06/02/2009 *** UPDATED WITH ENTRY CHARGE ADVICE IN SECTION OF LIFE ON BOARD ** ** INPUT 01/2009
UPDATED WITH THE PARTS WE CARRY. LOOK AT THE END **
Hello
On December 15, 2008, was a historic day in our adventure of the Mongol Rally, which is still with the finishing touches bureaucratic.
At about 9:30 was officially decommissioned in the Delegation chuchuki Traffic Madrid. Going first thing in the morning to avoid queues and taking the necessary documentation (after the comment) had no trouble getting the seal and disengage officially the fourth star of the trip. It was a strange feeling because although the car has been four months in Mongolia, and we already circulating, in the face of the DGT still "was ours." Unsubscribe
After the car was a complete other matter that began six months ago: vaccines. Aran and Victor had already recently the latter, which are the memories of vaccine against hepatitis A and B, required six months from the first shot and now was my turn. As you see, what we started in November 2007 still continues in one way or another. Back to home
making mental note of what we still (stay with sponsors, edit video, complete accounting of the non-profit organization formed to manage the donations ...) I realized it was a great idea to write all those little things that we missed in the preparation and during the trip, so that people can make future editions note of them.
So here are a few. I put a shortcut on the bar right at any time you can draw on the "Aulanconsejos."
Documentation and preparation prior
-Request and delivery of export SAD see cle. This export Single Administrative Document is what we have to deliver traffic for removing the car once we return. A tip, enter the Tax Agency website, and part of "Law of Customs and Excise" you have the forms. You can see how to fill in and find out where to deliver them. To do this you must go with the car free zone (in ports, airports, etc) to declare the car going to export. We in the document in the section on the concept put something like "vehicles involved in the Mongol Rally Charity Rally 2008 - will be donated to the NGO blah, blah, blah ..."
I review the car (not very thorough) and is already , although probably take a while (to us took an entire morning having to go to different windows to complete the documentation.
DUA
Without this you may not want to cancel the car as traffic not recognized as official the deed of gift / export organization sends you after finishing rally and in most cases have left it to be removed only with that (the document is in English and Mongolian ...). As an alternative, we have heard which teams are faced with this problem has chosen to declare the car as stolen and have come to the traffic report, although a little serious ñapa.
(Vic, put more details or edit this paragraph you should think)
- Passport . We assume that the visa will ask the appropriate dates. Careful with that because if you arrive early at a border you that ye shall enter the country until it reaches the date of endorsement. If ye claim also leave a country with an expired visa ... but usually two months and I do not think that you have problems. However you must make a preliminary schedule as realistic as possible to ask for visas at the exact dates you can. Because of time we turn to an agency available to us the paperwork, so we pay a lot more, but we compensated having to ask for vacation days from work to go do a visa (can be two mornings are devoted to each embassy, \u200b\u200bone to deliver and one to collect, due to queues, and that's without any rejections of documentation. Russian embassy especially has a reputation for very crowded and very thorough with documentation. Do not accept damaged passports and to walk with eye may be preferable to have a new one to avoid problems. Try to have the visa ready as soon as possible (at least a couple of months before), so no surprises.
Once on the trip never separate yourselves from your passport. Take several photocopies of all your documentation and car, including your travel insurance to be delivered if you ask at the border. Scan also all the documentation ny hand hold fast to your Internet mail if it were necessary and print it out somewhere.
- Workshops . We aim and print drawings taken from google maps location of all Suzuki dealers in major cities on the route, and had enough. This helped us to fix the radiator smoothly in Moscow, where we attended over the former and not charge us anything to go with a car brand, but had not ever seen (we were told that the first thing they saw was the Vitara ... nothing Samurai). If you go with a SEAT will be more complicated (though at SEAT dealerships saw Poland), but never comes over.
- Embassies and consulates . Do the same as with the workshops.
-Carry a folder with all this information and copy and cuidadla well.
"Take some local currency from the game if you can (there will probably charge you more commission for the change.) Bring U.S. dollars as currency and possible bribery. Works better than the euro. Take notes new or in excellent condition because if not, do not accept them. Try to bribery in local currency or banknotes of $ 1 (IMPORTANT BRING MANY TICKETS $ 1 AND THAT IS VERY LITTLE MONEY BUT A TICKET IS "more colorful" than a coin).
- Car Insurance in Russia and Mongolia KZ. At the border of Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia you will have to buy term insurance for the car. In MNG KZ and we pay in dollars because we did not have local currency (about $ 40 in KZ and about $ 70 in MNG). In Russia no one told us we had to do and so the cop gave us both beat. Speaking with an English team told us that they had to pay in rubles, and that despite the change indicate that cost $ 40, they asked 200. After two hours of give and take, and wait no longer paid $ 80 and they gave. KZ
to us we wanted to cheat also asking $ 200 but those who sold us the insurance (there were several posts on the border) were some kids and one of them was honest and told the other that what it was asking $ 200 and we indicating took the role. (The other 200 are asked in perfect English, the argument between them deduced by the attitude between the two ...). We assume that many other countries will also be needed you can go through a similar insurance. Please Bear that clear, because for example the Russian had not warned us no one came in the guides we had. Look
sooner on the green card insurance-European English you'll have to see the countries that are covered by it.
Travel Insurance Do not go without travel insurance for you. The health form 111 only covers Europe, none of Russia, KZ and MNG. In fact, Russia can not go without health insurance, and there are only a few companies recognized. We were each other Sanitas and MAPFRE, but luckily we did not have to resort to them.
