KUWAIT DAY 108 & 109 29-3-23 490km

BAHRAIN TO KUWAIT   

Departed at 6am and the Bahrainian Police would not stamp me out on my CDP, they didn't know what to do and I explained to them just stamp the gad dang thing and sign it, but he refused. So I left. 

Entered Saudi and the Immigration officer offered me some dates and stamped my passport and then I asked him if he could stamp my Carnet which he did willingy and off I went, back on those horrible Saudi roads. Drove for hours and then crossed the border again , anothe Saudi stamp and into Kuwait. Got a free Visa on arrival , took my fingerprints and didn't have to take out insurance, so it cost nothing to enter and it was quick, well not like their are tourists line up to come see it. I wish they had of told me.

As I entered the city my chain came off. I coasted into a Mall and stopped in some shade and stripped down and got the tools out and started the grim task. While I was munching on some chips a guy in a Bugatti  called me over and warned me not to eat or drink , I wasn't  even thinking about Ramadan as one normally does. He said in Kuwait they will cuff you immediately,  they take this stuff seriously over here, he was very nice about it.

Next minute a guy pulls over and offers some help and knows the BMW guys, phones them and asks if they will stay open late till we arrive. I Followed him for a short while and the chain came off again. So I parked it on a sidewalk and went with Dragon in his Landcruiser to the dealer and got a sprocket. The traffic is horrendous in this place, anyhow he got me back and I wrenched on it and got er done.

Got to my hotel and headed out to eat.

KUWAIT       DAY 108   30-3-23. 

Went back to BMW and got a new chain and front sprocket. There was a chap in front of me on a bike as I pulled in and he got off his bike and asked if I had come from SA. I was taken aback, he said I can see by the bike and then checked my number plate. He had been to Cape Town years ago, so I think he's a custo.er and we yak and yak and then he says come up for some coffee. Turns out he's the owner, he sits me down open up some jars of dried fig and another one with nuts and apolgises that he can't eat being a Muslim. Then he open the draw and gives me a BMW watch and cap. 

They washed my bike and $370 poorer I was out of there. Drove downtown but the traffic is just jammed everywhere and rode along the coast back to the hotel and am just waiting for the sun to set so I can eat again.

BAHRAIN DAY106 28-3-23 645km.

QATAR TO BAHRAIN 

An early 7am departure for the long ride, only to run out of petrol on the highway thirty minutes later. Threw out my thumb and a guy stopped and took me to the petrol station and brought me back and was gone within a half an hour. Fuel is so cheap here , just idiotic.

Border was quick and easy and then in Saudi the roads are are the worst of all the Gulf States. Then entered Bahrain, had to use CDP and pay insurance  but was fairly quick through both borders. Then you cross a long bridge to the Island. Went straight down to the Grand Prix track and then back up to Ginger apartament. 

Went downtown to look at the buildings and scrounge for some food, being Ramadan a lot of places are closed and was warned not to eat in public, as they take it very seriously and you will get locked up until the end of Ramadan.

While riding around a guy flagged me down, a biker and invited me to go on a night ride with the club, which I gladly acceted. Then discovered Martin had just entered Bahrain soI stopped by his place and we both joined the group ride down to the most southerly tip of the Island. We then headed back into town and had dinner at an Open air restaurant where you ride your bike into the restaurant and park. The food was real good and the guys were a great bunch, mainly from India.

Simon the group leader took me back to my digs and by then it was 11:30pm !

    RAMADAN MASS

QATAR DAY 104 26-3-23 734km. 9hrs.

DUBAI to QATAR 

Had a great stay with the supehost Andreas  who showed me around town and had some late nights over a few beers ąnd much laughter. Andreas left for Oman on Saturday and I left Sunday early for Qatar, they don't  lock their houses here so didn't  have to remember to do that, place is so safe and free of crime it's amazing. 

The roads are 8 lanes either direction and top class and once out of the city was 4 lanes either way to Saudi and street lights the eentire 480km. Evrything is massive here and clean and looks all new and they are constructing buildings and bridges everywhere and done quickly, they don't  dicker around. 

Border crossings very easy and quick , don't  even need to leave your car. Paid $10 to exit UAE, I already have Saudi visa,  bike insurance was $34 and no TIP. Then 200km later exited Saudi into Qatar. Again quick and easy, visa on arrival for free and $ 8 insurance. They have dogs to sniff you out and they checked all my luggage. They only have one land border to enter in, then it was another 100km to Doha. At the Royal Mirage hotel ,nice clean room near everything. It is Ramadan so during the day all the small shops are closed and not very active till after sunset. They are all out at night till 2am, Ramadan sure changes things. Walked down to Waquif Souk where it all happens, a huge Market area with coffee shops and places to eat and hang out with your men friends.

DOHA SOUK AND BUILDINGS ALONG THE SHORELINE

    The underground subway to the trains.

    REFLECTIONS  

    Souk Waqif. Place is spotless, everywhere is paved in granitem and marble and no graffiti or garbage anywhere.