Yes folks, the mad Chinese National Day holiday week has come and gone. Four million visitors thronged Shanghai while many of us had our bottoms planted in the seats of our office chairs over the weekend to make up for lost work days. Railways and airlines are back to funneling more manageable numbers of passengers,and things have more or less returned to normal.

When more than 100 million people attempt to travel to and from the Middle Kingdom in less than a week, early bookings are not only necessary but plainly essential. And so it transpired that yours truly had his October family visit planned back in August.

As weekends were at the head and tail ends of the holiday period, it occurred to me that a generous city government might want to throw in either or both, giving us, optimistically, an extra four days to make merry.

After all, one of the professed reasons for the autumn break when instituted a few years ago, was that the country's denizens would save less and spend more, thus boosting the economy. And what easier way to get them to spend all that accumulated, non-performing cash than to tack on a few more holidays?

Many would have applauded such a gesture and, quite likely, most would not have minded working two weekends in succession to make up for lost work time. And it would have made tripping and touring really worthwhile.

Sadly, it was not to be.

Mindful of the impending transport chaos,I put in a request with the organization I am indentured to during the first week of September so I could book my airline tickets with a fair chance of actually getting a seat.

"Sure,"came the response, "we'll let you know as soon as planning has been completed."

Huh? Why isn't the entire public holiday and vacation schedule for the whole period available a year in advance?

Two weeks later I politely inquired again.

"So sorry, but we are awaiting word from the Shanghai government."

Sigh!

Finally, would you believe it?, a generous two whole days prior to the holidays I was advised of the actual dates of the break, including the work roster for the weekend (which was subsequently amended again).

No prizes for guessing that by then all plane, train and bus tickets had been sold out. I was resigned to watching the spectacular fireworks display in Century Park, witnessing the awe inspiring, leg-breaking parachute jumps from the 420.5m Jinmao Tower and getting ripped off at the very shoddily constructed "Roman Holiday" exhibition in Lujiazui.

To be sure, things are improving rapidly in China but the attitude of some State-related employers and organizations towards their employees is still antiquated, condescending and, at times, heartless..

What is so difficult about having a holiday planning meeting half a year ahead, rather than at the last moment, so as to the staff-most of whom give their best to the organization -to enjoy a holiday at the destination of their choice, rather than being lumbered with a substandard plywood Roman Coliseum that has been desecrated by extremely un-photogenic steel bracings visible from all angles, or a similar Leaning Tower of Pisa (albeit without the visible metalwork) or antiquated, pathetic side-shows with shoddy prizes even your gandmother would be ashamed to subject herself to?

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