Life Onboard
Please note that you are going to spend many hours in the car, so make your stay as comfortable as possible is no more. Seats
. We tested had little samurai seats (from Ciudad Real in Madrid and a short test ride to Villanueva de la Serena) but the league felt they were very uncomfortable so I modified it.
seat driver: Taken from BMW M3 (a touch of class does not hurt)
Grabbing passenger: We put pads on seat, back seat headrests and original, as it was very uncomfortable. We add a ball type cab and thanked its effect on the Kazakh and Mongolian desert.
Seats: We try to be as comfortable as possible. We customize and install a Peugeot 106. It was not easy and we had to cut several parts with the radio and make some plates to attach to soil, but was comfortable (though for lack of space could not rest ...). Ventilation
. Clearly there was no air conditioning or anything. There were teams that led small fans on the dashboard connected to the electrical system, which we believe is a good solution, because there was so dusty sections had to take the windows closed.
Audio system. seems silly, but it is vital a good sound car audio system (unless you hate music). We went with the standard cassette, which was coupled with one of these tapes jack to connect an mp3 (unless you prefer to the "real" sound of the cassette, carrying a bic pen to rewind the tape, and all that ...). What gave us no time was to change the speakers for a little better, so when half-way roads are over the background music was distorted background noise. I do not say that you put a team top of the range, but that I aseguréis to bring speakers who are not 22 years ... like ours ...
Shadow. In Kazakhstan and Mongolia muuuucho sun does, and how it goes all the way to the east, the sun is almost always the passenger side (if you carry a British car, of course ...). If we sumáis heat and windows open for ventilation can imagine how you can put your right arm ... and the right side of his face ... We had to resort to close the windows to clamp up a shirt and visor hiciese it .... then we knew why Kazakh and Mongol many cars have black curtains in the framework of the windows of the doors ... so, it sounds weird, if you can, bring curtains so you can protect you from the sun at least on the right side of the car and can carry the windows open at once.
On the other hand, there MNG KZ and hardly a tree or ** p, so I always think of you to stop to eat will have sole shadow that gives your car. We were lucky because the samurai was relatively high. We tried to stop eating when there was some shade by putting the car perpendicular to the sun but the most we had at 15h was a metro area of \u200b\u200ba shade more or less ... so basically we ate with their back against the car so as not Asarnan. It would not hurt a canvas tent-like rods or hood of some kind that can be attached to the car stops at noon to be somewhat more comfortable, because that infernal sun left no room for a nap or rest and forced us to move forward. Another thing is that eating in a hurry by the scorching sun are not resting at all. This is highly desirable to have it in mind especially the cars that you bear down. Electricity
board
Please note all electrical gadgets are going to bring (cameras, phones, fans ... there was even leading portable computers). Not always going to be able to sleep in hotels (we in fact, of 25 days on the road, we slept two days in hotel, need for visas in Russia and Kazakhstan, and two days in camp (the Poland and Latvia). Other of days the tent planted in the countryside. So to charge the batteries and others will need several outlets. Our solution was to take a pack of three car cigarette lighter type outlets (12V) + USB outlet for charging the iPod, and a converter to connect to the cigarette lighter (12V DC) that gave us AC 220V output with a standard plug. Recommendation bring adapters to plug everything you can plug directly into mechanical hero. Us to charge a mobile phone and camera battery had to plug the converter 12VC-220VA and then plug the adapter 220VA-12VC yours ... so you can imagine how efficient was the system, except that with the bumps, the jumped burner transformer and switched continuously.
is advisable to bring a good light or direct connection to the cigarette lighter to the battery for repair at night, although careful use too much battery, the nights in Russia and Mongolia can become very cold. To make dinner and others the best is to take the front, allowing you to keep your hands free. And the battery not to spend unnecessarily to avoid problems when starting the next day.
On December 15, 2008, was a historic day in our adventure of the Mongol Rally, which is still with the finishing touches bureaucratic.
At about 9:30 was officially decommissioned in the Delegation chuchuki Traffic Madrid. Going first thing in the morning to avoid queues and taking the necessary documentation (after the comment) had no trouble getting the seal and disengage officially the fourth star of the trip. It was a strange feeling because although the car has been four months in Mongolia, and we already circulating, in the face of the DGT still "was ours." Unsubscribe
After the car was a complete other matter that began six months ago: vaccines. Aran and Victor had already recently the latter, which are the memories of vaccine against hepatitis A and B, required six months from the first shot and now was my turn. As you see, what we started in November 2007 still continues in one way or another. Back to home
making mental note of what we still (stay with sponsors, edit video, complete accounting of the non-profit organization formed to manage the donations ...) I realized it was a great idea to write all those little things that we missed in the preparation and during the trip, so that people can make future editions note of them.
So here are a few. I put a shortcut on the bar right at any time you can draw on the "Aulanconsejos."
Documentation and preparation prior
-Request and delivery of export SAD see cle. This export Single Administrative Document is what we have to deliver traffic for removing the car once we return. A tip, enter the Tax Agency website, and part of "Law of Customs and Excise" you have the forms. You can see how to fill in and find out where to deliver them. To do this you must go with the car free zone (in ports, airports, etc) to declare the car going to export. We in the document in the section on the concept put something like "vehicles involved in the Mongol Rally Charity Rally 2008 - will be donated to the NGO blah, blah, blah ..."
I review the car (not very thorough) and is already , although probably take a while (to us took an entire morning having to go to different windows to complete the documentation.
DUA
Without this you may not want to cancel the car as traffic not recognized as official the deed of gift / export organization sends you after finishing rally and in most cases have left it to be removed only with that (the document is in English and Mongolian ...). As an alternative, we have heard which teams are faced with this problem has chosen to declare the car as stolen and have come to the traffic report, although a little serious ñapa.
