The trip was progressing better than our expectations. We felt that our travel agent had planned for and arranged a nice itinerary. Though there was a last minute change in our dates, he had gone to the extent of offering us a customized tour without any extra charge at all. We felt grateful to him at every step of the trip. We felt that our trip was worth the full advance we had paid him.
The second leg of the trip was Singapore. We had to reach there by a train from Kuala Lumpur. All of us felt that Indian trains, third AC coaches onward, were better than the thing we were booked on. There was a major difference, however; smartly dressed lady ticket checking officers were doing their job professionally; it was a night train.
We arrived on Singapore railway station at about 9 am and seeing that other tourists were being escorted out by their travel agents' local representatives, we were expecting someone to approach us with our names written on a placard. Indeed before the others were out of sight, a man in his late thirties approached us with my name on a sheet of paper in his hand.
After the initial courtesy of "Welcome to Singapore", he requested me to come over to one side while my family waited where they stood.
"Doctur Mankad, " he said, " you need to pay 900 US dollars to my company for us to be able to service your trip here."
Taken aback, I countered that I had paid the full cost in advance in India to my travel agent; I showed him the voucher for that transaction with the name of their company in it. Now he was blunt.
"You give me 900 US dollars now or I go away and you manage your trip on your own, doctur" he said.
I tried to reason with him but to no avail. I then asked that he connect a call with the owner of the firm- the local representative of my travel agent in India. This man, a Mr Guy, was even more ruthless.
"Look, I am not concerned with your voucher, I just want my money. I did not receive any money for your trip, so either you pay up or I cancel all your bookings here and you manage your trip on your own." Guy told me over the phone.
I felt desperate and helpless and in a surge of muted anger, I asked him to tell his man to wait till I contacted my agent in India. He disagreed and must have asked his man to move out right away.
Now only the four of us were left standing on Singapore railway platform at 9.30 am. My wife asked me keep cool and think of ways we could get out of the mess. Both my daughters were also very understanding and cooperated with what we asked them to do. Our promised complimentary breakfast on arrival seemed nowhere in sight and so we first refreshed ourselves.
I rang up my travel agent at what was 6am in India, fearing an irritated response from him, because the number that would be flashing on his mobile would be unknown as I was calling him using an international calling card. The moment he heard my voice, he greeted me saying,
"Happy Diwali, Dr Mankad. All well? Are you enjoying Singapore?"
Relieved that he was aware of my itinerary, I briefed him about what had just transpired between that Guy and myself. My agent was shocked. He told me that in half an hour's time someone would escort me out of the railway station.
Well one hour later, I was still at the Railway station, with our morale low and anxiety mounting. Just when I thought I might have to buckle up to that Guy, I received a call from Hong Kong, and a person started speaking to me in chaste Gujarati, asking me not to worry and that another travel agent had agreed to take up where Guy had ditched us.
Soon enough a private multi utility vehicle (MUV) drove up to us and out came the driver escorting all of us politely into the large air conditioned MUV . The moment he started the vehicle, songs of Dil Wale Dulhania Le Jayenge started playing. My daughters were overjoyed at this and surprised how a person of chinese descent, the driver, could have those songs in his MUV. The driver, Mr San, said though that though he did not understand a word of Hindi, he loved the melodies of hindi film songs.
After the customary greetings were over, Mr San dialled a number on his cell phone and briefed whomever he was calling about us. Quite unexpectedly he handed the phone to me and asked me to speak to his boss, a lady.
"Hello, this is Dr Mankad, Good morning, madam." I said.
"Good Morning Doctor, I am Zenab, and I am deeply distressed with the disturbing welcome you received on your first ever visit to Singapore. Please believe me all of us Singaporeans arent like that man. I will personally see to it that hereafter you have the most pleasant trip in Singapore. Before I disconnect, I wish you and your family a Happy Diwali and a pleasant stay in our Singapore. Your trip itinerary will stay the same as it was meant to be, including the hotel and sightseeing."
I thanked her profusely and we continued driving toward the hotel.
Feeling buoyant from this delayed but well meaning welcome, we were soon at the reception desk of a hotel completing the check in formality. Unknown to us, we were followed out of the railway station, because no sooner had I signed the form, the clerk at reception desk told me there was a phone for me from one Mr Guy. I was surprised at this because I had thought it was all over about this fellow now.
"Doctur Mankad, If you do not pay my dues I will cancel your booking at this hotel." Guy said.
I was now confident that my booking in this hotel was through another agency and so decided to confront Guy rather boldly.
"Do what you can Mr Guy, I dont care. But I will go back to India and see to it that no one does business with you now." Saying so I placed the receiver on the cradle.
True to her word, Zenab went out of her way in making our stay comfortable. She met with us the next day and again reassured that our experience at the railway station was an exception. Soon it was time for lunch and she escorted us to a South Indian restaurant near Mustafa Market. We requested her to join us for food, but she said it was the time for her to offer her Namaaz. Zenab gave us complimentary passes to some attractions in Sentosa Island, a major tourist attraction, due to which we witnessed the Songs of the Sea, a laser show over the sea shore, an amazing spectacle.
A muslim woman went out of her way to see that we felt comfortable and tried to assuage our feelings of a Diwali going awry in Singapore. She must have received her fees from our agent, I am sure of that; but she went beyond the call of her duty in comforting us, that too is equally certain.
