Diary
08/09/06
Pictures with travelers who have visited me on their trip. Click to see.
19/07/06
Just have time to put the pictures and logs. Here are the pictures and brief logs. Enjoy!!!
21/05/06
Back to England without completing the tour. But, at least I have started and will be carry on in future. The brand new front sprocket which was fixed incorrectly in the service in the UK. This mistake of the mechanic f*cked up the engine of the legend F650. The bike has only last till Turkey.
I will put the detailed journey logs and photos as soon as I can.
29/03/06
I'll turn the trottle for the "ride of my life" today at around 1430 h. Firstly I'll stop at Dover'da and stay one of the friend which I found on www.hospitalityclub.org. On 30th of March at 0540 h. I'll take the ferry to Calais-Fransa and then a long ride will start to Venice-Italy. In Venice I'll take the ferry to Igumenitsa-Greece. According to the BBC there will be rain all the way down to Venice. I expect to enter Istanbul like Mehmed IV., The Conqueror on 2nd of April. My total luggage will be 50kg.
Update will be carried on when I arrive to Istanbul.
28/02/2006
I have attached the photos of the small fire that I had: 1 - 2 - 3
Saudi visa still causes a problem. Another option is to get Umra visit visa. We are also planning a second route via Qatar by ferry just incase of single entry of Saudi visa. Hope there is ferry between UAE-Qatar and Qatar-Bahrain.
We will get touch with Saudi Embassy in Turkey and in the UK in a week time.
And the bikes are almost ready.
20/02/2006
Guestbook link is still (and maybe hopeless) underconstruction. Please use e-mail for any feedback/comment.
Turkish Citizens can obtain Bahraini visa at the border (cost app.$15). Good news... (Source: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Iranian border has been open. It was closed because of bird blu.
There was a small fire last week on my motorbike because of the 12V power socket. Luckly I am OK and bike has a small cosmatic damage. Cost me about £20 from ebay and 14 hours work in total. I'll put the pictures soon.
The site has been moved to www.ortadoguturu.com as you realized. Please change from your favorites.
Deposit for CdP for Iran is 500% this year. To your attentions ladied and gents!!!
07/01/2006
I got my Touratech Panniers. I've used separate bolts, nuts, washers and aluminium sheets for increasing the strength. Also, I took out the petrol tank and cleaned it with 2 litres of fresh petrol and put it back again just in case of small particles which might block the carburettor. Click for pictures: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5
28/12/2005
Ibrahim went to Dubai for New Years Holiday and probably collecting some information about visas, hotels, roads, etc..
22/12/2005
Getting touched with Harley-Davidson-UAE for crossing the King Fahd Causeway. Also Ibrahim is doing a research about embassies and visas in Istanbul.
Site has been updated with some pictures, new road maps and Ibrahim's autobiography (Thanks Maureen:).
07/12/2005
Site has been updated.
04/12/2005
Ibrahim started very fast:) He is totaly consantrated to the recording part and equipment of the trip. He bought two Sony helmet camera, two Sony video recorder (handcam) and also trying to find a professional camera. So, the other aim of this trip is catch a good scene, and maybe commercialize it for the next trip.
Breaking news.. He just told me from msn that he has also slr digital photocamera.. What more to be a visualise??:)
16/11/2005
Ibrahim Gundogdu, who is my aunts son in law is thinking of joining me for the ME Trip. Two is better than one I think... especially in an overland travel.
27/10/2005
I had the viva and got the PhD. Now, offically I am a Doctor of Physics. I am so happy that I cant explain that by using words. I have 5 months to make the final plans, organize the paper works and save a bit more money for the trip. Click here to see the first 3 pages of the thesis.
13/10/2005
It is 0333 h. and hopefuly I am gonna submit my doctoral thesis at 0930h. Just 5 hours left. Then I'll wait for my viva (oral exemination). After I get the Dr title I am gonna start to plan my trip for April.
24/09/2005
I got reply to my e-mail from Mr. Nasuh Mahruki. He wishes me the best on my journey and advise me to contact with advertisement agencies to seek sponsors.
I am appreciated about his e-mail and kindly supports.
Thanks a lot Mr. Mahruki. Hope to meet you somewhere, sometime.
Here is the e-mail in Turkish.
"Sevgili Özhan,
Projen oldukça heyecanlı, umarım herşey istediğin gibi gider.
Sponsorluk konusu henüz Türkiyede tam olarak yerini bulmadığı için ne yazık ki hala oldukça sıkıntılı bir konu. Sponsorluğun çok etkili bir tanıtım aracı olduğu hala pek çok kurum tarafından algılanan bir durum değil. Dolayısıyla sana önereceğim tek şey, güvendiğin ve tanıdığın bir reklam ajansı vasıtasıyla projene destek aramak olacaktır. Ajanslar pek çok firma ile iletişim halinde olduklarından dah kolay bazı kapıları açabilirler.
Fazla yardımcı olamadığımın farkındayım, ancak bu konu ne yazık ki hala çok amatörce ve şansa gidiyor.
Sevgiler ve iyi yolculuklar.
