Diary & Travel Reports by Simon Milward

10.1.00 Libya visa problem Mon, 10 Jan 2000 16:39:45 GMT From: simon @ millennium-ride.com To: sponsors @ millennium-ride.com		99/12/26 I'm outa here 99/12/26 Tracker info 99/12/23 Yes I'm still alive ... 99/10/ Hello Sponsors 99/09/23 Millennium Motorcycle emerges as a Sponsor Monster 99/09/06 Medical 99/07/28 Engine swopping 99/07/17 Tea-table survival & Gambia 99/07/11 Note to Sponsors with pin badge 99/06/12 Bike moves & Budget 99/05/04 things fall into place 99/04/10 TV and the first jabs
Hi Everyone    [49kB 564x400] [523kB 1772x1256] Buying lunch in Kairouan, Tunisia Well I’m holed up in Tunis after riding the (500km to the border with Libya and back. London was wrong visas must be got in your own country, which alone took 4 hours to establish. Even a bribe did not work. My application went in last week. If it proves impossible I will have to go to Egypt on the boat via Italy or Mlalta. But I am getting very frustrated at having to spend longer and longer in my first non European country; [14kB 281x400] [427kB 1269x1772] Tunis Mosque    The ride to Marseilles was pretty cold, but here it is fine for us north Europeans, though the Tunisians are complaining. On New Years night I had bread and cheese on a deserted campsite in Aux en Provence before seeing the local show which consisted of giant flies (people on stilts and in special costumes) accompanied by fireworks and moody music.    [49kB 600x400] [508kB 1772x1182] BEDROOM OF PRINCESS [50kB 593x400] [520kB 1772x1195] Carthage, Tunisia Tunisia is rich in history and my forced stopover has given me the chance to visit Carthage and get to know Tunisian culture. I managed to resist the high pressure carpet sell though the stories of touring bikers strapping the great tapis on the back of their bikes are well-known. My Arabic is still very poor though my French is getting good exceris. Being the second language of the country due to French colonization in the 18th century.    [31kB 600x357] [397kB 1772x1234] MY TUNISIAN HOST FAMILY A kind family has given me free use of an apartment here in Hammam Chatt, 20km south of Tunis. For cheap good lodging contact Mohammed Ziadia, 00 216 1 430792, 1 rue de la Tolerance, 1164 Hammam Chatt, Tunisia. His family has been feeding me too. Ramadan, the Muslim New Year, is now over, and New Years Day, La Fete de Aid, was postponed for a day because the moon was in the wrong position (a very genuine approach to New Year isn’t it?). But it caused some delay to the visa, which has been as frustrating as trying to get the telephone system to function - Belgacom customers you don’t know how good you have got it. I also managed to block my mobile phone. Please no-one try to call me if you have the number. [35kB 600x400] [293kB 1772x1172] The only Tunisian motorcycles :-)    The bike is causing much interest,and I added a mobile light and air compressor to the list of gadgets which can run of the super Red Top 25 Batteries from DMS. The chain has developed a severe tight sport (even with the Scottoiler doing its stuff all over the place) so I remounted it at the front. The Araldite glue was very useful in repairing the Simpson Detour headlight mount and my Dane boots (kindly donated by Lloyd Lifestyle) have blown a buckle already. But at least my bowels are getting used to the new set of bacteria. Thanks for the messages of encouragement that are not easy to reply to given the phone lines problem.

[53kB 400x546] [588kB 1297x1772] Hammam Echatt, Tunisia, Tabaccopipe, Egyptian tabacco. Women do not go to these cafes. Tabacco called "Jurac"

[34kB 600x400] [376kB 1772x1202] Samir, Riadh and Simon (f.l.) Tunisian Internet-Friends

Democracy as well as religion are very different to that in Europe - one reason why in a minute I am going to show my friends Samir and Riadh how to use the internet.

The tracker system is up and running after one or two earth wire problems (have you checked it out yet?).

Next email update hopefully from Egypt.

Happy New Year.

Simon (desparate to get back on the road)

www.millennium-ride.com