Fake Ren Min Bi Notes Now In The Region

Thursday January 15, 2009

Sources : The Star

Fake renminbi notes now in the region

COUNTERFEIT renminbi currency notes have been found circulating in South-East Asia countries and Hong Kong, reported Sin Chew Daily.

The Central Bank of China had started investigation into the counterfeit notes and was expected to disclose its findings this week, it said.

The fake notes of 100 renminbi denomination were first found in Guangdong.

Subsequently, the fake notes with serial number of HD90 were found in Shanghai, Hunan, Guangxi and Szechuan.

Guangzhou police had also started investigation into the fake notes.

A local money changer was quoted as saying he would not exchange fake notes with customers.
He added that the fake notes originated from China, but it was not a serious matter in Malaysia.

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From the STAR report, it is nothing to be surprised for there could be anything fake in China. So, one of the most difficult tasks faced by tourists guides is to have the trust in them.

Whenever I am on tour, I will need to always brain polish the China tourists that not all countries are like China where there are too many fake items in China.

I always tell them please do not bring their mentality and habits of China to our country Malaysia.

Just recently, the group which I took, I carelessly recieved a piece of fake twenty renminbi note. It seems that there are just too many fake renminbi in China and whenever we tour guides accept these notes, we have to be extra careful.

China Groups With Optional Tours

This is the month of July. And as usual, the China school holiday started. Initially I was thinking that this month is going to be a very slow season due the earthquake in Sichuan and the Olympic. Luckily that my travel agent is dealing mostly with the Guang Dong group. So, during this period of time, most of the groups come from Guang Dong. So, I was basically tight up with the China groups.

I have been taking 3 China groups consecutively. Two of the groups are the usual routine that is JB in and JB out group, where by the third group is JB in KL out group.

These three groups went on smoothly without any bad incidents.

For the third group, they are from Soon De ( Guang Dong Province ). It is a group with so call super VIP. The reason why I said its so call VIP is because most of the travel agents in China will name their groups the VIP group. So they will need to pay more for better food and hotel. So, usually these type of tourists are more stuck up.

In their itinerary, the Chinese need to pay RMB 350 for optional tours in Malaysia. The optional tour is compulsory because this is in fact to pay to the local travel agent in Malaysia for their lodging and food. The optional tour is actually a special package of tourists spots and special food item. So, for the optional tour in Malaysia, usually it is for the Bak Kut Teh, the Curry Chicken Bread, Putrajaya, KLCC and the traditional Malay house.

It is always very unfortunate for the China tourists because the travel agents there never update what is the latest happening in Malaysia. The biggest problem with the travel agent in China is that they are small travel agents. So, these small travel agents will attract their own customer with all kind of offers. Then because they can't form a group because usually a group has to consist of minimum 16 tourists. So, the small travel agents will past these customers to the bigger travel agent which is also known as the wholesale travel agent.

The small travel agents will usually have all kind or different itineraries with the wholesale travel agent. So, sometimes the tour members itineraries will differ with each other. This is where the problem arise. When we tour guide follow the standard itineraries set by the local travel agent here. So, when we did not go to the tourists spot set by the small travel agent in China, the tourists will definitely make a fuss.

There is a family consists of a couple and a daughter. They pay their tour through the small travel agent. The small travel agent itinerary has the optional tour whereby it has also the historical museum. The problem is that the historical museum which is located near the Dataran Merdeka is close. So, just because of this historical museum, this family is making a lot of fuss.

This family is also one of the so call very miser people. They hardly spend money and have the mentality that we tour guides are there to swindle their money. Throughout the tour, they only buy a little box of chocolate. Sometimes, I really wonder why these China people cant change their mentality of trusting more people.

China Group Itinerary

There are actually 2 itinerary for the China group. During the 90's, when the tour fare is so much higher, it is so much more comfortable to take the China group.

This was their early itinerary and till now, sometimes if the tour guides are lucky, he/she might have such an itinerary.

