East Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan

Spent y'day/last night camped up alone...Drinking Kazak Cocktails & making pasta.Early start today on horrendous roads.Bear Mobil is clunking/shaking/banging/rattling but turning music up LOUD seems to solve the problem.V cold & literally in middle of nowhere.Mongolia is calling!

Nathan Taylor
Of Team Bear
On the The Mongol Rally 2011 08:00 UTC 18th August 2011

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Jambyl Province, Kazakhstan

Lost our phone but got a new one at huge market. Good news is that its free to recieve calls!Despite the mugging,Kazakhstan is great.Currently on our way to Almaty.

Nathan Taylor
Of Team Bear
On the The Mongol Rally 2011 08:27 UTC 12th August 2011

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AqtÃ¶be, Kazakhstan

Greetings from Kazakstan the past few nights we have been camping in the desert in convoy with 4 teams spent last night in hotel and had great dinner in a yurt/bedowin tent. Currently in the Kazak bupa waiting to have Alisons stitches out! The roads have been non existand so desert tracks have been fun if not hair raising the car is full of sand and yeterday so were we. All is well, nobody worry, Kazakhstan is the best place we have been so far!

Nathan Taylor
Of Team Bear
On the The Mongol Rally 2011 17:41 UTC 7th August 2011

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Volgogradskaya oblast, Russia

Arrived in Volgograd yesterday and bumped into another team just as we entered the city!Joined up with them and went out for dinner,vodka and to a Russian nightclub!So good to see another team and we had so much fun together along with random Russian friends we made.Vodka was flowing all night and it was definitley the best night out so far!Returned back to the hotel at 4am and i thought it might be cool to play golf only to be smacked in the face with a golf club by my new best friend Boris!One trip to a Russian hospital in an ambulance,3 stitches later and we are now heading towards Astrakan in convoy with a couple of other teams!Both safe and sound and having a great time!

Nathan Taylor
Of Team Bear
On the The Mongol Rally 2011 20:44 UTC 5th August 2011

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Rostov-on-Don, Russia

Early morning again this morning as we were on the road from 8.30am,heading toward Russia!I did the morning stretch and Nathan did the afternoon and before we knew it we were at the Ukraine/Russian border...surprisingly everything went smoothly and no bribes were needed.Had to queue for 3 hours at the border and had LOTS of paperwork to fill out but other than that we sailed straight through to Russisa!After losing an hour due to the time difference,we ploughed on and managed to make it to Rostov just as it was getting dark.Stopped at the traffic lights and asked for directions to a hotel from a guy in a car with a 'Russia Rally' sticker on the side.Ended up, pulling up and having a chat with him on where would be best to stay.He invited us back to his house,and we followed him in our car only to be welcomed in with opened arms by him and his wife when we arrived.Before we knew it we were all sitting together having dinner like old friends!Its so amazing how kind people can be!All we asked for was directions to a hotel but in the end we ended up spending most of the evening together.Alex and Julia even booked a hotel for us and later on,led the way to the hotel so we wouldnt get lost.First taste of Russia has exceeded all expectations and we are very happy bunnies!Hopefully planning on reaching Volgograd tomorrow so if any other ralliers are there already we hope to bump into you!

Nathan Taylor
Of Team Bear
On the The Mongol Rally 2011 19:01 UTC 3rd August 2011

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Odesa, Ukraine

Woke up this morning at 7am in our hideous hotel room and after getting vague directions to the motorway, we were on our way.The last stretch of Romania flew by and before we knew it we were at our first proper border:Moldova!Our insurance was not applicable...surprise suprise,so we got ourselves a Green card and headed across the worse roads we have experienced so far!Huge potholes everyone,like craters on the moon,up to a foot deep.At times we had to abandon the the roads for dirt tracks.Having crossed Moldova...two borders later,we were in the Ukraine by 1.30.300km to Odessa so we gritted our teeth and hit the road.Its been tougher today that previous days but worth it as we are now sat on the beach over looking the Black Sea with a beer in hand!Sorry GMa but we deserve it!3 countries done today...3 more to go!Love you all and a big welcome home to Charlie Jo!

