A Yunnan Ancient City Discovery Tour !

Dear Linda,

This is a belated letter from Jane and me to acknowledge your care and assistance on the evening of May 11, 2008. We also want to thank your agents in Guiyang and Kunming.

We were due to fly to Chengdu on the evening of May 10, and that flight was cancelled following the Sichuan Earthquake. Our Guiyang guide, David, was able to book us back into our Guiyang Hotel, and promised us that his manager, Billy, would meet with us next morning.

Billy arrived with fruit for us and made sure that we were happy to look after ourselves for the day. David subsequently took us to the airport for what we thought was going to be a 4.10pm flight to Kunming, assisted us to book in, and then farewelled us as we entered the security check for the departure lounge. He had been an excellent guide, took us to where we wanted to go, and didn’t pressure us to go to “factories” and shops that we were not interested in. He was very obliging and had a personality that made us feel very comfortable and satisfied.

When we were told that our flight to Kunming was not available, and that we should rest at the Airport Hotel, we started to worry, as no-one could tell us when we might be able to get to Kunming. I did not have contact numbers for Billy and David, and the hotel staff could not find their travel company’s phone number. I knew that I was going to inconvenience you by calling your number, but we thought that your people in Kunming would want to know what was happening to us, and we ourselves wanted someone else to know where we were and what was happening. So we really appreciated your actions in contacting Billy, who came straight out to the Airport Hotel. He told us to get some sleep and that he would stay up all night and make sure that we boarded a flight if one became available.

At about 1am the next day, Billy called us and took us across to the airport, and waited while we went through security again. He said he would wait outside until our plane left. We didn’t think this was necessary, but were very grateful all the same.

When we arrived at Kunming, around an hour later, your agent and the driver were both at the airport waiting for us. Despite the inconvenience they had been put through, they were both very welcoming, and took us to the hotel, and were back next morning to pick us up for the flight to Lijiang.

We can only say that we are very grateful for the professionalism of your company and for your own personal response to our situation.

Since returning to Australia, we have engaged in some fund-raising for the Sichuan Earthquake. Having been to China 14 or 15 times, and never having been to Sichuan, we are determined to visit there, perhaps next year if it is possible to visit as tourists at that time.

Best wishes,
Mike and Jane Williss
(June, 8th, 2008)