My entry in Kyrgyzstan was not quite so easy as I first told you. On the Kazaks side, the customs officers warned me several times to enter a country where most foreigners try to get out at the moment. Was my information wrong? Was the North more dangerous as I had been told? Then they warned me, that once out of Kazakhstan, I could not return as my visa was a single entry visa. This made me even more nervous. Once in the country, the only way out would be China, so I had to cross the country from North to South. But I took the risk and drove to the Kyrgyz border. Here everything went fine, no problems at all. Actually this border, officially closed, was one of the busiest borders I crossed in Central Asia! But the following day there was a shooting there, and two Kazakh people were wounded.

But now I had a much bigger problem: On the documents that I had to fill in at the border, it was clearly specified that I entered with a car. My plan was to leave Kyrgyzstan without my car, and this was basically impossible, unless I could prove that I, or the new owner of the car, had paid the 3000$ on import tax that is due in this case.

But Kyrgyzstan is known as one of the most corrupt countries in Central Asia, and this time I used this in my favor. Together with my friend T. we soon found a flexible customs officer, and half a day later I had new false-true document, where my car was no more mentioned.

The next step was to get rid of the car without paying 3000$. It would be too long to tell you the whole story, but the next day this was settled as well, and soon my Golf will be driven with nice Kyrgyz number plates….

On the very last of the numerous police controls, they tried to take 50€ off me, but this time a phone call to my new, higher ranked “friend” from the police convinced them to accept just a 5€ “tip”.  The policeman took my money and put it into the documents storage. I had a glimpse into it, and, I swear you, it was full of money!

On that same evening I saw an Audi with Lithuanian number plates stopping another car. Four men with Kalashnikov pulled the driver and passengers out. I do not know what happened then, because I left the place as fast as I could

Yesterday I passed the Kyrgyz border without any problems, except a few sweat drops on my forehead.

Destroyed entry to the Parliament in Bishkek. This is the place where many people died a few weeks ago

Unlike in most other ex-soviet republics, Lenine is still very present in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz Ladies in traditional dress