Nasuh"
09/09/2005
here is the link: http://haber.mynet.com/haber/yorum/rop52.asp
07/09/2005
An interview about this trip had been made with Miss Handan Aybars. It can been seen on mynet soon. I would like to thanks Miss Handan Aybars and Mr. Sedat Acil for this inverview. I'll put the link as soon as I get.
20/08/2005
About 2 minutes ago I've sent an e-mail to Turkey's and World's famous mountaineer and wanderer (also by bike Istanbul to Kathmandu) Mr. Nasuh Mahruki. Hope he will help me with his great experiences.
19/08/2005
Uppppsssss.. just got a good news with the help of VT.
"Saudi Arabia will issue tourist visas from February 2006 to all prospective visitors regardless of their religion, according to local press reports. A source at the Foreign Ministry told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the Kingdom must implement a visa programme to boost tourism and as part of its preparations to join the World Trade Organization.". For more info click here
16/08/2005
Just had an info from a reliable source (horizonsunlimited). Crossing from S.Arabia-Bahrain and vice-verca from King Fahd Causeway is forbidden for motorbikes because of the sidewinds, security, etc.. The only solution is hiring a van or pick-up for a while.. Nothing can stop me now. la la laaaaa...
11/08/2005
After calling Valfajr company I have been informed that there is no ferry between Iran and Bahrain. Also, a friend told me that motorbikes does not allowed to cross King Fahd Causeway between S.Arabia and Bahrain. I am lookin for alternative routes.
09/08/2005
Back to the UK last night. Had a great holiday with parents and relatives. Got the Syria and Lebanon visa in a day in Ankara. Syrian visa cost $23 and Lebanase $35. The time is approaching and now I have to consantrate to thesis.
20/07/2005
I got the spares today from ebay. Spare bulbs, cluch, acceleration, chooke spare cabels, front breaks pads. Also 10Lt. petrol can, Scottoiler, and Clymer manual. Everything is on the track since now. I'll fly to Turkey on Thursday (22nd) and try to get the visa for Lebanon and Syria. Fingercross. Also yesturday I sent the application form for Carne de Passage to RAC.
There is a small problem with the bike, but, I'll sort it out when I come back.
13/07/2005
I got an e-mail just a second ago.... The sender is Mayfair Residence from Lebanon. The hotel is booked for 03-04-05 September. So, all accomondation problems have sorted out. I'll go to the BMW service (Pidcock Motorcycles) today in Long Eaton to try to find the "engine number" for Carne de Passage and make a reservation for the carb. problem.
08/07/2005
Another e-mail for hotel reservation. :) yuppi.. I was in touch with Mayfair Residence in Beirut. They told me that, they may do reservation for me if I send them an e-mail next them. I don't know why next week. I'll stay in touch with them. Good price, near the towncentre, safe parking for motorbike.
07/07/2005
Got up early go to London to try to get Saudi visa. Finger-cross.. Btw, London got the 2012 olypics.
>> I've Just come back from London. What a day!!! There was a terrorist attack at 0851 h. and all the underground and bus transportation has stopped in zone 1 (central London). All the embassies closed. I did not get the visa, but, I am still alive.
Actually I was going to be there at around 0900 h. but the there was a traffic jam on M1 and M25 (I was traveling with my friend on his car). My dad called me at around 1015 and told me that there was a terrorist attack in London, I was like "huh, dad r u still sleeping? I am in London.. ". We immidiately turn the radio on and decide not to go to central London. Then the radio anounced all the public tranportation has stopped to zone 1.
06/07/2005
I've just got the reply from Jordan embassy in the UK. I can get the visa at the border. Which is really good news for me. I don't waste time on the embassy and of course money.
Just recieved an e-mail from a friend of mine who lives in Syria after a long time. I am quite happy.
I'll put the cost of insurance for almost every country soon on the site. keep visiting.
03/07/2005
I was listening Ping Floyd, after their great performance on Live8 last night. I've recieved my hotel booking confirmation from Atlas Hotel, Bahrain. This is the main document for entering Bahrain. Visa will be obtained from the border on King Fahd causeway. I am so happy that I couldn't explain it by words. Next to do is, going to London again and try to get other visas.
29/06/2006
Hi all,
I am back with some fresh news.
I went to London on 27th June to get the schengen visa and visit some Middle East countries embassies to discuss about visa. French embassy refuses my multi entrince 6 month visa. They just gave me 15 day visa til end of July, which is not suitable for me. I'll apply again to get a transit visa. For that, I have to buy the Brindisi-Igumenitsa ticket in advance to proof them that I really dont want to imigrate to France for the cheese or wine, I just want to pass France to go to Italy.
Bahraini embassy told that I need a NOC (No Oblocation Certificate). Which is like a invitation from a hotel in Bahrain. So, I have to get in touch with a hotel in Bahrain soon and explain my situation.
S.Arabia was closed and told me to come back in the morning.
Lebanon embassy said that it will take up to 3 month if I apply from UK. I've called Lebanese embassy in Turkey and they said that they can issue in a day if I bring the relevand documents. Also I've called Syrian Embassy in Turkey and they told the same.
Got to go now for football..
I'll back soon with new infos!! Keep visiting!
