KTM – Lhasa (no, Chengdu)

KTM – Lhasa (no

The day we are about to experience will be special, with the only negative deviation from the itinerary being during this trip. But let's go in order: before we are picked up at the hotel near Tribhuvan Airport, we will go to... a walk through the streets of Thamel and see what shopping opportunities might be available. The flight to Lhasa is on time, and (as always) the security checks are straightforward, but at some point we are separated into two separate groups according to gender and subjected to another quick search. We are accompanied by a large group of Russians heading for a trek around Mount Kailash. Everything goes smoothly until an hour after takeoff, when the pilot of Air China informs us that due to a sandstorm in Lhasa, our flight will go directly to Chengdu, over 2000 km away by land. It seems like the world suddenly collapses on us: the dream destination we have longed for is below us, and we cannot land, as if fate does not want us in this mythical and unfortunate place at the same time. Two hours later, we find ourselves in the capital of Sichuan, a megacity with over 10 million inhabitants, amidst a hot and industrialized plain. Finding ourselves in the fifth most populous city in China is not something that particularly excites us, especially since we did not want to go there; on the contrary, it seems like the opposite of what Lhasa should be (with smog as the only common denominator). But now we are here, and we must make the best of it. The plane is parked in an area far from any contact, we disembark with buses and they take us around this huge airport. The information provided is essential but overall accurate. When it is already late afternoon, we undergo the usual checks, which are not as bad as we thought, and after a few minutes of waiting, they tell us that we must collect our luggage and be taken to a hotel where we will stay overnight before departing tomorrow morning on flight 7:40 am. We follow their instructions in the hope that the promise will be kept, since information is always communicated with an emphasis on saving time. The hotel is for large groups but has all the comforts. At 7 pm, we go to the restaurant where we meet two Chinese, two Australians and five Italians (it's strange for us to find ourselves at the same table with compatriots), and we have a hearty meal. Afterwards, we leave the hotel and walk towards a populated area to visit the covered market area We are in the heart of China, in a place where no one would claim responsibility if we were to shoot someone, with people who don't know even a single word of English. But we don't feel uncomfortable; ordinary people aren't that different at all latitudes, and if you avoid trouble, it's also difficult to find it. The night will be short but intense, and we can only dream of Lhasa.