Did We Pay The Tour Company?

Posted by : foongpc | Thursday, September 24, 2009 | Published in

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OK. I will try to make this post short and straight to the point. Did we pay the tour company? That's what you all wanted to know right?

Leaving Ju Long Tan and Exotic Stone Palace, the tour bus brought us back to our respective hotels. In our case (that is me, Jam and his friend), it was not a hotel but a hostel. Or more specifically, the Xi Jie Youth Hostel.

But guess what? The bus did not stop in front of Xi Jie Hostel. It stopped somewhere and the tour guide told us the hostel was only 300 metres away. So walking there would be no problem.

Well, walking there without carrying anything would surely not pose a problem, but with all the luggages we had to carry, you wanted us to walk?

OK, we were not going to fight with her over this. We were even so nice as to ask her if we could pay for the tour even though we did not feel like paying!

She said she was not the person responsible for collecting the tour fees and asked us to contact the tour company directly. When I heard this, I was on cloud nine. Haha! This was exactly what we wanted!

It's not that we did not offer to pay. No one wanted to collect the payment from us. Nobody made any effort to contact us about it. Which was damn fine with us! So bye bye and good riddance!

With that, we stepped down from the bus, took our luggage and proceeded to walk to the hostel. We were feeling so good about this. There was no way for the tour company to contact us for the payment. They did not have any of our contact numbers! Besides, if they really found a way to contact us, we could just ignore the calls. Haha!

Of course, they could track us down to Xi Jie Hostel since the tour guide knew we were staying there. But during our two nights stay there, no one contacted us. Jam and I were already thinking how much we should splurge in Yangshuo! Haha!

Yes we won! We outsmarted them! Hooray!!

But deep inside, I do believe in karma. And karma works in mysterious ways. I still could not believe that it would be so easy! For the moment, it's victory for us. But would they come hunting for us? We still had another 5 days in China. Anything could happen.

And if you want to know whether there are further developments to this saga of the Malaysian tourists vs. China Tour Company, you just have to be patient and keep coming back for updates.

Sorry there are no photos for this post, especially to those of you who are expecting some photos! But rest assured, you will be seeing more photos of my China trip in my upcoming posts!

FIRST COMMENTER

(74) Comments

  1. eiling lim said...

    I don't think they will let you guys go so easily. Beware! They might track you guys down! haha

    September 24, 2009 at 10:29 AM
  2. Tekkaus said...

    Arrgghhh..........I missed! Crap! :(

    September 24, 2009 at 11:20 AM
  3. Tekkaus said...

    Nope...I don't wanna know whether you pay them or not! What I wanna know is about your trip Foong! Nothing more than that! LOL :D

    September 24, 2009 at 11:21 AM
  4. Tekkaus said...

    Then again...I would love to know if you guys paid since you have been building so many suspense for us! :p

    What? You guys have to walk to the "hotel" by yourself? Now that's...pretty suck huh!

    September 24, 2009 at 11:23 AM
  5. Tekkaus said...

    Ouh...you guys didn't pay lar? War...you guys were so bad Foong! LOL :D I would do so too...if I were in your shoes. After what they have done...the damages alone is not enough to compensate right?

    So congrates to you! You did the right thing...although not etchically! :p

    September 24, 2009 at 11:25 AM
  6. Tekkaus said...

    Yep! You outsmarted them. And like you said bro, karma is real. What comes around will go around. Beware! :p

    What have to wait some more? Haha :D Gladly!

    Until we meet again Foong! Have a nice day!

    September 24, 2009 at 11:26 AM
  7. HappySurfer said...

    Strange! It's very unlike people in business in China. Looking forward to the twist to your story. Quick..

    September 24, 2009 at 11:49 AM
  8. Anonymous

    wow...why this tour operator so silly. Usually, tour fees have to be settled upfront. Or at least have an appointed agent to collect on their behalf.

    September 24, 2009 at 1:06 PM
  9. manglish said...

    hahhaahha......tell us quick....

    September 24, 2009 at 1:24 PM
  10. [SK] said...

    hmmm i think it was rather weird of them to not quickly ask you guys to pay, even you guys have offered to pay them..

    September 24, 2009 at 1:52 PM
  11. Donna said...

    *where got so big katak jumping on the street one*
    hahaha.. direct translate from Cantonese..
    hahaha.. dont worry, Karma wont get u, coz it's not your intension to escape, just the travel agent something's fault.. =p

    September 24, 2009 at 1:52 PM
  12. [SK] said...

    well don't need to feel bad.. on second thought, i'm sure they will have overcharged the other tourists, so even you didn't pay, i'm sure they would still have money to earn.. :p

    September 24, 2009 at 1:53 PM
  13. [SK] said...

    so i really wonder if you have Episode 3 on this?? i still feel a bit unbelievable they just let you go without paying a single cent.. haha :D

    September 24, 2009 at 1:55 PM
  14. Mariuca said...

    Oh! So we still dunno if u paid or not in the end!

