Here are some (older) pictures:
So ... if you have anyone who has a brother who has a neighbour who's cousin wants the bike, tell them to drop me a message, or leave a comment with some contact information.
dan.barbus resides at gmail.com.
Showing posts with label motorbike. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motorbike. Show all posts
Friday, April 10
Selling Bike for Peanuts
I'll be selling my bike these days. It's an orange 1996 Yamaha DragStar, at 400cc. Since I only have two weeks to get rid of it, it will go for peanuts.
Here are some (older) pictures:
So ... if you have anyone who has a brother who has a neighbour who's cousin wants the bike, tell them to drop me a message, or leave a comment with some contact information.
dan.barbus resides at gmail.com.
Here are some (older) pictures:
So ... if you have anyone who has a brother who has a neighbour who's cousin wants the bike, tell them to drop me a message, or leave a comment with some contact information.
dan.barbus resides at gmail.com.
Friday, January 4
there goes a new camera
I had been planning to get a Nikon d80, for some time now. Since it's not quite cheap, I had it planned as "the big expense" for this month, and was seeing it as a new relaunch into photography (as my interest has faded a bit since I've been having problems with my current camera setup).
Either way, it won't happen, at least not this month:
Yesterday morning, while the tarmac was wet from the rain, I managed a spectacular breaking on my motorbike, sliding on the back-wheel (around 4 metres or so), followed by laying the bike down on the right side and me close to doing a follow-up slide, on my protective gear)*. Thankfully all the incoming traffic stopped and no cars hit me, but my expenses this month will be divided between holiday in Bruxelles (yeah, that still stands :D) and fixing my bike (that is, not "Bruxelles and getting a new camera").
Then again, for getting a camera, there's always the next month ... even though I was hoping to get a new computer. I'll have to choose, I guess.
* - Since I know I'll be asked, I didn't injure myself. I believe I pulled a muscle though when lifting the bike back up (it didn't hurt then, but' it was a bit uncomfortable this morning). Also, regarding technical details, the fault was that of a driver that started cutting my lane coming in from a side-road (I had priority). He was twenty metres in front of me and kept advancing slowly into my lane while looking at the cars coming from the other direction.
Whose fault it was, hardly matters though, especially as I could have gone a little slower (considering the tarmac was wet) but don't tell anyone that ;).
Either way, it won't happen, at least not this month:
Yesterday morning, while the tarmac was wet from the rain, I managed a spectacular breaking on my motorbike, sliding on the back-wheel (around 4 metres or so), followed by laying the bike down on the right side and me close to doing a follow-up slide, on my protective gear)*. Thankfully all the incoming traffic stopped and no cars hit me, but my expenses this month will be divided between holiday in Bruxelles (yeah, that still stands :D) and fixing my bike (that is, not "Bruxelles and getting a new camera").
Then again, for getting a camera, there's always the next month ... even though I was hoping to get a new computer. I'll have to choose, I guess.
* - Since I know I'll be asked, I didn't injure myself. I believe I pulled a muscle though when lifting the bike back up (it didn't hurt then, but' it was a bit uncomfortable this morning). Also, regarding technical details, the fault was that of a driver that started cutting my lane coming in from a side-road (I had priority). He was twenty metres in front of me and kept advancing slowly into my lane while looking at the cars coming from the other direction.
Whose fault it was, hardly matters though, especially as I could have gone a little slower (considering the tarmac was wet) but don't tell anyone that ;).
Sunday, December 30
a hot chocolate and a vegetable soup
I had a hot chocolate and a vegetable soup today ... on Trodos peak ( in Trodos mountains :) ). Me, N and D left Limassol around nine AM, and arrived there around half past ten, half frozen (all three of us) and searching for a bathroom (only me).
It was a perfect day for riding, but (as I usually do) I underestimated the cold, so by the time I finished my hot chocolate I was feeling my hands again, and by the time I finished the soup I was almost a warm-blooded creature.
Among the highlights (so to speak):
In other news (that is, not related to the vegetable soup at all), this evening I hope I'll get around to opening my bike apart as my speedometer is broken and I want to have a look at it.
It was a perfect day for riding, but (as I usually do) I underestimated the cold, so by the time I finished my hot chocolate I was feeling my hands again, and by the time I finished the soup I was almost a warm-blooded creature.
Among the highlights (so to speak):
- the day was perfect for riding (I know I already said that, but it really was a perfect day for riding)
- there's no running water in the toilets at the sky renting centre on top of Trodos; instead, the pipes (and the water inside) are frozen solid
- There's no snow; well ... there was a one-by-one metre patch of snow, but altogether too little to ski on
- did I mention if was a perfect day for riding? (well ... it was!)
In other news (that is, not related to the vegetable soup at all), this evening I hope I'll get around to opening my bike apart as my speedometer is broken and I want to have a look at it.