(Vic, put more details or edit this paragraph you should think)
- Passport . We assume that the visa will ask the appropriate dates. Careful with that because if you arrive early at a border you that ye shall enter the country until it reaches the date of endorsement. If ye claim also leave a country with an expired visa ... but usually two months and I do not think that you have problems. However you must make a preliminary schedule as realistic as possible to ask for visas at the exact dates you can. Because of time we turn to an agency available to us the paperwork, so we pay a lot more, but we compensated having to ask for vacation days from work to go do a visa (can be two mornings are devoted to each embassy, \u200b\u200bone to deliver and one to collect, due to queues, and that's without any rejections of documentation. Russian embassy especially has a reputation for very crowded and very thorough with documentation. Do not accept damaged passports and to walk with eye may be preferable to have a new one to avoid problems. Try to have the visa ready as soon as possible (at least a couple of months before), so no surprises.
Once on the trip never separate yourselves from your passport. Take several photocopies of all your documentation and car, including your travel insurance to be delivered if you ask at the border. Scan also all the documentation ny hand hold fast to your Internet mail if it were necessary and print it out somewhere.
- Workshops . We aim and print drawings taken from google maps location of all Suzuki dealers in major cities on the route, and had enough. This helped us to fix the radiator smoothly in Moscow, where we attended over the former and not charge us anything to go with a car brand, but had not ever seen (we were told that the first thing they saw was the Vitara ... nothing Samurai). If you go with a SEAT will be more complicated (though at SEAT dealerships saw Poland), but never comes over.
- Embassies and consulates . Do the same as with the workshops.
-Carry a folder with all this information and copy and cuidadla well.
"Take some local currency from the game if you can (there will probably charge you more commission for the change.) Bring U.S. dollars as currency and possible bribery. Works better than the euro. Take notes new or in excellent condition because if not, do not accept them. Try to bribery in local currency or banknotes of $ 1 (IMPORTANT BRING MANY TICKETS $ 1 AND THAT IS VERY LITTLE MONEY BUT A TICKET IS "more colorful" than a coin).
- Car Insurance in Russia and Mongolia KZ. At the border of Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia you will have to buy term insurance for the car. In MNG KZ and we pay in dollars because we did not have local currency (about $ 40 in KZ and about $ 70 in MNG). In Russia no one told us we had to do and so the cop gave us both beat. Speaking with an English team told us that they had to pay in rubles, and that despite the change indicate that cost $ 40, they asked 200. After two hours of give and take, and wait no longer paid $ 80 and they gave. KZ
to us we wanted to cheat also asking $ 200 but those who sold us the insurance (there were several posts on the border) were some kids and one of them was honest and told the other that what it was asking $ 200 and we indicating took the role. (The other 200 are asked in perfect English, the argument between them deduced by the attitude between the two ...). We assume that many other countries will also be needed you can go through a similar insurance. Please Bear that clear, because for example the Russian had not warned us no one came in the guides we had. Look
sooner on the green card insurance-European English you'll have to see the countries that are covered by it.
Travel Insurance Do not go without travel insurance for you. The health form 111 only covers Europe, none of Russia, KZ and MNG. In fact, Russia can not go without health insurance, and there are only a few companies recognized. We were each other Sanitas and MAPFRE, but luckily we did not have to resort to them.
Life Onboard
Please note that you are going to spend many hours in the car, so make your stay as comfortable as possible is no more. Seats
. We tested had little samurai seats (from Ciudad Real in Madrid and a short test ride to Villanueva de la Serena) but the league felt they were very uncomfortable so I modified it.
seat driver: Taken from BMW M3 (a touch of class does not hurt)
Grabbing passenger: We put pads on seat, back seat headrests and original, as it was very uncomfortable. We add a ball type cab and thanked its effect on the Kazakh and Mongolian desert.
Seats: We try to be as comfortable as possible. We customize and install a Peugeot 106. It was not easy and we had to cut several parts with the radio and make some plates to attach to soil, but was comfortable (though for lack of space could not rest ...). Ventilation
. Clearly there was no air conditioning or anything. There were teams that led small fans on the dashboard connected to the electrical system, which we believe is a good solution, because there was so dusty sections had to take the windows closed.
Audio system. seems silly, but it is vital a good sound car audio system (unless you hate music). We went with the standard cassette, which was coupled with one of these tapes jack to connect an mp3 (unless you prefer to the "real" sound of the cassette, carrying a bic pen to rewind the tape, and all that ...). What gave us no time was to change the speakers for a little better, so when half-way roads are over the background music was distorted background noise. I do not say that you put a team top of the range, but that I aseguréis to bring speakers who are not 22 years ... like ours ...
Shadow. In Kazakhstan and Mongolia muuuucho sun does, and how it goes all the way to the east, the sun is almost always the passenger side (if you carry a British car, of course ...). If we sumáis heat and windows open for ventilation can imagine how you can put your right arm ... and the right side of his face ... We had to resort to close the windows to clamp up a shirt and visor hiciese it .... then we knew why Kazakh and Mongol many cars have black curtains in the framework of the windows of the doors ... so, it sounds weird, if you can, bring curtains so you can protect you from the sun at least on the right side of the car and can carry the windows open at once.
