Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
mongolia!!!!!!!!!! Seems a previous update and pic did not come through... This place rocks! Great to have made it here, and ma ** some text is missing **
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Should be collecting Chinese visas on Monday and jetting off to beijing tuesday morn!
Bayan Olgii, Mongolia
MADE IT TO MONGOLIA! But car has had it! Broken 3 suspention springs,steering is making banging noises, brakes almost non existant! Decided to leave it here and head onwards by other means! Dont want to be stranded in the wilderness with a snapped axle!
Semey, Kazakhstan
leaving for Russia with love... Just spent a day in semey where 460 nuclear bombs tested.. Apparently short stay ok.... Just means you get sunburnt the longer you are exposed to radiation hahaha :)
Almaty Province, Kazakhstan
car pulled over on police check, died as totally empty on petrol... Luckily right next to motel AND petrol station AND a lady will ** some text is missing **
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
here for a couple of days :) resting and checking out the city. Have some funny photos of us and malitia near osh.. Weird weird weird.. And disturbing! Happy for the break and there are some American and English bars local to us!
Murghab, Tajikistan
parmir highway is a beaut... Roads are actually far better than expected here... Serious relief! Cellphone reception too at this part! Thinking of finding somewhere to do some minor rock climbing x
Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan
finally back on track after massive detour! Heading for khorog at start of parmirs. Car has been pushed way past it's limits on broken bridges, boulders, and through oncoming rivers. Road too rocky to type more!
Region of Republican Subordination, Tajikistan
arrived late last night after the worst roads so far on mountain passes and half finished tunnels. Scenery is beautiful, the locals... ? Not so much... Need to search for tent and register with police as my (nicks) visa turns out to be 'private' rather than 'tourist'. Staying at Asia grand hotel and it's expensive but good for a decent night sleep!! Local money is 'somony' so asked the waiter last night if he wanted 'some money' :)
Samarkand, Uzbekistan
my tent is broken (nick) so another sleepless night in car for me at the border last night. We are convoying with the ambulence team from Denmark... All good... Got through border without having to pay bribes! Fuel shortage here, so hope we can find enough to make our way out tomorrow! Looking for a hotel tonight as grubby and tired.@
Alex Hickinbotham
Load Alex
<p align="center"><font color="#333399"><strong><u><font size="5"> Just Deserts</font></u></strong></font></p><p align="center"><font size="4">One way to cover most of the Planet</font> </p><p><font face="comic sans ms,sans-serif" size="2"> In July 2010 it will be the fifth edition of the Mongol Rally; a non conventional rally from London to Mongolia in a car total unsuited to the task and without a support team! </font></p><p><font face="comic sans ms,sans-serif" size="2"> Basically, The Mongol Rally is a humanitarian adventure of small cars. In order to enter, each team must give a minimum donation of 1,500 euros to charities which help disadvantaged children in Mongolia and across the world, such as the NSPCC and Children and Young People’s Protection and Development in Mongolia. In addition, we aim to raise more by selling our car, in a pre-arranged auction to Mercy Corps Association, upon arrival in Mongolia. This year, in order to help in mongol population, approximately 500 000 euros will be redistributed as a result of funds raised in this event.</font></p><p><font face="comic sans ms,sans-serif" size="2"> This year, a team of two of us have been successful in securing a place in this ‘once-in-a-life-time’ rally departing from london and joining more teams from Spain and Italy along the way. </font></p><p><font face="comic sans ms,sans-serif" size="2"> There are a few requirements for the cars in order to qualify. Firstly the vehicle must have an engine size of 1.2 Litres of less. Secondly, it must be less than 10 years old. </font></p><p><font face="comic sans ms,sans-serif" size="2"> The Choice of car is yet to be finalized, but what ever we take we will need a car that can make it across some 20 countries, covering some 10,000 miles, on road and off road, with a transit time of around 5 weeks.</font></p><p><font face="comic sans ms,sans-serif" size="2"> Upon arrival, the little car will be given to Mercy Corps Association, which supports the development of rural Mongolia. The car will be auctioned off to raise money for the various charities involved with the rally, plus any charities of our choosing.</font></p>