Syria , on the other , unpredictable from Iran with additional ferry crossings . Less likely is the ferry crossing from Sudan , not common for many travellers . Saudi Arabia also made it hard to travel through the peninsula , including countries like the United Arab Emirates or Oman through to Bahrain or Kuwait .
We ’ d reached the region in what was their winter , perfect for Europeans , it also meant the Dakar rally was on . The bridge to Bahrain was also opened to motorcycles . It seemed the whole Gulf had been waiting for us .
Departing the ferry in Sharjah it seemed everything around us was vastly different . Compared to Iran we were faced with many taxes and duties being added to costs in the port , driving prices up well beyond that from where we had just come . It added to the experience as we were to find on this leg of our ride as we became stuck .
Arabic style seems to be specific and although for foreigners it can be incomprehensible even inaccessible , the truth is quite different .
The hospitality , openness , and selflessness of the people you meet is surprising . As we were invited to the house for a meal we became , for a while , a part of the family swelling the numerous members by two . Their culture , vastly different through tradition , habits , values , and social behaviours , did not prevent us from spending time together . Mutual respect making us feel safe , the people very sympathetic .
Everywhere we went our hosts would share everything with us , in this part of the world it is considered natural , although it made us feel a little uncomfortable . Everything was shared , even when we went to pay for the fuel bill , we ’ d find it already taken care of . Amongst other bikers this often led to arguments as they discussed who would have the honour of paying , speaking in Arabic
TRAVERSE 15