We had a trip to Hainan Island on Christmas Day in 2008. It was a 5 days 4 night tour booked by my uncle's friend in a local travel agency. When we reached in the morning, we had the whole day to ourselves. We enjoyed walking around Haikou and had a terrific foot massage. Then the horribles dawn the next day. First thing the 8 of us were told the bus will be coming at 6.50am. It came at 7.30am. It was a 60 seater bus! We were among the last. Some seats could not even accomodate a petite little Malaysian lady like myself. My knees were pressing against the seat in front. Imagine we had to sit in this bus for 3 days! More were picked up at various hotels. Then we realised that we had joined a local China tour group. The first stop was the toilet. We lined up to get into the toilet. The smell did not daunt me but the sight made me do turn and walk back out. Poo was sighted in every cubicle with sanitary napkin exposed in open dustbin. There were even women who pee with the door open & upon checking, the door was fine. I immediately escorted my little daughter out. Imagine me having to explain the exposed sanitary napkins and even in the bowls to my little 7year old. But this is to repeat itself for the next 3 days and when you have no choice you have no choice. That was only the begining. The whole trip was a scam bringing you to tourist stops you need to pay to do certain things like viewing the golden Buddha. THe worst is to pay 480yuan for 3 joss sticks at a temple as requested by the monks after they had helped to decipher the message you got after you have "kow chim". Then it was one shopping spots after another. I didn't enjoy my trip. There was the pearl centre. Then the tea centre. Then the knife. Then the local products. Then the jade which the tour guide told us duty free shop. The worse thing is they put you in a room to brainwash you first before they sell. It was horrible! Never again will I set foot in China unless I have no choice.
0
0
Reply