Speaking this month we have:
1st. Kim Rix – Gemstone adventures in Myanmar (Burma).
There aren’t many unspoilt travel destinations that offer a tourist both an authentic and exciting experience, but Myanmar is certainly one of them, Kim has discovered.
In the course of writing the seventh book in the Gemstone Detective travel guide series, Kim travelled to Myanmar twice in 2019 to undertake research. Unable to stay away, she is about to return as leader of a gem tour to Mogok, Valley of the Rubies.
Besides giving her audience a flavour of the gem trade in Myanmar, Kim will show that there is so much more to Myanmar than its deserved reputation for fine gemstones.
Foodies will find that the incredible local cuisine will their mouths watering for more. Fans of architecture will find much to admire in Myanmar’s dazzling Buddhist temples. Those who love the great outdoors will be spoilt for choice with some great trekking routes, spectacular scenery and pretty waterfalls in the rainforest around Mogok.
Kim passionately believes that Myanmar is the travel experience of a lifetime. “It was so hard to put the camera down.” she says, “The only time it left my hands was when they served Laphet – a local salad of fermented tea leaves, shredded cabbage, deep-fried beans, nuts, peas and tomatoes, all flavoured with chilli and garlic. You won’t have tasted anything like it before!”
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2nd. Robin Ratchford – Beyond our screens – in search of our own perspectives
Iraq, North Korea and Chechnya – three fascinating places that, sadly, when they appear in the headlines it is usually for all the wrong reasons. Yet each has its own history and culture and many aspects to it that rarely make it to through the forest of bad news. Robin invites us to take a tour that goes beyond our screens – be they on TV, a laptop or our mobile phones – to look at some of the less-reported features of these three travel destinations
Robin Ratchford has lived in six different countries and visited more than 130 countries and territories on all seven continents.
Looking back, he thinks collecting colourful stamps from the age of six first sparked his interest in foreign countries and cultures all over the world. Travel, adventure and discovery are central themes in his life.
The people he meets and the cultures he has experienced are a constant inspiration for Robin’s writing.
Born in the United Kingdom, Robin is currently based in Belgium.
He counts learning and improving his knowledge of several European languages among his constant passions.
He and his faithful companion Mortimer the Fox Terrier live in Brussels.
find out more at:
Admission costs, we charge a small cash fee of £3 for Globetrotters members and £6 for non-members on the door to cover our expenses, tea/coffee and biscuits are included free in the interval between the talks.
You do not need to be a member to attend, and we do not sell advanced tickets, please just come on the day, the doors open at 2:15pm and the program starts around 2:30pm with each talk lasting between 45 – 60 minutes.
London branch meetings are held at The Church of Scotland, Crown Court, behind the Fortune Theatre in Covent Garden the first Saturday of each month, unless there is a UK public holiday that weekend.
There is no London meeting in August, but we start afresh each September. If you would like to keep up to date with what’s happening at the Globetrotters London meetings and to be sent email reminders prior to the meeting, please sign up here
