Finally, our BMW F800 GS motorbike has arrived by boat from Singapore. We are currently attempting a test run within India heading north towards the Himalayas and back to Delhi till end of year. Presuming success, 2011 will be when the real journey begins.
After a final loop in India, we will venture into Pakistan where we intend to volunteer working directly with the UNHCR, whilst managing a fundraising web based campaign. We will then continue on into Iran, Turkey, Central Asia, Europe and into Africa over a 6 month period. I have several sites linked including a site for donations with all proceeds going directly to the UNHCR, a GPS tracking site that allows followers to see our current route, as well as Facebook, Twitter pages and this blog which I will keep updated with live footage, images and comments.
I need your help to spread the word and help make a difference...
I will keep you updated... : )
Getting the bike... We spent 10 nights in Kolkata waiting for permission to release our bike from the shipping docks where it was sitting in a container for nearly 2 weeks. The mind boggling functions of Indian bureaucracy seem to date back to the 1940's, resulting in a incomprehensible series of events where we were the chosen victims. Day after day of endless phone calls result only in pieces of information that all seem to be lies with hopeless elements of truth. This somewhat hilarious, enigmatic process left us exhausted, frustrated and extremely desperate. Ashite, yes your pronouncing that correctly, the corporative manager at the shipping company has undoubtedly tried his best to help us with this process, however the list of individuals we need approval from is endless. You can only laugh every time Ashite scrunches up his normally soft expression sharing his rather large, slightly zealous smile while giving an overenthusiastic wiggle of his head. This is normally completed with his hand flying into the air as he insists on a high five every time there is some potentially good news. This reaction is not at all comforting yet definitely seems to ease the tension. Finally we had a positive result after much persistence and are on the road!