Nathan Taylor
Of Team Bear
On the The Mongol Rally 2011 16:24 UTC 2nd August 2011

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Galati, Romania

Woke up early and were on the road by seven thirty heading towards Brasov.Had a beautiful but long day driving across the remainder of Romania to the border of Moldova...another country we didnt plan on visiting!Currently writing from a cheap hotel we stumbled across in this hideous city...its such a vast contrast to the mountain paradise we spent the last two nights in.Galati appears to be a huge industrial town and as we only saw three hotels whilst driving through the city,we guess its probably not a tourist hotspot.Still,we made good time today and all we need is somewhere to rest out heads before the QUICK drive across Moldova to our destination of Odessa for tomorrow night!As we didnt blog yesterday we,ll fill you in on what happened...Spent the day horse riding and fishing where i caught my FIRST EVER FISH...and Nathan caught fifteen!Yummy trout to eat and sat relaxing,looking up at the Translivanian Apls.Didnt want to leave!Will update you again when we have experienced our drive through Moldova!Wish us luck!

Nathan Taylor
Of Team Bear
On the The Mongol Rally 2011 08:39 UTC 1st August 2011

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Sibiu

Hi guys currently at the base of the Transilvanian Alps 20km east of Sibu and WOW its incredible!Bit of a scary dirive last night down a dirt track in the pitch black.Almost hit a dog!Eventually stumbled across a wood cabin run by Germans with rooms available.Was a bit sceptical as we were in the middle of no where in the dark but decided to have faith and stayed the night.Feel the fear and do it anyway!Best decision we have made so far as we have woken up in the most beautiful part of Romania:Opened our curtains so see the Alps staring back at us...Definitley worth the pitch black drive of horror!In a predicament as to whether to stay longer or drive on?Too beautiful to put into words!Currently writting this outside,hearing nothing but the sound of the river flowing.Next atop possibly Constanta...but who knows!

Nathan Taylor
Of Team Bear
On the The Mongol Rally 2011 20:24 UTC 28th July 2011

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Budapest, Hungary

Woke up this morning with very sore heads!Had a fantastic night in Bratislava and didnt want to leave.Re packed the roof rack that we had to unpack to get into the undergroumd car park and made way for Budapest.Entered the city and realised what a nightmare it was going to be to park so eventu!ly ended up on the motorway again heading south.Found a town in Lonely Planet and thought we would stay for th night.Ended up stumbling across an Extreme Water Sports festival with a massive man made lake and a spot for us to camp.Have been invited to a beginners wake boarding lesson tomorrow which,hopefully,we can do!Just seem to be stumbling across the most amazing places!xxx

Nathan Taylor
Of Team Bear
On the The Mongol Rally 2011 19:10 UTC 27th July 2011

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BratislavskÃ½ kraj, Slovakia

Hi all,after yesterdays fun and games we took a trip to the Church of Bones in the middle of no where in Kutna Hora!Was def worth getting lost to find and when we were there a american group of tourists sang whilst walking around the church....Glee gone Gothic,AMAZING!we have niw made it to the stunning and surprising city of Bratislava!After five nights under canvas we have splashed out on a night in a hotel...feels sooo good to have a proper shower!Currently writing this from a bar in the city,four pints down and we are in for a good night!Jam session is on and im waiting for Nathan to get up and attepmt to play the sax...hopefully!To all who think Bratislava is a hideous town...you are so wrong!Have fun work tomorrow everyone!xxxx

Team Team Bear

East Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan

Jambyl Province, Kazakhstan

AqtÃ¶be, Kazakhstan

Volgogradskaya oblast, Russia

Rostov-on-Don, Russia

Odesa, Ukraine

Galati, Romania

Sibiu

Budapest, Hungary

BratislavskÃ½ kraj, Slovakia