Wednesday, October 1, 2014

So I'm back from China!

I must say, Jiu Zhai Gou is more stunning than I had imagined!
It was really picturesque! Every view is like starring at a landscape painting.
The minerals made the sea azure blue.
After that, the Huang Long 6km hike is really nothing,
It's the same kind of view from top to bottom.
I really felt I have wasted my time climbing it,
oh well, exercise and challenge.

Costumed rentals are really really cheap at Huang Long Xi,
a place left by Qing Dynasty.
It's 10 yuan for 3 shots of 1 costume include make up.
A great place to photoshoot!
Maybe wedding will do it there!
They have different scenery for different era feel,
and many costumes! from Tang to Qing, to Ip Man, to British.

Tour mates are really great!
They are understanding, and funny, and caring.
They took care for my sick parents really really well.
Every meal, every day will spare a thought for one another.

The tour leader on the other hand,
I felt was nothing else but dutiful.
She had no preparations of any medications for common sickness,
she was rather lazy and do not like to do extra miles,
obviously show no concern until she step on the tour bus,
then she would ask one or two lines of "how are you",
yet apathetic for the million times we walk pass each other.
Never called to check out how we are,
nor bother to get any feedback on the food we consumed.

Then it's about the service culture in China,
totally ATROCIOUS! UNGRACIOUS! IMPOLITE!
 When asked how many more dishes,
the waiter could shout at us irritated and rude, "I dont know!!"
If not for the tour mates who joked "live on Emei, can't "xiu yang" at all",
I would have boiled to the point I don't mind giving her a beating if she bitch slap me.
It was said that the service there could go to the point of grabbing customer's collar,
and even fighting.

We noticed the nicer services are from foreign stalls/restaurants.
The local ones are really really bad, in sg standard, will definitely close down in a day.
Many other local restaurants too, totally only focused on their tasks,
often screw up (duh!) and thus would show attitude even to customers.
Would shout across the room. Would scold customer stupid cuz I think he spilled the beer.

Inattentive, self-centered for own chores, impolite, totally rubbish.
No matter from what philosophy you look at it,
these behaviors are uncivilized, undisciplined, uneducated to the core.
"Dog-people" as some would call it.
Cuz these may not be taught in schools,
but certainty a responsibility of parents to teach manners and respect.

Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, are totally not shown in them.

In contrast, Indonesia,
so far, Batam, Jakarta, Bali, Puncak,
in these places, the worst service is the best of China.
Their hospitality far exceeds many.
It's ofcuz, cultural,
in Indonesia culture where things revolve around favour (tips).
People are yes-man.
They would gladly do a service for you with their best,
in expect you to return a worthy favour.
Thus the service culture is there.

Even in sg, it's much much better than China,
though mostly materialistic and biased,
extra friendly to patrons that look richer,
but they have professionalism,
when asked for service,
they give of standard service to you.

So yepp, a little review of China trip.
I may not be most accurate, but I had
Beijing, Hangzhou, Guilin, Jiuzhaigou, Huang Long, Emei, Le Shan, Cheng Du,
as a reference point. And would ignore extreme ends such as,
International Hotel Restaurants and Street Stalls.
I'm basing service by local restaurants that should be of-standard.
Actually, in indo, the street stalls service are sometimes better than famous/high class restaurants.

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