The best wildlife art of 2011

'Approaching the Waterhole' by Stella Mays

While I was writing my recent blog about the friendliest rhino in Africa killed by poachers, I added a link to the David Shepherd Foundation website. 

David Shepherd is of course the artist famous for all those wonderful paintings of animals (although he paints a variety of subjects). I think it’s fair to say his paintings of elephants in particular have become iconic around the world.

Anyway, while browsing the site I came across this page on the recent Best of Wildlife Art 2011 competition. As you can see some of the artwork is superb. Personally, I like the drawings and paintings more than the sculptures.

You might like to note that some of the originals are still for sale. They’re not cheap though! The one above by Stella Mays will set you back £2,400.

Rainbow toad rediscovered in Borneo

The rainbow toad was rediscovered up a tree in the forests of Borneo

It never ceases to amaze me how much new wildlife keeps popping up in Borneo. In fact it feels like most of my blogs on here have been taken up with reports of new species being found in this remarkable country.

Anyway, here’s another one although this time it’s a rediscovery of the aptly named rainbow toad.

Read more about its rediscovery on the BBC website

PS. I only hope the relentless deforestation which is taking place in Borneo is soon halted so that we can continue to marvel at the animals which undoubtedly still await discovery.

Audley launches an updated Southeast Asia brochure

Audley's new Southeast Asia brochure

Our Southeast Asia programme has always been a bit special to us because it was in this region (Vietnam to be precise) that Audley first started out. In fact the company’s first name was Asian Journeys.

Now this ubiquitous brochure gets the full makeover treatment and its 152 pages are packed full of information and fantastic images – it’s our most comprehensive ever! Included are all the usual destinations such as Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia with some additional highlighted features on things like the temples of Angkor, family travel in Thailand and wildlife in Borneo.

Take a look at the brochure now!

• Here’s the online version (you will need Adobe Flash Player). 
• If you want to see online versions of all our brochures, or if you want to request a free physical copy of any of them, simply go to our brochures page.

Southeast Asia ‘Travel Briefings’ at our New Mill offices

A Travel Briefing on Canada at our New Mill offices in Oxfordshire

Starting on Thursday, August 4th, our scenic New Mill offices in Oxfordshire will once again play host to our popular Travel Briefings. This year a few selected specialists will be presenting talks on different countries throughout Southeast Asia.

Audley's New Mill offices

These presentations (which are free to attend) have proved very successful in the past because they provide you not only with the opportunity to gain an insight into the practicalities of travel - the best times to go, what to take, the types of accommodation available, etc - you’ll also be getting our specialists first-hand knowledge of these places by virtue of the fact they’ve actually been there – in some cases even lived there.

If you attend you can also have an informal chat over a tea or coffee with any one of them, as well as the other guests. If you have time we’ll also give you a quick guided tour of our offices and its surroundings. You’ll need to be quick though as the 24 places for each briefing will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.

Here is the schedule. Click on the one you’re interested in or visit our Events page for a brief summary of each.

• Borneo’s Wildlife – Thursday 4th August
• Indonesia Explored – Friday 5th August
• Experience Indochina – Thursday 18th August
• Burma Uncovered – Friday 19th August

Southeast Asia’s Best Guides

Audley's Southeast Asia Manager, Natalie, thanks the host of the First Audley Guide Awards

A great guide can really bring a country to life and we spend a good deal of time training our guides in Southeast Asia.

Continue reading »

BBC Radio 4 Reith Lectures

This year's Reith Lectures will feature pro democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi

One of our Southeast Asia country specialists, Mark, has just emailed me to point out that this year’s Reith Lectures will feature Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

It was only back in Nov last year that she was released by the Burmese government after 15 years under house arrest and I wrote a corresponding blog about it, which you can read here.

Entitled Securing Freedom, the Reith Lectures will be part of a wider series which will also feature former MI5 Director-General Baroness Manningham-Buller. The lecture presented by Aung San Suu Kyi will be broadcast on Radio 4 and the BBC World Service on Tuesday, 28 June 2011.

Tickets for Aung San Suu Kyi’s lectures will be available through BBC audience services.