On the other hand, there MNG KZ and hardly a tree or ** p, so I always think of you to stop to eat will have sole shadow that gives your car. We were lucky because the samurai was relatively high. We tried to stop eating when there was some shade by putting the car perpendicular to the sun but the most we had at 15h was a metro area of \u200b\u200ba shade more or less ... so basically we ate with their back against the car so as not Asarnan. It would not hurt a canvas tent-like rods or hood of some kind that can be attached to the car stops at noon to be somewhat more comfortable, because that infernal sun left no room for a nap or rest and forced us to move forward. Another thing is that eating in a hurry by the scorching sun are not resting at all. This is highly desirable to have it in mind especially the cars that you bear down. Electricity
board
Please note all electrical gadgets are going to bring (cameras, phones, fans ... there was even leading portable computers). Not always going to be able to sleep in hotels (we in fact, of 25 days on the road, we slept two days in hotel, need for visas in Russia and Kazakhstan, and two days in camp (the Poland and Latvia). Other of days the tent planted in the countryside. So to charge the batteries and others will need several outlets. Our solution was to take a pack of three car cigarette lighter type outlets (12V) + USB outlet for charging the iPod, and a converter to connect to the cigarette lighter (12V DC) that gave us AC 220V output with a standard plug. Recommendation bring adapters to plug everything you can plug directly into mechanical hero. Us to charge a mobile phone and camera battery had to plug the converter 12VC-220VA and then plug the adapter 220VA-12VC yours ... so you can imagine how efficient was the system, except that with the bumps, the jumped burner transformer and switched continuously.
is advisable to bring a good light or direct connection to the cigarette lighter to the battery for repair at night, although careful use too much battery, the nights in Russia and Mongolia can become very cold. To make dinner and others the best is to take the front, allowing you to keep your hands free. And the battery not to spend unnecessarily to avoid problems when starting the next day.
Loading
When you load the car is advisable to make a study of what is used more and leave it at hand. We suggest you to do them hand and spare food substance, but depend on the reliability of your car will see if it is the most appropriate for you ... hehehe.
We carry boxes of fruit to organize cargo. They are a great solution because they are stackable and are secured by a sling easily and is very comfortable and secure place the burden with them. In the McDonalds and supermarkets tend to throw cases of this type at night, so fixing it is an accessory that you can get free and helpful. If you also conseguis a box with a lid, like us, you can use the makeshift table, which was welcome. The only downside is that they usually have the sides and bottom raised surfaces so I suggest you load cubráis with an old sheet or something. We did not and MNG KZ and everything inside the car just full of dust and dirt ... and the food too ...
Our charge was as you see in the following scheme:
We carry boxes of fruit to organize cargo. They are a great solution because they are stackable and are secured by a sling easily and is very comfortable and secure place the burden with them. In the McDonalds and supermarkets tend to throw cases of this type at night, so fixing it is an accessory that you can get free and helpful. If you also conseguis a box with a lid, like us, you can use the makeshift table, which was welcome. The only downside is that they usually have the sides and bottom raised surfaces so I suggest you load cubráis with an old sheet or something. We did not and MNG KZ and everything inside the car just full of dust and dirt ... and the food too ...
Our charge was as you see in the following scheme:
As you see, we had a strap that passed through all the boxes and drums, linking them together and the structure of the car. Hopefully you will not pass, but when overturned, everything that you bring back will fly, so it is better to tie their best and avoid problems.
During the route
covet
"If you can park at night in areas that allow the morning you push the car. You never know when is going to be dumb and it is better to park motor up and take the help of a small hill to push if need be. We carry a spray of cold start, which did not have to use, but depending on the car that you take may be advisable. When
stop for the night there are different opinions. There are those who prefer to near towns or highways but in our case we prefer a few kms away from the people and roads to get something out of sight of traffic and not call unnecessary attention (what the English call maintaining " low profile "). You never know the intentions of the people and although we had no problem, you will not be in a supportive environment if you are in a situation danger, because you are in your field.
-Seize the local markets. You can find fruit and vegetable first for very little money.
-Strive to eat healthy . We ate fruit and vegetables every day but met some at the end that had been a month based on food cans and when we gave them some peaches flip.
"For breakfast we took a tin of milk powder lasted us almost to the end. Depends on taste, but take a Russian Nesquick (is serious) in the middle of the Kazakh steppe accompanied by a local biscuit was a treat in the morning (even though the taste of chlorine tablets for water purification que llevaba el agua)…lástima que se me olvidó el colacao…jajaja
-Una carnicería de Villanueva de la Serena nos dio como patrocinio un lote enorme de embutido que nos vino de miedo porque es un tipo de comida que aguanta un montón sin necesidad de frío…la última tarde, a 40 kms de Ulan Bator, haciendo inventario de lo que íbamos a dejar y lo que nos íbamos a traer de vuelta, apareció una bandeja de lomo ibérico que dábamos por zampada…casi lloramos de la emoción… jajaja
-En los pueblos cargad de agua embotella da . Ellos están acostumbrados a aguas de procedencias sospechosas, pero lo más probable es que si drink happily from all sources with gastroenteritis acabéis horse (as an Englishman that we are going through Mongolia to Russia on a motorcycle sidecar with a Belgian ... the poor was four times "the steppe" in half an hour we were with them) . When you can not find bottled water (in nearly all peoples have the typical 5-liter bottles ... and Russia up to 6 liters ... to make a difference with the West, we suppose, lol) used purification tablets to reduce the risk.
"In Russia, especially in Kazakhstan and Mongolia fill deposits in all the stations that you see. Try to always have at least 300 km of autonomy , because the distances between stations are monumental. KZ was a stage in which we traveled about 400 miles without finding gas stations. To do this you will have to be familiar with the use of your car and count on in the desert, and the speeds at which you consume will go twice or more that road in Europe (in our case were 16-17 liters per 100km versus 9 L/100km he spent in Europe).
