I arrived in Mascat on 16th. It's a beautiful port town, with fortresses, a fish market, etc.
A single room in a cheap hotel is $26. Expensive as in Dubai. But I had to stay for some reasons.
My rear tire, Schwalbe Marathon XR, the best tire for a long distant trip, got a big cut by something sharp on the way. I had used it for more than 8000km. The other surface still looked OK. I was shocked.
The front tire was also getting worn out. I had only one spare. I doubted if there was a good bicycle shop in Oman. There should be no hope in the countries ahead a while.
Luckily, I found a shop (MIG) in Mascat on web. It opened just a month ago! The German owner and Sri Lankan mechanic were very friendly and helpful.
They found out that the rim of the front tire had become too thin because of the brakes. The mechanics in Tehran had suggested that I should change the front hub in another 4~5000km. So, in fact, one whole set of wheel needed to be replaced. The owner took out one front wheel from one of the bicycles in the shop and sold it to me for the original price. I got some other parts fixed as well. They gave me great relief. Otherwise, I would have had to go back to Dubai.
I took Yemeni visa in Mascat. It costed $35.
Consulate of Yemen in Dubai told me on the phone that I could take it for $25 at the border. The embassy in Tehran answered the same but the charge was different; $30~60. The border is 1200km away from here. I wanted to avoid possible risk beforehand.
All of them told me that I could travel freely on my bike in Yemen. No need to take permission from police. No problem. But there were cases of abduction. Then?
When I asked to an Omani, he tutted and said, "Too much Ali Baba". He himself had never been in Yemen. I wonder which is true.
I also tried to take Sudani visa. The consul refused to issue it for me, saying he could do it only for a resident in Oman, or someone who'd got invitation from Sudan.
There was no embassy of Djibouti.
I'll try again in Sanaa, Yemen.
19 Feb 2009, Mascat, Oman, 14601km
