a drama

And it's only about four hours' sleep and in such a bright sunlight, as limelight, I very naturally recalled my last trip to Taiwan, of course, since it was only two days ago, and the memory is so fresh.

I think I will never forget this group April 14-21,2009 in my entire life, with 29 people in total. 25 of them from Yongkang city's rich and successful entrepreneur families and the rest five retirees from Hangzhou city. From the very moment in the airport when the group met, gang of 25 expressed their opinion that they all women were not informed by the agent that five extras from other area joining them and if it being the case, they could easily find another five female friends with them for the trip, since other applicants are in line to travel on later dates same month.

Almost everyday my local guide, wasabi and I try our best to balance these two groups of totally different interests. One, flexible and more interested in shopping while the other strictly sticking to the travel plans and hating shopping. In the beginning, I thought the gang of five,from my city too, may be more educated and more travel experience, could be easier people, while the other 24, more naive or two smart to convince, should be more difficult.

And anyway, like the war of tug, they managed to get along as it seemed. And on the way to Alishan mountain, the war finally broke out. The local guide arranged us to try Oolong tea on the halfway up at a local tea store, she mentioned the time would be about 40 minutes. So the whole group were beginning to taste the tea while the owner introduced the good with this tea.
After the tea tasting, it was the shopping time natually. So Gang B of 24 women, most of them as I mentioned being business women, acted so sharp with prices and immediately offered to slash the price by 2/3. The owner of course wouldn't like to lose so easily, so he kept denying such a big discount. After some time of negotiating, the women team didn't get what they wanted in price of tea, so then they turned their attention to other tea accessories, like wood tea spoon, tea cup and tea flavoured plums.

It was once again another opening of such a negotiating war. When the tour guide sensed the falling of shopping desire, she jumped in and whispered with the owner and cut the prices like buy-one-and-get -one-free. So the discount was now 50% off. And some of the women were still enjoying such game, while others, including the gang of five already beginning to edge out and watching . When I tried in my weak voice to fight their high voices to decide quickly, they gave the owner the last offer. Despite of sales volume, one pack, about 250 grams, or half a pound, was finally agreed to reduce to ntd480,down from 1600, so only 30% of initial price. Then the shopping craze was erupted; and those buying more liked to have even more benefits, like one pack of tea plum for free gifts. And those who were already hesitating and watching aside, returned inside and joined the shopping.

And gang of five were first waiting on the bus, then one of them getting off to buy a pack too. While almost all shopping were done, and the women beginning to get on the bus, one woman from gang of five rushed down and began yelling ' Isn't it too ridiculous?! We spent too long time here.' Her face grew red and vein popping out. Surprising, it was the same women who thanked the guide and me for making so many phone calls to contact her friends in Taiwan days ago.

I got on the bus and began counting the number. Yes, there were two more paying in the store. But where was her husband? I asked this aunt. She didn't know. I got off the bus and searched for the lost man. The store staff said no man was in the toilet but one walking to the field. The guide and I ran there and found him. We tried to welcome him back but the man, angrily said,' I am not going, and I am staying here.'

Finally he was on the bus. But another woman from gang of 24 may have heard other gang member had better discount conditions than her and ran down to the store to ask for equality. The owner kept denying and she was still there, persistently debating about value of honesty in doing business. The guide and I followed her into the store and persuaded her to return to the bus. She turned around and began to debate with us. The local guide obviously couldn't take more of this and suddenly moved chairs away and knelt down on here knees, begging her to return to the bus.

And now finally we were all on the bus. Sitting next to the driver on the lower deck, with the guide sobbing still, I could easily hear the noise by our group. And all of sudden, an old man from gang of 5, loud over the microphone,
' dear ladies from Yongkang, you shopped one more hour than our original plan. It means we have one hour less on Alishan mountain. And we have four spots on our itinerary...' He was working to unite to press the guide was not to miss any spot.

What a lame game and obvious failure! After his words, the organizer of the group for gang of 24, bravely ignored the bumpy mountain road and made it to the front of the bus and then down to us. 'We, from Yongkang, all agree to give them one more hour. After they go sightseeing, we will wait for them one hour. Our deal.'
Actually she and her friends were few people in the group we like, beautiful, smart and brave and balancing and rich. I comforted her and thanked her in whispers.

The tour guide were still in tears. I went back to her and tried to calm her down. She was a very friendly girl, in late thirties, plump, and great sense of humor. But like other Taiwan tour guides, she's mostly been trained for taking Taiwan local tourists. And such a crowd of Chinese mainlanders, and such a tiring travel plan were new lesson to her, even though she's been 12 year as a guide.

'I am not able to take it more,' she sobbed and made a phone call after she wiped to her office. I guessed she was backing and then asking the office to send another guide for the last day of our trip. She couldn't take any more of it.

I felt so sorry for her. And also so ashamed of being so weak to control my group. But how?! I wondered. The local organizing agent offered some great dreams about travelling Taiwan but informing nothing negative for their eight days here:

They promised: direct flight between Hangzhou and Taiwan, either Taipei and Kaohsiung;
They could sneak out to Macau casinos , if it's stopover at Macau, but they didn't even explain to them to bring legal document for that and too short time of two connecting flights;
one train ride included;
fruits orchard visit;
all members from Yongkang and all females;
hotels of good facility and location.

I am sorry for them too because the final itinerary came to their hands, earliest the evening before departure and most of them on the way during the three hours' drive to the Hangzhou airport.

I am so fresh handling with mainland travelers, and to Taiwan, and during such a crazy peak time. Days before, there was already fights over hotel room arrangements, over floors and different wing buildings.

While I was still lost in my own thought, the tour guide rising and climbing to the upper deck. I heard she grabbed the microphone, and began talking.
' I really really can't stand it. I try so hard to work for you, your every one. And I even paid for your free gifts at the tea store.' She began to sob again and suddenly I heard the big bang, she was again kneeling on her knees, ' stop to make more troubles for me and bing. We thank you, thank you. Sorry, sorr.y .'

I tried to go there too to calm her, but she was already back, blocking my way out. And then a long silence up but suddenly more noises erupted in their dialects. Minutes later, the organizer came down to us. She was crying too. For her team began to criticize her. I tried my gentlest voice to calm her in her ears and hugged her.

When we got to the parking lot up on the hill, the rain was down pouring. After a brief lunch at a restaurant with greasy floor, only ten people came to join the sightseeing regardless of the rains. All rest decided to retreat to the bus and rest. And of course gang of five was to see those must see spots. They came for these, but I guessed no matter how hard they pretended they enjoyed, how possible? When we were all soaked wet from head to feet. They didn't even say anything to care for me and the guide; to them we're deserved.

When we were back to the bus, the rest women looked at us, with very complicated feelings and I heard their care and quietly and a little bit coldly I thanked them.