Distressful Learning French

Bonjour!

Well, the class has started for about 2 months and all I master is the very basic of French. You don't even need to be taking French to know what I knew...... word like Bonjour and Merci. Sad isn't it?

Well, I can't really put the blame on my French Teacher. He's a nice chap, to be honest. He's a African from Cote d'Iviore and I can really see that he's a bit loss in how to take us further. I mean, as a teacher, there's only so much you can do. If the students are not helping themselves...... then... there's nothing you can do.

My only grouse against him is that he's a bit too relax for my liking. Well, I guess that's how African works. They're too "tidak-apa" if you know what I mean. I've been to Sudan and from my experience, I can tell you, Koffi is the fastest moving African I've ever knew! Most African I see in Sudan are damn lazy. I'm not stereotyping them but... that's another matter.

So, now, we're having 4~5 classes per week. I think I'm skipping Friday's classes since I heard from my mates that Koffi usually take a long break for his Friday prayers. (He's a Muslim). In that sense, it'll be a not so productive class. Better stay in office and see what can I do.

So, time is near for our exam and yet not one poor soul is ready for it. Koffi teaches French and he's no guide. For that, he doesn't know what examiners want during the coach exam. That's the tough part. I guess, we'll just have to memorize whatever given to us and try to regurgitate on that day itself.

French is tough but to be able to speak and do commentary in just 4~5 months of part-time lesson is 1000000000 times tougher! MoT think that we are god? Maybe we are, after all!

God save us now!

Trip to Mauritius

The sunset view from my room

Last week, on the 3rd of Jun, I had the chance to travel to Mauritius for a short meeting with some Indian travel agents. The trip itself is short, just 3 days but the journey was a long one.

I travel with Eddie, and we book our flight from KLIA to Mauritius via Singapore. In total, the journey is about 9 hours; including a very short transit in Changi.

We landed in Mauritius around 4pm local time. They are 4 hours behind us, so you can imagine the time difference created havoc with our system. We practically had our lunch around 5pm (M'sian time) and dinner starts around 1am!

Mauritius is a very small island in the Indian Ocean, near to Madagascar. It's not quite developed and apart from the capital Port Louis, practically there are no high buildings. Even the capitol has no skyscraper, just a few buildings that's more than 30 storey high. From what I understand, the Mauritian are quite lazy. They work until 4 ~ 4:30pm and then go home and do nothing. In my short stay, I couldn't even find a place that sells souvenirs!

It was said that Mauritius will come alive during the weekends only......

Well, what did we do then? For a start, upon our arrival, we rushed to the safari park. Name only la! What safari when there's only a few lions and a few cheetahs.... in cages! I was hugely disappointed. Saw some ducks and a lone tiger. That's all! Then back to hotel to freshen up and dinner with the agents.

The second day was totally pointless. Eddie and the Indian agents had a meeting with the Mauritius Tourism Board and Mauritius Air when me and 2 other guys went loitering at the Waterfront shopping mall. Nothing to shop since we can get those stuffs here and much more cheaper. The meeting according to Eddie it pointless too!

3rd day is the most hectic, when we did hotel inspections. The hotels were very classy and nice and when you combine good hotels with nice ocean views, it makes a very good honeymoon destination. The food at the hotels are good too.

All in all, it was a tiring trip. We met with our Indian partners, talked about our business and then head straight back. Long trip but worth while.

Hope this trip can bring in business... soon!

Boost for our Tourism?

Eradicate them!!!

This morning, I've received a SMS from my partner in crime KK to tune in to AI FM, 9:15am to listen to our newly minted Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. Well, given the recent hoohaa on female guides having to share rooms with 'male colleague' that actually reads drivers, I faithfully did just as told during my drive from home to office.

Datuk Seri started the talk with her first implementation of revoking licenses of Tour Agencies that fails to adhere to the 'No-Share-Room-With-Male-Colleagues' for the female guides. She explained that she has asked her DG what can be done or is there a provision for the ministry to do anything against TA that flaunts the laws. She was told that there were nothing in the ministry law-book that can do anything on this issue; until she noticed that as a Minister, she has the authority to revoke licenses of errant TAs! Wow! That's a very powerful tool to be granted to a Minister! I just hope this will not lead to abuses....

