After traveling throughout China while living in Beijing for eight years, followed by countless return trips to China over 13 years with Absolute Travel, Lisa Sun is firmly established as an expert on all the must-see spots and hidden gems in China.

During her most recent visit in April, Lisa revisited old highlights, but found her daytrip outside of Chengdu, Sichuan to the Ya’an Bifengxia Panda Base and Research Center followed by a visit to the Giant Buddha of Leshan as the unexpected stand-outs of the trip. The word “giant” is all that the two sites share, but the excursion to visit the pandas and the Buddha makes for a dynamic day excursion from Chengdu.

Native to China and sadly one of the most endangered species on the planet, the Giant Panda remains a national treasure.

Since the 2008 Sichuan earthquake which closed the well known Wolong Giant Panda Reserve Center, Bifengxia (pronounced Bee-fung-sha) Panda Base, at 2.5 hours from Chengdu, has become the place to observe pandas in their natural habitat. Best viewed in the morning when pandas are most active (as they fill up on roughly 30 pounds of bamboo a day and tend to nap through the afternoons), visitors to Bifengxia have the rare opportunity to witness pandas in action. Visitors won’t want to miss watching young panda cubs in “kindergarten” where youngsters play on slides, swings, and romp around like their human counterparts! For those of you who can’t get enough of them, Absolute Travel can arrange an opportunity to feed bamboo to a hungry panda - or even better yet: hold a young panda as if it was your very own! But there’s a catch to interacting up close with the pandas: to ensure they are protected and remain healthy, one must wear a uniform similar to a gas station attendant’s, and complete a required health form (which we can assist with)… but trust us, it’s worth it.

After a panda-packed morning, continue for a 1.5 hour drive to the world’s largest stone-cut Buddha, and arguably the most impressive: the Giant Buddha of Leshan. Chiseled from a cliff during the Tang Dynasty on the confluence of the Minjiang, Qingyijiang, and Dadu rivers, it was constructed in the hopes that it would protect boats and passengers from the area’s fatal floods.

The Buddha is quite an imposing sight with 23 feet long ears, and each shoulder area large enough to fit a basketball court. Its grandeur not only lies in its magnitude, but in the genius of its craftsmanship: its coiled hair is made of 1,021 individual buns, and its ears serve as a secret drainage systems with hidden gutters and channels to prevent erosion on its serene face. Visitors have the option of viewing the grand Buddha from a viewing platform, where a staircase winds down to its feet for a close up view, however, we recommend taking in the splendid views of the Grand Buddha in its entirety from a boat ride on the river. The “wow” factor is simply amazing!

Our Family Tour of China itinerary can easily be customized to meet the Giant Pandas and observe the Giant Buddha of Leshan as a day excursion from Chengdu. Contact us for more details on this trip or to discuss a customized itinerary to China with our travel specialists.

* Special note: arranging a private session to hold a panda is subject to the mood of the pandas on the day of your visit and can not be guaranteed.

While most visitors to Brazil put sexy Rio, the historically rich Salvador, and the natural beauty of Iguassu Falls on their short list, we suggest adding a visit to the exquisite Txai Resort on Bahia’s undeveloped Cacoa coast to make your list complete.

Set amongst coconut groves and the Atlantic rainforest, this stylish eco-resort is arguably one of Brazil’s finest properties. Txai (pronounced chai) is a blend of barefoot luxury and chic sophistication and evokes complete relaxation: individually thatched bungalows are positioned with gorgeous seaside views and hidden amongst coconut groves for total exclusivity; pristine beaches await you just a stone’s throw away; six heavenly pools dot the property standing by for a spontaneous soak; and the Shamash Healing (Spa)ce sits perched on a nearby hill ready to enhance your state of well-being.

For those seeking adventure, Txai’s location proves an excellent launching point to discover the savage beauty of the outdoors. Daily excursions include beach and rainforest hikes, discovering local waterfalls, horseback riding, river rafting, and surfing the refreshing waves. To add some local flavor, the small town of Itacaré is developing slowly, allowing it to keep its original charm and colorful cultural ways. Just twenty minutes down the road, a visit offers ample photographic and shopping opportunities.

A rejuvenated state of well-being awaits you just one hour from Ilheus airport. Please contact our South America specialist, Brooke Garnett, to discuss a customized itinerary that includes Brazil and the Txai Resort.

As I continued along my Southeast Asia circuit, Burma also made headlines.

While celebrating the Thingyan water festival for the Burmese new year last week, a bombing took place in the former capital of Yangon (Rangoon), killing and injuring several people. This was an isolated incident and tourists were not the target of this attack. There is not currently widespread unrest or protesting in Burma and Absolute Travel operations countrywide remain entirely unaffected. Throughout my travels across Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake, my main worry was having a bucket of ice-cold water poured down my back for the festival!

Here at Absolute Travel, we remain in constant communication with our contacts on the ground and we will continue to closely monitor the situation.

Stay tuned: a photo recap of my adventures in Burma and Thailand to come!

-Matt

I am back in New York City after a two-week whirlwind trip through Thailand and Burma (Myanmar). With all that has been going on in the Land of Smiles and the Land of Pagodas over the past few weeks, we understand that there are concerns with travel to the region. Having recently experienced the situation firsthand, I would like to address these situations.

What’s happening in Thailand?

Bangkok is currently the stage for a protest movement that has sadly resulted in several deaths and injuries. This unrest has led to the US State Department issuing a travel alert for Bangkok on April 22nd.

This being said, I expected to arrive to a city in chaos. However, my arrival to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport and transfer into the city’s notoriously busy streets were smooth and uneventful. On a historical tour of Bangkok’s main attractions, I did not cross paths with a single protester. I continued my journey up north without witnessing any unrest. Whether peeking into caves in Chiang Mai or riding elephants in the Golden Triangle, I was safe and comfortable. This area, along with the southern beach hotspots of Phuket and Ko Samui, have remained calm throughout the disruptions in Bangkok.

Our touring in Bangkok and throughout Thailand has not been affected by the current protests as they are contained in a district of several blocks and can easily be avoided, leaving the majority of the city unaffected. However, rest assured that our Bangkok office will continue to closely monitor the situation and we will provide the most up to date information on any further developments. - Matt