innocent:

The weather is good at the moment though; cool and dry.

tracking this thread carefully. I am planning similar journey, only later, oct nov timeframe. Will appreciate any advice.


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Schedule change
 

Just checked the sailing schedule at
Toll Group - The Asian region's leading provider of integrated logistics services homeheading | Toll Group

Looks like the 26th is out, trying to get the bike onto the vessel leaving on the 22nd but I could miss the cut-off for cargo delivery to the warehouse on the 16th.
The people at Toll have been great to deal with and have advised me to constantly monitor the schedule as it changes without notice. :palm:

Even if there is a posted cargo cutoff, you may be able to get it on anyway...good luck!

Missed the boat
 

Just got confirmation that I can't get an extension on the cut-off date so I'll be aiming for the first boat in September, never mind it gives me a bit more time to sort out the luggage on the bike. I think with this type of travel I have to maintain a mindset of not stressing the small stuff. I'm in the fortunate position of not having a time limit so these delays don't really concern me. :palm:

Sailing schedule changed again
 

Toll has changed the schedule again, now looking at shipping on the 15th of September. I was just about to pull the trigger on booking my flight from Darwin to Dili but did a last minute check on the sailing schedule first. Oh well, I might get a fishing trip organised in Darwin while I'm waiting. :scooter:

Trying for the 17th now
 

Another change to the sailing schedule, fingers crossed it will go on or about the 17th. In Darwin now putting the final touches to the bike. Looking forward to getting started.

Hey robtho,

Can you share the cost for shaping and whether you had to crate? What size bike?

Alain


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Alain
 

From reading other accounts in the shipping forums it seems you need 4 bikes to share a container to reduce the cost. My bike is very small so I just intended to ship it without packing.

Yet another schedule change
 

Got my fingers crossed that the latest change will be the last. Now looking at shipping out on the 20th. The bike is sorted and I want to get this trip on the road. Been very fortunate to have free accommodation with friends here in Darwin.
http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/...emporary-1.jpg

Thats a Postie Bike isn´t it? Love them! We have seen the Posty Ralley in Karijini NP, these bikes go everywhere. Great bike, great people.

Hmmm, as far as I remember most of them had knobby tires installed, maybe, don´t remember 100%, maybe not... anyway, would help in ETimor and Indonesia as well I guess... You will face a lot of dirt and maybe mud too...

good luck and loooots of fun!

Yep, it's a Postie
 

Thanks for the comments and wishes. Looking forward to the dirt, I can probably change to knobbies later when these tyres wear out. I've done some dirt roads on the standard rubber and it handled ok, mud will be a challenge though.
:scooter:

The bike looks good. Do you know when you will getting to Dili yet?

Dili Sept 24
 

I'm flying into Dili on September 24th. Bike was supposed to leave three weeks ago but constant delays set that back time and time again. I thought it had left on Saturday but just went down to Toll to check and it looks like it's now leaving tomorrow afternoon or evening.
To anyone else contemplating this route between Australia and Timor you will need to be VERY flexible with your time. It's now been 2 months since any freight went from Darwin to Dili with Toll.

Booked into Dili Backpackers for 3 days.

Planning similar trip
 

Wish I had seen this earlier! Very interested in doing a similar trip. If anyone out there is looking for travel buddies, leaving from OZ, let me know. I'm in Canberra and getting my bike set up.

Also, please continue to post news from your travels, tips, etc!

-Elisa

See more about my adventures: TravelBugBlues

Oops
 

I was hoping to meet up with you while you were in Dili, but between work and my dodgy Internet connection I only get to look up this page about once a week.

Have a great trip:funmeteryes:

Moving
 

Thanks for the interest.
I'm in Dili now, the bike is at least on a ship in Timor-Leste waters and I'll be starting the ride very soon so I guess it's time to move from here to a Ride Report.
I have an account on ADVRider and will be posting there. RR is called "Following the Front Wheel - Postie Bike Ride, if anyone wants to tune in.