Fashion victims

How you doin'?

You like new me? I look so gorgeous with my new sunglasses, suit and bike. Don't you agree? All wave hands in the air who agrees! That's right Brüno, the new king has arrived!

I'm very glad to announce it that we've got our (bikers) fashion sponsor! As I said last time, we had a talk with one of biggest bike gear retailers in Croatia, from Čakovec "Moto oprema AMD" and we came through with a deal. So, what was going on at all last weekend? Let's see...

Biker co-fellow mr. Damir (store owner) heard our story and what have we prepared for after the trip. He has offered his best and finest, HELD brand of clothing. Unbelievability helpful of him to assist us while trying on all kind of jackets and pants. My girlfriend "movie maker" Monika was laughing all the time, as she has finally realised how do I feel when I wait for her while she tries on every single shirt when in H&M. Damn that H&M!

But Josip was so funny... he tried at least 5-6 excelent jackets, Gore-tex, 2 layers, 3 layers, windproof, waterproof, sandproof, bulletproof, but nothing was good enough to please his fashion sense. "It just doesn't fit my sporty biker look, what would people say??" Haha :D

In the end, near closing time, Josip found his match! A jacket so sporty, so adventureous, so chic...

We arranged with mr. Damir for the gear to arrive as soon as possible, to break in the stuff. And of course to make photo shoots with our bikes in our oh-so-chic-yet-rugged HELD gear.

It's been a bussy week, as we went to Iranian cultural centre (ICC), here in Zagreb, to spread the word about our trip and to gather as much information about Iran. It feels sometimes we'll gather more information before the trip than on it :D and I'm not joking!

Helpful and charming mr. Reza, Sandra and Damir from ICC gave us books, pamphlets, maps, DVD.. you name it. Our first encounter with iranian hospitality :)

This weekend, Josip&me are going to pay a visit to our buddy GPS Marko, to get some advice about maps and device with a map. Hm, what I just said?!

And one more thing... mr. Reza gave us a lead who should we contact next and we already arranged a meeting next week. You'll see what ;) Be patient.

pitcured: your patient role model

Something's going on...

Gidday all!

Lot's of stuff happening last week, new moments with sponsors, new contacts, documents, new oil and most important, our first donation!
Yipeee-ki-yay m******!

Pictured: feelings for this week

So, the verdict with Rev'it clothing is in, and apparently they don't like us enough to sponsor us. Maybe it's our profile pictures, maybe it's because they don't have blue pants+jacket combo I specifically required and maybe, just maybe... they're just jealous they're not going themselves :P Must be it!

So, we got a word from a second potential sponsor, one of biggest biker gear retailers in Croatia. We're going there for a meeting next week, so I won't say anything about them yet. Keep yer feet fingers crossed! Both of them.

Iranian cultural society in Zagreb has shown great interest in our plan and the plan is to meet them sometime this week. Can't wait to talk to them, because they could be the key to our plan in showing croatian culture in Iran and vice-versa when we get back.

Speaking of, sooo many people got prejudice about our trip and Iran. Can't belive how much little information is known here about, and what is known almost everyone think's it's extremely dangerous... hahaha. I laugh at the face of danger!

No, really, we want to show to every one of them how cool (no, not literary because much of the trip is a desert with 35°C+) is Iran. At least, that's what Josip & me are thinking.

We got the first of 3 most important documents! International driving licences! Woo-hoo!!!

International driving licence is a document obligatory in most of countries out of Europe (except China, where you gotta take a chinese licence test. In Chinese, haha). But why is it sooo big?! Where will we put it?? But wait, you haven't seen Carnet yet. It's the size of Orbis Romanus. You'll see.
But, 1 down, 2 to go (Carnet and visa).

Also, we did our first real motorcycle mechanic work. It's was hilarious, haha..

Oil change on two bikes = 5 hours

Taking down BMW oil filter = 2 hours

Tools = 14wrench, pointy old screwdriver & hammer. Hammer was an essential tool :D

Btw. the new oil was pink (?!?)

