Speaking on Saturday, September 7, 2024, we have :

1st: Chris Grant – Ethiopia – a land of extraordinary variety

Tucked away in the Horn of Africa lies extraordinary Ethiopia, a land with a truly ancient history, unique and hugely varied tribal cultures, amazing birdlife and a dramatic variety of other wildlife, with scenic beauties that range from the lofty Simien and Bale Mountains to the spectacular ribbon of picturesque lakes in the Ethiopian Rift Valley, and so much else.

The east of the country has venerated and ancient Islamic cultures, including the fourth holiest city in Islam, Harar. But the north of Ethiopia is devoutly Christian, with its own Ethiopian Orthodox Church that has existed for nearly two thousand years and which has given rise to amazing architecture and stunningly colourful artwork.

The deep south of the country is home to numerous unique tribal peoples with colourful and truly fascinating individual cultures that are unmatched anywhere in the world. 

And binding all of this together are the ordinary people of Ethiopia who, whether Christian, Muslim, Jewish or Animist, show an extraordinary warmth and quiet pride in everything they do. Their foods are unique, their clothes are unique, and they offer a genuine warmth of welcome to visitors. Ethiopia is by far the most varied and richly colourful country on the African continent.

Chris Grant has been associated with Ethiopia for over twenty-five years. His charity work has supported education and schooling in all sorts of ways during that time, and he has also led groups of visitors throughout this varied land for nearly fifteen of those years, continuing to learn about the fascinating history and cultures of these amazing people. I look forward to sharing some of my knowledge and my experiences with you and telling you about the sheer variety of this extraordinary country.

2nd: Jessica Finnamore – 10 weeks solo backpacking Central America

After graduating from uni last summer, I decided to take a year out to go travelling. I spent around 8 months in total in Central America, South East Asia, and India. This talk will discuss my favourite part of the trip; Central America, and what it’s like to travel there as a solo woman.

Date & Time: Saturday 7th September 2024

Doors open at 14:15 in London and on Zoom with the talks starting around 14:45 (London see Event Time Announcer for local times), please arrive before 14:45 and switch your phone to “do not disturb” or silent.

We would ask that anyone with respiratory symptoms participate via Zoom.

Admission costs:

• £7 for members. (Members can access a ticket code below or from the members area.)
• £10 for non-members. (save £3 if you join at this meeting)
• a recording to watch later will be available to members and non-member ticket holders.

Please sign up for meeting updates to get notifications for future meetings.

Tickets go on sale just before the meetings.

For in person Tickets at the hall:

For Zoom online tickets:

In November we have:

AGM: The club AGM starts at noon (card-carrying members only)

Speaking at 2.45 pm we have: 

1st: Sheila Robinson – Uzbekistan

In the 1970s Douglas and Sheila Robinson spent 18 months travelling overland in Asia. Two children and nearly 50 years later we are still exploring. In 2017 we spent just under a month in Uzbekistan. Travelling by plane, trains, buses and cars we went to the Aral Sea (what’s left of it), the ancient cities of Khiva, Bokhara and Samarkand, the desert at Nurata and a mini trek in the mountains. It is a fascinating country with some of the friendliest people we’ve ever met.

2nd: Jim Holmes – English Breakfast and the story of Ceylon tea

The slopes of Sri Lanka’s southern mountains are clothed in neat rows of low bushes that produce one of the country’s greatest exports, tea. The famed ‘English Breakfast’ name is known the world over, and disputed, but the story of tea in old Ceylon is far less refreshing. I toured hillside tea estates, factories and met the villagers who still hand pick this everyday product to bring you the true story of the UK’s favourite hot drink.  From its beginnings in 1824, tea still goes through a growing and drying process that is little changed in 200 years, this is an industry steeped in tradition and the often questionable roles that colonialism set in place.

Introduction: Jim Holmes

Jim Holmes is a professional documentary photographer that has lived and worked around the world for over 30 years.  Assignments have taken him to over 50 countries where he worked extensively on humanitarian projects for numerous international agencies. Making S.E. Asia his home for over 20 years he used this base to work around the region for commercial and not-for-profit clients. Jim has also worked on the visual documentation of large river hydropower projects, as well as for well-respected travel guide and educational publishers.  

Find out more at:

• Web address: www.jimholmes.co.uk 
• Instagram:  jimhphoto
• FaceBook:    Jim Holmes Documentary Photography

Admission costs:

• £7 for members. (Members can access a ticket code below or from the members area.)
• £10 for non-members. (save £3 if you join at this meeting)
• a recording to watch later will be available to members and non-member ticket holders.

Please sign up for meeting updates to get notifications for future meetings.

For in person Tickets at the hall:

For Zoom online tickets:

On iPhone or iPad please use this link.

Speaking on Saturday, December 7, 2024 we have :

1st: Brian Anderson – The High Life – the altiplano of Peru, Bolivia and Chile

Brian Anderson is a Wirral based, tutor, lecturer and travel
photographer. For over 35 years he has travelled to 66 countries and
territories around the world. North to South, from the North Pole to
Antarctica, and East to West, from Japan to Rapa Nui (Easter Island).
Based on his trips to South America in 2019 and 2023, he now takes us
in this new talk, to the Andean altiplano (high plains) of Peru, Bolivia
and Chile.

In a richly informative, colourful presentation, Brian shares with us the
otherwordly landscapes and the amazing wildlife that survives in this
barren, high altitude (14,000 – 16,000 ft asl) region.

We will also meet the proud indigenous people – the Aymara and
Quechua – who live in these high altitudes, and look at their unique and
colourful culture which is rooted in the remote environment.

This talk is a must for lovers of travel, diverse cultures and wildlife.

Find out more at:

• http://www.andersonimages.co.uk/

2nd: Neil Pitts – What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

My journey from Long Covid to the northernmost point of Europe

Following an 18-month battle with Covid-19 and Long Covid, Neil Pitts decided that he needed a challenge. So, in the winter of 2022, he and two friends attempted to ski the length of Norway. A journey that took more than 3 months.

This long-distance route, known as the Norge på langs, is approximately 2,500km long. Only one or two people complete it during winter each year. Most fail.

Neil’s presentation, which includes images from the journey, not only describes this incredible challenge but also gives an insight into the obstacles he had to overcome just to get to the start line. Plagued by the effects of Long Covid and injuries prior to the trip, he had also never been on Nordic skis.

You can read more about Neil and sign up for his blog via the website www.neilpitts.com or find him on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/neilpittsadventures/ 

Date & Time: Saturday 7th December 2024

Doors open at 14:15 in London and on Zoom with the talks starting around 14:45 (London see Event Time Announcer for local times), please arrive before 14:45 and switch your phone to “do not disturb” or silent.

We would ask that anyone with respiratory symptoms participate via Zoom.

Admission costs:

• £7 for members. (Members can access a ticket code below or from the members area.)
• £10 for non-members. (save £3 if you join at this meeting)
• a recording to watch later will be available to members and non-member ticket holders.

Please sign up for meeting updates to get notifications for future meetings.

For in person Tickets at the hall:

For Zoom online tickets:

On iPhone or iPad please use this link