1st Day From second link to Melaka. If its early, then we usually will arrange for the Melaka city tour. If we can't make it, then we will do it the next day. Staying in Melaka the first night. The Melaka city tour includes Bukit Cina, the Sam Poh well, the Sam Poh temple, the Stathuys, St Paul's hill, St Paul's church, St Francis Xavier statue and A Famosa.

2nd Day From Melaka to Genting Highlands. Usually, we will take off early in the morning and its usually at about 8am. Then we will take them for the local product shopping and then proceed our journey to Putrajaya. After Putrajaya, we will have lunch in Kuala Lumpur. Then on our way to Genting, we will stop at King's Palace, go for watch and chocolate shopping as well. Usually, we will reach at the Skyway (Genting cable car station) at about 4 to 5 pm. Check into the hotel at Genting. Then after dinner we will take them to the casino and it will be free and easy after that.

3rd Day From Genting to Kuala Lumpur. We will usually go down hill late, between 10 - 11pm. After reaching Batu Caves area, we will have lunch. Then we usually will proceed to jewelry shopping, pewter shopping and a visit to Batu Caves. After that we will go for Kuala Lumpur city tour. The Kuala Lumpur city tour covers the National Monument, the National Mosque, the Independence Square and a photo stop at KLCC. Usually dinner will be held between 5 - 6pm. Upon reaching the hotel its free and easy again.

4th Day Off to KLIA depending on the time of the flight.

Because of competitions, the travel agents are slashing the selling price to win more customers. So in order to cut cost, nowadays most China groups will be Johor Bahru (JB) in and Johor Bahru out. Because of this itinerary its really tiring and killing for the tour guides and the bus drivers.
Here's a run down on the JB in and JB out itinerary.

1st Day JB second link to Kuala Lumpur. The first night will be in Kuala Lumpur. If we are lucky, the groups arrived early, then we will be able to do the Melaka city tour and have the dinner at Melaka. Then proceed the journey to Kuala Lumpur. Usually reach hotel at KL at 10 - 11pm.

2nd Day Kuala Lumpur to Genting Highlands. Early morning start off to Putrajay and KL city tour and inclusive of a 2 shopping stops as well. Will try to finish off whatever itinerary in KL except for the jewelry shop.

3rd Day Genting Highlands to Johor Bahru. Again early in the morning from 8am started journey to the Batu Caves area. Went for jewelry and Batu Cave. Had lunch in KL. Then proceed journey to JB (if finished Melaka city tour on the first day). If unlucky, that not enough time to do the Melaka city tour on the first day, then we have to do the Melaka city tour. And if its like this, usually will only reach JB at about 10 - 11pm.

4th Day JB to Singapore. Worst day of all. Usually the morning call will be between 3 - 4 am. We have to rush to reach the Malaysia immigretion before 4.30 am because after this time it will be very jam as there are a lot of Johoreans working in Singapore. So, pity the guests that if they are too early, they have to sleep or rest in the bus for a few hours while waiting for the Singapore bus to send them to the Changi Airport.

From this comparison, it clearly shows that price is the main culprit for all the tours. Too bad that most China tourists don't really inquire enough before they pay for their tours. Because of the competition of travel agents in China, the consumers (tourists) suffered. And when the tourists suffered, we Malaysia tour guides suffered as well.

Most of the China tour groups are going to 3 countries. The 3 countries include Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. Because of the low tour fare, their first destination will be Thailand. They will stay in Thailand for 7 days. Then they will fly to Singapore. They stay in Singapore for only one night. After that they will come to Malaysia and spend 4 days 3 nights here.

Chinese Speaking Tour Guides Attention Please!!!

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I came across those of you who are Chinese educated told me that why I don't write in Chinese...

For your information I am so sorry that I am English and Malay educated. So I cant read or write Chinese.

I really hope any one of you still can contribute to this webpage and let this blog start to roll. I really need everyone's cooperation and contribution so that this webpage is useful to everyone.

I really don't mind broken English. If you really cant write in English, do so in Chinese. At least there is someone who is willing to contribute something here.

Please remember that this webpage is for everyone...

Thank You...