-To not have trouble with the police and try to go unnoticed (imagine a foreign car full of green and white stickers everywhere ...) our tactics when we passed through cities (where there used to be checks and posts) or when we saw a car far into the road was hit us as possible to the car, van or truck (best truck) and use it to cover us as much as possible so that when they saw us they had no time to stand. It is seen that the method it worked pretty well, because we only stopped twice in 13,000 km (has several teams were stopped an average of 12 times only in Ukraine ... that is a separate country ...). The first time in Russia we paying what I said before, and the second time in KZ were saved by the bell when called by radio to the patrol car just as we asked for passports ...
"Something that has occurred in the rally were the speeding fines false. If you stopped by Having A hunted with the radar (gun shaped reader) in Russia had to pay the fine, but you knew that your car did not reach the speed limit. Try not to pass the limits, especially in town because the cops are going to be relentless to a foreign car. Bribes
you say it directly: have clear that all are going to have to pay anything to "streamline" procedures with the police. If you know you have everything in order, the amount you will pay depends on your patience and ability to negotiate . At the borders
we were not in the position of having to pay anything, but teams know each other. We were lucky and despite Russian uninsured go for the car, we had dropped him sympathetic to the cop stopped us because we let it go for 100 rubles (3 euros), two minibotellas of liquor, a keychain of Barca and two straw hats Parts Store de la Serena. A English team was bribed so many times in Russia and gave so much pasta that were left almost penniless at the height of Volgograd and had to turn back.
Toys & Leisure
-will pass many hours of rest in the middle of nowhere, so a ball, frisbee or kite take little and can be a great pastime. Some cards, chess or other small game table also come in handy. In addition, this type of toy can sometimes create a starting point of "conversations" with the locals. For example, Aran, who plays the drums, took a rubber pad and drumsticks to go to practice ... and the kids we met waiting in Russia and Mongolia it spent a great time clubbing with them the pad ... and the car.
"Another example: one of the participants in 2008 was because he wanted to fly a paramotor by Kazakh and Mongolian steppes ... everyone has their vices.
"The night sky in those places are awesome, but the rattle of the car can break any telescope, but it is very advisable to bring binoculars for the night and display a letter night sky.
-If you like the picture is going to freak out the sights.
-Writing the travel diary or read in the silence of the Mongolian steppe is also an incredible feeling. We recommend keeping a diary of the trip, you can upgrade one component each day, or as we did, all by voice record mp3, but now is transcribing and car noise sometimes there are pieces that are not well understood.
"We had our doubts but ultimately carry. We recommend that you take a video camera grabéis and travel. If digital, then it will be easier to edit and do not lose much quality, as happened to us. We did not get a digital and had to use an old hi8, which in passing lost digital picture and sound quality ...
Communication often going to have to communicate through drawings. We carry a small plastic board with erasable marker for this and we took much advantage.
We strongly recommend that some copies of passport data and car data fields "name" "address", etc. translated into Russian, Kazakh and Mongolian . Speeds up when you copy the data.
The Internet is teeming temporary refuge to pages with phrases in the languages \u200b\u200bof the countries that are going to go. That each team member carries a small libretilla phrases.
We carry a dictionary of Russian, a Russian phrase book and one Mongolian, but most with what we had printed the Internet was sufficient. I think it would have been more helpful to keep guides countries are going through (we had only Russian).
Mobile Phones. Activate of mobile roaming before you leave, it's easy (with a quick call to your operator) and avoids problems (do not know if you can activate this function once outside Spain, but it sure is at least much more complicated). In Russia, KZ and MNG no coverage in the large spaces between cities (in some parts of Russia itself there) but in all cities you can use cell phones if necessary. Note: Warn all those who may know that you will be abroad to avoid unnecessary calls or messages. Remember that usually for every call and message that you may be charged to both the sender and the recipient (you). In case of a call, with no catch enough, but as mobile encendáis anywhere begins spamming. To give you an idea, sending and receiving messages (do not send too many, but we receive many of cronies giving encouragement) and calling every couple of days to say we were good we had a phone bill of 350 euros on average each one after the trip ... Parts
THE BOTTOM OF THIS ENTRY You will find a list of the PARTS WE CARRY and comment on whether or not we use.
You must keep in mind that in most countries that come over probably will not know your cars, so all the points that you consider critical mechanical or failures may give the car chosen, try to take parts or covered with good preparation Preview from Spain. As I said before, We went to a Suzuki dealership in Moscow to fix the radiator and we had never seen a Samurai. It should be remembered that most countries come over were behind the Iron Curtain, and few cars are still Westerners there, so unless you carry a Lada or a UAZ probably will not know that you bear.
tires will be tested with the ground so hard that you go through, so our recommendation is that you bear new. We carry new and always recommended pressure (actually a little above). Although land is recommended to lower the pressure, we prefer not to not injecting. It's a little uncomfortable in the bumps but we DO NOT PUNCTURE OR ONCE AROUND THE TRIP. The tires supplied to us as Driver Group sponsorship, and although we try to give us a mixed rural-road eventually got a 100% road but never tires we miss campers, so we do not consider to be vital (there were people who had two road games and some other taco ... but unless you please to cross the Gobi Desert dunes do not believe that you have problems carrying standard tires, which will also be cheaper. Of course, care with the pressure that if you carry low pincharéis lot. As usual
of mechanical breakage and punctures on these roads, it is easy to find shops, parts stores and tire repair on all peoples.
43 liters tanks that we had in the back ended up losing gasoline evaporation, so that everything was full of the smell. In the end this caused us an irritation of the nose and some had serious trouble breathing one night. Watch out for that detail. If you bring plastic bottles of gasoline leaks and open them to check a couple of times a day at least for the internal pressure of the gases do not burst, this can happen.
