Pinkelicious Pops #4
Welcome to the 4th installment of Pinkelicious Pops where you get the fluffiest and pinkest news on this side of town! 
In light of all my recent travels, here’s a travel inspired Pinkelicious Pops entry!
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When I was en-route to Beijing 2 weeks ago, I was seated next to this dear little old lady who was traveling by herself to Canada with a transit in Beijing. She spoke no English while I speak neither Cantonese nor Mandarin, save for a tiny smattering of both in an atrocious accent! She asked for my help in filling out the landing card and after that we fell into an easy conversation.
How did we converse? I honestly don’t know! She spoke a smattering of Mandarin and so did I but through that little smattering, I found that she had 2 daughters in Canada she was going to visit, had a son who often had work in Beijing too and she was shocked to hear that I was going back the very next day! All went well until they served food and after she had finished eating, she held up the pepper and salt sachets to ask me what they were. And at that very moment, I couldn’t for my life find the Mandarin words for those condiments! I couldn’t even remember if my long-suffering tuition teacher had taught me those words! In the end, I had to tell her I didn’t know and she very good-naturedly laughed it off but kept it nonetheless, probably to ask her daughters what it was when she arrives! Funny thing was that when I came back to KL, I asked my siblings and none of us could find the word either! My Chinese fore-fathers would be so ashamed of me! *runs away and hides in embarrassment*
Pinkelle says - If anyone knows the Mandarin word for salt and pepper, please enlighten me! 
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We had a short stopover in Seoul on our way into Kazakhstan. It was pouring and my colleague didn’t want to go into the city 
So we booked an airport hotel room and waited for our connecting flight. I had noticed a little shop in the hotel when we came in so decided to pay it a visit.
I was choosing some fridge magnets and trying to get the Korean man to give me a better price when he asked where I came from. When he found out I was from Malaysia, he launched into fluent Mandarin while I stared at him, gaping. It turned out that he was Korean but had studied in Taiwan for many years so naturally his Mandarin was better than my drastic one!
So again, my flailing Mandarin was put to the test as he happily chatted away to me. After some tough bargaining, both in English and Mandarin, he finally agreed to give me US$1 off the magnets I was buying. “Huge” discount huh?!
When I went to pay him, he did something really shocking. He held me by the shoulders and shook me quite hard while telling me in Mandarin to be sure that I didn’t bargain if I went out to the street shops in Seoul because no one bargains in Seoul! What a strange way of telling a customer though!
Pinkelle says - Has anyone been to Seoul who can verify what he said about no bargaining?!
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Finally, I shall unashamedly declare my love for Singapore Airlines here!
We usually have to fly the national carrier due to company policies. The last time I flew to London, I fell asleep when dinner was being served. So when I woke up hungry and asked the stewardess for some snacks, she had none to offer. All she could give me was my uneaten dinner which she admitted wouldn’t be very fresh anymore. This was in stark contrast to Singapore Airlines which I flew on a similar route a few years back. Any of my requests for snacks was met with an array of fruits, sandwiches, biscuits or dried fruit for me to pick as many as I wanted.
Due to some itinerary changes last week, I was thrilled to end up on Singapore Airlines on my way back from Beijing last weekend! Movies and games on demand galore! Best of all, when I found out that the afternoon snack they were serving was cold sandwiches, I asked if I could have a hot snack instead. The steward was most apologetic that his sandwiches were cold but with a great beam, he offered me instant noodles instead! Ah…that was manna from heaven to a weary traveler who had been away from home and instant noodles for weeks! The instant noodles appeared, piping hot with a pair of chopsticks. It was top-quality Nissin cup noodles with lots of little condiments! Delicious!
I’m now sold to Singapore Airlines (for Nissin noodles! :P) despite what Skytrax says about Malaysia Airlines having the best cabin crew. Perhaps the great service Malaysia Airlines provides is for business and first class but in economy where minions like me sit, a little extra touch goes a long way!
Pinkelle says - I’m not very good, am I, especially with 31 August around the corner Shh….
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And this once again ends this edition of Pinkelicious Pops! I think I’m going to seriously consider taking Mandarin classes so if anyone knows of anywhere I can get good tutors who do not speak with a Beijing accent, it’s mightily appreciated!
Have a very happy week and weekend everyone! Till next time….
*Pinkelle floats off her soapbox with her pink parasol*
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6 Responses to “Pinkelicious Pops #4”
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I took basic Mandarin from Beijing teacher and I now speak funny Mandarin :(( As for Seoul I bargained all the way maybe because I did not know it is taboo? :p MAS serves Maggi with extras on Business and it was yummy or was it my homesickness after months in Paris??
PE says: Me no fly business class la so as far as I’m concerned, MAS economy sucks
Teeheehee… my Mandarin is as bad as (or even worse) than yours! I need Mandarin classes too.
Call me unpatriotic but I’d take any other airline over MAS anyday. Including AirAsia. LOL!
PE says: AirAsia over MAS?! That’s a first! LOL!
I can’t speak Mandarin to save my life! So we’re in the same boat there.
And I agree that the cold sandwiches just don’t cut it. I’ll remember to pout and ask for Nissin noodles instead next time I travel on SIA
PE says: Do…and the best part with SIA is that you don’t even need to pout!
Ok, no Cantonese, no Mandarin, so are you Hokkien? I know these days, younger generations don’t speak their mother’s tongue anymore. All English or Malay.
Pinkelle, I can’t help telling you this your sidelinks adverts shows MAS but you mentioned your love for SIA.
PE says: Yep, you guessed it right, Aunty Judy! I can still understand and speak some Hokkien so I’m not that bad!
Eeps! Does it show MAS?! My traitor sidelink ads!
I have to agree with u about Singapore airlines.They’re among the best
My very first time taking the plane was on a trip to Singapore..on Sg Airlines of course!*grin*
I was really amazed and satisfied with the service they offer
PE says: They’re really good, aren’t they? I’m always so happy to fly SIA!
I’m actually a fan of Singapore Airlines too. I somehow find them much nicer to deal with. and they’re cheaper than MAS, woo-hoo! *wink*
PE says: Are they cheaper than MAS for you? Here, the flights with SIA sometimes cost up to RM1k more because of the taxes even though their fare might be cheaper. Hence my kiam siap and patriotic company’s reluctance to let us fly SIA!