Shed loads...

1500 usd for all permits/license/insurance/plates and a guide to Urumqi (2 people/bikes).
Then we got stiffed for another 1500! to get out.

The cost of travelling/accommodation/grub was cheap.

John

Reddybooboo,

Damn 3kUSD is some serious change to get into China and no doubt that cash stuffed some dudes pockets. At least they produced they documents though and you were able to make the trip. Do you have some material about it?


Franki-avalone,
Well look who's here! Play nice Franki!:thumbup1: :D Hey you still going to be around this January?

CC

Merry X'mas CC!
Had a great time with BB during the Thai - Myanmar run. Got some great photos but the camera was stolen and all photos lost! Still got some video clips left.....

I should be around most part of Jan. Only occasional short trip into China. Have you got a travel plan yet?

Planning a big trip to Tibet in May.....

Crazy, you are right there.
The deal was, 1500 usd to get all the required docs and a guide to Urumqi. Then we were supposed to be free and gone.
On arrival in Urumqi, the person we had been dealing with was nowhere to be found and another guy turns up and says 3000 usd for the rest of your trip... He did say please;)

We legged it on our own but he had the customs docs and thats what cost us another 1500 to get out of the country. The customs at Tashkorgan seemed quite happy for us to sit there until our visa expired and then they would arrest us.

Stuff on my blog at bikerbytes.com/txp

Happy NY

John

I noticed in BB's thread that you lost your camera and was sad to hear it. Oh well, cameras are getting crazier by the day and although it's some money, they can still b e replaced quite easily. When you going to put your video up?

I should be heading to Malaysia around the middle of Jan for my AhKong's birthday. Hope to stop by and see Lorne and you in GZ/HK area after that towards the end of Jan. Still have no tickets yet but I think the new Mrs would like to see HK and, of course, try her hand at a little shopping. I will contact you directly when things have firmed up either way.

You getting used to the new "emot-icons" yet? :thumbup1:

CC

Reddybooboots...

Well if that ain't par for the course. Well that is incredibly annoying but I'm happy you made it through okay. I also had a "fun time" with the folks at Tashkorgan. It's nice to see streams of toursits in taxis getting permits to visit the pass but a foreigner on a motorcycle gets the stiff shit in the mud. Oh well...sign of the times! On to other bigger better things.

CC

Financial lose is secondary but the photos were irreplacable.....
I used a borrowed video cam as mine couldn't record a time code anymore due to years of abuse. The video cam owner did not maintain the unit and most of the video clips have noise. I tried to captured them onto my computer yesterday and will spend some time edit out the bad ones. I think a 15 mins clip would do. Will send a DVD to BB and he can post it on Youtube or something. He has more time to kill.

End of Jan will be very close to CNY. Shopping will be great but the hotels will be expensive. New Mrs.....Congratulations! Bring loads of cash for her shopping, hehehe.

Dunno how to use the emot-icon here :o(

Franki

Chinese Driving license
 

Hi Franki
I had never heard that I could get a Chinese license with my Hong Kong one how did you go about that.
No I am not Chinese but I live in Hong Kong and have a HK license.
Rory

Check this for HK and South China Chinese Driving License Service for Expats/Foreigner

or this if you are in Shanghai Price List and Paperwork of Foreigner Visa Services in Shanghai China look at the end of the page

Mrs and I used the second one 18 months ago when in Shanghai, take 1 hour to pass the Q&R exam (100 Q) in English on a computer no practical test, got the 5 years driving license (car and bike) same day. We were on a 6 months Biz visa, should be doable on a 3 months leisure visa. Paid 1400RMB per license to the company, they provided an english speaking guy all way along to manage the whole process.

Brice

Brice
Wow on it! Thanks very much seems simple and everyone I spoke to said it couldnt be done will let you know how I get on.
Rory

My little experience about China (only 30 months at this stage) shows me that nearly everything is possible at the end but it can take time and mostly having some connection to sort out the bureaucratic system helps a lot.

In my case for now, the next challenge is to buy (more or less easy) and register 2 bikes in my home town considering they are banned here!

Enjoy the roads and man zou

Brice

You're already inside China. It's a different gig.

If registering your bike in town is a problem, you can ask the moto shop to arrange someone who will register the bike for you in their name, then sell
it to you (although you're really paying form the beginning). Make and sign a piece of paper that transfers ownership of the bike to you and you're off...plates and all. Of course this is not for free but should only be a few hundred RMB for the service.

The other option is to get second hand 150's and go ghetto style. Used bikes come with plates and title.

CC