Tuesday, October 16
Sea View, from the Top of Alanya Castle, Turkey
Camera: NIKON D50
Timestamp: Sun Sep 30 14:41:35 2007
Shutter: 1/400 s
Aperture: F10
ISO speed: 800
Focal length: 18.0 mm
Focal length in 35mm equivalent: 27.0 mm
Lens: 18-55mm F3.5-5.6
EXIF data read by Exiv2 0.12
Postprocessing done with the GIMP
Monday, October 15
Surrounded by Infinity
Camera: NIKON D50
Timestamp: Sun Sep 30 14:36:48 2007
Shutter: 1/400 s
Aperture: F10
ISO speed: 800
Focal length: 38.0 mm
Focal length in 35mm equivalent: 57.0 mm
Lens: 18-55mm F3.5-5.6
EXIF data read by Exiv2 0.12
Postprocessing done with the GIMP
Friday, October 12
On top of Alanya Castle, Turkey
Camera: NIKON D50
Timestamp: Sun Sep 30 14:35:49 2007
Shutter: 1/320 s
Aperture: F9
ISO speed: 800
Focal length: 20.0 mm
Focal length in 35mm equivalent: 30.0 mm
Lens: 18-55mm F3.5-5.6
EXIF data read by Exiv2 0.12
Postprocessing done with the GIMP
Saturday, October 6
paradise
View from the terrace, at the motel me and Si stayed, before boarding the ferry to return to Cyprus.
Friday, October 5
Thursday, October 4
the end
Well ... in the end I managed to sleep at the Bone Club Hotel. Si made a scandal, then I went back, and they were all apologies and smiles; I almost felt sorry for posting about them on my blog, but the following morning they got us out of bed at nine o'clock in the morning to make sure we would pay!
How bad-mannered can you get?!?
Either way! The following day we visited Dim Cave and the Alanya Castle, then left for Tasucu, for the ferry. We had misjudged the distance and the road to Tasucu, so we arrived there around eleven PM, much too late to get on the ferry.
We spent the night in a small gulf by the sea, a piece of heaven, a few kilometres out of Tasucu and arrived back in Cyprus on the morning of the second of October.
Where does that leave us?
I'm at my new job now, reading documentation on GSM networks all day, my bike is in need of a repair shop (I'll see to that tomorrow), and Si is going to office also.
I stil haven't finished unpacking and I'll keep posting pictures for a week or two, I guess.
How bad-mannered can you get?!?
Either way! The following day we visited Dim Cave and the Alanya Castle, then left for Tasucu, for the ferry. We had misjudged the distance and the road to Tasucu, so we arrived there around eleven PM, much too late to get on the ferry.
We spent the night in a small gulf by the sea, a piece of heaven, a few kilometres out of Tasucu and arrived back in Cyprus on the morning of the second of October.
Where does that leave us?
I'm at my new job now, reading documentation on GSM networks all day, my bike is in need of a repair shop (I'll see to that tomorrow), and Si is going to office also.
I stil haven't finished unpacking and I'll keep posting pictures for a week or two, I guess.
Wednesday, October 3
Rohia Monastery, Maramures, Romania
Camera: NIKON D50
Timestamp: Sun Sep 16 18:50:46 2007
Shutter: 1/500 s
Aperture: F4.2
ISO speed: 200
Focal length: 26.0 mm
Focal length in 35mm equivalent: 39.0 mm
Lens: 18-55mm F3.5-5.6
EXIF data read by Exiv2 0.12
Saturday, September 29
about being thrown out ... thrice (aka, the Bone Club Hotel)
I've been to the entrance to Bone Club Hotel three times now.
The first time, I told myself that the security guy was tired; He simply didn't let me get close to reception no matter what I did. It took me half an hour to convince him that I HAD to get to reception to ask one question.
The second time was today. I met the day shift (different people, some of the smiling) and I managed to leave a hand-written message for whenever Si arrived (yes, they confirmed she checked in).
Now, I've simply been thrown out, in a polite fashion-of course. WTF is this?!? Guys, I had a pre-payed reservation there. Here's a hint: if you throw out your paying customers, they'll stop comming to you. More than that, they'll put stories on the internet about you; true stories, about how you throw customers out, for no reason at all.
Maybe it was a matter of communication. Maybe they didn't like my look? But WTF?!? I was supposed to sleep there tonight, and instead wasn't even offered a place to wait for Si.
My friends (and casual readers, and people who reached this post by mistake, and all the internet): don't go to bone club hotel! You can't get in unless you speak Russian (I've checked with English, German, Italian and Romanian). Once you do get in*, you'll be ... err ... politely asked to go away - yes, even when you have a reservation (Es tut mir leid, aber jetzt mussen leider Gehen!).
* - To get in, simply stop people as they pass in front of the hotel, ask them if they speak German, English or Italian, then ask them to translate to the Turkish-Russian Security guy that you must (as in any normal hotel) speak to reception.
