So you’re on a holiday in sunny Singapore, something you’ve saved up for and looked forward to for months. You finished a delightful lunch, and you’re ready to continue your tour.
Then, out of nowhere, you’re left standing on the roadside in nearly 40-degree heat, your bags at your feet, wondering if you are part of a hidden camera show.
It may sound like a comedy skit, but it was the actual reality for over 20 Chinese tourists who found themselves in this exact situation on 16 August.
In a video lasting 1 minute and 49 seconds, a group of Chinese tourists is shown having an argument with a bus driver while standing by the roadside with their bags and luggage.
The video was shared by Douyin user “Wei Da Piaoliang,” who appeared to be part of the tour group, and she provided her version of the events. Although the original post has been deleted, copies have been circulating on TikTok.
The video was accompanied by a caption written in Chinese: “The driver is looking down on the Chinese, insulted us, hit a tourist when opening the door without apologizing and threw our luggage out.”
The Singaporean Sauna Adventure No One Asked For
Let us rewind a bit. Our tale begins with a seemingly ordinary tour bus ride around the Race Course Road area, which is a popular spot for tourists visiting the nearby temples.
The group of tourists, who were part of a 10-day Southeast Asia tour covering Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, were enjoying their Singaporean leg of the journey when things took a sharp left turn.
The tour group, originally consisting of 15 people, was merged with another group when they arrived in Singapore, bumping up their numbers to over 20.
Before lunch, their bus driver decided to try his luck at some entrepreneurial endeavours by selling souvenirs on the bus. You know, the usual suspects: keychains, perfumes, and other trinkets that you’ll probably end up forgetting in a drawer somewhere and toss out of the house during an impulsive spring cleaning session.
(But hey, it’s all part of the tourist experience, am I right?)
However, this particular group wasn’t feeling the shopping vibe. Maybe they were saving up for the other tourist areas or some kaya toast to take home. Who knows? But the driver, expecting a different response, was not pleased with the lack of sales.
With that, the mood on the bus shifted from casual to tense. Fast forward to after lunch, and the tension hit boiling point – quite literally.
A female tourist, feeling the effects of high blood pressure, asked to re-board the bus to grab her medication. It seems like a reasonable – and even necessary – request, but the driver had other plans.
He reportedly refused to let her on the bus, muttering something about how “people from China don’t spend money” and implying that those who do not shop, do not get any service.
Now, if that wasn’t enough to raise the collective blood pressure of the group, things escalated when the driver finally did open the door, only for it to hit one of the tourists. As you can imagine, this didn’t go down well.
Instead of apologising or defusing the situation, the driver decided that the best course of action was to unload all the tourists’ luggage and drive off, leaving the group stranded.
Chances are if you’re reading this, you are all too aware of how brutal the heat can get in Singapore in the middle of the year, and standing around in midday heat for four hours is no one’s idea of fun.
The group considered calling the police, but according to one of the tourists, the tour guide – perhaps trying to avoid further drama – threatened them against it.
It’s one thing to be abandoned in a foreign country, but to do so in what felt like a sauna must have been a test of patience like no other.
Fortunately, a restaurant owner nearby had noticed the commotion and, while unsure of the details, decided to offer some Singaporean hospitality. The staff handed out drinks and ice cream to help cool down the tourists.
Eventually, another bus was arranged to pick up the group.
A Peek Behind the Curtains
You might be wondering, why would a bus driver kick up such a fuss and go to such lengths over a few unsold trinkets that cost only a few dollars each?
Well, as it turns out, selling souvenirs is a side hustle that is fairly common among tour bus drivers, and the companies are also well aware of this. According to another driver who recognised the man in the video, it’s a practice that’s been going on for years.
It is a way for drivers to earn a little extra cash, especially since the job doesn’t come with many perks – no tips, heavy lifting of baggage weighing more than 40kg, and the occasional temperamental tourist.
As a result, they have to resort to selling these small souvenirs to make ends meet.
So, while it might seem odd to outsiders, it is just another day in the life for these drivers.
The driver also hoped that their customers would be a little more understanding of their plight.
(Listen, I respect and understand the need for side-hustles more than anyone, but I don’t know if incurring the wrath of more than a dozen tourists is the right way to do it.)
In the end, the tourists decided to take the matter up with the Chinese Embassy in Singapore, lodging a formal complaint. Whether it leads to any consequences for the driver remains to be seen.
One thing is for sure, though: this group would not be forgetting their Singapore trip anytime soon – and very likely not for the reasons they had hoped.
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
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