And the last, but most important, our first donation came from Ćoso, a fellow V-Strom biker. He sacrified, taken bread from his family's mouth, just to help me in my quest for glory in Iran. Bless you Ćoso, your name will be written in stars!

btw. the donation was a balacava (100% cotton, niiiice) and heat pads for -°C weather.

Heat pads in summer Iran?!

HEAT PADS !?

Bless you Ćoso, you joker! :D

Maps

Gidday!

For those who want a better insight in the planed route for Iran, here's something interactive!

View Larger Map

The planned route is not very precise, as Google Maps has it's limitations. For instance, It won't route over Turkey-Iran border :D must be some political issue in google's mind. The exact roads we'll take will be decided the night before, as true adventurers do ;)

But really, our first sponsor, my riding buddy Santa will provide us with GPS units (note to myself, install 12V plug and go to Santa for GPS units) mixed with some maps. By the way, he's a GPS and map wizzard, and we're depending on his magic to insert maps to GPS units, even if those map's don't exist - like those of Iran, detailed at least.

And of course, because I just don't like depending on those GPS gadgets (remind me to share a story about being lost WITH a GPS, and finding way back on instinct) we're bringing good ol' fashioned paper maps. Ok, this one is made of plastic, but ... hm... paper maps are also not what they used to be :( But it'll still warm my old

fashioned heart when that damn GPS breaks and looses it's mind.

This blasted beast guided us last year.

Apage, Satanas!

First obstacles

The planned date for take off was 18.6 (June), but talking to Josip, we are very keen to move lift off to an earlier date (2-3 weeks earlier). Because of the heat, my god, THE HEAT!

noooo, not this Heat! I can't see a reason why would Pacino and De Niro influence our trip?! Ok, maybe if they would invite Josip and me to join them on Cannes festival, where we would party all the time. Lying on a yacht in the sun of french riviera, sipping martinis with Katy Perry and...

OK, reality check!!

I mean THIS HEAT!

The funny thing is, our current gear for riding is constisted mostly of black (even underwear!) - the-cool-bikers color. A veeeery baaaad choice for the desert and +40°C.

Currently we're in negotiations with one motorcycle gear company, for some kind of sponsorship. As far as I see it, we'll be Oompa-Loompa happy if we even receive white summer gloves :D

I said we're negotiating with sponsors, which means we don't have any of them. We don't want just to take something from them, as we want to give something back - a great story, photos, calendars, t-shirts, commercials... something that will make them pride they had something of theirs on the trip.

So, to make sponsors to see our picture, our friend, a great graphics designer Marko, has decided to help us and make a logo, pamphlets, maybe even design for t-shirts and all those little things we can make and take with us on the trip.

It would be supercool if we left little mementos to our hosts and good people we meet on the trip, it's something you can't buy, unique and you remember it.

@Marko, if you read this, we need the logo and pamphlet pronto! :D

Another bugger that is on our mind lately is carnet d'passage, that is obligatory for entering Iran. It's pice of document that guarantees that you won't sell your vehicle in entering country. What an outlandish idea, hahaha.. as I would sell my Strom in Iran? It's not even legal for Iranians to drive it. I wouldn't sell it in Croatia or anywhere! But, laws are laws and we have to get Carnet.

Did I tell you the funny part? It's needed only 1700$ to get the Carnet. What a bargain. Right now, we have 0,00$ on our fund, hahaha..

Maybe we should call this guy for help?

"Hello Bing? How's the brother? Still in jail? Listen, do you have any slightly used carnets d'passage to sell? Yes? 1$?! A bargain."

First meeting

Yay!!Yesterday Josip & me had a first real pow-wow. It was a shakedown of things done so far, what is to be done in next few weeks and who is to blame why we haven't got any sponsors yet :D

Josip has launched several e-mails to potential sponsors few weeks ago. And we got word back from our beloved Rev'it! woohoo! Of course, it was out of the question that we got such a major brand as sponsor this early into the preparation. But dear mrs. Peggy from Rev'it gave us excelent questions in which direction we should focus our search.

