After a good year break, I now travelling to few contries in Europe for work. This has landed me in Moscow, Russia. I didnt want to travel here, but unfortunately the issue here is far greater the other country.
Let me come back to my travel experiace in Moscow. I had some sort of expectation in Moscow, just for that i decided to spend 2 full weekends here. After i bid farewell to all, i was on my way to Russia.
This time, I am traveling wt SQ.
Day 1.
After a painstaking ~11 hours flight, i finally landed. I didn't have time to do much homework about this country. The blogs i read said one thing in common, " Lack of customer service" I wondered what that was.
The flight i was on was a flight to Huston,US wt a stop over at Moscow. This is where i drop off :). The first encounter was not pleasant. I came out of the plane and was making my way to the Immigeration. Now remember this was a stop over flight. That means the others that are still continuing to US, they must come out as well. There was these bunch of passangers that didnt know where to go. There was this young ground staff girl. Her job was to guide the transit passengers to the boarding area. I can clearly understand now when they said " Lack of Customer Service." This girl, was shouting at passengers to get to the correct place. I think she forgets that the passangers are the one that paying for her salary ( i mean directly). I have never seen any airline staff being rude, well only in Russia.
The next thing i noticed was, NO ONE SMILES. I really dont get this, they are all not smiling. Not even the airline staffs.
Well, cut the story short. I was out and was told that the driver will wait for me outside. The was this guy holding my company logo. So I went to him and said, Marriot Tverskaya? I am Karu. This guy, of course with a bloody sour face. Didnt speak a single word of English! I cant get this, if a foriener is coming, please sent some one that can speak english. He called his office, and a lady with a stern voice asked for my name. After i said that. Things was clear. Now, the drive just showed his hand indicating move. Wait a minute, he is the driver and i am paying him to drive. Why such and bloody addititue ? Wors still, i had to carry my bag and drag my luggage along. Idiot didnt even offer to take them. Common, i am the kind that is very generous in tips. Oh man, lack of customer service. This is worst then, let me think..... hmmmm... well i cant think of a country where the driver didnt offer to take my luggage.
Finally after dragging my luggage alone to about 500m to car park. I was finally on my way to the hotel. It was the longest silent ride ever. Not a single word. After some time i was at the hotel. I checked in and rested a bit. By now you should have guessed, if not let me tell you. There was no bloody bell boy to open my doors or take my luggage. I had to drag my luggage and open the 2 doors they have. I checked in and still no bellboy to take my luggage to room. Guess what, this is some sort of 5 star hotel and i pay ~ USD300 pernite! Well the possitive side to this is I saved my tips money :)
ok now, I will stop complaining. So I dumped all my luggsges in room and headed to Red Square. It was about 20 mins walk from my hotel. The day I landed, was coinsidently was Moscow founding day. So there was some event happening on the road. They closed the road and had those metal detactors ( similar to those in airport in smack middle of the road. If i needed to enter, i have to go thru that. So i did the said, i waked thru the portal and it beeped like crazy..... Oh no, am in trouble !!! hehehe the police let me thru and so did they did for the rest of thousand ppl. I now feel completely safe feeling that even the portal beeps, everyone can still come in. If you had a gun, the portal will surely beep but dont worry, the police will let you thru. ;)
Did I tell you, the girls here are super hot. I have to give them credit. Almost all has a stunning body with a pretty face, model like.... s... ( to be continue)
