Having been dropped off at the airport for my 1pm flight local time I now had three flights to get me home. Security at Kashgar airport was overly sensitive and threw out my shaving cream even though it had already taken three internal flights to get to Kashgar. They also had electronic sniffers for hand luggage before you board the plane.

After a short 2 hour flight to Urumqi we had to deplane even though the same flight continues to Beijing. Many people had bought grapes at the airport in Kashgar or at Urumqi. I didnt think Korea customs would let fresh produce in so I wasnt able to. I did buy a really good book about Xinjiang with pictures for many places I had visited, and of the many folk traditions and local dress.

The book was 86Y which is quite expensive by local terms but only $12 for us. Unfortunately all the books were chinese or japanese. The only english version book I didnt like. The flight continued on to Urumqi for another 3.5hrs.

We arrived at Beijing airport after 1am. By that time the international transfers desk was closed. It had a sign to goto the Duty Officer on the 4th floor after 10pm. After eventually winding my way thru the airport, the Duty Officer desk at the check in counters was closed. This time there was no sign saying hours or who to contact.

Some airport staff were trying to get me to goto an airport hotel offeried for 300Y ($45). I had planned on staying at the airport since my Daegu flight was 8am. Internal flights in China run regularly every hour. Unfortunately there is only one Daegu flight at 8am and it only runs on certain days of the week. I was lucky to be able to catch the monday morning flight.

All I needed was my boarding pass and gate number since I had no checked luggage. All the electronic kiosks were switched off for the night. They had low seating benches like tables in the terminal many people were sleeping on so I got some rest there.

At 5am the electronic kiosks were switched on. I kept trying to scan my passport but it wouldnt read it. Then the Duty Officer desk opened and they kept insisting I goto check in after 6am even though I had been there from 1am, there was nobody at the check in desk, and the international transfers desk had told me to goto the Duty Officer.

When the check in opened I was about the third person. Many foreigners were on this flight arriving for the IAAF games in Daegu. I got chatting with one visiting official from Sierra Leone. At the departure gate they had reclining chairs so I was able to get some more rest.

Daegu airport is a dual use US army base and no photos are allowed of the airport. This I understand. I took photos of Daegu city as we flew over chilgok where I live and Daegu Stadium where the games will be taking place. The paranoid Air China stewardess insisted I delete the photos and watched me do it (I only deleted the last one and said I only took one). I tried telling her there is no US army here but her english was not good.

At the airport was a large reception for arriving IAAF visitors and particpants (see later entry Daegu Airport Welcomes IAAF). I took the city bus home, unpacked and rested before the first day back at school tomorrow.