16,000 kilometers, 1 bus and a license to bribe
On the Mongol Rally, budgeting for corruption is a must to complete treacherous journey across 25 countries.
Did this mean that by the time I got back to Europe, everyone would be swindling each other and I'd have to bribe immigration to get back into the country?
AT A GLANCE: Mongol Rally destinations
Turkmenistan
Population: 5.3 million
Capital: Ashgabat
Main exports: Oil, gas, textiles, raw cotton
Uzbekistan
Population: 27.8 million
Capital: Tashkent
Main exports: Cotton, gold, natural gas, mineral fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, motor vehicles
Kyrgystan
Population: 5.5 million
Capital: Bishkek
Main exports: Fruit, vegetables, gold, tobacco
Russia
Population: 140.3 million
Capital: Moscow
Main exports: Oil and oil products, natural gas, wood and wood products, metals, chemicals, weapons and military equipment
At a glance: Mongol Rally Destinations
Azerbaijan
Population: 8.8 million
Capital: Baku
Main exports: Oil, oil products
Mongolia
Population: 2.7 million
Capital: Ulan Bator
Main exports: Copper concentrate, dehaired cashmere, textiles, hides
Kazakhstan
Population: 15.7 million
Capital: Astana
Main exports: Oil, uranium, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery, chemicals, grain, wool, met, coal
Georgia
Population: 4.2 million
Capital: Tbilisi
Main exports: Scrap metal, wine, fruit
At one point, a soldier made a motion to the rest of my team and said, “your boyfriend, your girlfriend, your brother, your sister? Uzbekistan. You? Turkmenbashi.” With this, about seven men erupted in laughter.
At a glance: Mongol Rally Destinations
Kosovo
Population: 1.8 million
Capital: Prishtina
Main exports: Coal, lead, zinc, chromium, silver
Serbia
Population: 8 million
Capital: Belgrade
Main exports: Manufactured goods, food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment
Montenegro
Population: 625,000
Capital: Podgorica
Main exports: Aluminium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Population: 3.8 million
Capital: Sarajevo
Main exports: Wood and paper, metal products
At a glance: Mongol Rally Destinations
Greece
Population: 11.2 million
Capital: Athens
Main exports: Textiles and clothing, food, oil products
Macedonia
Population: 2 milion
Capital: Skopje
Main exports: Clothing, iron and steel
Croatia
Population: 4.4 milion
Capital: Zagreb
Main exports: Machinery and transport equipment, clothing, chemicals
Slovakia
Population: 5.4 milion
Capital: Bratislava
Main exports: Manufactured good, machinery and transport equipment
Corruption by the numbers (Source: Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index 2010)
Turkemenistan
CPI: 172/178
Uzbekistan
CPI: 172/178
Kyrgystan
CPI: 164/178
Russia
CPI: 154/178
Azerbaijan
CPI: 134/178
Mongolia
CPI: 116/178
Kosovo
CPI: 110/178
Kazakhstan
CPI: 105/178
Bosnia and Herzegovina
CPI: 91/178
Serbia
CPI: 78/178
Greece
CPI: 78/178
Montenegro
CPI: 69/178
Georgia
CPI: 68/178
Croatia
CPI: 62/178
Macedonia
CPI: 62/178
Slovakia:
CPI: 59/178
Turkey:
CPI: 56/178
Czech republic
CPI: 53/178
Hungary
CPI: 50/178
France
CPI: 25/178
Belgium
CPI: 2/178
United Kingdom
CPI: 20/178
Germany
CPI: 11/178
Luxemburg
CPI: 22/178
Kosovo 2.0
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This story was originally written in English.