The first time, I told myself that the security guy was tired; He simply didn't let me get close to reception no matter what I did. It took me half an hour to convince him that I HAD to get to reception to ask one question.
The second time was today. I met the day shift (different people, some of the smiling) and I managed to leave a hand-written message for whenever Si arrived (yes, they confirmed she checked in).
Now, I've simply been thrown out, in a polite fashion-of course. WTF is this?!? Guys, I had a pre-payed reservation there. Here's a hint: if you throw out your paying customers, they'll stop comming to you. More than that, they'll put stories on the internet about you; true stories, about how you throw customers out, for no reason at all.
Maybe it was a matter of communication. Maybe they didn't like my look? But WTF?!? I was supposed to sleep there tonight, and instead wasn't even offered a place to wait for Si.
My friends (and casual readers, and people who reached this post by mistake, and all the internet): don't go to bone club hotel! You can't get in unless you speak Russian (I've checked with English, German, Italian and Romanian). Once you do get in*, you'll be ... err ... politely asked to go away - yes, even when you have a reservation (Es tut mir leid, aber jetzt mussen leider Gehen!).
* - To get in, simply stop people as they pass in front of the hotel, ask them if they speak German, English or Italian, then ask them to translate to the Turkish-Russian Security guy that you must (as in any normal hotel) speak to reception.
Thursday, September 27
priorities
So ... yeah ... it's a quarter to twelve AM (almost Friday), and I just got to Alanya.
I need to find some place to sleep, need to find Si (stil not sure if she was coming over today or tomorrow) and I desperately need a shower or three, and what do I do?
Enter the first internet cafe, to check if any new comments appeared on my pictures on flickr, of course!
Damn priorities!
I need to find some place to sleep, need to find Si (stil not sure if she was coming over today or tomorrow) and I desperately need a shower or three, and what do I do?
Enter the first internet cafe, to check if any new comments appeared on my pictures on flickr, of course!
Damn priorities!
Saturday, September 22
update
Well ... the Kami of the Ethernetz hasn't smiled down on me in a while: I wasn't able to post anything lately (no L., I didn't die - sorry about that!).
I've reached halfway on my journey (so to speak): I'm in Bistriţa. I've met my friends and today evening we're having a small party (my official reason for the trip), and in two days I'll be on the road again, back to Cyprus.
I can't wait :D
I've reached halfway on my journey (so to speak): I'm in Bistriţa. I've met my friends and today evening we're having a small party (my official reason for the trip), and in two days I'll be on the road again, back to Cyprus.
I can't wait :D
Tuesday, September 11
at home
Well ... after 1900+ km and four days on the road, I'm in Bucharest, safe and (not mentally) sound. R and D picked me from the border at Giurgiu and lead me through Bucharest.
On the road I kept a logbook of random impressions. I will try to post some of them in the following days, but (again) I'm not sure when that will be: tomorrow we're going through the country for a few days.
On the road I kept a logbook of random impressions. I will try to post some of them in the following days, but (again) I'm not sure when that will be: tomorrow we're going through the country for a few days.
Sunday, September 9
random impressions
Well ... I don't have time to stay ... I still have two hours of light to travel through ... or something like that ...
I will post some more soon, but for now, here are some random impressions:
First, there was a definite lack of burning bushes in both dirrections, so I chose for myself: I picked the trucks road (the other one was mountain road, full of holes and curves).
The Customs in Tasucu is full of frogs. I mean, the grass in front of the cutoms office is, and they all come out after dark.
There's something that the Turkish people beat the Cypriot people at, hands-down: putting garlic into food; I mean ... the Turks do, the Cypriots, don't. Cypriots should learn!
The Turks answer the phone by saying
Turkish hospitality rules. Especially since they don't do it to sell you stuff. I was invited for tea at a gas-station in the middle of nowhere, just to take a break ... well ... a tea and sign-language conversation :)
The worst decision for this trip was getting the saddlebags I got. They were held by crappy zippers (Zippers for Pete's sake!). On a bump (or another) last night, I lost the right-hand-side saddlebag as the zipper died peacefully and so went all my tools to tool heaven (I don't even have a key).
As a result, I moved all the spares in the other saddlebag into my backpack and ditched the bag: it was just breaking my balance.
Crappy saddlebags!
I will post some more soon, but for now, here are some random impressions:
First, there was a definite lack of burning bushes in both dirrections, so I chose for myself: I picked the trucks road (the other one was mountain road, full of holes and curves).
The Customs in Tasucu is full of frogs. I mean, the grass in front of the cutoms office is, and they all come out after dark.
There's something that the Turkish people beat the Cypriot people at, hands-down: putting garlic into food; I mean ... the Turks do, the Cypriots, don't. Cypriots should learn!
