Been meaning to take a short trip to bintan n have been doin some research on prices and packages from different travel agencies. There's this website http://www.travelpear.com.sg/ that shows the different pacakges to bintan from the agencies in singapore and i saw an offer from this agency called "travel links" that seemed to be the best so far, so i excitedly called them up.

Ladyfromtravellinksagency(LFTLA): *says something in chinese*

Me: Um hello?

LFTLA: *says more stuff in chinese*

Me: *decides to heck it and speak in english* Hi i saw you have a travel package to bintan?

LFTLA: *again with the chinese but i know she mentioned bintan somewhere*

(i was hoping that since i hadnt already responded to her in chinese she wud get the point but guess i had to spell it out for her)

Me: sorry i dont speak chinese

LFTLA: *apparently still doesnt get the point*

Me: um.. i dont speak chinese?

LFTLA: oh.. no chinese.. hold on ah

(transfers call to another lady who i figured prob speaks english)

Newladyfromtravellinksagency(NLFTLA): *says something in chinese*

averyirritatedme: I DONT SPEAK CHINESE

NLFTLA: oh.. you travelling bintan issit? what date?

Me: I actually called to enquire about this travel package i saw on this website travelpear.com.sg for a banyan tree 2D/1N promo at $298.

NLFTLA: $298?? wait lemme check ah

*so i hold for a bit*

NLFTLA: this one minimum 5 pax must travel

Me: No i saw on the website its for twin sharing

NLFTLA: for twin? Maybe you give me your contact i check this and call you back

*ok so all that's done.. about 2 mins she calls me back*

NLFTLA: Hello Miss ah.. i check already, this price dun have on our website leh, u sure u got the right website? ours is travel links.

Me: Ya i didnt get it on your website i got it on this website called travelpear.com.sg.. *m tryin to explain but she cuts me off*

NLFTLA: no that is wrong website, our website is travellinks.com.sg

Me: *im still being very calm thru all this* no no i didnt get it from YOUR website. I'll give you the other address you can check it out, travel-pear *she cuts me of*

NLFTLA: no that one not our website you get wrong website.

Me: *dont really know wat else to do so i laugh* Ok nevermind then.

NLFTLA: *she laughs too prob thinking "the non-chinese speaking idiot finally gets my point"*

*we hang up*

sigh.. im realli not asking for much.. im not asking for english straight out of the oxford dictionary.. but i think the least one is allowed to expect is for people in the customer service line to speak basic english yes?