After our flight cancellation the previous day, it was with great relief that we checked our luggage in for our China Southern Flight to Urumqi in far west China. Our connecting flight to Shanghai did not allow us sufficient time to change flights and so the airline had provided us with complimentary accommodation in Urumqi. And for that, we were most thankful. There was no point in staying in Urumqi as although we love the city, we had travelled there on many occasions.

During our travels on this trip, security on Chinese flights had become significantly more rigorous. For this flight, it seemed absurd - but then again.... And once more, Alan was selected randomly (well, that was hard to believe as we were the only foreigners) for not just a security search but a full body scan resembling something like a medical MRI.

Benazir Bhutto International Airport does not seem to have facilities for planes to dock right up to the terminal and so we usually have to walk to and from our aircraft - quite often in a dust storm. On this occasion, we were apparently the only passengers travelling Business Class and we laughed that we had an entire bus to ourselves from the departure lounge to our plane.
 


Our luxury however was short lived. The airport officials would not let us out of our bus as from what we could see, some work was being carried out on the stairway into our plane. We sat in sheer amazement as an entire security unit, fitted with elaborate cameras and scanning equipment was lifted out of the aircraft and secured right underneath the aircraft stairway. The Chinese were obviously taking no risks in Islamabad. I thought at the time that it was a good thing I was not wearing a skirt... 

We had the honour of being the first to ascend the high security stairway and I giggled to Alan that I felt like Hilary and Bill Clinton - well, at least in their old days. 

We had done this flight from Islamabad to Urumqi on a number of occasions. In good weather conditions, it is a fantastic route, flying over the Karakoram Mountains close to Golden Peak (or Spantik Peak) at 7,027 meters and the famous Nanga Parbat at 8,126 meters, following the legendary Indus River, which later becomes the Hunza River, to the Khunjerab Pass over the border and into south-west China. This day, the weather was clear and although there were a few clouds, we had perfect clear views of the both mountains and the Indus.



Our flight was very good and we thoroughly enjoyed a fine Chinese lunch - and at long last, a glass of wine or two! 

To add to our feeling of fame, we were picked up by a China Southern official at the Urumqi airport Arrivals Lounge and escorted to a limousine which took us to our Fuke Jiroui Airport Hotel for the evening.

The hotel was excellent and although there was not a lot to look at nearby, in our usual form, we found a grocery shop that sold liquor and armed ourselves with some beer and wine. I was also delighted that I found some of the delicious fried chili peanuts that Abdulrahman had introduced us to on our travels through far west China some weeks before. Our dinner at the hotel was excellent and again we opted for an early night.



But not quite that early... At 2.00 am I was awaken by an acute attack of vomiting followed by inevitable episodes of violent diaorrhoea. I am somewhat ashamed to say that all I could keep thinking was how sorry I was for myself - and then, what about the Sofitel Hotel's Eggs Benedict to which I had been so much looking forward?

"Well, you didn't want to arrive home overweight, did you?", said my unhelpful friend....