Our 5 day exercise in getting into China in now nearly over. We are "in" and staying in Yining awaiting a bit more paper from the customs office.

Part of the the money (80 usd) we paid the agent was for bike insurance turns out it was "personal insurance" whatever that is.
We have to pay another 180 rmb (18 Euro) for the bike insurance. Not a lot but all these dribbling amounts add up.

You are no longer issued a Chinese number plate. They give you a credit card sized piece of plastic with the vehicle number on it.

Find a GOOD agent. I know of one now but the one we used is not good. Most of the work has been farmed out to other people who know all about their paparticular skill but not the whole picture. Lots and lots of phoning and taxi rides involved for them.

John

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Nostradamus Ate My Hamster

Well hey that's some good news! Sounds like a lot of paperwork flying around.

The "personal" insurance may also be hospital care for the rider of the motorcycle. It could be BS but if you're paying for insurance, it wouldn't hurt to know the details about it.

Congrats! So where to next?

CC

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Next is Pakistan... but first to exit China.
The agent has screwed us and our schedule so our stay has been very short but very good so far.
Took the road from Urumqi to Korla - 230 kms of dirt and over a 4200 meter pass. Brill!!


John

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Nostradamus Ate My Hamster

So Redboots, I am curious, did you just turn up at a border crossing (which one?) and then try and enter with no arrangements beforehand? Can you fill us in? Thanks

Adrian

Magadan to Istanbul

So please tell us who the good agent is and how to contact him/her. How do you know he is good? Also, who is the bad agent you used?

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Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10

The good: A guy called Abdul (yeah, yeah... theres lots of them). He works through NEWLANDS TRAVEL in KASHGAR (Kashi) Tel: 086 132 79 414 301 (mobile) Email: abdul-yili@yahoo.com Also contactable via Newlands Travel in Kashgar but I do not have their tel/email to hand. A search here should reveal it.

How do I know he's good? Several indicators. Met 4 Swiss people that used him without problems. (in camper cars though). I have met him here in Kashgar and he has tried very hard to help us but without the all-important customs import document, he can do nothing. He knows the customs formalities.
These formalities were put in place on June 1st or there abouts.
We just tried to get out to Pakistan this morning at Tashkorgan. No joy.
They said that without the customs import paper they would not let us through.
As this is a cutoms form, they car not that your visa or vehicle registration may expire. That would create other problems! We have until July 3rd before the veh. reg expires...
They did sugesty that we get a new on in Kashgar but that would cost another 2500RMB.

The bad guys: "Janet" (email: zyusup@hotmail.com )who seems to be a freelancer and takes the money and hands you over to a travel agent.
The travel agent in question is Xinjian Golden Bridge Foklore Int'l Travel Service of China, based in Urumqi.

He now claims the "authorities" have fined him 5000rmb for not preventing us travelling on our own. He wants us to pay him this. He cant seem to produce any paperwork to support this though.

You can travel here, but it requires a lot of preparation/coordination.

John

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Nostradamus Ate My Hamster

Hi John,

I tried contacting Abdul on the email address you gave above, but the mail bounced straight away. Are you sure this is the right mail address?

Thanks
Bjorn

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http://www.panomoto.com

Hi Bjorn,

Try Jiang at newlandtravel@hotmail.com

or Abdul Wahab at abdultour@yahoo.com

Both have been recommended.

Hope this helps and good luck.