Tuesday, January 31st, 7 pm - Norway with Seattle Photographer and Author Tom Dempsey
Visit the spiky Lofoten Islands, icy Jotunheim Mountains, airy Pulpit, and ancient stave churches of Norway with Seattle photography instructor Tom Demsey, author of Light Travel: Photography on the Go. Hike and drive Norway to find beauty around every corner from fjordland to Nordland. With over 30 years of nature travel photography experience in over 20 countries, Tom has established himself as one of America’s top travel photographers. His images appear in travel publications from Sierra, National Geographic, DK Publishing, Rough Guides, and Moon Handbooks. Tom owns PhotoSeek.com and tutors photography one-on-one in Seattle. Participants can sign up for his upcoming creative photography workshop to be held in Switzerland (June 29-July 6, 2012): “Develop your Photographic Genius with a Pro in the Alps.”
Saturday, February 4th, 9 am – Solo Travelers
This informal gathering is for travelers who meet and learn from each other’s travel experiences and share wisdom learned on the road. This group meets each month on the 1st Saturday.
Tuesday, February 7th, 7 pm - Transcending Time in Burma with Karen Hogue
Over 100 years ago Rudyard Kipling proclaimed, “This is Burma, and it will be unlike any land you know about”. This is still true today. Burma, also known as Myanmar, is for now the least-traveled destination in Southeast Asia. Virtually untouched by western influence since British rule ended in 1948, Burma has retained its fascinating and diverse cultures. Join Karen Hogue of Wonderful World Journeys (www.wonderfulworldjourneys.com) as we visit temples and museums in the bustling capitol of Yangon, witness the deep spirituality of Mandalay, explore the ancient ruins of magical Bagan, and then step further into the past at Inle Lake and meet the villagers who live there. Travel to Burma requires more knowledgeable planning as its tourist infrastructure is in its infancy – but Burma will be an experience unlike any other. But get there quickly - Burma is opening its doors to the world, and its secret is about to get out!
Tuesday, February 14th - No Event – Happy Valentine’s Day!
Saturday, February 18th, 9 am – Gutsy Women
This informal gathering is for women to meet and learn from each other’s travel experiences and share wisdom learned on the road. Bring your coffee and your questions! This group meets each month on the 3rd Saturday.
Tuesday, February 21st, 7 pm - Volunteering in Developing Nations with Leigh Buchan
What is travel without transforming experiences? Until recently, volunteering abroad had much more to do with activism than with tourism. Now, one can find a combination of both activism and tourism. Experience first hand life among Rwandan youth who are forging a life after devastating genocide and see how you will be more encouraged than you can imagine at the energy and vitality of those earnestly desiring to lift themselves out of poverty. Join Leigh Buchan, co-founder of Go the Second Mile, (www.go2ndmile.org) a meaningful travel organization, and see how you can bring yourself, your resources, time and talents to interact with those from the developing nations in unique and meaningful ways.
Tuesday, February 28th, 7 pm - Tantalizing Thailand and Amazing Angkor with Reid Coen
Thailand has long been one of the foremost jewels of Southeast Asian travel. Blessed with a dizzying array of natural wonders, a welcoming society, a splendid cultural heritage, and a well established tourism infrastructure, Thailand makes for a perfect first foray into Asian travel. Furthermore, Thailand is a great bargain for American travelers, making this exotic destination increasingly attractive. Join Reid Coen of Imprint Tours (www.imprinttours.com) on a visual journey that takes in the best of Thailand’s sights plus a bonus of neighboring Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Our virtual tour will include the Buddhist temples and imperial wonders of Bangkok, the northern city of Chiang Mai, the spectacular natural wonders of the Andaman coast, and the World Heritage sites of Ayuthaya, Sukhothai, and Angkor Wat. Come learn the ins and outs of travel in this gateway to Southeast Asia.
