Over the summer, I tend to drink mostly white, and now, as we head towards winter, my thoughts are turning to roaring log fires and a lovely glass of red wine. Not wanting to wish away the last few weeks of sunshine, but I’m already looking forward to it! After all, what else is there to like about the cold, wet winters we have here in the UK.

I tend to drink wine from four main areas of the world – France, New Zealand, South America and of course South Africa. For me, South Africa produces some of the most exciting and reliable wine of all. Whether it’s a Chenin Blanc, a Chardonnay, a Merlot or my favourite, a Shiraz, South African wine just seems to ooze quality and always represents extremely good value for money.

So it’s such a shame that I can’t enter our very own competition to win a case of South African wines worth up to £100 (the competition is of course not open to Audley employees!).

Most of the clients we send to South Africa tend to allow a few days of their itineraries to explore the Winelands region. Luckily, our South Africa specialists know the area extremely well – they regularly visit the country to check accommodation and explore the area. They use this knowledge to create the perfect, tailor-made South African itinerary for each of our customers.

Get a taste of South Africa  and enter our Winelands competition for your chance to win a case of specially selected South African wines worth up to £100.

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.

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.

In November 2012 Rodney Russ and crew will venture to the small islands of Crozet, Heard, Kerguelen, St Paul and Amsterdam which dot the South Indian Ocean, in search of pristine wilderness and a plethora of delightful wildlife, from the rare Amsterdam (wandering) albatross to mosley’s rockhopper penguin. Setting sail from Mauritius the cruise finishes in Albany, Australia.

Very few expeditions ever venture into these latitudes so we are immensely pleased to be able to offer this cruise through Audley. Please contact our New Zealand team on 01993 838 820 to find out more about this expedition or to discuss your travel plans further.

Cake sale raises money for Pakistan flood victims

Members of Audley’s Indian Subcontinent team have this week held a cake sale to help raise funds for the devastating flood crisis in Pakistan.

The impressive spread of cakes, bakes and cookies included a lavish looking pavlova, a sumptuous banana and walnut cake and a Dutch apple pie. After the last morsels were cleared and the pounds and pennies counted, the team declared a final tally of £275 in money raised.

This money will be contributed towards aid and disaster relief efforts currently ongoing in the worst hit areas of Pakistan.

Following the country’s biggest flood in 80 years, at least 1,600 people are feared dead and millions left homeless and in need of aid. The growing crisis is exacerbated by reports of further heavy downpours expected over the coming days, with authorities in some areas issuing “extreme” and “imminent” flood warnings.

Find out more about the flood crisis in Pakistan and how you can help support charities working to help people who have been affected – go to www.thebiggive.org.uk.

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.

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.

Using a combination of photographs and maps two of our Southeast Asia specialists – Pat and Sarah - describe their own experiences of seeing orang-utan in Malaysian Borneo and Indonesia.

Simply click on the video play button above to view it in full.

Critically endangered, with a population thought to have dropped from 30,000 in 2000 to as low as 15,000 today, Orang-utan are now found on only two islands in the world: Borneo and Sumatra.

If you’ve ever contemplated a trip to see orang-utan but you’re not sure which of these countries to choose, why not view the Audley Orang-utan: Indonesia or Borneo country guide, to help you decide.

To see more Audley video’s go to the Audley Travel YouTube channel.

The hairy-nosed otter was pictured in the Deramakot Forest Reserve in Sabah.

From elephants to orang-utan, Borneo is one of the world’s jewels in terms of wildlife. Unfortunately, a sizable portion of this wildlife – much of it endemic – has become endangered or even extinct due mainly to habitat loss. However, thanks to a camera trap set by conservation scientists, at least one rare otter has been rediscovered.

The picture of the otter was snapped in Deramakot Forest Reserve in Sabah, which is in the north of Malaysian Borneo. It is the first confirmed sighting of the hairy-nosed otter in more than 100 years.

Steps to protect Bornean otters and other wildlife will be discussed in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, in 2011. To find out more visit the Small Carivore Specialist Group website.

If you’re interested in tailor-made travel to Borneo, find out more on Audley’s main website.

The home page of the James House website.

A week ago we held a quiz night which raised over £600 for two African charities we support – Uthando in South Africa, and the Mara Rianda Charitable Trust in Kenya. We’ve just received these emails from them describing in detail how this money will be spent and just how valuable these contributions will be.

Uthando, South Africa

As promised, here is a brief outline of what we most urgently need for the families we serve:

There is a great need for food parcels for 30 of the 120 families we serve in the Isibindi Programme. You may recall that Isibindi is a community-based programme serving orphans and vulnerable children in Imizamo Yethu.

