Montevideo-Chuy-Rio Grande 604km

Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, a once thriving city with the relics still scattered around - battered vintage cars and decaying grand colonial buildings. I hesitate, because I don't want to offend anyone, but I find it sad, and any comparison to Buenos Aires, I find odd. Poverty is in more evidence than in BA, and the people seem sad and downtrodden in comparison to the bright, savvy but gentle Portenos.

Peloponnese

Took a slow and scenic route out of Athens, over an impressive ship canal cut deep in to the rock. Some very pretty mountain roads and typically greek seaside tavernas. Stayed overnight in Korfos - took my first swim. Very stony beach was hell on my feet though.

Udaipur

After Agra the roads seem to be much better, 2x2 lanes separated with a median. Around Jaipur, a major city, there is an expressway. Unfortunately, motorbikes are not allowed on it. Therefore we have to cross the busy city centre. Here, we have our first collision with another motorcycle. The driver had to swerve to avoid a car and thereby crashes into our pannier and falls over. On forums, we red it is better to drive off after an accident, as the tourist is always wrong and we can’t be insured.

Almost Ready

Well, here it is. We've decided to go on this trip. For those that know us, and what we've been through the last couple of years, you'll know why we were on the fence on this one. Well, we've decided that life is too short to pass up this trip. Even if we'll be in the preverbial poor-house when we get back.

Yes, this trip is going entirely on the VISA card! Woo hoo!

So, on with the show. We've been doing some light prep, off and on for the past couple of months.

Starting with some light maintenance on the 1150:

No.8. Turkey...and Greece.

ASIA. I'd finally made it. I rolled off the ferry at Bandirma, found the main road heading south and did just that.

Itapemirim-Ipagrimin 4624km

The benefits of an early start. I could have taken a handful of wonderful pictures, that morning...

Monte Negro

To ask someone on Balkan about the next country en route is often useless. Here is still much hate, and you will not believe the horror stories one tells about the other. A Croat strongly warned me against going to Monte Negro. He assured that the locals would drug me and steal my kidney (allegedly they do that to all foreigners). He finished the lecture with a self-destruction of his integrity as a Monte Negro expert: “…and therefore I have never been there”.

Kep

Welcome to Kep

We leave towards Kep, which is the smallest province of Cambodia, just a 16 km long strip along the coastline. What a pleasant surprise when we arrive: we drive on a road along the shoreline and we end up at a small, pearly white sand beach, Kep beach. The town feels a little European with its lovely promenade, colonial houses and many statues.

PHOTOS- MiddleEast

Goodbye to Orestis (HU member Athens) in Ephesus, Turkey.

On the road to Bagdad!

Tabouli dinner in the Middle East, fantastic!

San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge and on to Merced

As we had ridden through San Francisco the evening before, we had seen a shop called ‘Guitar World’, and we just had to go and take a look. The other place I wanted to see was Lombard Street, ‘the world’s crookedest street’, which was not far from where we were staying (our motel was actually on Lombard Street).The people in Guitar World were really welcoming and let David try out several different guitars and amplifiers and listened appreciatively while he played. They were impressed, which is quite something in a place like that.

India I

For the last five border crossing I had been questioned about the motorcycle’s engine number. No such number is mentioned in the vehicle registration documents, neither in the Carnet papers. So I assumed that I didn’t have any, with the customary reply being an accepting OK. But for the Indian custom this qualified as a “big problem!!!” I had to wait half a day while they figured out how to deal with the situation. It was tiring and boring, a good day wasted, and I arrived Amritsar quite late where the first face I saw was of a Swiss guy that left the border as I entered it.

Orissa

During two days, we follow the coastline towards Kolkata. By the end of the second day we decide we fancy a view other than the sea. A local recommended the Aracu Valley so we listen to his advice and go take a look. We arrive in the dark in the valley and quickly we find a nice resort with bungalows resembling African huts. The interior was designed to follow the round shape. Hard to explain but you have to see it for yourself :)

Our African Hut