During the route
covet
"If you can park at night in areas that allow the morning you push the car. You never know when is going to be dumb and it is better to park motor up and take the help of a small hill to push if need be. We carry a spray of cold start, which did not have to use, but depending on the car that you take may be advisable. When
stop for the night there are different opinions. There are those who prefer to near towns or highways but in our case we prefer a few kms away from the people and roads to get something out of sight of traffic and not call unnecessary attention (what the English call maintaining " low profile "). You never know the intentions of the people and although we had no problem, you will not be in a supportive environment if you are in a situation danger, because you are in your field.
-Seize the local markets. You can find fruit and vegetable first for very little money.
-Strive to eat healthy . We ate fruit and vegetables every day but met some at the end that had been a month based on food cans and when we gave them some peaches flip.
"For breakfast we took a tin of milk powder lasted us almost to the end. Depends on taste, but take a Russian Nesquick (is serious) in the middle of the Kazakh steppe accompanied by a local biscuit was a treat in the morning (even though the taste of chlorine tablets for water purification que llevaba el agua)…lástima que se me olvidó el colacao…jajaja
-Una carnicería de Villanueva de la Serena nos dio como patrocinio un lote enorme de embutido que nos vino de miedo porque es un tipo de comida que aguanta un montón sin necesidad de frío…la última tarde, a 40 kms de Ulan Bator, haciendo inventario de lo que íbamos a dejar y lo que nos íbamos a traer de vuelta, apareció una bandeja de lomo ibérico que dábamos por zampada…casi lloramos de la emoción… jajaja
-En los pueblos cargad de agua embotella da . Ellos están acostumbrados a aguas de procedencias sospechosas, pero lo más probable es que si drink happily from all sources with gastroenteritis acabéis horse (as an Englishman that we are going through Mongolia to Russia on a motorcycle sidecar with a Belgian ... the poor was four times "the steppe" in half an hour we were with them) . When you can not find bottled water (in nearly all peoples have the typical 5-liter bottles ... and Russia up to 6 liters ... to make a difference with the West, we suppose, lol) used purification tablets to reduce the risk.
"In Russia, especially in Kazakhstan and Mongolia fill deposits in all the stations that you see. Try to always have at least 300 km of autonomy , because the distances between stations are monumental. KZ was a stage in which we traveled about 400 miles without finding gas stations. To do this you will have to be familiar with the use of your car and count on in the desert, and the speeds at which you consume will go twice or more that road in Europe (in our case were 16-17 liters per 100km versus 9 L/100km he spent in Europe).
-To not have trouble with the police and try to go unnoticed (imagine a foreign car full of green and white stickers everywhere ...) our tactics when we passed through cities (where there used to be checks and posts) or when we saw a car far into the road was hit us as possible to the car, van or truck (best truck) and use it to cover us as much as possible so that when they saw us they had no time to stand. It is seen that the method it worked pretty well, because we only stopped twice in 13,000 km (has several teams were stopped an average of 12 times only in Ukraine ... that is a separate country ...). The first time in Russia we paying what I said before, and the second time in KZ were saved by the bell when called by radio to the patrol car just as we asked for passports ...
"Something that has occurred in the rally were the speeding fines false. If you stopped by Having A hunted with the radar (gun shaped reader) in Russia had to pay the fine, but you knew that your car did not reach the speed limit. Try not to pass the limits, especially in town because the cops are going to be relentless to a foreign car. Bribes
you say it directly: have clear that all are going to have to pay anything to "streamline" procedures with the police. If you know you have everything in order, the amount you will pay depends on your patience and ability to negotiate . At the borders
we were not in the position of having to pay anything, but teams know each other. We were lucky and despite Russian uninsured go for the car, we had dropped him sympathetic to the cop stopped us because we let it go for 100 rubles (3 euros), two minibotellas of liquor, a keychain of Barca and two straw hats Parts Store de la Serena. A English team was bribed so many times in Russia and gave so much pasta that were left almost penniless at the height of Volgograd and had to turn back.
Toys & Leisure
-will pass many hours of rest in the middle of nowhere, so a ball, frisbee or kite take little and can be a great pastime. Some cards, chess or other small game table also come in handy. In addition, this type of toy can sometimes create a starting point of "conversations" with the locals. For example, Aran, who plays the drums, took a rubber pad and drumsticks to go to practice ... and the kids we met waiting in Russia and Mongolia it spent a great time clubbing with them the pad ... and the car.
"Another example: one of the participants in 2008 was because he wanted to fly a paramotor by Kazakh and Mongolian steppes ... everyone has their vices.
"The night sky in those places are awesome, but the rattle of the car can break any telescope, but it is very advisable to bring binoculars for the night and display a letter night sky.
-If you like the picture is going to freak out the sights.
-Writing the travel diary or read in the silence of the Mongolian steppe is also an incredible feeling. We recommend keeping a diary of the trip, you can upgrade one component each day, or as we did, all by voice record mp3, but now is transcribing and car noise sometimes there are pieces that are not well understood.
"We had our doubts but ultimately carry. We recommend that you take a video camera grabéis and travel. If digital, then it will be easier to edit and do not lose much quality, as happened to us. We did not get a digital and had to use an old hi8, which in passing lost digital picture and sound quality ...
Communication often going to have to communicate through drawings. We carry a small plastic board with erasable marker for this and we took much advantage.
We strongly recommend that some copies of passport data and car data fields "name" "address", etc. translated into Russian, Kazakh and Mongolian . Speeds up when you copy the data.
The Internet is teeming temporary refuge to pages with phrases in the languages \u200b\u200bof the countries that are going to go. That each team member carries a small libretilla phrases.
We carry a dictionary of Russian, a Russian phrase book and one Mongolian, but most with what we had printed the Internet was sufficient. I think it would have been more helpful to keep guides countries are going through (we had only Russian).
