tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249019585569184552.post7435842553415557052..comments2023-12-04T10:18:10.776+08:00Comments on The Wise Old Owl: A NIGHTMARISH EXPERIENCE ! Part 2Unk Dickohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050766265321887439noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249019585569184552.post-64027822537247760432010-05-12T16:59:43.025+08:002010-05-12T16:59:43.025+08:00Went thro the same route twice in last decade. Lov...Went thro the same route twice in last decade. Lovely and exhilarating!<br />Have some posts in blog, including my 1st trip to japan in 1972.<br />You are in time for Sakura...Cherry Blossoms!Unk Dickohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07050766265321887439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249019585569184552.post-75850212833682595442010-05-12T16:27:56.164+08:002010-05-12T16:27:56.164+08:00Central Japan, which include Tokyo, Mt Fuji, Gifu,...Central Japan, which include Tokyo, Mt Fuji, Gifu, osaka and kyoto.<br /><br />Thanks and thanks for your warm welcomejlowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16946756899231512947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249019585569184552.post-71280520013486094912010-05-12T16:26:05.927+08:002010-05-12T16:26:05.927+08:00Central Japan, which include Tokyo, Mt Fuji, Gifu,...Central Japan, which include Tokyo, Mt Fuji, Gifu, osaka and kyoto.<br /><br />Thanksjlowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16946756899231512947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249019585569184552.post-44707854968495527562010-05-12T15:30:21.536+08:002010-05-12T15:30:21.536+08:00Thanks v much for your feedback! Most welcomed! I ...Thanks v much for your feedback! Most welcomed! I agree with you wholeheartedly about the travel industry and the unimaginable "extra, foolproofed " hold that tour agencies have over those who book their tours. <br />Frankly,it needs to be seriously looked into. No,sorry... it needs a MAJOR OVERHAUL so that innocent people like you and me and doubtless thousands of others will not be so easily conned.<br />The tough question is WHO can make them do it...this overhaul?<br />Not Parliament, not STPB, not CASE then WHO?<br />That's why they are acting in exactly the way you have so aptly described! They feel no one can stop "their" nonsense.<br />It's a take it or leave it scenario.<br />Like it ..buy ( but don't grumble), don't like it..don't buy ( no one force you).<br />That happens to be the present scenario in the travel industry.<br /><br />Ps: Have a good trip to Japan.<br />Btw,which part?Unk Dickohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07050766265321887439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249019585569184552.post-19143775991739043782010-05-12T08:50:38.040+08:002010-05-12T08:50:38.040+08:00I say kudos to you, it's about time the travel...I say kudos to you, it's about time the travel agency or rather the entire service industry learn something from you.<br /><br />Instead of bullying their way through, they should really reflect on how to genuinely provide good customer service, which in my opnion is the key to good business in their industry. Honestly I think we (SIN) have a long way to go. I remember booking hoildays with some UK travel agencies, after the final price is conveyed to me, and I paid the deposit, the price is sealed, no more changes to anything, the agency will absorb any price hike from then on instead of adding it back to me when i pay the balance.<br /><br />In SIN, you will hear instead, everything is subject to change (taxes/airfares/hotels/no of passengers/etc etc) with or without prior notice which offers very little assurance to me, which I hate! and I think it's ridiculous, it's almost like saying to me, well you may not be going for the tour that you have paid for, and in the event that the tour is cancelled, you should understand that this is the way we do business and pls make your way down to our agency and we will refund you and you should be grateful that we took the trouble to refund you, pls don't take you own sweet time to come for the refund otherwsie it will be forfeited. Pls do not expect us to appologise as we are actually doing you a favour for screwing up your hoilday....lol...sorry for the language. But seriously, this is the message I'm getting from the travel agency in SIN.<br /><br />Sorry for the rumblings, but i sure hope something more could be done to improve the situation. Anyway, I'm off to Japan tonight...woohoo, I will come back and read more of your blog, your sharing and your adventure.<br /><br />Yes, please blog more, I love to read all these blog posts from you and some of your blog mates/friends?? about SIN and much much more.<br /><br />Thanks muchjlowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16946756899231512947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249019585569184552.post-69917687300019693092010-05-11T18:32:13.503+08:002010-05-11T18:32:13.503+08:00Actually, travelling today is more affordable than...Actually, travelling today is more affordable than 20,30 years ago. With so many tour agencies and budget airlines and everyone offering so-called "the cheapest" price...potential travellers are spoilt for choice. BUT Beware! Just like you have so rightly pointed out..the tiny,small print you cannot see properly is always hidden among a a long passage but it is BINDING!