Tiny frog discovered in Borneo

Microhyla nepenthicola was discovered in Borneo

Scientists from the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and the University of Hamburg in Germany have found a new species of frog on an expedition in Borneo. 

The very cute Microhyla nepenthicola reaches just one centimetre in length and was first discovered in Kubah National Park in 2004; this discovery how now been described in the journal Zootaxa. 

The miniature red and orange creature lives and breeds on a pitcher plant, laying its eggs in the decomposing organic matter that gathers on the plant. Scientists believe the tiny size and reduced webbing of the frog could be the result of negotiating the slippery plant on which it lives.

Cruise the South Indian Ocean in 2012

Heritage Expeditions

Ten years since their last expedition to the islands of the South Indian Ocean, New Zealand based cruise company, Heritage Expeditions, has organised a return to this remote location. Continue reading »

Celebrating the beauty of the Cotswolds with a photography competition

Arlington Row in the Cotswolds, on a February misty morning

With the travel bug well and truly rooted in our systems here at Audley, it seems only natural that many of us also have a passion for photography. But while some of us are happy with the results of our trusty point and click cameras, others are a bit more practiced with a lens. 

Sarah Howard, one of Audley’s Southeast Asia specialists, is able to combine her love of travel with her passion for photography, and as a professional landscape and travel photographer she also holds photography workshops in the Cotswolds through Image Seen, a company she runs alongside Photoshop expert Martyn Ferry. 

Image Seen is currently running a competition which celebrates the beauty of the Cotswolds and prizes up for grabs include one to one photography tuition with Sarah, a fabulous Ricoh R10 compact camera, accessories from Morris Photographic, and a fantastic 2 night stay at the historical White Hart Royal hotel in Moreton-in-Marsh. 

The Cotswold Scene competition is open to all amateur photographers, including the under 16′s, until 15th October 2010 and will culminate in a six week long exhibition at O3 Gallery in Oxford Castle at the end of the year. This is an excellent opportunity for budding photographers to show off their skills and see their work exhibited in one of Oxfords best galleries. 

With Sarah reaching the final of Travel Photographer of the Year in 2008 and 2009 and the competition being judged by renowned landscape photographer Charlie Waite, and Steve Watkins, editor of Outdoor Photography magazine, this is a competition not to be missed.  

To find out more about visit the Image Seen website.

Hiroshima marks 65th anniversary of atomic bomb attack

View of atomic bomb dome, Hiroshima peace park

The Japanese city of Hiroshima today marks the 65th anniversary of the atomic bomb attack that devastated the city during World War II. 

Representatives from 74 countries attended a memorial with a representative from the US, UK and France present for the first time, and a minute’s silence was held at 8:15, the exact time that the bomb fell. 

Approximately 140,000 people died as a direct result of the bomb which was dropped by United States forces on 6th August 1945, but the focus of today’s event was very much on working towards a future free of nuclear weapons. 

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, also in attendance for the first time, said the time had come to move from “Ground Zero, to Global Zero” – a world without any nuclear weapons.

Left over foreign currency helps conservation project

Every one of our travellers has the option at the end of their trip to send us any unused and unwanted currency that is left over from their trip.

We collect all these various notes and coins and when the box gets to the point when it is nearly too heavy to carry we take it up to Friends of Conservation who are able to have this all sorted and converted into Stirling.

Our most recent collection raised £334, and we are continuing to collect more currency.

Penguin Island on BBC1

Penguin Island begins on 14th July 2010, 7:30pm, BBC1

Anyone tuned into BBC1 at 7:30 this evening will catch the beginning of Penguin Island, a new six-part documentary series following the lives, loves and survival techniques of the world’s smallest penguins.

Found on Phillip Island in Australia, the world-famous little penguins entertain half a million tourists a year with a sunset parade from the surf to their burrows. But behind the scenes, the penguins’ lives are even more interesting. Penguin Island uses the latest underwater satellite tracking and Big Brother-style video surveillance to follow the lives of several penguin families who live in a colony where relationships are fraught and survival is tenuous. 

Over six half-hour episodes, Penguin Island follows the penguins as a dedicated team of rangers and scientists monitor and protect them through the hottest summer on record. 

Be sure to tune in tonight as viewers are introduced to Bluey and Sheila, one of the 13,000 little penguin couples who live on Phillip Island.

Phillip Island is located just an hour and a half away from Melbourne and can easily be incorporated into a tailor-made itinerary with Audley. To find out more visit the Australia section of our site.

Missing owl found at Audley

Gizmo the owl basking in the sun

 A rare owl that went missing from his aviary in Witney two weeks ago has been spotted in the grounds of the New Mill this week.

Gizmo, a Peruvian striped owl, spent most of yesterday morning perched on the weir outside of the atrium and seemed to be enjoying his now-found freedom so much that he decided to fly away when animal rescue were called! Not even Gizmo’s owner, Wayne Smith, could tempt the owl into returning home and a repeat effort to catch the bird had to be made today.

At six months old, Gizmo belongs to Mr Smith’s daughter and had only been with the family three months before escaping on Tuesday 15th June. Despite being bred in captivity he was looking healthy and it is assumed he has been hunting for himself.

 We hope Gizmo returns to his family very soon.

Going Japanese in Oxfordshire

Japanese cuisine

A taste of the Far East will reach Chipping Norton this weekend, where a local resident will be running a Japanese cooking course.

Miyuki Sedhora lives in Churchill near Chipping Norton with her husband Robin Walden, and two children, Freddy and Tazu, but was born in Hiroshima. She moved to England 24 years ago and has recently set up cookery courses for those interested in learning about traditional Japanese cuisine. Continue reading »

China leads the way in high-speed rail

China leads the way in high-speed rail

The Shinkansen in Japan, or bullet train as it is more commonly known, is often referred to when talking about the world’s fastest forms of travel. However, it is actually Japan’s neighbour, China that holds the record for the world’s fastest rail journey.

In 2008 China began its first high-speed passenger service and by 2012 the country hopes to have more high-speed train tracks than the rest of the world combined. Investing billions into this ambitious project, a cutting-edge network of trains and subways look set to transform the flow of people and goods in and around the country.

Why not travel aboard the world’s fastest train on a tailor-made holiday in China?

Audley cake sale raises over £170 for charity

Some of the cakes on offer during the Audley bake sale

This weekend ten Audley staff will be taking part in the annual Blenheim triathlon and with a beautiful couple of days forecast the event looks set to be a popular one for participants and spectators alike. 

Audley’s chosen charities this year are MIND and Great Ormond Street children’s hospital, and fundraising kicked off last Thursday (27th May) in true Audley style with a cake sale. From chocolate brownies and lemon drizzle cake, to lemon merengue pie and raspberry bakewell, the tempting desserts literally flew off the table,  raising over £170.  

Best of luck to all of the Audley staff taking part in this weekend’s event.