I consider it my solemn privilege to sms Zenab an Eid Mubarak at every Eid. She too reciprocates the wishes. Long Live Zenab and the spirit of National pride she displayed.
The second leg of the trip was Singapore. We had to reach there by a train from Kuala Lumpur. All of us felt that Indian trains, third AC coaches onward, were better than the thing we were booked on. There was a major difference, however; smartly dressed lady ticket checking officers were doing their job professionally; it was a night train.
We arrived on Singapore railway station at about 9 am and seeing that other tourists were being escorted out by their travel agents' local representatives, we were expecting someone to approach us with our names written on a placard. Indeed before the others were out of sight, a man in his late thirties approached us with my name on a sheet of paper in his hand.
After the initial courtesy of "Welcome to Singapore", he requested me to come over to one side while my family waited where they stood.
"Doctur Mankad, " he said, " you need to pay 900 US dollars to my company for us to be able to service your trip here."
Taken aback, I countered that I had paid the full cost in advance in India to my travel agent; I showed him the voucher for that transaction with the name of their company in it. Now he was blunt.
"You give me 900 US dollars now or I go away and you manage your trip on your own, doctur" he said.
I tried to reason with him but to no avail. I then asked that he connect a call with the owner of the firm- the local representative of my travel agent in India. This man, a Mr Guy, was even more ruthless.
"Look, I am not concerned with your voucher, I just want my money. I did not receive any money for your trip, so either you pay up or I cancel all your bookings here and you manage your trip on your own." Guy told me over the phone.
I felt desperate and helpless and in a surge of muted anger, I asked him to tell his man to wait till I contacted my agent in India. He disagreed and must have asked his man to move out right away.
Now only the four of us were left standing on Singapore railway platform at 9.30 am. My wife asked me keep cool and think of ways we could get out of the mess. Both my daughters were also very understanding and cooperated with what we asked them to do. Our promised complimentary breakfast on arrival seemed nowhere in sight and so we first refreshed ourselves.
I rang up my travel agent at what was 6am in India, fearing an irritated response from him, because the number that would be flashing on his mobile would be unknown as I was calling him using an international calling card. The moment he heard my voice, he greeted me saying,
"Happy Diwali, Dr Mankad. All well? Are you enjoying Singapore?"
Relieved that he was aware of my itinerary, I briefed him about what had just transpired between that Guy and myself. My agent was shocked. He told me that in half an hour's time someone would escort me out of the railway station.
Well one hour later, I was still at the Railway station, with our morale low and anxiety mounting. Just when I thought I might have to buckle up to that Guy, I received a call from Hong Kong, and a person started speaking to me in chaste Gujarati, asking me not to worry and that another travel agent had agreed to take up where Guy had ditched us.
Soon enough a private multi utility vehicle (MUV) drove up to us and out came the driver escorting all of us politely into the large air conditioned MUV . The moment he started the vehicle, songs of Dil Wale Dulhania Le Jayenge started playing. My daughters were overjoyed at this and surprised how a person of chinese descent, the driver, could have those songs in his MUV. The driver, Mr San, said though that though he did not understand a word of Hindi, he loved the melodies of hindi film songs.
After the customary greetings were over, Mr San dialled a number on his cell phone and briefed whomever he was calling about us. Quite unexpectedly he handed the phone to me and asked me to speak to his boss, a lady.
"Hello, this is Dr Mankad, Good morning, madam." I said.
"Good Morning Doctor, I am Zenab, and I am deeply distressed with the disturbing welcome you received on your first ever visit to Singapore. Please believe me all of us Singaporeans arent like that man. I will personally see to it that hereafter you have the most pleasant trip in Singapore. Before I disconnect, I wish you and your family a Happy Diwali and a pleasant stay in our Singapore. Your trip itinerary will stay the same as it was meant to be, including the hotel and sightseeing."
I thanked her profusely and we continued driving toward the hotel.
Feeling buoyant from this delayed but well meaning welcome, we were soon at the reception desk of a hotel completing the check in formality. Unknown to us, we were followed out of the railway station, because no sooner had I signed the form, the clerk at reception desk told me there was a phone for me from one Mr Guy. I was surprised at this because I had thought it was all over about this fellow now.
"Doctur Mankad, If you do not pay my dues I will cancel your booking at this hotel." Guy said.
I was now confident that my booking in this hotel was through another agency and so decided to confront Guy rather boldly.
"Do what you can Mr Guy, I dont care. But I will go back to India and see to it that no one does business with you now." Saying so I placed the receiver on the cradle.
True to her word, Zenab went out of her way in making our stay comfortable. She met with us the next day and again reassured that our experience at the railway station was an exception. Soon it was time for lunch and she escorted us to a South Indian restaurant near Mustafa Market. We requested her to join us for food, but she said it was the time for her to offer her Namaaz. Zenab gave us complimentary passes to some attractions in Sentosa Island, a major tourist attraction, due to which we witnessed the Songs of the Sea, a laser show over the sea shore, an amazing spectacle.
A muslim woman went out of her way to see that we felt comfortable and tried to assuage our feelings of a Diwali going awry in Singapore. She must have received her fees from our agent, I am sure of that; but she went beyond the call of her duty in comforting us, that too is equally certain.
I consider it my solemn privilege to sms Zenab an Eid Mubarak at every Eid. She too reciprocates the wishes. Long Live Zenab and the spirit of National pride she displayed.
No comments:
Post a Comment