Monday, November 07, 2005



Day 6


After last minute shopping at Ben Thanh Market, we proceeded back to our Hotel...4 of us , Dennis , Tieh Min , Hui Ying and Me...


So we were bargining price with the taxi drivers cause apprantly they overcharge tourist and dun run on meters.. only cabs which are ordered for us at our hotel ran on the meters and the rest didn't.So.. was walking around when.. this group of Cyclo riders... offered us 15000 dong for all 4 of us... which is about the same price if we had hired a cab.. so why not?


We hopped into the Cyclo and metres away from the Hotel.. they signalled to stop... & gestured to us that they can't park there...so Tieh Min Paid first... and gave 100 000 Dong expecting the change back.


THEN


The freaking cyclo rider asked for more.. and said not ENOUGGHHHHHH


150 000 dong not 100 000 dong


We were shocked and suprised cause we thought that we had already settled on the price earlier at the market. They Then they tried to snatch the money in a very rude and offensive way from Dennis's poach and reluctantly, Dennis handed over the $5 Singapore dollar....and they still said not enough.. then we just kept telling them we had no more money and they left.... WE HAD BEEN CHEATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



OMG $%(&#&%&$(_#$)



ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhh


Went back to the hotel lobby and report this incident to the counter.. but they said nothing could be done and that if we had alighted at the hotel maybe something like that wouldn't have happened.... sigh...


Then i thought to myself.. why we were all so stunned to react.... we are not street smart and when such a suitation happened, all of us didn't know how to react.. cause something like that could never happen the safe singapore... We would call the police to settle this kind of fruad but why didn't we think of that?


These Cheater are the black sheep of the flock that would leave a bad impression of tourist on Ho Chi Min City , Vietnam


May they be GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Overall.... the incident only reminds me to be aware....more conscious and made me treasure the kind of safety i was assured of in Singapore


After doing last minute packing, we proceed on the bus and to the airport, it was going to be the end of our 6 Days Trip in Vietnam, our Rendezvous spent away from Singapore.


Greeted by my family at the Air Port, was so happy to be back in Singapore
Surely i would miss Vietnam but Singapore was where i wanted to be...


The trip has certainly made me think deeper into everything and have broadened my perspective of the world. Experiencing Vietnam was not only a life changing experience but also one that has made me more conscious of my actions and most importantly to never take things for granted again.


With sweet memories etched in my mind of the trip, I am proud to be a global citizen. One who know I have the power to change the world as an individual. One who would take responsibility for my actions and one who know what it means to be a global citizen. Cam On(Thank You) Vietnam for all the priceless experiences