Back to this topic, I'm really glad that DS Dr Ng appointment is really like a breath of fresh air to our tourism industry. The previous one has done practically zilch and embroiled herself in controversies over the Pempena issue. Kicking the bad ass of the industry that only think of its profits while ripping off the guides and tourists is one helluva job and we must be relentless in this matter. It'll take lots of hard work to put us in the world's map (at least in tourism) but a few rotten apples will definitely spoils every body's hard work. DS has on air emphasized at least three key markets; i.e China, India and the Middle East. While the Arabs are known for the spending powers, China and India are targeted for their sheer volume!

Good beginning if you ask me. To refocus on the bread and butter issue rather than just cosmetics (giant billboard of Ministers welcoming you). She planned to hit the road and use her influence and network especially in China during her previous posting as the Deputy Minister of MOCAT. She used the term to visit old friends and get them to sell Malaysia!

Before I could finish listening to the interview, I reached my office..... so the rest, i don't really know what was talked about. Anyway, from the brief talk, I gather that the new minister will want to be seen as the one that revive to tour industry after a few years in the wilderness. Additional challenges when the world economy is now in the doldrums. If we put all our efforts in, I'm sure we can overcome all obstacles!

This only augurs well for the industry but I want the ministry to tackle the never ending problem of rogue TAs. They are like cancer to the industry. I doubt they will follow the 'no-share-room' ruling; threatening the ladies they face the 'ice-box' treatment if they pursue this matter. What we need is that the Ministry to announce or get the industry player to implement a minimum guide fee of RM180.00/day for professional guiding services. Engage respective Tourist Guides' Association for ideas or opinions. Real actions taken instead of just paying lip service on complaints against bad apple TAs. As the Chinese saying goes, "Kill one to warn many"; or "Won't cry without seeing the coffin". These rogue (especially Chinese market) TAs must be taught a lesson.

Just hope that Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen can really and possess the will power to fight for the industry, fight for us, fight for Malaysia!

For a better tomorrow! To Know Malaysia, Is To Love Malaysia.... my fav!

Ban on Female Guides on room sharing

The snakes are choking us all!

I read this news report from the Star with great interest, Female Tourist Guides welcome ban on twin sharing since I'm directly involved in the tour industry.

With a new Minister taking charge in the Tourism Ministry, Malaysian Women Tourist Guides Association (MWTGA) has 'succeeded' in their push to have ladies/female guides to have a room by their own. Well, I must say Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen has issued a very stern warning or ultimatum if you like it that Tour Operators' licenses will be revoked if they failed to fulfill this requirement come 1st June 2009. I used 'succeeded' because looking at the industry, this will bound to fail and nothing but blowing hot air IF the root cause is not tackled by the MoTour.

The problem of female guides having to share room with their male colleague has been an issue for many many donkey years. We heard of horror stories about ladies being harassed by their male colleagues but many chose to suffer in silent. Mind you, that mostly female guides that faced this problem are those dealing with Chinese Markets (HK, PRC, Taiwan). These are real problems but not the only one faced by guides and by guides, I mean male and female tourist guides. Why? Because the main issues here is that Tour Operators a.k.a rats a.k.a snakes in these markets usually operated on a very low tour cost, zero cost tours and some even do a kick-back to the wholesale agents in China! Imagine taking in a group of tourist with negative profits! That's loss making to you and me!

First, don't just talk about rooms. I'd really like to see Datuk Seri issue an ultimatum to operators to PAY PROFESSIONAL GUIDE FEES TO ALL GUIDES or else risked their license revoked! Have a minimum professional fees; let's say RM180.00/day imposed. There are majority of guides that do guiding without getting paid, lucky ones get paid RM75.00/day while a minority of guides still gets RM180.00/day. How do they survive? By becoming salesman la! I know I may sound exaggerated, but it is the truth! As a whole, the whole tourism industry (in Chinese market) suffers. We are salesman on board the coach, we bring tourist to eat in restaurant that you normally don't see even a fly goes there, we checked in 'Hotels' that cockroaches called home! That's what you get when we have operators that still do KB/zero cost tours!

Unless these are tackled with real effort to eradicate 'Ali-Baba' tour agents, don't even talk about a separate room for the ladies. The operators can't even give a minimum of RM180.00/day!

So, Datuk Seri, please help the industry especially the Chinese Market to go straight again. Too many Ali-Babas doing hit and run. They change company name whenever their debt reaches Mt Everest level! Anyway, I support the 'No share room' ruling. It's a good start, just hope the females won't be boycotted.

Until the rats die, there always be salesman around in buses!

*The male colleagues stated in the papers refers to DRIVERS! Why MWTGA so scared to emphasis this?