Mobile Phones. Activate of mobile roaming before you leave, it's easy (with a quick call to your operator) and avoids problems (do not know if you can activate this function once outside Spain, but it sure is at least much more complicated). In Russia, KZ and MNG no coverage in the large spaces between cities (in some parts of Russia itself there) but in all cities you can use cell phones if necessary. Note: Warn all those who may know that you will be abroad to avoid unnecessary calls or messages. Remember that usually for every call and message that you may be charged to both the sender and the recipient (you). In case of a call, with no catch enough, but as mobile encendáis anywhere begins spamming. To give you an idea, sending and receiving messages (do not send too many, but we receive many of cronies giving encouragement) and calling every couple of days to say we were good we had a phone bill of 350 euros on average each one after the trip ... Parts
THE BOTTOM OF THIS ENTRY You will find a list of the PARTS WE CARRY and comment on whether or not we use.
You must keep in mind that in most countries that come over probably will not know your cars, so all the points that you consider critical mechanical or failures may give the car chosen, try to take parts or covered with good preparation Preview from Spain. As I said before, We went to a Suzuki dealership in Moscow to fix the radiator and we had never seen a Samurai. It should be remembered that most countries come over were behind the Iron Curtain, and few cars are still Westerners there, so unless you carry a Lada or a UAZ probably will not know that you bear.
tires will be tested with the ground so hard that you go through, so our recommendation is that you bear new. We carry new and always recommended pressure (actually a little above). Although land is recommended to lower the pressure, we prefer not to not injecting. It's a little uncomfortable in the bumps but we DO NOT PUNCTURE OR ONCE AROUND THE TRIP. The tires supplied to us as Driver Group sponsorship, and although we try to give us a mixed rural-road eventually got a 100% road but never tires we miss campers, so we do not consider to be vital (there were people who had two road games and some other taco ... but unless you please to cross the Gobi Desert dunes do not believe that you have problems carrying standard tires, which will also be cheaper. Of course, care with the pressure that if you carry low pincharéis lot. As usual
of mechanical breakage and punctures on these roads, it is easy to find shops, parts stores and tire repair on all peoples.
43 liters tanks that we had in the back ended up losing gasoline evaporation, so that everything was full of the smell. In the end this caused us an irritation of the nose and some had serious trouble breathing one night. Watch out for that detail. If you bring plastic bottles of gasoline leaks and open them to check a couple of times a day at least for the internal pressure of the gases do not burst, this can happen.
TECHNICAL PARTS 1 Carburetor - We use only the idle screw, because we had installed the engine fell off the chatter in KZ.
1 Air Filter - The change in the maintenance shutdown in Russia, just across the border in Semey.
1 Fuel Filter - We have a new one installed and the old parts. We do not use but we had to clean the back once since fuel such place is unfortunate. We recommend bringing an extra again.
1 Clutch - We installed a new and old parts. We do not use.
4 Spark - No spark plug wires used
- We have a installed new and old parts. We do not use. Brake Pump
1 - We did not use
1 radiator - we do not use it (thanks to fix which broke us 400km from Moscow)
1 throttle cable - we do not use
cooling sleeves - we do not use valves
wheel - we do not use door handles
2 - The samurai are very delicate and break easily - we do not use
1 Front Shock - Anchored to the inside of the front bumper - We installed a new and one of the old parts. We do not use. Rear Shock
1 - Anchored to the inside of the bumper Front - We have a newly installed and one of the old parts. We do not use. 8 boats
octane enhancer (Oktan Plus) purchased in Russia - used 2. Depending on the chosen route will be better or worse fuel, spare no on this product. With low octane gasoline engine can be easily broken. In Spain you can find very cheap in some Lidl (2-3 euros per boat).
1 Boot Spray trust - we do not use it. We had very cold nights. Its usefulness will depend on the route and the weather.
1 carburetor cleaning spray - I use a lot. The gas was very dirty and bad working carburetor. We recommend opening the carburetor cover and give a little spray every two or three days.
1 puncture repair kit - We were lucky and not even once punctured. Most other teams used these kits several times. You have to take.
1 bottle of brake fluid - -
we do not use motor oil 5L.
1 oil filter - suggest an oil and filter change halfway or before entering Mongolia.
1 bottle of Slick 50 (treatment of engines, oil additive). It has supporters and detractors. We decided to use it and we went wrong.
transmission oil 4L (valvulina) - To fill in case of leaks. Highly recommended. 5L
coolant - We spend a lot when we had a leak in the radiator. Do not be missing from this ever. 1 jar tapafugas
radiator - only applies to small leaks and dirty extreme case because the whole system and arranging times more damage. Use only in case of extreme necessity and control the temperature of the motor continuously - we used one when there was little to Ulan Bator but did not win much. We had a small leak and had to fill each day with a little liquid and is not noticed much effect tapafugas.
2 complete wheels with new tires.
transmission oil 4L (valvulina) - To fill in case of leaks. Highly recommended. 5L
coolant - We spend a lot when we had a leak in the radiator. Do not be missing from this ever. 1 jar tapafugas
radiator - only applies to small leaks and dirty extreme case because the whole system and arranging times more damage. Use only in case of extreme necessity and control the temperature of the motor continuously - we used one when there was little to Ulan Bator but did not win much. We had a small leak and had to fill each day with a little liquid and is not noticed much effect tapafugas.
2 complete wheels with new tires.
