My answers were polite one or two syllable replies , hoping that he would get the hint . He did not . So he chatted on for about 5 mins before he finally caught on and the conversation died away . I reached Bukit Merah at 8 am so I had some choice of seating . The earlier birds had all occupied the back rows and the next available empty seat was about mid way of the auditorium .

Question: What reasonable inference can be drawn regarding the purpose of the author 's trip from the passage ?
Answer: The author was very possibly visiting friends in their hometownthe author combined a trip for vacation as well as some events .None of the above choices .They were most probably traveling to attend a work / school related function .