Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China- Cindy Shih, Interplast volunteer coordinator/ translator.
After a 46-hour journey, the 16-member team landed in the Ak’su airport. The journey went (mostly) without a hitch, except for one lost luggage (Deb’s, our volunteer anaesthesiologist), some doubts that I was really who I am on my passport, and threats of exorbitant excess baggage fees. To be completely fair, we were “only” checking in 34 pieces of luggage that weighed over 700 kgs. With all that weight, I’m surprised they let us get on some of those small propeller planes that carried 50 passengers! Honestly, I was more than a bit worried on our domestic flight from Urumqi to Ak’su. Luckily, the view was so distractingly gorgeous that it made us forget we were travelling on a tiny, old plane, traversing treacherous-looking, snow-capped mountains.
Comments