Most of the caregivers of the 147 children currently in the programme are unemployed, and live in shocking conditions. To quote just one example, we serve a child-headed family, where a 19-year old young woman cares for her five siblings, ranging in age from 5 to 15. Both parents died of AIDS-related causes, and there are no other family ties. This family of six lives in a shack measuring approximately 4m x 4m.

This is one of three child-headed households we currently serve. Most of the other families are headed by single mothers whose only form of income is a child support grant of R250 (£22) per month.

In addition to ensuring that all the children in the programme attend school, and providing the material support to enable their attendance (uniforms, stationery, school supplies, textbooks, transport costs), we facilitate access to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment for caregivers and children who are HIV-infected, provide grief counselling and life skills training, and also help caregivers to access government grants.

This may take many months, and in the interim, the food parcels are vital to the wellbeing of the families. Malnutrition is a serious problem among many of the children we serve, and the ARV treatment is rendered useless if not supported by proper nutrition.

A standard food parcel costs R120 (£10), and consists of non-perishable staples such as samp, soya beans, flour, maize meal, cooking oil, sugar, rice, tinned beans and fish. We also try to include basic toiletries and household cleaning products.

Any contribution towards the purchase of food parcels would be greatly appreciated, and will make a huge difference in the lives of the families who receive them.

Christo Read
James House Child & Youth Care Centre (Uthando), South Africa

Mara Rianda Charitable Trust, Kenya

You have asked me if there are any specific projects that the money could be put towards. 

We learnt last year the reason why the girls were generally performing poorly in their exams in their last two years at primary school and that was because they were missing virtually a week every month of schooling. We are now purchasing sanitary towels from Narok and  giving them to the female teachers to dispense.  We have one very gifted supporter who has made 150 small drawstring cloth bags as modesty pouches, which we shall be taking with us.

Richard Long
Mara Rianda Charitable Trust, Kenya

For more details of the James House Child & Youth Care Centre, visit the James House website

Horton Plains slender loris spotted in Sri Lanka (image: ZSL)

One of the world’s rarest primates, the Horton Plains slender loris, has been captured on camera for the first time in over 60 years.

Thought to be extinct, the nocturnal mammal was spotted by scientists from the Zoological Society of London and a team of Sri Lankan researchers whilst on a recent night-time survey.

Recorded in the wild only a handful of times since the 1930s, the slender loris has evaded experts for decades. The dramatic decline in numbers is thought to be caused by deforestation and destruction of its natural habitat to make way for tea plantations in Sri Lanka and southern India.

Roughly 5 – 10 inches (12 – 25 cm) in length, the slender loris is characterised by its short limbs, thick fur and large, saucer-like eyes.

Find out more about visiting Sri Lanka and Responsible Travel in the Indian Subcontinent, or call 01993 838 335 to speak with one of our country specialists.

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.

'Uthando South Africa' is a registered non-profit organisation based in Cape Town.

Each year, the Africa team organises a fund-raiser quiz for the staff of Audley, and this year it took a Family Fortunes theme, with the various departments battling it out through various rounds for the champion’s trophy! Nearly 80 people came along to support the event, which was a really fantastic turnout.

The Africa team has two charities that they support: the Mara Rianda Charitable Trust, raising money to pump clean water to schools outside the Masai Mara; and the Uthando foundation, which organises small-scale community projects in South Africa such as youth projects and conservation work.

The evening began with a barbeque to make the most of the beautiful summer’s evening, and all profits raised from the food, drinks and quiz entry were collected for these two charities.

It was a really fun evening, with lots of laughs at some of the strange questions and even stranger answers, and overall £620 was raised which will be shared between the two charities.

If you have any questions about these charities or would like to make a donation, do contact the Africa team on 01993 838 500 or visit our Responsible Travel in Africa section.

Audley raises money for TOFT in support of India's wildlife reserves

Audley has received a message of thanks from one of its foremost wildlife charities.

TOFT (Travel Operators For Tigers) aims to drive a more responsible and sustainable approach to tourism in India’s wildlife reserves by supporting conservation and local community programmes, along with a range of different initiatives.

As an international tour operator member of TOFT, Audley is dedicated to helping support responsible travel within India’s protected parks. One initiative which has proven to be particularly successful is Audley’s contribution of £15 for each person who books and travels with them to an Indian wildlife reserve where tigers are present. This scheme has raised an impressive £2,745 so far, and this figure is continuing to grow.

To read more about our commitment to responsible travel, or to discover how you could book a tailor-made trip to the wildlife reserves of India, visit the website at www.audleytravel.com or call 01993 838 350.

The Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre in Sepilok, Malaysian Borneo.

