A Lap Around Timor Leste
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009 [03:06:44 PM]
posted by Todd Barry
Well after finally receiving our motorcycles a week late, on Thursday 21st of May we set off on a four day journey around Timor-Leste to explore the eastern end of the Island Nation. The roads were to say the least rough and at times were just a space between tree's, the harsh effects of the wet season taking their toll on what was once a sealed road.
But bad roads asside we really had a great time, it was an off road motorcyclists dream and was a great opportunity to test out the bikes on something other than tar. They handled reasonably well considering the gear they carry and got us back in one piece.
While touring the Island we had the opportunity to stop over at an Echo Hotel near Ossu, the Echo Village Hotel (formerly Timor Village Hotels) was a fantastic spot to stop and rest but not for long as the local historic cave is not far away and required a bit of hike to reach the entrance, well worth the effort though.
All I can say is if you are looking for that undiscovered less travelled tourist destination, get your buts on a plane to Timor-Leste (East Timor) and check it out, while the conditions here are not five star, the people are friendly and there's never a feeling that you are unsafe, the fighting stopped long ago and the country is in a period of rebuilding and growth.
Week 8 - Traveling Timor Leste
Bikes Have Arrived in Dili
Monday, May 18th, 2009 [02:35:11 PM]
posted by Todd Barry
Well after a very long wait the Perkins ship has arrived in port and as I write this post, the ship is being unloaded. By the end of the day we should have our bikes and the rest of our gear we have spent the past week waiting on.
Before leaving to tour Timor Leste we have been asked by the Timor Minestry to Exhibit our bikes at the Timor Leste International Expo for a day, on Wednesday it is a national holiday and impossible to get anywhere so come Thursday morning we will depart Dili to tour the island of Timor Leste and document our travels before heading into Indonesia.
Week 7 - Dili, East Timor
Bikes Stuck in Darwin
Friday, May 15th, 2009 [06:46:16 PM]
posted by Todd Barry
Our plans for 3 days in Darwin were foiled by paperwork and the time it takes to get parts sent and so we spent 2 weeks instead. Now we are in Dili in Timor-Lest (East Timor) and were expecting the same, we flew out on Saturday and were expecting to have the bikes Wednesday or Thursday after clearing customs, yesterday we recieved the bad news, the barge that we put the bikes on in Darwin has broken down, now once again we have to wait.
The boat was scheduled to leave Darwin on Monday but has broken down, after speaking with Perkins the shipping agent we have been informed that it may leave on Saturday or Sunday night, one week late, after a 2 day journey to Dili we may get the bikes by Tuesday or Wednesday.
So for now we wait and hope that they will arrive soon, on a 13 month journey we have now lost a month. A huge set back it may mean we have less time to visit other places and spend time there.
We'll keep you posted....
Week 6 - Darwin
Ride Right Round Abroad
Saturday, May 9th, 2009 [02:52:48 PM]
posted by Todd Barry
Well that day has finally come around and we have now left Australia and landed in sunny (and Humid) Timor Leste (East Timor).
We've had a breif look around and now we await the arrival of our bikes from Darwin. An amazing place, the people are relatively friendly although the language barrier can be a bit tough at times.
We are here for about a week in Dili then we head off to explore the rest of the country before hitting Indonesia.
Stay tunned...
Week 5 - Darwin to Adelaide River
Darwin Time.....?
Friday, May 1st, 2009 [07:57:28 PM]
posted by Todd Barry
Well we are now officially Darwin locals, having spent a couple of weeks here, we have been introduced properly to Darwin Life and Darwin Culture. People laugh when they see the 'NT' post cards with the slogans 'Not Today, Not Tomorrow' but it's fairdinkum true, being so far away from the rest of Australia has it's bonuses but it also has it's draw backs, one of which is the time it takes to get anything from somewhere else to Darwin, overnight freight is great example as Overnight to and from Darwin takes 2 days (Overnight??). But none the less we are enjoying the warm weather up here while those down south rug up to the winter cold.
Leaving Oz
We will say our final goodbyes to Australia next week, the bikes go on the boat on Wednesday and we fly to Timor Leste (East Timor) on the following Saturday (9th May) to meet the bikes before heading to Indonesia and into South East Asia where the adventure begins.
Packing up the bikes
