Support the Shark Sanctuary in Moalboal, the first in the Visayan area of the Philippines.

Sign the petition to the local government of Moalboal by clicking the link below. The target is to get 5000 people to sign this petition to save the sharks of Moalboal, Cebu – an environmental issue of the highest degree.

Support the Shark Sanctuary in Moalboal, the first in the Visayan area of the Philippines.

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Bring your friend aboard the lovely Mekhala converted rice barge for FREE!

Cruise in luxury up the River of Kings from Bangkok to the former Siamese capital of Ayutthaya (or vice versa), and overnight trip, sleeping aboard in the Mekhala’s deluxe, air-conditioned cabins.

Dates:
28/29 June (upstream)
4/5, 6/7, 18/19 & 27/29 July (upstream)
5/6, 7/8 & 28/29 July (downstream)
12/13, 26/27 & 31 Aug/01 Sept (upstream)
6/7, 23/24 & 27/28 Aug (downstream)
21/22 & 28/29 Sept (upstream)
1/2, 13/14, 22/23 & 29/30 Sept (downstream)
7/8, 10/11, 21/22, & 24/25 Oct (upstream)
8/9, 13/14 & 22/23 (downstream)

Contact Symbiosis to reserve your berths now.

This from the man who walked to the South Pole in the footsteps of Shakleton… but whose new wife was up for something a bit more sedate!… following completion of their honeymoon in Java & Bali, Indonesia, organised by Symbiosis Custom travel.

“We had an absolutely awesome time: you pitched the level perfectly for the both of us – we loved every minute of it. The Aman hotels are something else –wow! And what a way to finish!
Java was a fantastic place and we loved the contrast to Bali.
 
Look forward to giving you a full debrief in due course, but just wanted to drop you a quick line to say thanks for everything….it was perfect!”

Will Gow

Read about Will’s 2009 expedition to celebrate the centenary of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1909 Nimrod Expedition and about the Shackleton Foundation, a new charitable trust.

3 day river cruise between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, home of Angkor Wat, on the Toum Tiou II deluxe river cruiser.

20% off the normal pice for the following dates:

21 to 23 July: Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
25 to 27 July: Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
02 to 04 August: Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
08 to 10 August: Siem Reap to Phnom Penh

See details and book here.

Special deal for stay and dive at Raja Ampat Dive Lodge – Save up to USD $520!

Package includes: 7-nights accommodation with fullboard at Raja Ampat Dive Lodge, round trip transfers Sorong-Raja Ampat Dive Lodge, tour to see “Cendrawasih” Bird of Paradise, hotel tax.

Price @ USD $1,200/per person for 12-tank boat dives, or USD $1,400/per person for up to 23-tank boat dives.

Valid for travel through August 2011!

Contact Symbiosis for your booking

Nine dive spots in Malaysia that were closed in June last year are expected to be re-opened soon. The dive spots were closed after coral reefs in the vicinity were bleached. The exact reason for the bleaching is not known but speculation is that the change in sea temperature and also human impact could be responsible.

The re-opening of the sites welcome news for Malaysia;s tourism industry as they are popular amongst dive tourists. The Marine Parks Department said the sites included the islands of Perhentian, Redang and Tenggol in Terengganu State, and other islands in Pahang and Kedah

Last chance to join a great 10 day mountain bike adventure, starting in Vietnam’s northern capital, Hanoi, passing through the spectacular, mountainous border region with China, and ending in Luang Prabang, the ancient World Heritage city in Northern Laos.

The ride starts in Hanoi on 05 June and culminates in Luang Prabang on 14 June. Guaranteed to depart, we still have room for a few more people to join.

Full details here.

Experience diving with clouds of sardines, observe the many predator fish enjoying a free meal, dine with new friends in Turtle Bay’s new open sided restaurant and relax in the new spa and sauna.

The 7-day package applies to all bookings from May 1, 2011 to September 30, 2011.

SUMMER PROMO PACKAGE COVERS:
– 7 nights in an air-conditioned room (1 night free);
– all meals (family style); 
– 5 days of 2-tank dives (optional);
– 1 free full body massage;
– round trip Cebu airport transfers; and
– government sales tax and service charges.  

The rates start from $770.00 for divers (double occupation) and $495.00 for non-divers. Contact Symbiosis for all of the prices.

Amazing last minute discount of 30% on the beautiful Aurora traditional sailing pinisi for the following dive safaris in Indonesia’ Komodo National Park and along the north coast of Flores to Alor.

25 May to 01 June 2011: Labuan Bajo – Labuan Bajo. Minimum number of 8 participants
02 to 09 June 2011: Labuan Bajo to Alor, guaranteed departure
06 to 14 July 2011: Bima – Labuan Bajo, guaranteed departure

Contact Symbiosis now to book.

