Glo-co-radio Presents: Travelling
THE OFFICIAL SCRIPT
This script is an actual transcript of the radio program,
including all colloquial speech. It is not intended to be
used as a model for formal, academic English, however,
[bracketed words] have been added to create a more
grammatically cohesive script.
1. Introduction
Faye: Hi Ryan, this is my final year and I am going to have a graduation trip with my besties.
Ryan: WOHOO! Same here! But you know, there are many things to take note while enjoying
the trip.
Faye: You don’t say, “travelling guru”!
Ryan: Give me a break! The theme of this episode is travelling tips and taboos! All our
teammates are working on it and I am sure that you have never heard of some of these tips.
Faye: Yeah, you win. I know that our teammates will be travelling to many countries! Let’s hear
them out!
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2. Content
Skit (I) Singapore and Malaysia
Maggie: Hi Gordon! I’m planning to travel to Malaysia and Singapore. I know you were born in
Malaysia, can you tell me something I should be aware of?
Gordon: I moved to HK when I was young, so I don’t really know a lot of things about Malaysia,
but I can try to tell you some. Any specific custom you want to know about?
Maggie: I know there are some special custom[s] for presenting gifts, what do you know about
that? And should I speak English in Malaysia? As I can’t speak Malay.
Gordon: Right. The first thing you should know is that giving gifts to different people requires
different etiquette. For example, if you are giving to a Malay, avoid toy pigs or dogs and
anything made of pigskin. Be aware that you should offer your gift with your right hand, unless
it is too large.
Maggie: Ok...How about the language?
Gordon: Most of the people there can speak English. And the Chinese can speak Cantonese and
Mandarin, some of them can even speak up to five or six languages. So if you can speak at least
English or Mandarin, you can survive there.
Maggie: Wow! I didn’t expect they can speak so many languages.
Gordon: Well, Malaysia is a multi-cultural country. Ah, one more thing you should keep in mind,
try not to bring a handbag or too much cash when you are in public because the criminals there
will sometimes grab your bag while passing by on a motorcycle at a very high speed. They are
crazy.
Maggie: No way! It sounds dangerous. Maybe I should reconsider travelling there…
Gordon: Just be more careful than usual. By the way, you mentioned also travelling to Singapore.
Though Malaysia and Singapore are near to each other, I have never been there. Have you
researched anything about it?
Maggie: I found an interesting one but also a sad one, that chewing gum is forbidden in
Singapore...I have to give up my dearest chewing gum!
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Gordon: Woah why? Eating chewing gum isn’t a big deal. Just don’t stick it everywhere.
Maggie: Oh, that’s exactly what [the] Singapore government is worried about. They think if
people spit or stick [the] gum everywhere, Singapore will give a bad impression to visitors. But
anyway, I am just staying for 2 days.
Gordon: Oh! Speaking of which, do you know that you are not allowed to drink alcohol in
Singapore?
Maggie: No, we can drink in Singapore, just not in public from 10:30 at night to 7 in the morning.
Gordon: Oh really?! Why?
Maggie: The government chose to wrap up alcohol sales at 10:30pm to coincide with noise and
disturbance regulations around residential areas. If you get caught drinking in the public area, a
first-time fine can be up to $1,000. Anyway, I won’t drink.
Gordon: Nothing to worry about then!
Skit (II) Japan
Gigi: Hey Ryan, I heard you love Japanese culture as mentioned in the previous episode!
Ryan: Yes! I am addicted to it! I have always been wondering how my life would be if I were
living in Japan.
Faye: Yes! Japan is a famous tourist spot for Hong Kong people, especially for my parents. They
visit Japan three times a year… and never bring me along with them…
Ryan: Don’t be sad, Faye. Let me fill you in on Japanese culture to compensate your loss.
Faye: Thanks Ryan, let us go into the world of Japanese culture now!
Gigi: So, shall we start from the dining culture?
Faye: Oh my God! I love Japanese cuisine, all those A5 quality beef… sounds so mouthwatering!
Gigi: Wow, that’s heaven on earth! Especially when we grill it!
Faye: Is there any courtesy for eating that we should follow if we go to Japan?
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Ryan: Yes! Of course there is. In Hong Kong, we always eat the street snacks while we are
walking. However in Japan, eating street food while walking is seen as impolite.