Firstly, we must provide some media attention. Luckly, I've got friend of a friend in one major motorcycle magazine and our story will be published without doubt. But our trip is such an oddity in croatian bike world, they would publish it regardless ;)

Secondly, our blog is in motion so I'll try to keep every avid reader up to speed!

pictured: exhibit A -> Avid Reader of MotoPersia

Thirdly, our tour plan is complete to almost every detail. Bear in mind we don't plan trips to details :D but that's on purpose, because the trip would lose the adventurous appeal to us. The unknown is always more interesting.

Of course, the visas, important local customs and major sites/cities we have to see are already written in the plan, but everything in between will be left for us to learn and listen for advice from locals. They know the best, they're living there after all!

pictured: us, after following locals advice on lodging

And last, but almost most important idea that Mrs. Peggy gave us is charity! Yes! Definitely!

Josip had a great idea on getting a sponsorship from his company (IT & computers), a small notebook, for orphan kids or a kindergarten. I can just imagine what joy it would be for them! Heck, even I would be ecstatic if someone gave me a computer :D

It's important to give back and at least make a positive impression on people there. Not for us, but for them to see some small & lost country in middle of eastern Europe knows of Iran and wants to make bonds.

We'll give it some time to find who needs a gift like that and they'll become our charity goal.

Done so far:

+tour plan

+expenses plan

+visa application (Iranian agency said that we'll have to contact them in April, but it would be no problem for us getting it)

+our first (and so far only) sponsor will provide us with GPS navigation.

+90% of riding gear (Josip needs better jacket and me some better pants - although my boots leak water and my thumb is sticking from gloves, but that's part of our "bum" look :)

Will do in next weeks:

- our friend designer will finish fancy brochure for attracting sponsors - after that we'll make a major offensive on getting them.

- mount MegaTube on my V-Strom (www.thetooltube.com/MegaTube.html)

- change (and learn in the process) how to change oil on V-Strom. How hard can it be?

- Josip has to rise his handlebars, or risks becoming Quasimodo the Hunchback after a week of riding.

- arrange receivers and gift for our charity goal.

new tasks will remain our little secret for now ;)

'till soon,

adios!

Cultural differences

Bradt's guide for Iran seems like a very dull book. No pictures, no diagrams, no schematics, no pictograms and definitely no love guides how-to-pickup Iranian women. BUT, it does have one tiny little and remarkable thing. Inside information!

So far, I'm loving this book! It's a hard sell at first, as I'm used to DK's Top 10 guides, which are quite the opposite of Bradt guides. Colorful to the extreme, beautifully made and full of usual tourist crap which you see in every other guide.

Anyways, practical information inside ranges from red tape on getting the visa and what colour your clothes should be in particular month (regarding weather, cultural and religious aspect) to detailed explanation of toilet use (my favourite part!). I think I'll have a big scare once we set feet/wheels in Iran.. not from horror Tehran traffic, desert scorpions or various potential diseases.. but from THIS!

Whoooooaaaa!!!

Knowlege is the power!

The paper knowledge has arrived!

Fresh from the post office, but they were a bit stale in the book shop. Of course I bought used books, because we're tight on our budget and even a single cent can sometimes mean a matter of life and death! That's why our beloved sponsors (yes, you! :) will help us, like an umbrella-a-a-a-o-o-o or a parachute when we fall :D

Of course, our sponsors have yet to be found and until then we're currently lost like gorillas in the mist.

Pictured:

Josip on the right, me on the left. Sponsors, save us!

Anyways, until then knowledge of our destinations will be our power! After reading these awesome guides, we should get a better insight in what Iran and Armenia have to offer. Will it be cultural treasures of Persepolis that will occupy our attention? Or Armenian apricots? We'll let you know as soon as we find some weird detail which these books surely have (at least that's what the reviews said). I'll be the judge of that! MuahahaHHAha.....

Stay fresh!