Information for prospective Wild East participants
1. What are you looking forward to?
2. What are you NOT looking forward to?
3. How will Azerbaijan compare to other WE countries?
4. Name something(s) we should do
5. Name something(s) we SHOULDN'T do.
6. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each Wild East member
7. What are the codes/signals used in the Wild East, what do they
mean?
8. How many muggings/shootings/thefts/skirmishes have there been on
all expeditions so far?
9. What happens if I get shot?
The Wild East FAQ
Anton:
Erm…hopefully there will be widespread usage of the Russian language and I can practice/hear a fair amount. The exoticness of the place. The maidens tower, Baku. Seeing the Caucasus mountains. Meeting the Azeri/Russian/local populace. Playing chess on the seafront. The fantastic food. Seeing near-desert terrain for the first time. Qoobistan- an errie collection of ruins. A (hopefully) cheap and plentiful supply of the local beer. Decent night-life (in Baku)....
Mark:
Finding cheap beer/vodka/cigarettes/CDs. Interacting with the locals. Different scenery.
Anton:
When I discover they hate/don’t speak much Russian. The 30 degree heat at night with no air-conditioning. When we get bitten by mosquitos and catch malaria. Being stared at continually. Being mistaken for Armenians (could get us killed). Being mistaken for Americans/Russians (punishment unknown). No running water in cheap ‘hotels’. Foreigner pricing.
Mark:
Cramped/long journey times. Squadrons of mosquitoes/potential 'accidents'.
Anton:
Very Soviet architecture in many places. Will be a hot, muslim version of Ukraine, but not as wealthy! Possibly very bureaucratic, although Visa regimes have relaxed in recent years. There may be a great deal of visible poverty, especially outside of Baku. I don’t think we will see many (if any) tourists, although Azerbaijan is occasionally appearing on the lonely planet thorn tree. Baku may be expensive, due to a glut of oil-money/expats. Anything like a full-english breakfast (if it’d possible to get them) will cost about $12.
Mark:
Soviet infrastructure with a muslim/oriental slant. Not as laid back as other asian countries, more bureaucracy.
Anton:
Go to lots of local bars and (in baku, at least one night-club)
See the highs and lows of everywhere. I want to see the devastation on the Aberon peninsula
Mark:
Drop lyrics from Sophie Ellis Bextor songs into conversations with
locals.
Anton:
Stay in and watch bad TV (has been known in the past) unless there is nowhere to go. We may only go to azerbaijan once!
Mark:
Talk in loud voices. Wear shorts.
Anton:
Mark- generally the more outgoing of the pair. More likely to stick out and will complain if he doesn’t get good service. The locals will notice him more, which can be good and bad. They may take a shine to him, or they may be extremely irritated by him.
Anthony- Usually a bit more paranoid/suspicious of people. Reasonable Russian language skills mean the team should get a better deal in hotels, are less likely to be ripped-off etc. Prefers to blend in which can be good and bad. This does mean he generally stays out of trouble, but in doing so he may miss out on something good or he misses a social opportunity.
Mark:
Anton - Strength: navigation, language. Weakness: Paranoia, chess
Mark - Strength: communication, instinct. Weakness: Laziness
Anton:
The Rainbow Six games have had a big influence on these.
Any potential crook, thief or undesireable is a 'Tango'.
Used with the clockface i.e. tango 9o’clock means potential trouble to our left.
When one of us gets shot: 'Man down'.
Mark:
Keep an eye on my back is 'Watch my six'
When the coast is clear we use 'No Tangos in sight'.
Anton:
-Muggings 0. A half-hearted attempt took place in the railway station, Katowice, Poland 2000
-Thefts 2. A cheap walkman was left unattended in a room. Prague, 2000.
Police extorted $5 in Uzhgorod, Ukraine 2002.
-Skirmishes. 2 Chased out of Belfast bar in Brasov, Romania, 2001
A fight was witnessed in Lviv, Ukraine 2002
-Shootings 0 even with Sarajevo included.
Mark:
-Arrests 1! Uzhgorod, Ukraine
Anton:
Hopefully Mark’s first aid skills will be able to deal with situation!
Mark:
The quote 'Man down' must be said before any further action can be taken