Kindle Edition Amazon The Red Quest Category:  Travel Publisher: STP Publishing ISBN-10:  1484889797 Type: Non-Fiction Pages: 279 Copyright: Jan 17, 2013 ISBN-13: 9781484889794 Price: $3.31 (eBook) The Red Quest is the true story of one man's mission to visit every country of the former Soviet Union. In the Red Quest, the author samples fermented mare's milk in Kazakhstan, gets chased by hounds in Kiev, is detained by the police in Kyrgyzstan, travels through a snow blizzard between Armenia and Georgia, and gets mugged by a pensioner in Tajikistan. Oh, and he also takes a side trip to a genuine breakaway state where he is almost beaten up in a border hut. All in the name of The Red Quest! Constantly berated by his friend for wanting to go to 'Turnipland', the Red Quest is a journey spanning half the world from Western Europe to the edge of China! And he is armed only with a pocket full of roubles and a turnip masher. Join Jason Smart as he travels along the Red Quest through Latvia, Estonia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary, Russia, Romania, Moldova. Ukraine, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Poland, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and East Germany!          Excerpt “Zis your first time in Russia?” asked the woman behind border control at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport. She seemed grimly official and looked like she had not smiled since 1989. I nodded and passed my passport through the narrow gap. The thin-lipped security officer took it without comment, scrutinising my visa and immigration card as if expecting to find microfilm. Eventually she looked up and studied my face. I kept it as neutral as possible. Looking cheerful was not the correct protocol at passport control in Russia - it was a sign of something to hide. “I vill ask again. Is zis first time in Russia?” Under the woman's steely gaze I cracked. My mouth formed into a nervous smile. “Yes… and it's hot.” I was referring to the heat wave. It was thirty-nine degrees Celsius in the shade. Reports of drunken vagabonds cooling themselves in the city’s fountains were beginning to hit the British press because some had drowned. The customs official didn't understand. Her eyes narrowed a fraction. “Hot? What you mean...hot…?” Around me, my fellow passengers averted their eyes. Swallowing hard, I gripped the metal bar in front of me to steady myself. “The weather is hot...” I stammered. “Moscow is hot.” Time stood still. The woman stared without blinking. Finally she spoke. “Yes, I think I see...Moscow is hot.” She stamped my passport and ushered me through. I had infiltrated Russia, but it had been a close shave.

Excellent Read
Had a great time reading this book. I must admit I am a bit of a sovietophile, and reading about all these amazing places was a treat. I too would one day love to organize my very own red quest and visit all these places.

Highly enjoyable, anyone up for a quick trip to Turkmenistan?
As a keen traveller myself with my own quest to follow I do enjoy reading the tales told by fellow likeminded adventurers. This book is particularly enjoyable as it gives a little bit of background, adds in some humour and gives you a realistic portrayal of what it would be like to visit some of these off the beaten track countries. After reading this book I certainly feel inspired to find out more about places like Turkmenistan or Kyrgyzstan. I even suggested to the other half that they could make for a romantic city break destinations. She failed to see it that way though.

Fantastic!
One of the best books I have read in ages, very easy to read. Like the author I have always been fascinated with Russia and behind the Iron Curtain, I have been to a lot of the Eastern European countries in this book and the book brought back fond memories. I am now inspired to head off to the 'Stans' especially Turkmenistan. If you are looking for an easy to read travel book for this region this book is for you.