Monday, July 28, 2008

KHABAROVSK TO MAGADAN

Our transfer guides chatted all the way and we went through what we assumed was "the" security check. Wrong. Three in all, take off shoes etc too. At the last, the two women had a discussion about whether to confiscate our duty free liquor from the RP. Luckily, (For Alexei and his Dad), the RP talked her way out of it
Then, we boarded the (second) bus to drive a mere 100 metres to our IL62 aircraft
I got told off by a woman on the tarmac for "filming" (why I don't know)I just said I was a stupid tourist and pointed to the (Russian) guy next to me doing the same
No airconditioning until after takeoff...............No safety checks, bags on seats and all over the floor, luckily not totally full. The 32 year old aircraft was in suprisingly good order inside, and clean. Tne FA's did a soft drink then snack service and disappeared
"I've been all over the world on this plane" said our RP
Then a little over 2 hours later, down through many clouds to noisy landing
The "tarmac" looked like a goat track and after a hair-raising ride in a old bus-type vehicle, we were "in"
And, then the key part of our trip - Our Family was waiting
I just got the video camera going intime to capture a very emotional "Mother & Daughter reunion"
Alexei has a Toyota Prado, which was useful for getting all the bags in and the fast, bumpy ride along "The Road of Bones" into town, about 60kms
Of course, up late, and of course, much food and drink

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