We are like this only

So near yet so far but I hope and pray that you get to take her out tomorrow without any further delays. Hope she was taken care of properly during the transit and there aren't any damages to her. Did you get to check her out closely? Did you get to hug her or only got a glimpse from a distance?

When you said "red ruby waiting for me. Boy, was there a tickle in my heart to see her after more than a month??? INDEED yes" you almost sounded like a boy in his early teens talking about his first infatuation. I wouldn't be surprised if you say that you spent the whole night dreaming of her

mabrook alf mabrook!!!!!!!!
the bike has finally and officially landed on indian soil amazing!!!!!

i hope there wernt any under the table works!!!!
well atleast u get to ride from cochin to bangalore
drive safe!!!! cheers
will be eagerly waiting for ur return to jeddah

Route info

Haroon
I see you have bangalore-hassan-mangalore on your route
Bangalore-Hassan Route
The problem with the bangalore hassan highway is that it has a lot of truck traffic as its the major route to the mangalore harbour and wont be much of a experience but a means of getting from Point A to B.Its about 200 kms in total . I would recommend you consider the route to hassan via Mysore( drive through). It will take about 60 kms more as its (Bang-Mys 140 and Mys- Hassan 120kms) but trust me on this, It will be one of the best experience you will have in this trip getting from Point A to B ... Mysore to Hassan is a road with minimum or no traffic and one of the best riding roads in Karnataka.Even some of the NH4 from bangalore to mumbai dont have stretches built like this-Flat out stretches . Then from Hassan to Belur is about 64 kms and its simply too good with long sweeping bends. I have done this stretch number of times and it takes about 3 hrs or a little more to go from Mysore to Belur and a early morning ride would make it tenfold better

From Hassan -Mangalore
I havent been on this stretch in recent times, But the recent updates are that the road to Mangalore via MYSORE-MADIKERI-SULIA-PUTTUR-MANGALORE is the best one of the two routes as Mysore-Madikeri & Puttur-Mangalore roads are freshly laid . Mysore to Mangalore one can do it in 5 hours about 260kms relaxed in a car . By choosing this route ,you might have to let go Belur and cover Madikeri(Tibetian Monestry if interested as its a peaceful place) and go on to Mangalore through one of the best coastal stretches(Only abt 25 kms of bad road is all you get with some potholes, But what awaits you on the other side is simply amazing).If you go to belur and then take the sakleshpur route to Mangalore through the ghats which hasnt been a good stretch for a very long time due to heavy rainfall in that region.I seriously wouldn't recommend it ,as punctures and all will invite trouble in such regions it might turn out to be a nightmare rather than a experience.

Last option which is the best is do Bangalore-Hassan via the Bangalore-Mangalore highway with trucks,some potholes and traffic and then head towards Mysore and go to Mangalore via Madikeri as you can get the best of both routes (Belur and amazing trouble free roads to Mangalore )...PM me if any info needed on this route

Thanks Yaser & Adil. Indeed I had checked her out completely on that day she is absolutely fine.

Thanks Roshan- Have to plan the route once the new schedule is fixed for december.

LATEST UPDATE AS OF TODAY

The damn #$%#$#% strike in the port is well into its third day today and finally the clearing agents association have brought a court stay order and hence the labourers are expected to return to work tomorrow morning(friday). In the meanwhile I went by train to calicut and stayed with my mom and returned back to cochin this evening. I am hoping the inspection & clearance can be completed by about 12:00noon on friday.

NEW CHALLENGE
My timing stinks!
Due to the recent spate of our indians misusing the carnet, the customs have applied the brakes on people departing the country and leaving their vehicles here (for relatives to use/sell!!) during the Carnet period. And since my trip was to begin on 15 Sept, which got delayed & delayed & delayed and I finally decided to postpone the trip to December, but now I have to clear the bike & keep it in a bonded customs warehouse paying rent till my return in december to do my trip. Therefore, I was considering clearing it and then leaving it here in one of the authorized warehouses in cochin itself rather than having the battery re-connected, charged and riding it to bangalore and again disconnecting the battery etc. and putting the bike into storage there till december. Anyway, I will make a final decision on friday after I clear the bike.

haroon bhai

can u ask the customs if i can get the bike down in hyd airport

lesson... better to avoid kerala in situ like yours for importing etc adding to trade unions who might take a premium to (carry) your bike out of customs

no updates

haroon bhai
looks like ur riding ur bike around kerela
waiting for ur call as soon as u land in saudi hehe

HOORAY- NOW MY RED RUBY IS AT HOME IN BANGALORE

On friday, the strike at the seaport was finally called off and by the time we completed the formalities, it was well past 6pm, while customs warehouse closes at 5pm. Anyway the guys there were nice & decided to wait for me to push the bike out of the dusty warehouse. Already the guys working there were in full flow clicking pics and I also got to know that another Keralite from Bahrain had some months back brought in his BMW K1200R & Suzuki Burgman650 scooter on a carnet. I pushed my big bike for about 500mtrs to my clearing agent's office & put the battery for a quick charge. Later I fired up the engine and the first ride on indian soil to my hotel about a km away gave me goosebumps. And surprisingly I had 3 friendly customs officers escorting me to my hotel, one riding pillion with me & two in an accompanying car!!

Shall post the ride from Ernakulam to Bangalore later.

Good, I was waiting to hear this news Haroon. Good Luck on your ride to BLR.

Congrats on getting the bike back on the roads

Congrats bhai and all the best for the rides.

Good to hear that chetta...
As i told you before that my friend saw that Bahrain reg. BMW at TVM...
So you are going to do the trip only in December?
Anyways i will wait for that time...

mabrook alf mabrook

are u getting back tomm
waiting to hear from u
cheers

Haroon.. Good to know that your Bike is Out & Running...
so what about the Carnet period ? are u going to keep it with customs or in Blore.. When are u coming back ??

Hey Yaser..
hope u got my PM..