Even more tricky questions : Travelling around the Middle East & Africa by Motorcycle

[@anvil259]

That was great, I really enjoyed that. Katie was great too....🙂

[@80eightReviews]

Thanks very much Mr.Anvil - I'll let Katie now and yes, she was great! All the best, cheers, Phil.

[@stuart4024]

Remarkable memoirs Philip,not the slightest envious ! Much....

[@80eightReviews]

Morning Stuart, how are you today? Well, there's nothing to be envious about really, but yeah, I'm glad I did those trips then as opposed to waiting for retirement or something. Sadly, it will be a very long time before any dares to travel in that neck of the woods... All the best, have a great weekend, cheers, Phil.

[@jonathantrice7614]

Wonderful. I also like travelling alone, but have never ventured past Europe. I can hardly wait for part 3.

[@80eightReviews]

Hey Jonathan, thanks very much. Part 3? er..........! Anyway, hope all is good with you, have a great weekend, cheers, Phil.

[@JLOSTAFF1]

You’re obviously a well travelled man Phil. What memories and experiences! Top notch! 👍🩳

[@80eightReviews]

Good morning Baron, I have to admit to never have visited Felmersham so of course, I'm aware of missing out on so much. Your low flying escapades for one...Oh, wait that didn't come out quite right...

[@andrewdyson4255]

Very interesting video, you have my utmost respect for your journeys of the past. Lovely to hear about the generosity of mankind when we mostly hear only the bad stuff peddled by the mainstream media.

[@80eightReviews]

Morning Andrew, hope you're doing well & thanks for your comments. You're right that media / socials etc, peddle the negatives and sometimes it's just good to step back and see that on an individual level at least, most folk are good most of the time in real life. It's just when they go on 'X' things start deteriorating! Have a great day, cheers, Phil.

[@SteveDiment]

Some very profound observations; how travel has the ability to tease out the real person we are. It’s quite sad our view of the world is tainted by a minority, but with the confidence to overcome those preconceptions the world is truly a welcoming place. Like you, the turning point for me was travel to Morocco, taking my young family ‘overlanding’ some 20 years ago. I wholeheartedly agree that solo travel allows an immersive experience, it was a huge step for me that took a long time before I was even comfortable with the idea. Thanks!

[@80eightReviews]

Morning Steve, good to hear from you and I hope you're doing well. Your trip to Morocco must have been fabulous and what an experience for your family especially as they were growing up. Seeing / experiencing such places and people, I am convinced, gives a person a much wider perspective of...everything. Solo travel as you say is very immersive and very rewarding so good luck with any future travel plans! All the best, cheers, Phil.

[@Dreddingbath]

Lovely stuff, fantastic adventures.

[@80eightReviews]

Thank you very much Mr.Dreddi, glad you enjoyed it and hope all is well with you, cheers, Phil.

[@timparry5028]

Fascinating stuff Phil. You're a bit of a dark horse. Totally agree with you about solo travelling forcing you to engage with people. I love engaging with strangers. Even just going into the Coop for a bannana etc. I never use the self checkouts so I can exchange pleasantries with the person at the till. Excellent stuff. Thanks

[@80eightReviews]

Morning Tim, Hope you're well today and glad you enjoyed it. My fear was that it all just sounded rather self-indulgent and full of tall stories but hey, this is KZbin after all! Engaging with folk is the thing that enriches us all and it's kinda sad we're giving that up for screen based communications. Oh, wait, which this is!! And yes, avoiding the self-checkout is a must - good idea! Enjoy your banana :-) Cheers, Phil.

[@guywolff]

The Seven Pillars of Wisdon (on) a Triumph ...I thought he had a Brough Superior ... I am sure there were moments people thought you were in the Secret Intelligence Service ...ONe of my favorite amusments in third world travel was susing out the spooks .. I had a very funny conversation on inscription with a nice young man from Virginia in the Singapore Airport at 2 am one morning ... Great stories here !!!

[@80eightReviews]

Good morning Guy, ha ha I didn't notice that on the book! I wonder if Lawrence was making an early bid for some sponsorship! As you say, some folk definitely were in the employ of various 'services'. I'm sure I read somewhere that in Syria around that time, 1 in 5 people were with employed or had a connection to the secret police. Singapore Airport, 2am in the morning - seems to me there's much more to tell in that story Guy! Spill the beans!! All the best, happy election weekend, cheers, Phil.