    September 24, 2009 at 1:58 PM
  15. Mariuca said...

    Ppl offer to pay oso don wan to accept, some ppl like dat lor even here...my wedding hotel last time oso refused to take my deposit even though I offered to pay many many times!!!!

    September 24, 2009 at 1:59 PM
  16. Mariuca said...

    Last2 I paid them when the whole thing was over...silly billy! ;)

    September 24, 2009 at 1:59 PM
  17. Mariuca said...

    My guess is that u eventually paid them hehe! ;)

    September 24, 2009 at 2:00 PM
  18. jam said...

    I thought you would reveal everything in this post. Anyway, I won't reveal the most interesting last part and leave the task to you!

    September 24, 2009 at 2:43 PM
  19. CheaHSan said...

    Obviously they would'nt have chopped both of you into 18 "loke" else you wouldnt be blogging haha. Hm very interesting to note the bodhi seed in you is cranking up your conscience. Shall wait for the grand finale in your next post (hopefully).

    September 24, 2009 at 5:33 PM
  20. Jean said...

    interesting. not really short thou. haha.

    From me to you, suejean =)

    September 24, 2009 at 7:08 PM
  21. Siao麻雀 said...

    =)

    来看史上最搞笑的槟城美食介绍篇~=p

    September 24, 2009 at 7:22 PM
  22. Nick Phillips (15/03/1967 - 04/11/2022) said...

    I wouldn't have paid them even if they insisted on payment ... LOL!

    September 24, 2009 at 7:59 PM
  23. Bengbeng said...

    i just am glad u n Jam are back home safely n I am enjoying yr pics :)

    September 24, 2009 at 8:27 PM
  24. wenn said...

    well..since no one collected the fees..why bother to pay..hehe..

    September 24, 2009 at 8:43 PM
  25. annant said...

    jam mentioned 'interesting part'! enlighten us purleese :D

    September 24, 2009 at 9:36 PM
  26. lina said...

    Haiya! So much suspense! My heart cannot take this you know. LOL

    September 24, 2009 at 9:53 PM
  27. Che-Cheh said...

    Wah wah have to wait for more posts? How many more posts before you reveal? Hahaha

    September 24, 2009 at 10:04 PM
  28. Ayie said...

    so you won for this round foong..hehe

    if i were in your shoes, I really don't know what to do but most likely i'll settle the payments right after. I will definitely feel so much load in my chest and mind bearing the thought I owe them for the trip even despite their shortcomings.

    karma it is...that's what i don't want to happen

    September 25, 2009 at 7:33 AM
  29. levian said...

    haha, this is "short"? i would choose to settle the payment. they may not get you, but there will be something else that required double payment from you guys. i wouldn't want to underestimate the karma thingy. :)

    September 25, 2009 at 8:09 AM
  30. Faisal Admar said...

    er, well it's not your fault after all. don't worry about karma then. they should be worry :)

    September 25, 2009 at 10:19 AM
  31. Reanaclaire said...

    i tot china people are very cautious about payments and all that involves money.. or maybe this is just one of their "mistakes" over all the years, one out of thousands.. hahaha.. anyway, i m sure they did, from the way u wrote.. later on, we will know, right?

    September 25, 2009 at 10:19 AM
  32. foongpc said...

    eiling, they might...or they might not! LOL!

    September 25, 2009 at 12:56 PM
  33. foongpc said...

    tekkaus, you sure you don't wanna know? I bet you do! LOL!

    Yes, sure sucks walking all the way to the hostel, but wait! We didn't walk all the way! Interesting story coming up in the next post! ; )

    September 25, 2009 at 12:59 PM
  34. foongpc said...

    happysurfer, yes very uncharacteristic of Chinese people right? I could not believe it was that easy actually! : )

    September 25, 2009 at 1:00 PM
  35. foongpc said...

    mei teng, in fact the tour operator asked for the full fee on our first day in China, but we insisted that we would only pay at the end. Now ain't we smart! LOL! : )

    September 25, 2009 at 1:02 PM
  36. foongpc said...

    manglish, next post coming up soon! : )

    September 25, 2009 at 1:03 PM
  37. foongpc said...

    SK, funny isn't it? We want to pay but they don't want to take! : )

    September 25, 2009 at 1:04 PM
  38. foongpc said...

    dolly, haha! I know that Cantonese phrase! Unbelievable right? : )

    September 25, 2009 at 1:04 PM
  39. foongpc said...

    mariuca, haha! Not yet cos I want to keep you all in suspense! haha!

    What? Your wedding hotel also like that? Silly them! If customer offer to pay, just take it first lah!

    You think we will pay eventually? Maybe but then again, maybe not! Don't forget me and Jam are going to splurge and we may not have enough money left to pay them! : )

    September 25, 2009 at 1:07 PM
  40. foongpc said...

    jam, haha! Thanks for not revealing and yes, I am going to reveal the last most interesting part! : )

    September 25, 2009 at 1:09 PM
  41. foongpc said...

    cheahs@n, well I do believe in karma so I know if we don't pay, there may be consequences although, it may not end up with us paying the tour company! : )

    September 25, 2009 at 1:11 PM
  42. foongpc said...

    science bloggers' association, thanks! : )

    September 25, 2009 at 1:12 PM
  43. foongpc said...

