Tourist Traps in Hainan -Part 1

Tourist Traps in Hainan -Part 1
Sep 2, 2005 23:32
CHAMONIQUE Points: Join Date: Sep 2, 2005 Status: offline	Just went to Hainan Island last week. Personally I felt that the island is over hyped, over-commercialized, full of artificial attractions and con men. Most people commented that Sanya is beautiful but I do not concur with this. No doubt the sea and the sky are blue but many of the coral reefs are dying. You can actually see much beautiful coral reefs in some islands of Malaysia or Thailand and at a cheaper price. The sea sport operators in Sanya charge tourists exorbitant fees. I would advise tourists especially if you are Asian looking tourists to be very careful when you visit any temples in Hainan especially Dong Ling Shan. The Chao Yin Temple in Dong Ling Shan is inhibited by a group of unscrupulous and despicable monks and local guides who cohorts to con tourists especially those from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. My family and I were unfortunate to fall preys to become their victims. Please do not take any divine lots, incense or lotus lamps even if the guides sweet talked to you. We were hoodwinked into paying almost RMB 1000 for the incense. The tour guide would first tell you tales of how accurate the temple would give divine lots and that it do not cost any cents to get the divine lots and that the monks in the temple were kind hearted enough to decipher the lots at no charge. As we were approaching the temple, the tour guide should us some big incense outside the temple and told us that only fated believers would be chosen to light the incense. At first we did not want to take any divine lots when the tour guide passed it to us because we normally would not pray in foreign temple. However the tour guide persuaded us and said when in Rome do as the Roman do and we felt embarrassing for not been open minded and showing disrespect to the deity. That was mistake Number ONE. Things happened very fast and they had some helpers there to bring you to all the monks at different queue to decipher the lots and the monk told me to go to the counter outside to get some incense. The minute I stepped out, the person at the incense counter just shoved the incense to me and unwrapped the plastic cover. He immediately asked me for RMB 130. I was overwhelmed and my mind was in a state of blank. I did not know what come over me and I just paid without asking. I did not know what came over me that I just part my money. Perhaps I was hypnotized. Later I realized my relatives were each conned into paying RMB 390 for the incense. All of them said they were in a state of confusion when everything happened so fast. One of my aunties was pressurized to buy some Qi Lin at RMB 1,800. They refused to let her leave until she finally bought a small one at RMB 280. (continue with Part2)

Sep 2, 2005 23:32

CHAMONIQUE
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Join Date: Sep 2, 2005
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Just went to Hainan Island last week. Personally I felt that the island is over hyped, over-commercialized, full of artificial attractions and con men.

Most people commented that Sanya is beautiful but I do not concur with this. No doubt the sea and the sky are blue but many of the coral reefs are dying. You can actually see much beautiful coral reefs in some islands of Malaysia or Thailand and at a cheaper price. The sea sport operators in Sanya charge tourists exorbitant fees.

I would advise tourists especially if you are Asian looking tourists to be very careful when you visit any temples in Hainan especially Dong Ling Shan. The Chao Yin Temple in Dong Ling Shan is inhibited by a group of unscrupulous and despicable monks and local guides who cohorts to con tourists especially those from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. My family and I were unfortunate to fall preys to become their victims. Please do not take any divine lots, incense or lotus lamps even if the guides sweet talked to you. We were hoodwinked into paying almost RMB 1000 for the incense. The tour guide would first tell you tales of how accurate the temple would give divine lots and that it do not cost any cents to get the divine lots and that the monks in the temple were kind hearted enough to decipher the lots at no charge. As we were approaching the temple, the tour guide should us some big incense outside the temple and told us that only fated believers would be chosen to light the incense. At first we did not want to take any divine lots when the tour guide passed it to us because we normally would not pray in foreign temple. However the tour guide persuaded us and said when in Rome do as the Roman do and we felt embarrassing for not been open minded and showing disrespect to the deity. That was mistake Number ONE.

Things happened very fast and they had some helpers there to bring you to all the monks at different queue to decipher the lots and the monk told me to go to the counter outside to get some incense. The minute I stepped out, the person at the incense counter just shoved the incense to me and unwrapped the plastic cover. He immediately asked me for RMB 130. I was overwhelmed and my mind was in a state of blank. I did not know what come over me and I just paid without asking. I did not know what came over me that I just part my money. Perhaps I was hypnotized. Later I realized my relatives were each conned into paying RMB 390 for the incense. All of them said they were in a state of confusion when everything happened so fast. One of my aunties was pressurized to buy some Qi Lin at RMB 1,800. They refused to let her leave until she finally bought a small one at RMB 280. (continue with Part2)

Sep 4, 2005 19:27	#1
RITA Points: Join Date: May 10, 2005 Status: Offline	I am not shocked at all, Hainan is wellknown for tourist traps every where. If only they spend half of their wits to make the clean tourist market...

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