Luv ur blog... You really do have a way of putting thoughts into words beautifully... are you planning to combine all of this into a book? It would be great!
BTW, how do u earn for travelling???
- stan visa hell i had a laugh reading your episode with the kazak embassy. i was outside the kazak embassy in mid december.i took one look at the situation - 40 people waiting in the snow ouside the closed gate - hailed down a taxi and left waiving my middle finger as a final goodbye to any chanceof getting into that country. you had more staying power.
and bye the way i want to spend a night in dubai next week on a stop over. do you know a good cheep hotel downtown?
gelukkig nieuwjaar!!! hee lieve ralf!! wat een avonturen weer, maar wat lekker dat je de feestdagen met je familie hebt gevierd. Ik wens jou een fantastiche 2010 toe met al je liefsten, en alle reisavonturen die je maar kan bedenken (de leuke dan :-))
veel liefs, Mirelva
Visas and beauracracy i had the same problems as u but not quite as bad.
Pakistan - got in India, no problem just needed letter from US embassy and $130, too much money. to 3 -4 days in all
Afghanistan - got in Pak-easy, cost $30, next day
Tajik- got in Afghan -this was a bit of a problem. had to go to embassy several days. they wanted letter from US embassy and US embassy wouldnt give it to me. i guess it was better for me to get killed waiting in Afghanistan. had tourist information hand write me a letter (made no sense) and met local in line who helped me get it. i think the guy wanted an extra $20 but i would NOT give in. cost $100
Uzbek- got in tajik-i got lucky here. needed various forms of info cuz relationship with US soured. fortunately, i met a german who had a contact in Uzbek and i got an express visa (i didnt want express) for 14 days (i wanted 30) for $150..wow, v. expensive
Turkmen - got in uzbek,easy and guy worked with me. only got the 4 day transit but easy and nice guy. cost maybe $30
Kazak -got in Arjaibijan- not too bad. went to embassy a couple times and got it within 2-3 days. cost $100
Kryg - got it early in Tashkent, over 2 months before i got there, coz i heard it was best place. tried to get others but could not. cost $100 i think
China- tried to get 3 mo visa in Tashkent but only good for the next 3 months and I wasnt going for about 4 months, so i could not. too bad. i got it in kryg so they charged me more, i think $60 and only gave me 30 days (they thought i could be a ughur i guess, the blue eyes and US passport didnt clue them in)...i overstayed by 2 days but for some unknown reason, the chinese guards didnt fuss with me...maybe coz i was caughing in their faces, not covering my mouth, trying to scare them into just letting me pass. they were paranoid about sars at the time. it worked
I would have got as many as possible before i went but i was traveling at the time and most are only good for the next 3 months, so the plan would nto have worked. Fortunately, it did work out, just hassles everywhere and very unfriendly people!
gelukkig nieuwjaar Hoi Ralf
Ik wens je een heel gelukkig nieuwjaar.
En kom je nog thuis als je naar Engeland gaat?? Als ik je ergens op moet halen in Weeze b.v. zeg het dan maar even. Als het op een dag is wanneer ik de kids niet heb doe ik het graag.
Ik hoor het wel en nog heel veel plezier bij Linn. Doe ze allemaal de groetjes.
Willy
Ujjjain thts my birthplace....and now at 23 i hav finally started living there after living in five different cities..i lov the ghats over there though the river is no longer holy ;)
Reply to Leo Ask me again in about a year from now. I only travelled 6 weeks through your country this time and on the fringes, so that is not really enough to form much of an opinion. And the last time I was in China was a long time ago, a lot has changed since than, I am sure. My impression back in 1993 was very positive, I loved it. We will see what it will be like next year.