[@guywolff]

@@80eightReviews We were held over from Tokyo on the way to Ipoh Malaysia. The Malaysian visa in red letters says in English " If you are caught with drugs you Will be executed ". Not that I do drugs but graft is everywhere as you know from that boarder crossing .. $40 k of your life? I found Malaysia and Mexico the most disconcerting or life threatening. I agree that most everyone is out to help another human but the fact that one is on the tight rope without a net is something everyone going third world should know before doing it . Sort of like learning how to ride a bike before hitting the twists in a storm :) Here enders the lesson ,, :)

[@80eightReviews]

Great story Guy..."you will be executed" - well, at least there's no ambiguity about that! You're very right though, travelling to such places does mean you have to develop a very good risk radar for all types of situations, which is useful in itself. A good lesson! Enjoy your weekend Guy, cheers, Phil.

[@Stefan_trekkie]

Wonderful memories, Phil. I have so many thoughts on all your adventures but youtube's comment section it's not the place for too much babbling on stuff ... But have an idea .- Write a book about it? Because all those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain /quote/ .. Pre-internet times where more exiting indeed.

[@80eightReviews]

Hey Stefan, how are you doing? Good to hear from you again and as always, thanks for your comments. Excellent use of the 'Blade Runner' quote! Gosh, I so love that scene, it's so beautiful visually and emotionally. C-Beams glittering in the dark near the Tannhauser gate...Brilliant stuff...I might have to watch it again this weekend - thanks for reminding me! I think the book might be more a slim pamphlet to be honest :-) My one sort of regret is that in 1990's there was no real portable / easy to use video equipment and I couldn't 't afford a proper camera so all I've got are a few grainy film shots. Actually though, thinking about it - just enjoying the journey and not fussing with 'content' was probably the best thing to do in terms of the experience. Pre-Internet though. It was good. All the best, have a great weekend, cheers, Phil.

[@findingneutral]

This was an excellent sit down story telling session. I thoroughly enjoyed all of it. Your a bit of an Indiana Jones whether you accept it or not... seriously.

[@80eightReviews]

Ha ha ha - do I need to start carrying a whip? On second thoughts that sounds, as we say in the UK "well dodgy" 😀

[@findingneutral]

@80eightReviews 😅

[@neilyplim]

Hi Phil. I hope that you're keeping well. I really enjoyed watching this. I, too, am a T.E.Lawrence fan, and have read the 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom.' I have also watched the film with Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif on many occasions, and never get bored with it - tremendous performances all round. Just out of interest, what motorcycle were you riding when you travelled to Morocco, and how did it cope with the hot and arid climate? Any particular problems caused by the sand and heat etc.? Also, I'd be interested to know which route you took from the U.K. And by the way, if you wish to read a first-class biography of Lawrence, then I can certainly recommend 'Hero-the Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia' by Michael Korda. It really is an excellent read. Best wishes, and hope to hear from you soon. Neil :)

[@80eightReviews]

Hey Neil, thanks for stopping by again, hope all is well with you. You're so right - it's impossible to get bored with either the book or the film. Whether it's the famous 'match' transition scene or scene in the tent with Prince Faisal or...I really love the scene when they reach the Suez canal after travelling across the Sinai - the sound of the door and window creaking in the breeze. Every second is brilliant! As for your question - for Morocco I used my Suzuki DR350 (air-cooled and carb) and I had no problems whatsoever - yes it ran a little hot a few times - particularly when trying to thrash my way through sand but it never gave up. Great bike. The XR was also fabulous although crossing the Sinai in like 100+ heat it did conk out when I had a feel evaporation issue. Easy to fix though - just removed the fuel filter! Thanks for the book recommendation and great timing as I'm just making my list for Santa... All the best, have a good day, cheers, Phil.

[@neilyplim]

@@80eightReviews Morning, Phil...and thanks for your prompt reply. If you had the chance do that marvellous trip once more, do you feel that your ADV 350 would be up to the task? N 🙂

[@80eightReviews]

Hey Neil, no worries and yes, absolutely the ADV would be great for going to Morocco or the Middle East as long as you stuck to tarmac - of which, there is plenty in North Africa. Gravel is OK on the ADV but I wouldn't go on the Moroccan pistes though as they get very 'rippled' due to the big lorries that use them and the ADV would get shaken to bits probably...Cheers, Phil.