Speaker Supper - Thursday 20 March, 19:00 hours

Published 07:38 on 21 Feb 2025

The Pamirs, Mongolia, China and a Journey of Change

Alex shares her experiences and observations of travels in Asia. Her stories include cycling from Beijing to the Mongolian Steppes as an annual pilgrimage, and her journey across Outer Mongolian in 'Nose-Dive Nickolai'. She shares memories of her overland journey from Karakalpakstan in Western Uzbekistan, through Bukhara and Samarkand, to the ancient Sogdian capital of Panjikent. And she reminisces on the challenges of travelling in the shadows of the Hindu Kush along the Wakan Corridor separating Afghanistan from Tajikistan, crossing the Pamirs and descending through the Fergana Valley of Kyrgyzstan.

On her travels, she took note of the changes to the environment and lives of the local people, and she will share some of her thoughts and observations.

Alex has lived and worked in China for 25 years, founding several businesses and organisations, including one of the "Top Ten Bookshops in the World" and China's largest Literary Festival. Now director of the Yurt Academy and an Associate Professor at the University of Sussex Business School, she helps organisations achieve their Net Zero targets. An avid traveller, she has explored Patagonia, Mongolia, Tajikistan, North Korea, Uzbekistan, and China, where she has cycled from Beijing to the Mongolian grasslands 25 times. She was awarded an MBE in 2009 for her services to the Sichuan Earthquake.

Followed by supper of; Beef lasagne, served with green salad & crusty bread and lemon & raspberry semi-freddo with shortcake.

Talk only - £4.00pp
Talk & supper - £18.95pp

Book here