Is it dangerous at PRC?

Coerced to pay up $355 for lotus candles in China temples MY HUSBAND, friends and I were on a 10-day package tour from Oct 11 to 20 to Jiuzhaigou and the Three Gorges (China) booked with Super Travel Pte Ltd.

We were in awe of the breathtaking scenic beauty of Jiuzhaigou and the Three Gorges, but our enjoyment was marred by what I deemed as undue harassment in two of the famed temples we visited.

On the second day of our tour, we visited a reputable temple in Jiuzhaigou with our China-based guide conducting the visit. After a tour of the temple's grounds, we were segregated into groups and brought to different chambers, with individual monks assigned to each group to read our 'fortunes'. Thereafter, we were asked if we wanted to pay our respects by partaking in the ritual of lighting up lotus candles with the monk showering 'blessings' upon us. We were instructed to answer in the affirmative to questions posed to us. For example, to the 'blessing' of 'Would you like to have a long life?', we would say 'yes'. This line of questioning went on for about four times. The questions were innocuous enough, and did not warrant anything less than 'yes' answers.

Just as we let down our guard after a series of four 'yes' answers, the punchline was delivered - 'Would you like to light up lotus candles for RMB1,699 (about S$355)?' The rigmarole of a series of 'yes' answers coupled with the fact that we were in a house of worship led us to instinctively answer 'yes', and we 'dutifully' paid up. After we re-congregated, we shared our experiences, and expressed disgust that we were pressured into succumbing.

Leaving the matter behind us, we continued on our tour of the scenic Three Gorges, only to encounter another similar coercive episode. The same old tactics were employed on us on another temple visit. This time, we thought we were wiser, and refused to be conned yet again. We questioned the temple's practice of dictating a fixed price for joss stick oil (RMB199) as we had understood it to be a voluntary tithe. However, as we resisted, the temple monks resorted to intimidation tactics like shoutings and bangings on tables so much so that some of us were reduced to tears.

Fearing our safety, we were left with no choice yet again, but to pay up so as to 'escape' from further bullying.

I am writing this letter to express abhorrence to what we had to undergo in two reputable places of worship in China. As Jiuzhaigou and the Three Gorges are famed tourist spots popular with Singaporeans, I cannot imagine that my tour group was the first to experience such 'treatment'.

At no time were we warned pre-tour that there was a minimum tithe that we were expected to contribute. I hope Super Travel can clarify this matter. This letter is also to forewarn Singaporeans travelling to China of what possibly awaits them in some places of worship.

Angie Chua Kee Koon (Ms)

From

http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Online%2BStory/STIStory_173548.html

I am really amused by this article. I'm not saying Angie is wrong, but i can't say she's right either. PRC is a really complicated place if you were to compare it with Singapore.

This is what i'll do if i'm her.
In the first case, i will say "I'm sorry, but i wanna say no."
At the second place, i will still insist on saying no.
Always clarify with the tour guide. The guide is there to help us.

I guess it's probably that we are so used to Singapore and we will be easily pressured by many things. This incident is one of them.

I am at PRC for the last 2 months. Been to some "tourist" attractions and yes, there are a lot of "hard sellers" over here. If you understand their culture, we should be fine even if we walked away without purchasing their goods or services. Banging on tables, raising their volumes and making physical contacts with you is very common. The monks can't do anything to you but they may probably put a curse on you though. (I'm just kidding about the curse thingy, not sure if there's real curse anyway. Coz monks are supposed to be good, they are not supposed to put any curse)

A few of my personal incidents.
1) Purchasing bus ticket to Guang Zhou.
The price is 170rmb, but there are people who can offer us 110rmb and even 80rmb even if we were to buy the tic from the ticket office. I felt strange definitely. (Why is there a better coach at a cheaper rate & it's offical?) But well, we still stick to our stand by buying the 170rmb tic. Oh, the coach to GZ sucks though. But the one we came back is good. Why same price and different coach? Will blog about this other time)

2) Buying mahjong's chips.
I'm at this shop intending to buy mahjong chips. After a long time with the seller, he told me that there's no $10 chip and asked me to buy the rest instead. What a dumb arsehole. Where got such thing one right? I just said "You will probably not buy a car when there's no seat." & i walked away.

HA, just kidding. I just said that $10 is so important, don't have, how to play? & walked away quickly!!!!! SAFETY FIRST.

3) The hotel owner
It's at Yang Shou. Read my earlier posts. I got cheated, & since i paid, i lan lan and suck my thumb. Thanks god that it's less than 50rmb difference. If it's 1500 rmb as above, i will definitely say that i have no cash. How ah? hehee

4) Getting down from a bus.
There will be many people pulling you to stay at their hotels or take their bus/cab to whatever place. Nothing much you can do except for walking away. I realised another method that works. I asked them "you chiu gao sai mah?" (got go gao sai or not?)
They will get blur about the location and walk away. HAHAHAHHA

5) Beggars etc
They will put their begging bowl in front of you for a real long time. But most, if not all, beggars are from a syndicate, any money dropped into their bowl won't belong to them. So, save your money.
There might be fake beggars though. I saw 2 "blind men" walking around and playing musical instruments. The thing is, they are both wearing caps till so low. And i caught BOTH of them peeping by raising their head up to watch where they are going. WTF.
But then again, there are a lot of beggars without limbs and eyeballs.

Another thought: If physical handicapped people can ride a bike taxi at GZ, can't GL do the same thing?

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Regarding the tour agency: i doubt there's any reply which you wanna hear. but if you read this, just keep me updated for my kpo-ness.
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summary
Any place in this world can be dangerous. Just take note of some common senses thingy and you should be fine.

"Pray for the best, prepare for the worst"

Well then, another 80+ days before i'm back to Singapore. How i wish i can hug the following people immediately.

Not in any order hor!

Family
Melvin
Worm
PA
Yihui
Chris
Shalene
Lyn
XY
XF
Crystal
TB33 except Emanure. (too big, cant hug la)
TB10
Swips
Esther Chia (congratulate on getting married! I'll be there on your wedding!)
H.C. (Chia girl said you missed me, really bo?)

Who else leh? Can't think of anymore currently. Don't ask me to hug YJ though. It creeps me!