1 shield - we do not use it, but ended up losing the shield valvulina left but decided to reduce the leakage by not using front-wheel drive except when strictly necessary, they were not too many.
releasing
1 set of wheel - As its name suggests release wheels, making it spin free and not move the transimisión to which they are linked. In our case were in the front and thanks to them we did not lose much valvulina. In the 4x4 use reduces power consumption by approximately 6-10%. Recommend releasing manuals as they give less trouble than the machines and are more effective if they can be new, better. As they really are not going to use a lot, do not take much and Mongolia do not use them, you can even sell back.
ACCESSORIES AND SAFETY
2 fire extinguishers - we did not use emergency
2 Triangles - we do not use
3 reflective vests - we do not use
1 Sling - which is the flexible, much better than rigid. We did not use material
1 power Kit (contactors, cables, etc) - we do not use tortilla
1 Kit - various sizes and lengths - screws, nuts, washers - we do not use 1 set of bulbs
1 stick theft
2 cans of fuel 4 bottles
34L 10L water
ACCESSORIES AND SAFETY
2 fire extinguishers - we did not use emergency
2 Triangles - we do not use
3 reflective vests - we do not use
1 Sling - which is the flexible, much better than rigid. We did not use material
1 power Kit (contactors, cables, etc) - we do not use tortilla
1 Kit - various sizes and lengths - screws, nuts, washers - we do not use 1 set of bulbs
1 stick theft
2 cans of fuel 4 bottles
34L 10L water
-Flanges - valid for all. Take several steps, metal screw and plastic - we use a lot.
-full kit (do not forget Fortasec (anti-diarrhea), Monurol (for cystitis), bandages, broad-spectrum antibiotics, analgesics, disinfectants, adhesive tape, scissors, impregnated bandages for burns, splints to immobilize arms, vitamins, water purification tablets ... .) Also we were lucky and only use vitamins, water purification, disinfectant and a bandage ... Watch out for injuries. Dirt so harmless a priori any wound can become infected and become serious. In my case, KZ, stepped on a dead branch that pierced the sole and I had a good break in the sole of the foot, which did not pass over taking take care of that area clean (and believe me it was difficult to walk ...).
-Earplugs (for sleeping in the car or if you have a partner who snores ...)
-sleep mask (for the car). We do not recommend buff that give the output to be very fair. I used it and how I clenched my eyes blurred vision for about half an hour to remove it. A T-shirt in the face, which is what we used we can take the place of mask but is more uncomfortable,
3 cans of mosquito repellent Releco Forte (the cash)
1 Tent - not bring forth a very fair - the quick installation of the decathlon 2 "were all the rage, we miss us.
1 Solar shower - recommended to us other teams. We did not get to have the chance to use it. It is best to fill in a river and carry on the roof. We do not carry rack and did not want to risk busting inside the car.
camping-mats - the new self-inflating about 5cm thick are very comfortable and take up little.
-Sleeping bags - almost better to be at least -10 ° C. We carry two sacks of -30 º C and -5 º C. The bivouac of -5 to (sleeping in the open) was not sufficient enough nights (KZ southern spare, but they were only a couple of days) and had to sleep with a lot of clothes inside. Even inside the tent one night was cool to -5 º C. Camping-chairs
tripod - very useful for the camps. You can take bigger ones, but those that we did not hold anything.
-game camping pots - at least a couple (pot and frying pan) to eat them and have space. Many are sold together and the pan serves as a lid.
-full kit (do not forget Fortasec (anti-diarrhea), Monurol (for cystitis), bandages, broad-spectrum antibiotics, analgesics, disinfectants, adhesive tape, scissors, impregnated bandages for burns, splints to immobilize arms, vitamins, water purification tablets ... .) Also we were lucky and only use vitamins, water purification, disinfectant and a bandage ... Watch out for injuries. Dirt so harmless a priori any wound can become infected and become serious. In my case, KZ, stepped on a dead branch that pierced the sole and I had a good break in the sole of the foot, which did not pass over taking take care of that area clean (and believe me it was difficult to walk ...).
-Earplugs (for sleeping in the car or if you have a partner who snores ...)
-sleep mask (for the car). We do not recommend buff that give the output to be very fair. I used it and how I clenched my eyes blurred vision for about half an hour to remove it. A T-shirt in the face, which is what we used we can take the place of mask but is more uncomfortable,
3 cans of mosquito repellent Releco Forte (the cash)
1 Tent - not bring forth a very fair - the quick installation of the decathlon 2 "were all the rage, we miss us.
1 Solar shower - recommended to us other teams. We did not get to have the chance to use it. It is best to fill in a river and carry on the roof. We do not carry rack and did not want to risk busting inside the car.
camping-mats - the new self-inflating about 5cm thick are very comfortable and take up little.
-Sleeping bags - almost better to be at least -10 ° C. We carry two sacks of -30 º C and -5 º C. The bivouac of -5 to (sleeping in the open) was not sufficient enough nights (KZ southern spare, but they were only a couple of days) and had to sleep with a lot of clothes inside. Even inside the tent one night was cool to -5 º C. Camping-chairs
tripod - very useful for the camps. You can take bigger ones, but those that we did not hold anything.
-game camping pots - at least a couple (pot and frying pan) to eat them and have space. Many are sold together and the pan serves as a lid.
boat wipes -1 fat (commercially available parts and tools). Very useful to avoid using water unnecessarily. Special soap grease is also recommended as there will always be to make checks and minor repairs on the car and come in handy.
-4
large boxes of plastic, used for transporting fruit. They wore classified spare parts, food, etc..
And here by now. As they occur we tips for new players or for anyone interested in our approach to a trip we will be putting these characteristics.
A hug to all Jules
And here by now. As they occur we tips for new players or for anyone interested in our approach to a trip we will be putting these characteristics.
A hug to all Jules
feed test input 