    SJ, well I said I will "try" to make this post short. Obviously, I didn't try hard enough. he he

    September 25, 2009 at 1:13 PM
  44. foongpc said...

    siao, very sorry! I don't know how to read Chinese! Pls translate! Thanks! : )

    September 25, 2009 at 1:14 PM
  45. foongpc said...

    nick phillips, you won't? But you might ended up chopped into a few pieces and dumped into Li River! LOL!

    September 25, 2009 at 1:15 PM
  46. foongpc said...

    bengbeng, thanks for your concern! I didn't for a moment felt we were in any kind of danger during our 10 days in China with the exception of one day, which I shall mention in my future posts! : )

    September 25, 2009 at 1:17 PM
  47. foongpc said...

    wenn, exactly! Haha!

    September 25, 2009 at 1:18 PM
  48. foongpc said...

    annant, aha! That interesting part shall be revealed soon : )

    September 25, 2009 at 1:18 PM
  49. foongpc said...

    lina, yeah, as if... haha! : )

    September 25, 2009 at 1:19 PM
  50. foongpc said...

    che-cheh, that's really hard to say! I don't know myself! : )

    September 25, 2009 at 1:20 PM
  51. foongpc said...

    ayie, well of course you will feel much better after paying them. I also don't like to owe people money! But, I think during our trip, we think it was kinda fun! LOL!

    September 25, 2009 at 1:21 PM
  52. foongpc said...

    levian, haha, better to be safe than sorry right? Well, I will let you know if karma catches up with us! But even if it does, that does not mean the tour company is going to benefit from it cos karma also affects them! : )

    September 25, 2009 at 1:24 PM
  53. foongpc said...

    faisal, actually I was not really worried although I believe in karma. Maybe because I just wanted to have some fun during my holidays in China?

    September 25, 2009 at 1:26 PM
  54. foongpc said...

    reanaclaire, yup, later you will know the conclusion to this Malaysian tourists vs China tour company drama! LOL!

    September 25, 2009 at 1:27 PM
  55. Ayie said...

    naughty foong!

    good afternoon to you there or is it still morning? i have to go to sleep here now, 10:30pm =P

    September 25, 2009 at 1:33 PM
  56. Borneo Falcon said...

    Waiting for more updates

    September 25, 2009 at 1:41 PM
  57. Oman said...

    awww. i hope they wont track you down lol. ill be waiting for the china pics. :)

    September 25, 2009 at 3:49 PM
  58. vialentino said...

    yeah...i believe in karma tooo....better pay ...they also need earning for living

    September 25, 2009 at 7:53 PM
  59. Monica said...

    ok it's about time you stopped keeping us all in suspense :-D

    September 25, 2009 at 8:29 PM
  60. Monica said...

    I'm waiting for THAT interesting part Foong!

    September 25, 2009 at 8:33 PM
  61. LifeRamblings said...

    there's no such thing as a free lunch. i refuse to believe that you didn't pay a single penny.

    September 25, 2009 at 11:41 PM
  62. LifeRamblings said...

    it's kinda weird that this tour operator didn't request payment from you in the first place.

    September 25, 2009 at 11:41 PM
  63. LifeRamblings said...

    anyway, i'll wait for your next update.

    happy weekend Foong.

    September 25, 2009 at 11:42 PM
  64. Shingo T said...

    I wanna have a free tour too!

    September 26, 2009 at 11:04 AM
  65. bluedreamer27 said...

    everything happen for a reason right?
    looking forward for the next scenario hehe

    September 26, 2009 at 11:05 AM
  66. foongpc said...

    ayie, it's afternoon. Good night! Although at the time I type in this reply, it's night here and i think it's morning at your side! haha!

    September 27, 2009 at 12:55 AM
  67. foongpc said...

    borneo falcon, coming soon : )

    September 27, 2009 at 1:00 AM
  68. foongpc said...

    lawstude, haha, I hope so too! More photos coming up! : )

    September 27, 2009 at 1:02 AM
  69. foongpc said...

    vialentino, haha! You will know soon whether we paid or not : )

    September 27, 2009 at 1:04 AM
  70. foongpc said...

    monica, why? It's good to keep you in suspense what! LOL!

    September 27, 2009 at 1:07 AM
  71. foongpc said...

    life ramblings, better believe it! Haha! They did request payment early on but we refused to pay! LOL! Happy weekend! : )

    September 27, 2009 at 1:09 AM
  72. foongpc said...

    shingo T, I'm sure you do! : )

    September 27, 2009 at 1:10 AM
  73. foongpc said...

    bluedreamer27, yes everything does happen for a reason : )

    September 27, 2009 at 2:12 AM
  74. Ayie said...

    you're right foong =)

    September 29, 2009 at 8:19 AM