Gigi: So, what should we do?
Ryan: We should finish the food in front of the snack shop instead of eating and walking along.
Faye: How about drinks?
Gigi: Do you mean sake? I don’t often drink it in Japan.
Ryan: For drinking sake, one shall not pour the sake for yourself. You need to wait for others to
fill the cup for you and say KanPai together.
Gigi: Wow these are norms that we wouldn’t have known, thanks for your information. But what
are the tips we shall follow when we are enjoying the hot spring?
Faye: Ahhh!! I know, my favourite activity--going to the hot spring! That’s a gift for women,
you know?
Ryan: When you are ready to enjoy the Hot Spring, named OnSen in Japanese, remember not to
jump into the hot spring directly. You shall first bathe thoroughly. More importantly, never bathe
after enjoying hot spring. If you do so, you will insult the owner by implying that the hot spring
is dirty.
Gigi: Wow I have no idea! I will pay extra attention to this when I travel to Japan during the
semester break!
Faye: I am so envious! I would like to visit Kumamoto because I love the doll of KumamotoKumamon! It is so cute, you know!
Gigi: Yeah Faye, you can go to Kumamoto with your boyfriend during the semester break!
Imagine walking to the temple there through beautiful bridges, how romantic it is!
Faye: No! Definitely not!
Gigi: Why not?
Ryan: In Japanese culture, a couple holding hands and walking to the temple through the bridge
together symbolises that the couple will break up soon!
Faye: This really sounds sad…
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Ryan: No worries Faye. There are a lot more places for you to explore in Japan. Gigi, I suggest
you going to ShiKoKu. It is a marvelous place for everyone to explore the nature.
Gigi: Sure. Apart from eating and shopping, going into the nature is an alternative to experience
Japanese culture.
Ryan: その通りです。Ah sorry, I mean that’s exactly what I meant. Let’s experience Japanese
Culture together. じゃ、みんな様、一緒に日本の文化を体験しましょう。
Gigi: Shut up!
Skit (III) Paris, France
Wendy: Ah, France looks so nice!
Carmen: Uh, why all of a sudden?
Wendy: I was just googling travelling tips to France. My dream is to visit the country of romance!
I have already added visiting Paris to my bucket list.
Carmen: Um uh-huh, actually I traveled to Paris last summer…
Wendy: What?! How can you do that?! With whom?!
Carmen: Ok, slow down. Yes, I had my Paris trip with family last summer for a week.
Wendy: Oh my gosh, I am so jealous! You are going to Vietnam this Christmas and now you tell
me you’ve already been to France.
Carmen: Haha yeah, I am travelling to Vietnam to volunteer under the programme called “The
Glocal Fellowship” by Youth Square and Voltra. So, what do you want to know about Paris?
Wendy: ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING! Maybe just start with the two places you liked the
most?
Carmen: As you said, Paris has such a romantic, artistic, and historic atmosphere. Obviously, the
answer must be the palace[s] and museums such as the Louvre, and of course the Eiffel Tower…
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Wendy: But…?
Carmen: Well, my pick would not be one of the obvious. I would have to say my favorite place
is the Sacre Coeur and Arc de Triomphe.
Wendy: I heard of that! The Sacre Coeur is a Roman Catholic Church located on the highest
point of the city, whereas the Arc de Triomphe is one of the most famous monuments in Paris.
Carmen: Wow, you are such a die-hard France Fan! Yes, they are both my favourite because the
view up there is breathtaking and the grass before the grand church along with the clear blue sky
is just spectacular. As for the Arc de Triomphe, I was living in an apartment one block away. I
was so privileged to see it every day, different times of the days as well, and I grew to love it
more and more.
Wendy: I grow to love France more and more just listening to your journey. Please tell me more!
How about the food?
Carmen: The food is lovely. However, dining out can be quite expensive. Thankfully, buying
food from grocery stores in France can be very cheap. We cooked sometimes but more often, we
went on picnics.
Wendy: Wow, a picnic! How sweet! You can have it in the park; the sides of the canal or just
outdoors and watch people go by! What else is more French than a picnic?
Carmen: Exactly! People in the local market are friendly enough, and the cheese, bread, fruits,
and meats are wonderful.
Wendy: What do you mean by the French being “friendly enough” though?
