Monday 21st June

had a good night --not to many bites, which is good because we have dozens already---the visas for Khazakstan start today, so off we go........country 18 and it's hot 45 degrees----we crossed a river on a very iffy bridge--saw a herd of horses running free!!!11am arrived at Russian customs and handed in all our papers---they did not check anything that we were made to delare on entering Russia----passport control o.k.---2 hours and we are through====now 10km no mans land to Khaz customs====they split us up===me and Beverley to walk through--Lee with car---after a long wait we got through and met up--now Lee set off for passport control and we waited in car and waited and waited---elderley lady in car next to us keeps wailing at us to go to her...but we cannot...we can't understand what she is shouting and why is she there....I.m very sorry but it's very scarey just being here I can't get involved with other peoples problems------after another 20 mins Lee comes back he needs 500 rubels for customs man---special price for tourists==50 rubels for anyone else!!! 2.30 Lee has to sort out insurance--well at least we may get some this time---he comes back just needs bribes now so we give them our walkie talkies and a knife and a pen they want more and more but we say no---ok then---3pm we enter Khaz........we see more wild horses and houses made of wood with flat roofs---so not much rain here then----graves everywhere======Beverley says "Is it me or are they camels over there?" they are everywhere!!! ....pitched up on flat sand area and cooked rice ect....can see house in distance=====A shepherd comes to say hello (no english) he stays and eats with us, he invites us to go sleep at his house, we decline and thank him...he fetches his neighbour and we drink water together, the shepherd tells us he has 400 sheep........