WWF camera traps have captured a record number of images of critically endangered Sumatran tigers recently – 12 tigers in just two months in central Sumatra. The great footage includes two mothers with cubs and three young tiger siblings playfully chasing a leaf. But the forest they’re in is under imminent threat of being cleared by the pulp and paper industry, despite being a “global priority Tiger Conservation Landscape”.

Full story and video footage on the WWF website here

Thanks to Mark Ord of All Points East for this:

The tiny, but well preserved Prasart Phnom Ngok or Chnork in Kampot Province is probably the best candidate for Cambodia’s oldest, (still standing), temple. It clocks in at some 1,600 – 1,700 years (estimates do vary). That’s nearly twice as old as Angkor Wat!

A brief history.
With the expansion of the Chenla kingdom, from it’s heart in Southern Lao into what is now Cambodia, during the late 6th century, simple brick shrines began to proliferate in the lowlands of the Mekong, Stung Sen and Tonle Sap Valleys and around the great lake. The brothers Bhavarvarman (c. 560 to 590) & Mahendravarman (c 600 to 611) founded their great capital of Bhavapura at Sambor Prei Kok and proceeded to consolidate their newly gained territories in the fertile lands of the aforementioned valleys. The expansion, consolidation and building continued during the subsequent reign of the powerful king Ishnavara so by the mid 7th c. brick shrines or towers would have been a common sight from Thala Bolivet, Stung Treng in the north to Phnom Bayang in the far south.

Much of the land acquired by the Khmer kings was at the expense of the Funan polity based down in the Mekong Delta. Funan is thought to date back to the 2nd or 3rd centuries C.E. but little is known of the kingdom and only a few brick basements and foundations of very ruined constructions have been discovered at various sites in the lower Mekong and Delta regions at for instance the capital Angkor Borei and the main port of Oc Eo. Well except that is, the brick shrine of Prasart Ngok – hidden away and sheltered from time, roots and weather in a cave in Kampot Province. Its relatively crude carvings and archaic style clearly pre-date Sambor Prei Kok and archaeologists give it an approximate 4th or 5th century date placing it well before Chenla and firmly in the Funan period.

The temple itself is a small brick tower constructed around a natural linga formed by a stalagmite. Minimal repair work has been done on the walls and overall it’s in good condition. The cave is situated in one of the numerous limestone outcrops that rise spectacularly out of the paddy-fields around the town of Kompong Trach. Many of the area’s other caves contain more recent shrines and Buddha images and it makes for an interesting trip from Kampot or Kep towns.

Dr Gregor Hodgson, founder of the Reef Check Foundation will be escorting a 10 night safari in the Southern Visayas, aboard the SY Philippine Siren. Dr Hodgson spent many years in the Philippines and was the first to campaign for the establishment of Marine Protected Areas. Many MPAs now exist thanks to his initiatives and our specialised itinerary will take you to a number of them.

During the course of the trip, Philippine Siren will be sponsoring all guests to take the Reef Check ECO DIVER certification, the course is optional however this is a fantastic opportunity for divers to learn more about reef monitoring and marine conservation. Already Reef Check certified – Great! Why not put your skills in to action and assist with the monitoring for our adopt a reef program?

Trip dates: 23rd July- 2nd August 2012
Special Discount Price: EUR 2,000 per person
Spaces are limited so early booking is advised.

Philippine Siren : Southern Visayas 14-24 August 2011. Was €2400, 20% off now €1920.

Mandarin Siren : Flores & Alor, Indonesia, 05-15 October 2011. Was €2.600, 20% off now €2,080.

Maldives Siren : Northern B, 25 October – 04 November 2011. Was €2,400, 10% off now €2,160.

Oriental Siren : Timor Discovery, Indonesia, 03-13 September 2012. Was €2,600, 15 % off now €2,210.

We also have the BOOK 10 GET 4 FOC on Layang Layang and Timor Discovery trips for 2012 and 2013 – please note this offer cannot be used in conjunction with any additional monthly or show offer.

All offers apply to new bookings only made between 1st and 31st May 2011.

Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel NOW.

Great “green season” deal on this deluxe river cruise on the Mekong River amongst the 4,000 islands of Si Pan Don, Southern Laos. Check out the Vat Phou for more details.

Contact Symbiosis to book this and to plan a full holiday itinerary in Laos.

Wldlife conservation experts are working to rescue a colony of endangered Siamese crocodiles in Koh Kong province, western Cambodia, as the natural habitat is increasingly threatened by the development of the nearby Stung Atay hydro-dam.

Full story at the Phnom Penh Post