Carmen: I mean, now that I have a few friends in France admitting to what I have observed, they
love their own language, so it is better for us to know a little French before visiting.
Wendy: Uh… I only know “bonjour”…
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Carmen: Then, say ‘Bonjour’ whenever you meet people you encounter there! It is surely one of
the best ice-breaking attention-getter[s] you can say.
Wendy: Then bonjour to you Carmen!
Carmen: Merci, bonjour to you too Wendy.
Wendy: So what else do I need to know?
Carmen: I would say you do have to mind your belongings, as tourists are the easiest target for
pickpockets there.
Wendy: Got it. So in short, the best way to enjoy France is to keep your eyes on its cultural
wonders, a croissant in one hand, and your wallet in the other.
Carmen: Exactly! Bravo!
Skit (IV) New York, USA
Felice: Hi, Bobo. Thank you for the souvenir from the Big Apple. A classic “I love New York” tshirt!
Bobo: You are most welcome! It has been a great travelling experience in the States.
Rhett: What is it like? Since I only have the impression that everything is in supersize in the
States. Is it true?
Bobo: Quite true. For example, their pasta in normal size is like Hong Kong’s super-size.
Sometimes half of my lunch can be reserved for dinner.
Felice: Wow, that’s a lot! Oh, and is it necessary to tip the waiters? Because from the American
TV show I watched, it seems that tipping is a must!
Bobo: You’re right! The tip is double the tax, so it’s around 15-20%. Some restaurant[s] even set
their basic tip at 20%. But it turns out that no tips are needed for take-away, which is a relief for
a student like me.
Rhett: I also heard that the security of tourist spots is very strict. What do you think?
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Bobo: Indeed. The security guards need to check visitors’ belongings, especially backpacks.
They may even ask you to put your backpacks in lockers.
Felice: Then I will just have a handbag or shoulder bag with me, so to save time and money for
the lockers. You know, time is really precious to a traveller.
Bobo: You may want to take the subway in New York City because it is as convenient as Hong
Kong MTR. But just a heads-up, it is quite dirty there.
Felice: How about the price? I guess everything is much more expensive than Hong Kong.
Bobo: That’s true. A single trip charges 2.75 regardless of the distance. So having an unlimited
metrocard is a good choice. If it’s a 7-day unlimited pass, you can take the subway as many
times as you want by paying a fixed price in advance.
Felice: Rumour has it that taking the subway is quite dangerous. There are many drunk people.
Bobo: It’s fine in the daytime. Just avoid taking it late at night, around 11pm or afterwards.
Rhett: I am planning my graduation trip to the States. Any tips for preparation?
Bobo: Maybe get prepared with the travel documents for the US visa.
Felice: Oh, I heard that it is difficult to get the visa. Is it true?
Bobo: Not really, it would be fine if you prepare well for both the documents and the interview.
Don’t worry too much! US is fun!
Rhett: Oh I am more excited than I am worried! Can you tell me one fun fact about the Big
Apple?
Bobo: Okay, how about this: Do you know the origin of the Statue of Liberty?
Rhett: No, but I do know that David Copperfield made it disappear for a while.
Bobo: Nice try. The Statue of Liberty was actually a gift from France in 1886.
Rhett: Oh really? I didn’t know that… Thank you, France; or as the French would say, merci.
Bobo: You don’t get to thank them, you are not a New Yorker.
Rhett: Yeah well, I thank them for giving me a tourist spot when I travel there! Haha!
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3. Conclusion
Rhett: In conclusion, when travelling to different countries as a tourist, it is important to have a
“glocal” sense: understand the different cultures, know how they are different from your own
and enjoy a foreign lifestyle for a week or two!
4. Trailer
Wendy: So I heard that our next episode is inspired by… you!
Carmen: It is kind of a funny story about me mishearing things… yet again…
Wendy: What do you mean?
Carmen: Well, when I walked into the Glo-co radio team meeting as usual, they said that you
and I are in charge of the part about “Friends” for this episode.
Wendy: “Friends” as in [the] American TV show?
Carmen: That’s exactly what I said! But it turned out to be “France” for this episode on
travelling.
Wendy: But I love that TV series so much that I want to share it with our listeners!
Carmen: My sentiments exactly. That is why we are going to talk about TV shows around the
world in the next episode.
Both: So stay tuned!
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