2nd of May 2011
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Even though Putin and Medvedev should arrive in Astrakhan tomorrow for fishing I left :-)
Currently is high season for fishing at the lower Volga. Reason is that they get the fish washed in or down from the dam in Volgograd at this time of the year. Everywhere they “hang in” their fishing rod…if I say everywhere I mean everywhere (see pic:-).
After a bit of a restless night - because in Russia tires for cars must be for free - I got up early in the morning. The day before I prepared already my motorbike, checked all screws, contacts, put oil where it should be & made my motorbike Kazakhstan proof.
And since the 1st of May is also in Russia a public holiday and the next day was off all the young people went totally nuts. Races, power sliding, booze, music coming out of the cruising or standing cars with 120 dB (A) (if enough) and of course also in front of my hotel…Naja.
But I made it in about 1 hour to the K-border because all the people were at that time still drunk in bed :-) except the always busy fishermen.
The border crossing took its time but everything went smooth and I was positively surprised by the friendliness of the border control on either side. Clapping their hands and shouting GO GO GO pointing towards Kazakhstan. Custom’s papers…? Pah, just GO! :-) We will see what will happen to me if I will exit Kazakhstan…
While waiting in the cue one old Kazakh guy waiting behind me with his Ludmilla in his car (he had to call her when he was at the check point and her name is in my opinion a perfect fit :-) offered me smiling (a golden grin; there was only gold in his mouth) a chicken leg to eat but I had to apologize. Such friendly people.
Welcome to Kazakhstan! On the first kilometer I passed by a mud hut with a small goat herd in front and I guy waved both hands…welcome!
The emptiness of the landscape struck me and the road was surprisingly good. 120km/h no problem, you just had to be aware of the potholes which could be anywhere. Camels, some oil fields, horse flocks (all of them free; I saw them running away because of the sound of my motorbike...so beautiful), Kazakh Islam cemeteries, some small villages from time to time…I arrived in Atyrau at about 4pm; 1 additional hour time shift. Now I am 3 hours “away” from Germany.
The center of Atyrau reminds me a little bit of Chinese “villages” (I mean those around 1-3 Mio inhabitants:-) even though there is a mosque on the main square. I found a hotel and got some money and everyone I met up to now speaks English. Surprise for me, but of course this is an oil & gas city with international connections & co-operations.
Fishing fun
Pontoon bridge on the way to the border crossing
Who is that strange animal...?
Currently is high season for fishing at the lower Volga. Reason is that they get the fish washed in or down from the dam in Volgograd at this time of the year. Everywhere they “hang in” their fishing rod…if I say everywhere I mean everywhere (see pic:-).
After a bit of a restless night - because in Russia tires for cars must be for free - I got up early in the morning. The day before I prepared already my motorbike, checked all screws, contacts, put oil where it should be & made my motorbike Kazakhstan proof.
And since the 1st of May is also in Russia a public holiday and the next day was off all the young people went totally nuts. Races, power sliding, booze, music coming out of the cruising or standing cars with 120 dB (A) (if enough) and of course also in front of my hotel…Naja.
But I made it in about 1 hour to the K-border because all the people were at that time still drunk in bed :-) except the always busy fishermen.
The border crossing took its time but everything went smooth and I was positively surprised by the friendliness of the border control on either side. Clapping their hands and shouting GO GO GO pointing towards Kazakhstan. Custom’s papers…? Pah, just GO! :-) We will see what will happen to me if I will exit Kazakhstan…
While waiting in the cue one old Kazakh guy waiting behind me with his Ludmilla in his car (he had to call her when he was at the check point and her name is in my opinion a perfect fit :-) offered me smiling (a golden grin; there was only gold in his mouth) a chicken leg to eat but I had to apologize. Such friendly people.
Welcome to Kazakhstan! On the first kilometer I passed by a mud hut with a small goat herd in front and I guy waved both hands…welcome!
The emptiness of the landscape struck me and the road was surprisingly good. 120km/h no problem, you just had to be aware of the potholes which could be anywhere. Camels, some oil fields, horse flocks (all of them free; I saw them running away because of the sound of my motorbike...so beautiful), Kazakh Islam cemeteries, some small villages from time to time…I arrived in Atyrau at about 4pm; 1 additional hour time shift. Now I am 3 hours “away” from Germany.
The center of Atyrau reminds me a little bit of Chinese “villages” (I mean those around 1-3 Mio inhabitants:-) even though there is a mosque on the main square. I found a hotel and got some money and everyone I met up to now speaks English. Surprise for me, but of course this is an oil & gas city with international connections & co-operations.
Fishing fun
Pontoon bridge on the way to the border crossing
Who is that strange animal...?
