Backdate: Xinjiang Jun 2026 Day 11 & 12

22/6/26 Mon - 23/6/26 Tues: Woke up at 8.30am and ate breakfast at 9+am with Potato, Fran and PY. After that, PY went to shop for shoes in the departmental store nearby while Potato, Fran, FIL and I walked around a stuffy toys' and sports equipments' departmental store before going to the wholesale market.

We ended up buying one slab of 500g honey (RMB 36) in a store. Potato also bought some blueberry and plum sachets. I randomly took a sachet of honey and沙棘to try... and the latter was very sour, albeit apparently filled with Vitamin C. PotaTOHs also bought two bottles of Kvass (RMB 8)... so nice I should have bought more eiyr! Also saw random kitten being looked after by two uncles on the street awww~

PotaTOHs and FIL went to Chagee nearby to try it for ourselves since it's cheaper in China too. FIL drank the 酌红袍 (RMB 14) while we shared夏梦玫珑 (RMB 16), which was their melon oolong milk tea. It was quite nice. 

Had lunch at food court nearby at 1pm. PotaTOHs shared the 烧鹅拼烧鸭饭 (RMB 30)... and the skin was fragrant. Overall not bad. 

阿力木came to fetch us at 2pm to the airport. Our flight CA1212 flight towards Beijing was delayed to depart at 5.35pm instead just this morning. *I lost count the number of times Air China flights changed their timing before and during the trip.* We arrived at 2.30pm and the check-in quick was quick, so we had more than an hour waiting at the departure gate. 

The大盘鸡饭I had on the flight was not bad and the packaging was cute. We arrived at Beijing at 9.05pm arrived and overall, it was a smooth flight. Potato felt like eating peking duck at the airport but it was sold out at 10+pm. 

Anyway, we were waiting for another 1+hr for CA 975 to depart at 12.25am, but due to tyre issues, it was again delayed till 1.30am. PotaTOHs were hungry, so we ate black pepper shrimp and abalone sauce chicken wrap (RMB 36) which was meh. Ended up buying four cup noodles (RMB 30) because we were too bored and tired waiting for the flight haha. 

The porridge with preserved veggie on the flight was okay. The grandma behind me was rough and rather noisy though, making it hard to fall asleep even for a bit tsk. We touched down at 7.40am. the next day and grabbed home with Fran ($26 for PotaTOHs) by 10am or so. Showered and slept for 2+ hours through my alarm lol.

It had been an eventful trip because of the long journey and bad weather sometimes. We did not research well on our side too and left much to the agency to decide. But nevertheless, I had a great time with my family and friends!
Also a reminder for me to avoid red-eye flight in future as much as possible because I don't rest well and that makes the PPPD symptoms worse later on. My medium-sized luggage was thrown away because the wheel's rubber spoilt halfway during the trip. Potato also threw away his small luggage as planned.

Potato could still cook dinner for us on Tues night~ so thankful! <3