At first, the idea was to get to Japan, driving all the way through Russia to Vladivostok. Such a trip would have been the utmost for Filip, but hardly bearable for Augusta, and a hell with a baby. And after Japan, what shall we do? Send the bus by a container? We thought of all possibilities, taking into account the time, visas, climate, costs, and we decided to realise only part of the journey with the bus and the rest of it in public transports, with our backpacks. In such way, the adventure should be all the more diversified and interesting!
Visas:
The Russian visa has to be made in the country of our nationality: mine in France, Filip's in Poland and for Elios we had the choice: he bears both passports since he was 3 months old! We chose a tourist visa (30 days, 15 € for invitation + 35€ for the consulate tax), that will be little time to drive through Russia but more than 300 € cheaper than business visas (up to 3 months).
So we're planning to enter Mongolia through the nearest border, which is also the most difficult in terms of roads and rivers to cross: the border in the Altai. Therefore we need to get our Mongolian visas in advance, at the embassy in Warsaw (we would have made it in Irkustk otherwise, it seems simple and not more expensive even for express visa).
The third difficult step will be to get the Chinese visa in Ulan-Baator. Many people have made it, so we'll make it too, even if in theory we need to show a plane return ticket.
Once in South-East Asia, everything should be easy: we can ask for the visas in the previous country or directly on the border. We will be trying to be in the good place in the good moment, going or staying for the cheapest fares. For now, the key word is freedom!
The car:
It had to be the old legendary Volkswagen bus from the 70's. We already had a dozen of them, of every possible type, and we bought one from a friend for the journey: it is a bay window, 1977, type 23 (windows all around), on which Filip is now mounting a 1500cc industrial engine, running on petrol and GPL. We still have to equip it.
Health:
Just the minimal vaccinations (DTP + hepatitis B), a good first aid kit, tick remover, neem oil, mosquito net and auto-tests for paludism (anyway we shouldn't go to paludism zones), complete notes about different illnesses and remedies, and the cell phone number of our family doctor and friend, who allows us to call at any time. And of course, an insurance for repatriation (compulsory for Russia and China).
Material:
Besides mechanical parts and comfort accessories, we must be able to fit everything in two backpacks! Specially bought for the trip:
- netbook eeePc
- compass, GPS
- 4-band cell-phone
- water filter
Contacts:
As the departure comes closer, we're meeting more and more people who have travelled this road, want to do it, or know other people on the road... Thanks to the French site voyage forum, there are quite a few travellers who got prepared together and thanks to the "old" ones who gave good advice. We will also be meeting people through Couchsurfing. Of course, Filip will always be on a look out for fellow Wagensvolk in Russia and possibly Mongolia, and further in South-East Asia.
