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.

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?

Visit our Japan event at the Ashmolean, Oxford

Geisha with Wisteria, Kyoto

On Thursday 15th April 2010 we will be holding an event at the Ashmolean museum in Oxford. Ben Colbridge, a Japan specialist here at Audley, will be joining in the talk for ‘A Cultural Journey Through Japan’, which runs from 2-3pm.

Ben spent four years living in Japan and has travelled extensively through the country. He still returns regularly to visit family and to explore further.

Admission to the event is free and more information can be found on the Ashmolean’s website. Alternatively, find out about tailor-made trips to Japan on our website.

The Big Soup Kitchen kicks off 2010 fundraising efforts

Laura and Natalie from the North Asia and Arabia team

The first Audley fundraising event of 2010 saw the North Asia and Arabia (NAA) team host the Big Soup Kitchen in aid of two of the charities they support. 

With an array of homemade soups including spinach, mascarpone and nutmeg, bacon and tomato, and chorizo and pearl barley winter broth on offer, the rest of the company were encouraged to hand over their pennies in return for a bowl of the good stuff and a helping of bread. For an extra 50p the NAA team also offered a heating and delivery service. Continue reading »

Himalayan Treasures – Tibet, Nepal & Bhutan client seminar

Tiger's Nest Monastery in Bhutan.

On friday afternoon I popped along to another of our client seminars, ‘Himalayan Treasures’, which was presented by Chris Moore from our North and Central Asia department, and Camilla Brent-Smith and Iona Laing from our Indian Subcontinent team.

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Give us your smellies!

North & Central Asia's Henrietta and Jo have been collecting toiletries for The Christina Noble Children's Charity in Mongolia.

Doing your bit for charity doesn’t always have to involve raising money and this week the North and Central Asia department here at Audley have come up with an ingenious way of supporting a children’s charity in Mongolia.

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Japan Season on BBC4

Hidden Japan season on BBC4

Last Monday (16th March 2009) marked the beginning of  BBC4′s ‘Hidden Japan’ season. A month-long focus on all things Japanese the season kicked off with Marcel Theroux’s ‘In Search of Wabi Sabi’, one of three films which form the centrepiece for numerous other documentaries, animations and dramas. Continue reading »

Shah ‘Abbas exhibition now on at the British Museum

A gathering of dervishes, watercolour, Isfahan, c. 1640. From the Ardabil section. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

‘Shah ‘Abbas: The remaking of Iran’ is a brand new feature that I have just added to the Iran section of our website. The feature focuses on an exhibition currently running at the British Museum with the same name. Shah ’Abbas:  The remaking of Iran is the third major exhibition in a series by the British Museum that focuses on great rulers and is running until 14th June 2009. Continue reading »

Jonathan Dimbleby travels through Russia for new BBC2 series

I greatly enjoyed tuning into the first episode of a new five part series on Russia, presented by Jonathan Dimbleby, in which the journalist and broadcaster will be travelling the length and breadth of the country to, he says, get to know Russia through the eyes of ‘ordinary people’, away from all the politics.

I always think it’s difficult to write about Russia without lapsing into lazy clichés. While there were elements of this, the personal stories that Jonathan Dimbleby uncovered added an extra poignancy and depth to the comments about the vastness of Russia, and the suffering of its people.

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