<br />No way out for you or I except to check and double check all the "sweet talk" by sweeter still sales consultant BEFORE making payment or signing anything.<br /> Btw, when that big boss of the ABC Agency called me, it was not to sue me but to offer his and the company's sincerest APOLOGIES and to get at least a vocal assurance from me NOT TO GO TO THE PRESS or MEDIA or report them to the then STPB.<br />Just goes to show how insincere they were in the first place...as before the big boss pleaded with me,only minutes earlier, someone who identified himself as the firm's chief Finance and Legal head threatened to sue me in court! I replied, " Thank you very much Mr so and so. You have just given me the final push to give a press interview about this sordid affair today. Pl check tomorrow's papers for all the juicy news told in 1st person!"<br />" No need to call me back again! Bye!, I added". Really pissed off with all these nincompoops. My wifey was by my side listening to everything.<br />Then minutes later...the Big Boss called. His voice was so gentle,no animosity detected, just like a mouse.<br />He saved their skins and hide, at least buying time to remedy things.<br />I wasn't fooling about going to the press!Unk Dickohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07050766265321887439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249019585569184552.post-77725068190539521142010-05-11T16:20:22.596+08:002010-05-11T16:20:22.596+08:00wah, you are certainly one who doesn't back do...wah, you are certainly one who doesn't back down when you know you are right. I admire your conviction, your knowledge and most importantly your courage.<br /><br />Nowadays the travel agnecy are very smart, they put in a lot of clause that put them on an advantage edge which allows them to do whatever changes they want like change itinery/date of departure/hotels/meals/taxes etc etc and consumers like me will have to accept all these crap without protest. Sometime I wish I know what my rights are, so I have a chance to voice my displeasure and not have to swallow these injustice, afterall I'm the one paying.<br /><br />I wish one day I'll travel as far and wide as you.<br /><br />thanks for the additional information you had provided me with.jlowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16946756899231512947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249019585569184552.post-41494580383805934072010-05-11T14:02:04.538+08:002010-05-11T14:02:04.538+08:00Hi jlow,
Welcome to my world! Thanks for your kind...Hi jlow,<br />Welcome to my world! Thanks for your kind comments about the blog and the stories here...no fiction,all true.<br />To answer your question "what happened next..ie on Monday, the day after?". If you click on the next blogpost after that nightmarish story, the one about our 1st visit to Gold Coast, Australia...that was what followed.<br /> The nice lady "cba" called us early the next day and asked if we've been to Aussie land before. When I affirmed we had been, she then said their agency had a tour group that had departed a day earlier for Gold Coast, and would we like to take up the offer to join them ( 1 day later).<br />Our holiday plans have been totally destroyed by this agency and money already all paid up. This Gold Coast package, though it cost more, was not what we wanted to do. Our plan was Beijing!<br />So, without any alternative left, I told ms cba "if your agency is willing to absorb the extra cost and ask for no further payment from us...then ok, we go!".<br /> They agreed. We met up at Changi Airport that same day and took off without any problem. Both my wife and I simply opened our travel bags at home, filled with thick winter clothings for China, and emptied all.<br />We brought along the barest of necessities as it was Summer at Gold Coast! And we knew we could buy nice, new clothes over there.<br /><br />Did my problem with that hopeless agency end on my return?<br />No! They made a complete "about turn" about that G Coast trip being compensation "in lieu of" being subjected to our worst ever nightmare before a trip proper ( Beijing Tour)...and so insisted on extra payment for the Aussie trip.<br /> Guessed what I did and WHO won in the end?<br />Even their top boss was involved! He was called in to speak directly to me on the phone.<br />Hey...maybe another post huh?Unk Dickohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07050766265321887439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3249019585569184552.post-37465850590305949152010-05-11T12:53:12.495+08:002010-05-11T12:53:12.495+08:00Uncle Dick,
I'm just curious, so what happen ...Uncle Dick,<br /><br />I'm just curious, so what happen on Monday and did you make it to Beijing in the end?<br /><br />Love your blog, your ukelele stories and feel really happy for you for having found 2 of your neighnours at SLP.<br /><br />Good job and keep on blogging.jlowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16946756899231512947noreply@blogger.com