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Northern and Central Asia Topics specific to Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, China, Japan and Korea
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #181  
Old 22 Aug 2015
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It's a great resource I have been using for years and I am very grateful for it. Much better than anything else out there. Let's not change it as long as Colebatch is up for it. Not sure why we have this discussion. He is still curating it and passionate about the region. Just contribute and enjoy.

Typed with my thumbs on my phone
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  #182  
Old 28 Aug 2015
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A few more

G'day again Walter,, I've got a few more for the list.

Almaty - "Freerider" it's a workshop, spare parts, bike sales and hostel all rolled into one. Not a huge selection of spares but at least you can get oil and use the workshop facilities. You can get parts sent there also. I didn't stay at the hostel so can't comment on it. N 43 12.908 E 076 53.885

Almaty - "Five Seasons" Hostel with secure parking and free wifi. Lots of parking and in a nice quiet area with good access to the city. Clean rooms, hot showers and good kitchen facilities. N 43 13.686 E 076 56.031

Bishkek - "Spice Brothers Biker Bar" Open air bar, mechanic, and hostel. Just on the outskirts of the city but with lots of buses passing for city access and on the right side of the city for access to the consulates. Good place to meet with local bikers, get some minor or major maintenance carried out on the bike and get a feed. The hostel is pretty basic at the moment but it's cheap. I had the stator on the DRZ400 sorted here. The mechanic removed it and had the right connections to get it repaired.
N 42 49.593 E 074 38 501 I don't know why this keeps coming up as a skype number???? Bloody computers.

Bishkek to Osh highway - "Tourist Camp" Across a small steel bridge and behind the trees is hidden a really nice little lodge. Spotlessly clean rooms, steaming hot showers and good parking for bikes. Bed in a three bed dorm for 700 som, they even have a swimming pool fed by a mountain stream.
N 42 09.734 E 072 51.854

Biysk - "Help Post - Black African" The man in charge here is Igor AKA Black African, it's the local bike club set up on his own property on the outskirts of Biysk. Igor has a car repair business and can sort out any bike structural problems for those in need, he will also know of any places for spares or tyres if they are to be found and where you can buy bike oil. Some accommodation available in the clubhouse for a nominal cost. If bikers use this they should consider that Igor personally bears much of the cost. He refused payment for some of the work he did for me so I had to work out other ways of compensation like doing big grocery shopping trip and slipping some cash into a place he would discover after I left. N 52 35.305 E 085 15.425

Osh - "Guesthouse" Secure parking and some of the nicest rooms I've seen on this trip, these are more like a 3 to 4 star hotel room with in-room refrigerator, tea and coffee facilities and cable TV . Owner lives on site and speaks good English. Room price includes a cooked breakfast.
N 40 30.951 E 072 47.406

Enjoy.
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  #183  
Old 30 Aug 2015
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Thanks. Will incorporate those
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  #184  
Old 31 Aug 2015
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Walter, here's another one for Kyrgyzstan that Kurt and I stayed in: a turbaza on the south side of the big reservoir between Bishkek and Osh, west of Torkent.

The location is: Lat: 41.752928 Lon: 72.925465

The turbaza has a beach on the reservoir, a nice view, a pool, decent rooms, and a very good and cheap cafe on its grounds.
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  #185  
Old 4 Sep 2015
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Thanks mate
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  #186  
Old 4 Sep 2015
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September 2015 Update

Here is the update file since July.

Full file on front page as always.
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File Type: gdb 2015 Sept Updates.gdb (1.2 KB, 361 views)
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  #187  
Old 18 Sep 2015
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A set of selected/edited waypoints just emailed, final from this trip, now in Vladivostok. There are a few in there which are existing ones marked as DELETE, like closed fuel stations. And there should be no duplicates of existing ones.
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  #188  
Old 21 Sep 2015
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Fuel in Mongolia

Walter,
thanks for the wapyoints file. Here's a bunch of petrol stations that are either not in your file or been upgraded to 92. When not mentioned, it's diesel and 80 only. We're on 4 wheels and running on DT, so I can't comment on the quality or shortage of 92.

In fact, after 10'000 km in Mongolia, I think most of the towns have diesel and 80 benzin on sale, so listing then seems moot. OTOH, they're building many brand new petrol stations, most of which now carry 92 octane, which could mean a lot for people with newer bikes.

I reckon that, if you can use 80, then you can go pretty much anywhere without worrying in Mongolia with 250 km of range (excluding some remote parts of Gobi and the far East maybe). And with 500 km you could make do with only 92.

On 4 wheels with a spare tank of diesel, you could now even go wherever you want and only top up with your credit card... it seems you can use plastic in all aimag capitals.

That's how fast Mongolia is changing.

Laurent
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  #189  
Old 4 Dec 2015
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Are OSM ( open street maps) still the best maps for this region ??

I'm doing a trip from UK to Mongolia through Russia, Ukraine, 'the stans' and into Mongolia.

Cheers, Ted
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  #190  
Old 4 Dec 2015
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Smile

Yes and no
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  #191  
Old 4 Dec 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bertrand View Post
Yes and no
Helpful as always
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  #192  
Old 4 Dec 2015
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Talking

A vague question usually solicits a vague answer Ted!
Free? Paying? Electronic? Paper? Topographic? Atlas? Etc.
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  #193  
Old 4 Dec 2015
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I've uploaded all the maps I need from osm, with the waypoints from on here,
They are great,
On my iPhone and iPad I've gone for maps.me for offline maps very fast and very detailed, great for zooming in and out,
Also got inReach mapping not the best but good as a backup.
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  #194  
Old 4 Dec 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
Are OSM ( open street maps) still the best maps for this region ??

I'm doing a trip from UK to Mongolia through Russia, Ukraine, 'the stans' and into Mongolia.

Cheers, Ted
Hi Ted,
Yes the OSM were pretty good and accurate around central asia and Russia when we used it last year. Very useful in big towns and also if you plan "shortcuts"!
Not that useful in Mongolia but you will understand what I mean when you get there. Make sure you load them. But also ensure you take Walter's waypoints, very useful.

Cheers,
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  #195  
Old 4 Dec 2015
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A vague question usually solicits a vague answer Ted!
Free? Paying? Electronic? Paper? Topographic? Atlas? Etc.
For my Garmin Montana.


By the way, have you found a Tablet that will run Garmin Basecamp ??
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