Go the Aral Sea! Good one mate! Your comments on the Aral tragedy hit the nail on the head. I just came back from those decaying ships in Moynaq, too. It's true, we all suck. But I dont think we are disaster tourists: no one really understands what's happening in the Aral, ppl only know it's something bad that happened in the middle of nowhere. But this disaster is just so huge, and so devastating in consequence, and so relevant to the issue of climate change today that ppl need to be reminded about the damage our misguided enterprising has on the environment; and eventually ourselves (as the ppl of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan can testify).
It was a pleasurable coincidence meeting you in Khiva! Peace out :)
even nog en het is kerstmis Hoi Ralf
Nog even en je valt in een heerlijk bed bij je zus om verder verwend te worden door Linn en mams. Arme Craig en paps want zij moeten maar een beetje zichzelf vermaken. Dus neem een lekkere fles mee voor je zwager en paps en jij zit goed met de Kerstdagen. Ik wens je hele fijne dagen en een heel gelukkig nieuwjaar. En 2010 brengt voor oma berit een nieuw kleinkind en voor oma Willy ook. Dus ook hier volop pret. Geniet nog van je reis.
Liefs Willy
Thanks. I really enoyed this blog. The sense of open space and the unusual history are some of the things drawing me to Central Asia, and you describe them well. Until I get there, Ill look forward to reading your next few stories.
Tibetan Culture I'm happy you finally got to Tibet even if it was on a tour. Hopefully you can get back there on your own and do some exploring. Take it from somebody who has spent about 5 weeks in Tibet, 10 days is not even scratching the surface (as I am sure you know). I know that you didnt want to touch on the politics of Tibet, but most people don't know the Tibetan story as the Chinese gov't does a great job covering it up. I think you are certainly correct when you say "Ever since the Chinese invaded and Tibetans fled their ancestral homeland, they have spread their unique culture and religion around the world. And this is where their great hope lies. Not in Tibet, but in the growing number of followers around the world, especially in the west." However, I don't agree with the comment " Ironically, I would say the biggest threat to their culture also comes from the west." Although the west is certainly a threat to the culture, at least Tibetans have a choice in the matter, unlike when the Chinese invaded under Mao, killing over 1 million Tibetans and destroying thousands of temples. Not to mention the degradation that they are continued to be subjected to. And as far as I know, they already are a minority in their own country(6 million to 1 million). A sad story that needs to be told. I hope you dont mind me saying that. I will pass along a book that I read a few years ago, supposably the only book written from the Tibetan perspective about the atrocities committed by the Chinese gov't. I forget the name of the book, but i will dig it out one day and pass it along. Hope all is well my friend!
keep going my friend! Just droped by to say hi,
When we first met you I thoght you were amayzing, few years later when me met again I was sure you were the most passionate travler ever and now I can say I am proud of having had some beers with such a great travller!
Cheers
Fernando
Hey Ryalf. Sam says as a man who never wears underpants he's glad he visited Kazakhstan in the summer! Loving the travel updates - keep it up! Tr to get to Turkmenistan if you can - especially Merv.....keep up the stories!
I am a Fan,follower. Hey Man . How do you do . Like the title says , Iam a Huge fan of yours. I would luv to be a traveler like you.I really admire your spirit and attitude.Some day I hope to get to live a life like yours , traveling. I have so many questions that keep popping into my head I wanna Ask you.
Lets start with this -
1} No offense, But how often do you end up humping a pillow ;-)
Ralf waar was je gelukkig iets van je te horen. Er was al een beetje ongerustheid. En dat is niet leuk. Maar je hebt hele leuke dingen gedaan. En goh we kunnen nog bijna 70 jaar van je genieten. Maar hoe ga je dat aanpakken met die vrouwen??? Nou ja tijd genoeg om erover na te denken. Wij filosoferen hier wel over mee hahaha.....
Nou op naar je volgende verhaal. De foto's zijn prachtig!! Veel plezier verder
Doeiug............................
anonymous
non-member comment
Luv ur blog... You really do have a way of putting thoughts into words beautifully... are you planning to combine all of this into a book? It would be great! BTW, how do u earn for travelling???