Why ‘Stay Another Day’ in Cambodia?

A young girl in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh

It’s only in the past decade or so that Cambodia has really begun to embrace international tourism with open arms but it’s also now doing its bit towards encouraging visitors to participate in local Responsible Travel (RT) initiatives.

Stay Another Day is a project that lists all of the country’s sustainable organizations. So, for example, if you were to travel to Cambodia it would provide you with the opportunity to find out the best way to contribute to improving the welfare of the local people in the area you were visiting.

Note, the Stay Another Day campaign has also been rolled out in Laos and Vietnam, so if you’re thinking of going on a trip to one of these countries then feel free to ask one of our country specialists about how you can get involved in local sustainable projects.

Find out more about Stay Another Day [.pdf]

Responsible Travel & Audley

As part of our commitment to RT we support and promote a number of charitable concerns in Cambodia. To find out more visit our Responsible Tourism in Cambodia section.

Tell us about your travel stories

The McCurdie family celebrate Christmas Day in the Masai Mara, Kenya

“Our visit to Malacca was an intriguing end to our visit to Malaysia, a country where numerous traditions, religions, cultures and cuisines meet and blend harmoniously.”
Nigel Wright, Malaysia

“Our heads and hearts are full of the images, sights, sounds, and smells, but perhaps the most lingering image of all is the one of the Cambodian people.”
Valerie and Raymond Gatward, Cambodia

“To have spent the time with the wonderfully friendly people of the Governor’s Camp among the enchanting wildlife of the Masai Mara made it an experience we shall treasure forever.”
Dr Ian McCurdie, Masai Mara in Kenya

These are just some of the comments we have received and which you can read in full in our Client Stories section of the Audley Magazine.

How to send us your Audley travel stories
It’s easy, if you’ve been on a trip with us simply click on this link and upload your text and photos. If you do you’ll also have a chance to win a £50 Bobbooks’ photobook voucher.

Unique wedding proposal suggestions in Thailand

Phil the baby elephant could be part of your wedding proposal

Deciding where to pop the question can be a tricky business, so in case you’re in need of a little inspiration here are two fun ideas from a couple of our popular Anantara resorts in Thailand.

Idea #1: Employ a baby elephant

Anantara Resort, Golden Triangle

Why not get Phil, the baby elephant to assist you as your romantic accomplice; he won’t let your secret out! At the Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa in northern Thailand, you can share a beautiful dinner and with Phil’s mother nearby, he will do his best to offer an elegant bouquet of flowers in his trunk or a bow-tied gift box around his neck with the engagement ring hidden inside. All that remains is to pop the question.

Idea #2: Swim through a sea cave to a hidden beach

Anantara Si Kao

What about making that romantic proposal on a hidden beach that can only be reached through a mysterious swim-through cave? Take a boat trip from the Anantara Si Kao to the Emerald Cave, near Trang. Swim into the cave and as it becomes a dark channel you’ll need to use torches to illuminate the mysterious journey. Swim towards the daylight where a tropical beach, enclosed by a vertical cliff face, awaits you. Here an exclusive champagne picnic is laid out on the golden sand ready for you to make that proposal.

Honeymoon ideas with Audley
Plan your perfect honeymoon with Audley by visiting our Honeymoon Ideas section.

Tourism Malaysia Garden wins gold at Chelsea Flower Show

The award-wining Tourism Malaysia Garden at this year's 2011 Chelsea Flower Show

I wrote a blog last June about Audley at the Chelsea Flower Show in which I described how our Southeast Asia Manager was a guest at the Gold Award-wining Tourism Malaysia Garden. Well, they’ve surpassed themselves and repeated this with another Gold Award for 2011.

The whole thing is big at 220-sq metres and is meant to represent a traditional Malay village garden, with its calming pool and pavilion providing shade from the sun. In all, you can see around 50 different species of flora from Malaysia contained within it.

If you would like to see a 360 degree view of the garden, visit the Royal Horticultural website (requires Flash).

Special Offers in Malaysia

If you are interested in visiting Malaysia, note we have a number of special offers on our website at the moment.