2024-2025 zoom Meetings
September 12, 2024 “NE India - Shillong and Guwahati”
Presented by Eden Rose Brown
NE India, Part 2 - We will observe the Khasi tribe of Meghalaya compete in an archery shoot, search for Bengal tigers and the one-horned rhino in Kaziranga National Park (a UNESCO site), and mingle with the fishers of the Mishing Tribal village of Majuli Island.
October 10, 2024 “Spain Again: 2024”
Presented by Janet Neuburg
After a false start and a restart; after 3 flights and a train ride, I arrived in Malaga. While in Malaga for 5 weeks I went on several day trips to other places, and did the same in Granada while there for 7 weeks. I was in Alcala de Henares, which is outside Madrid, for just a few days before coming back to Salem. “Hasta luego”.
November 14, 2024 “Nineteen Days in Aotearoa, the Land of the Long White Cloud”
Presented by Jeffrey McElwee and Diane Claus
Join us on our fifth adventure in New Zealand, as we pursue Rudyard Kipling’s “Eighth Wonder of the World” in Milford Sound, seek a universe of glow worms within Waitomo Caves, wonder at the much sought after return of the almost extinct New Zealand Falcon (Karearea), learn of the most well-integrated indigenous culture .. the Māori people .. in the world, and then go behind the scenes of Peter Jackson’s Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, with movie set locations around the country and at Hobbiton. Join us for a unique look at New Zealand .. we’ll even take you to the top of Mount Cook!
December 12, 2024 “Bula! Two Weeks in Fiji”
Presented by Laura Tesler
Join Laura Tesler for two weeks around and on the Viti Levu island in Fiji and find out why so many go back to the Fiji Islands again and again. Laura spent 1 week aboard a liveaboard diving the pristine and incredible bommies of the N'amena Marine reserve and marveling at the incredible schools of sharks, barracudas, mantas, and the explosion of life that visit this area. The second week was land based on the western side of the island and was spent diving incredibly lush soft coral gardens, visiting sea horses and giant sea fan galleries. One of the last places that coral bleaching hasn't heavily affected yet. Fiji has the world's friendliest people who really mean it when they say BULA!
January 9, 2025 “Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falklands: Fragile Lands of Desolation and Beauty"
Presented by Ron Kelemen
Ron and Kathy Kelemen traveled parts of the vast Antarctic region for 18 days in January and February of 2024. It became a bucket list item for them because everyone else who had been there said it was one of their best trips ever. So as ice caps continue to melt and they continue to age, they asked, "Well, if not now, then when?" Like others before them, it turned out to be one of their best trips ever, vastly exceeding their already over-hyped expectations. Join them on their 18-day, 3,892-mile adventure on a polar expedition ship as they explore the NW tip of Antarctica, remote South Georgia, and the western Falkland Islands.
February 13, 2025 “What Can Meaningful Travel Look Like in Vietnam?”
Presented by Tim Obendorf
Meaningful travel has no specific definition. “Meaningful” can be highly subjective to every person. In the recent year of travel I have had the privilege to work with the Central Vietnamese on two different occasions. From my travel experiences I will share what meaningful travel came to be for me and introduce some of the interesting cultural and geographical features of Vietnam.
March 13, 2025 "The Grand European Tour River Cruise"
Presented by Eileen Hartmann
Guest presenter, Eileen Hartmann, is a retired CPA from Monmouth. Her mission in retirement has been to travel the world. In pursuit of that goal, she and her husband booked the Grand European Tour with Viking River Cruises in October 2024. This trip lasted two weeks and was entirely on board one of Viking’s 190-passenger river boats. The cruise started in Budapest, Hungary on the Danube River and ended in Amsterdam. They found this to be a very low-stress way to travel because they only had to unpack once, all meals were provided and shore excursions were organized.
Eileen will describe the highlights of the trip and show photos and videos of the experience.
April 10, 2025 “Travels through the Yucatan”
Presented by Dale Ryan
Ride along with the Ryans as they visit the Yucatan Peninsula. Highlights include Merida, Izamal, multiple Mayan ruins and cenotes (natural wells).
May 8, 2025 “NE India - Part 3 Darjeeling”
Presented by Eden Rose Brown
Join the adventure as Eden concludes her off-the-beaten-path travels through NE India! Experience the trek up to Queen of the Hills Station in Darjeeling, West Bengal India where we visit lush tea farms, enjoy second flush high tea, observe the elusive snow leopard, and explore old world, Colonial Darjeeling, at the foot of the magnificent Himalayas. We will take an exhilarating ride on the 19th Century Himalayan Railway, visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute founded by our guide’s grandfather, Tenzing Norgay, (the Sherpa to Sir Edmund Hillary and the first men to summit Mt Everest); enjoy a special VIP visit to Tenzing Norgay’s home to meet his family and view his private collection; hunt for tea and incense at the sprawling Darjeeling market; and experience a glorious sunrise over Mt. Everest and the third highest mountain in the world, Kanchenjunga.