If you’re lucky enough to be a Sky subscriber you might like to know Orangutan Rescue premieres tonight and highlights the plight of these magnificent but very much endangered animals.

Michelle Yeoh, who appeared in the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, returns to Malaysia where she was born and reports for this hour-long documentary.

Interestingly, it covers work done at Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre which many clients we send to Borneo actually take time out to visit.

If you’re interested in a trip to see orang-utan with Audley then why not take a look at our Guide to Orang-utan Spotting.

Orangutan Rescue is on National Geographic Wild channel on Thursday 8 July at 9pm.

Adopting your own orang-utan

Adopting a young orang-utan is an excellent way to help the project and you may be lucky enough to see your orang-utan when you visit Sepilok. Your adoption pack costs £30 and will include a certificate, full history profile, photographs of your adopted baby, and a newsletter.

If you would like to learn more about the project or adopt an orang-utan please visit http://www.orangutan-appeal.org.uk. Here you can also find more details about Michelle, a rescued orang-utan that Audley are pleased to have adopted.

Christ the Redeemer statue re-opens in Rio de Janeiro

Following a four-month facelift and £2.7 million in public and private donations, Rio de Janeiro’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue has re-opened to the world.

The 80-year-old monument, which depicts Jesus Christ standing with his arms outstretched, was closed earlier this year due to water and weather damage to its face and hands. A team of 100 restorers and volunteers set about repairing the statue – an arduous task which resulted in using 60,000 pieces of stone from the same quarry that was used to mine the material for the original structure in 1931.

The statue, which stands at the summit of Corcovado Hill overlooking Rio’s beautiful coastline, was illuminated in green and gold light at its grand unveiling in honour of the Brazilian football team’s 2010 World Cup campaign.

To find out more about visiting Rio de Janeiro or to book a tailor-made holiday to Brazil, visit our website or call one of our South America specialists on 01993 838 610.

Locals enjoy a bus ride in rural India

With so many incredible places to see and so many miles between them, travelling around India, especially through the more off-the-beaten-track places, can be a challenging (yet surprisingly rewarding) experience.

While the country’s major airlines are reliable and reasonably priced, travelling by plane can mean that much of India’s magic is missed. And with a limited number of domestic airports outside the larger settlements, flying is best for conquering those long distances between major cities and access points.

India is well known for its magnificent rail journeys and any visitor should board at least one train to experience the bustle of an Indian railway station and the breathtaking scenery that is presented to rail passengers beyond the window.

Gone are the days of overcrowded passenger trains with dozens of local travellers hitching a ride on the roof – India’s rail service has enjoyed vast improvements over recent years and travellers today can expect air-conditioned cars, great food and service, and comfortable, private sleeping quarters for passengers travelling overnight.

Travelling through India by road can pose a slightly more challenging task – the majority of roads and highways are quite hazardous and Indian traffic in busy towns and cities is notoriously frenetic.

While it might not be recommended to hire a car and try to tackle the Indian road system alone, travelling by bus or coach, especially to some of the smaller towns and villages, can be an unforgettable and rewarding experience. Even though many local buses can be overcrowded and offer only standing room, they still present the opportunity to meet the local people and get a better understanding of everyday life as it is seen by the people who live and work in the many different regions of India.

The questionable level of comfort offered by many operators means that travelling by bus or coach is probably best for short distances, however they do represent incredible value for money, and even a long journey of around five or six hours will rarely cost in excess of 100 rupees (approximately £1.50).

To find out more about travelling around India and help with planning your trip, speak with one of our Indian Subcontinent specialists on 01993 838 330 or click to read more about booking a tailor-made holiday in India.

Statue at Luxor Museum, Egypt

If you’ve been to Egypt or are considering a trip there in the near future you might like to know there is a major related exhibition this autumn at the British Museum.

This exhibition focuses on the ancient Egyptians’ journey from death to the afterlife, focusing on the famous Book of the Dead. This ‘Book’ was not a single text but a compilation of spells designed to guide the deceased through the dangers of the underworld, ultimately ensuring eternal life.

The exhibition will be displaying many never before seen papyrus and linen texts, some over 3,500 years old. There will also be funerary figurines, amulets and jewellery on display.

Exhibition details

For more details visit the British Museum website.

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.

The classes are held in Miyuki’s home and include a basic introduction to Japanese cooking as well as the more advanced sushi making, using traditional ingredients such as kombo (kelp), miso and rice wines.

Courses are running tomorrow (18th June), 25th June and 3rd July. If you would like to take part call 01608 641944 or email miyukisedohara@yahoo.co.jp to book your place.

If you’re interested in tailor-made travel to Japan, find out more on Audley’s main website. Alternatively you can discover more about Japanese food with our guide to Japanese cuisine.

