Delivery from Shopee

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Overcharged by travel agent

 I asked my friend's secretary in Jakarta to arrange return train tickets from Jakarta to Bandung.

As she was not familiar with purchase of train tickets, she approached a travel agent in Jakarta.

The travel agent overcharged me by loading 150% to the actual cost of the tickets, i.e. they charged IDR 1 million (S$85) when the actual tickets cost IDR 400,000 (S$37). Furthermore, they did not give me the full train schedule and only offered an inconvenient time for both trips.

I learned later that I could have searched online for the tickets, get the actual price and select the most appropriate departure time. If I needed to reserve the tickets in advance, it could also be done.

I do not blame the secretary because she was not familiar with the purchase of train tickets. I guess that this is how travel agencies make a quick buck from unsuspecting travelers.

Tan Kin Lian 

Lava bands

 A tout sold me three lava bands at the volcano in Tanghuban Perahu Nature Park in Bandung.

He spoke English and followed me for a while, giving useful information about the volcano crater and the site. He was not intrusive, unlike the other touts.

He asked for a higher price but I bargained it down to RM 200,000 (S$17) for 2 pieces. He gave a smaller piece as an "extra".

He said that the lava band helped to reduce stress. I did not believe him at that time, but it did not matter. Later, I checked Google and found that the lava stone absorbed negative ions, and did have that effect of reducing stress.

My Indonesian friend, who accompanied me to the volcano, suggested that I should allow him to do the bargaining and get a better price as a local.

I thanked him for his offer, but told him that I do not mind paying a higher "tourist" price to help the local vendors, who had to make a living.

Tan Kin Lian

Angola girl (2)

I helped a family in Angola
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WOTC - Tharman S

 Wisdom of the Crowd: 36% of respondents have a favorable view of Tharman S as president of Singapore.

https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/chart3.aspx?id=2914

WOTC - George Goh

 Wisdom of the Crowd: 76% of respondents are positive about George Goh as president of Singapore.

https://tklcloud.com/Crowd2/chart3.aspx?id=2915