What would you like as a main course, sir?(I had picked four kinds of salad, bread, butter and watermellon).
I'ma vegetarian - this is my main course
The Turks answer the phone by saying
Efendi?
Turkish hospitality rules. Especially since they don't do it to sell you stuff. I was invited for tea at a gas-station in the middle of nowhere, just to take a break ... well ... a tea and sign-language conversation :)
The worst decision for this trip was getting the saddlebags I got. They were held by crappy zippers (Zippers for Pete's sake!). On a bump (or another) last night, I lost the right-hand-side saddlebag as the zipper died peacefully and so went all my tools to tool heaven (I don't even have a key).
As a result, I moved all the spares in the other saddlebag into my backpack and ditched the bag: it was just breaking my balance.
Crappy saddlebags!
Saturday, September 8
In customs
I'm ın Customs. Some people are carpenters, some are singers, or computer programmers, or insurance agents; I'm in customs.
This is what I do, and I'm happy with it.
I've been in customs, for three hours and ten minutes (and 55...56...57 seconds), but who's counting, right?
I mean ... not me!
We arrived in Tasucu around six, then my whole life changed: we arrived in customs.
I've walked to and fro, to get a stamp on the passport, then to get a visa (I thought they were the same thing, but you learn something new every day), then to pay an 18YTL tax on the motorbike (it might have been a road-tax, or a processing tax, or a "your bike is orange" tax - I'm not sure, I don't speak the language).
Now, I'm waiting for the guy who ran away with my passport and motorbike registration to come back, hopefully with a new insurance.
I can't blame them (they're solving my insurance problem and I don't see anything wrong with that).
One more thing: on the ferry, I had a nice conversation with a 30-years-of-experience truck driver.
The conversation was interesting, in that he didn't speak English (nor Romanian, Italian or German for that matter), and I didn't speak Turkish.
Also, it was interesting as it was translated by Tarik, 19, who for some reason or another got it in his head that he would convert me to Islam, but I digress.
As a result of this conversation, I have a (theoretical for now) new route, that's supposed to be shorter by a couple of hundred kilometers, and have a better road.
I'm in no position to decide though, not until I get a local map, a good night's sleep, something to eat and a divine sign.
A burning bush will do :)
This is what I do, and I'm happy with it.
I've been in customs, for three hours and ten minutes (and 55...56...57 seconds), but who's counting, right?
I mean ... not me!
We arrived in Tasucu around six, then my whole life changed: we arrived in customs.
I've walked to and fro, to get a stamp on the passport, then to get a visa (I thought they were the same thing, but you learn something new every day), then to pay an 18YTL tax on the motorbike (it might have been a road-tax, or a processing tax, or a "your bike is orange" tax - I'm not sure, I don't speak the language).
Now, I'm waiting for the guy who ran away with my passport and motorbike registration to come back, hopefully with a new insurance.
I can't blame them (they're solving my insurance problem and I don't see anything wrong with that).
One more thing: on the ferry, I had a nice conversation with a 30-years-of-experience truck driver.
The conversation was interesting, in that he didn't speak English (nor Romanian, Italian or German for that matter), and I didn't speak Turkish.
Also, it was interesting as it was translated by Tarik, 19, who for some reason or another got it in his head that he would convert me to Islam, but I digress.
As a result of this conversation, I have a (theoretical for now) new route, that's supposed to be shorter by a couple of hundred kilometers, and have a better road.
I'm in no position to decide though, not until I get a local map, a good night's sleep, something to eat and a divine sign.
A burning bush will do :)
Friday, September 7
ferry
"Excuse me sir, is the ferry circulating today?"fifteen minutes later ...
We're stilll waiting for the weather report
"Hi, is the ferry circulating today?"twenty minutes later ...
Please wait ten more minutes sir
"Is the ferry circulating today?"The people are bored here and I get the feeling I made a sensation when I appeared: the only one wearing a jacket, hair standing in all directions, wet T-shirt and all and running from place to place, asking questions.
Please wait ten minutes more
Around fourty minutes later, they stopped paying attention to me; the way I figure, they either got bored, either got discrete, or I didn't to anything interesting enough to keep entertaining.
Either way ...
After I settled down (nothing was happening anywhere around, so I got bord also) there was some agitation and some guy held a long discourse (in Turkish :(), then they all started buying tickets like crazy, so I figured I feel lucky today!
Then, I was pulled aside by the guy I tortured with all my questions, and explained that the boat they're taking, the Express, is a small catamaran, not able to take motorbikes along, but there will be a ferry leavign around 12:30, for Anamur (93Km, according to Google Earth).
I'm set :)
On a side note, I'm in Girne, Northern Cyprus, in a net caffee, leaving in ten minutes, for the port.
On another side note, all of you guys sitting in the office right now, I'm thinking of you while I'm enjoying myself :P
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