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?

Click here to view the embedded video.

The India Tiger Safari with Audley Travel video is a unique glimpse at the amazing wildlife encounters that await visitors in India’s central wildlife parks. The video features footage taken by Harsha Ogale, one of Audley’s Indian Subcontinent specialists, and it was taken during Harsha’s recent trip to the Bandavgarh and Tadoba National Parks in central India.

The clip also includes narration from Harsha, which helps to guide viewers through the video and provide more information on the types of animals that might be spotted and the best ways to plan your wildlife safari of India.

Click the arrow to play the video above, or alternatively visit our Wildlife of India section to find out more about booking a tailor-made trip to India with Audley.

gorillaapp.com, the website where you can get the new iPhone gorilla app.

If you have an iPhone you can now download “iGorilla”, the first app dedicated to supporting the plight of Africa’s endangered mountain gorilla.

The app allows uses of iPhones and iPads to follow the daily lives of gorillas in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, through reports, photgraphs and videos.

It costs $4 (about £3), most of which goes towards the conservation of the gorillas.

To find out more visit www.gorillaapp.com

Possibly India's most iconic building, the Taj Mahal in Agra.

A recent survey by Thomas Cook has shown that India is easily the best place in terms of making your £s go further.

Their 2010 Cost of Living survey shows that you can buy a beer there for the equivalent of just 68 pence, and if you want a three course meal to go with it, you’ll pay just £5.48.

In fact, the top six are all places that Audley can arrange tailor-made trips to:

Singapore is a popular stopover destination.

As I’m sure you’ll agree spending time in an airport these days is something to be endured rather than enjoyed, but thanks to the new “green” premium lounge in at least one, this no longer needs to be the case.

Singapore’s Changi Airport has already been voted the world’s best airport in a recent Skytrax survey, but with the addition of this new eco-friendly initiative it is set to become even better.

Changi Airport

Called the “Green Market”, features include a green terrace at the centre of the huge 2,200 square foot space, an air purification system and even Japanese cooked-to-order meals.

It doesn’t matter which airline or class of travel you use either as access is open to anyone who wants to pay.

It is due to be opened on 7th June 2010.

As many of our tailor-made trips stopover in Singapore, especially those to Southeast Asia, why not take the opportunity to relax in the Green Market of Changi Airport.

Audley Charity Trek 2010 in Morocco

 In May nine Audley clients, one specialist and one tour leader travelled to Morocco to embark on a five-day trek for charity. Here, Morocco specialist, Donna Piccini, talks about their journey.   

Jebel Toubkal in Morocco was the setting for the 2010 Audley Charity Trek. Myself plus the trek leader, Alan Ward and nine clients spent five days hiking in stunning High Atlas Mountains. The trip got off to an interesting start as Royal Air Maroc cancelled flights. However determination and a very long coach ride got us to the starting point, the Kasbah de Toubkal in the village of Imlil. From here we spent a few days enjoying long acclimatisation walks in the mountains.  

On day three, with everyone in good spirits we set out for the Neltner Lodge, base camp of Jebel Toubkal. The scenery was stunning and we passed local farmers and walked through mountain villages. After a few hours we followed a zigzag path to the scree faces of Jebel Toubkal and the lodge which was our camp site for the night. After a very filling evening meal we watched the full moon illuminate the snow-covered peaks of the surrounding mountains then climbed into our sleeping bags for an early night.  

Early the next morning we began our assent of the mountain using a reasonably clear approach up the south corrie. The hike got harder the higher we climbed with snow cover and scree really pushing the leg muscles! With the help of Alan and the guides from the Kasbah de Toubkal we all reached the 4167m summit. We were rewarded with magnificent views of Jebel Siroua to the south and Marrakech to the north.  

After a well-earned rest we began our decent and our journey back to the Kasbah de Toubkal. The snow that had made ascent quite difficult proved very useful on the way down! Everyone made it back to the Kasbah for our final night in the mountains. We enjoyed a late evening meal and a celebratory glass of champagne before bedding down for an excellent nights sleep!  

Well done to all who took part in the charity event which so far has raised £1,700 for two different charities – the Hannan School in Morocco and Orbis, the flying eye hospital.

A montage of contemporary Vietnamese art from the exhibition.

If you have an interest in the cultural side of Vietnam, then you might be interested in a forthcoming art exhibition showcasing contemporary art from that country. 

Four of Vietnam’s most talented artists will be displaying their work in a range of mediums, including oil, watercolours and even ink. 

The exhibition runs from the 29 June – 10 July 2010 and will be held at the Lennox Gallery in London. For more details you should visit the Modern Art Vietnam website.