Rare Journeys offers virtual journeys that renew our sense of wonder and possibility. Richly illustrated and incorporating film, music, and original photography, Ian's seminars and presentations reveal how the exploration of cultures other than our own allows us, ultimately, to engender new cultures, born from the creative interface of indigenous knowledge and modern sensibilities.

Applicable in settings ranging from leadership training to academic seminars and writing workshops, Ian's virtual journeys and presentations are deeply empowering and draw from his years of experience teaching college students in cross-cultural settings as well as leading academic study tours in Asia. Breaking established patterns of thought and perception, they help us to look at the world- and ourselves- in new ways, leading us to places where our hearts and minds can flourish and discover new depths of wonder and inspiration.

PRESENTATION SCHEDULE FOR 2008

April 2, 2008. Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas Literary Society
Presentation on The Heart of the World at the J.W Marriot Resort

April 3, 2008. Rancho Santa Fe, California
Rancho Santa Fe Literary & Prologue Society
Presentation on The Heart of the World at The Village Church

April 4, 2008. La Jolla, California
La Jolla Literary Society
Presentation on The Heart of the World at La Jolla Country Club

April 7, 2008. Rancho Mirage, California
Desert Communities Literary Society
Presentation on The Heart of the World at Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa

April 8, 2008. Newport Beach, California
Orange County Literary Society
Presentation on The Heart of the World at The Pacific Club

April 9, 2008. Los Angeles, California
Beverly Hills Literary Society
Presentation on The Heart of the World at The Regency Club

April 10, 2008. Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara Literary Society
Presentation on The Heart of the World at The Four Seasons Biltmore

April 11, 2008. Santa Barbara, California
Vairocana Foundation
Presentation on The Heart of the World at The Unitarian Church

PRESENTATION SCHEDULE FOR 2007 & 2006

April 27-29, 2007. Boulder, Colorado
Naropa University
"Sacred Geography, Pilgrimage, and the Alchemy of Experience". A weekend writing seminar exploring narrative and contemplative techniques for revealing the world- and our place within it- in new and illuminating ways.

Click here for more information.

Other lecture venues have included Smithsonian Institution, Asia Society, Explorers Club, the Chilton Club, Rubin Museum of Art, and Tibet House.

April 19-21, 2007. Salt Lake City, Utah
"Paradise Now: A Journey into Tibet's Tsangpo Gorges". Presentations & book signings.
For information about venues and bookings, please contact Deanna Byck at deannabyck@comcast.net

January 3, 2007. 6 PM. Koh Samui, Thailand
Central Resort
"The Thunder Path: A Seminar on Taoist Medical Science". Organized with David Verdesi, Phd.

November 27, 2006. London, UK
Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore
"The Lost World of Tibet's Tsangpo Gorges". A richly illustrated talk on the converging narratives of 19th century exploration and the Tibetan quest for an earthly paradise in the heart of the Tsangpo gorge.

November 22, 2006. London, UK
Royal Society for Asian Affairs
Society of Antiquities, Burlington House, Piccadilly
"The Geography of Paradise: A Journey into Tibet's Tsangpo Gorges". Presentation and book signing of UK edition.

November 17, 2006. 7 PM. Vienna, Austria
Thalia Bookshop
"Das Herz der Welt. Eine Reise zum letzten verborgenen Ort" ("The Heart of the World: A Journey to the Last Secret Place"). Presentation and book signing of German edition.

November 16, 2006. 8 PM. Munich, Germany
Münchner Bücherschau
"Das Herz der Welt. Eine Reise zum letzten verborgenen Ort" ("The Heart of the World: A Journey to the Last Secret Place"). Presentation and book signing of German edition.

November 15, 2006, 8 PM. Zurich, Switzerland
Volkshaus
"Das Herz der Welt. Eine Reise zum letzten verborgenen Ort" ("The Heart of the World: A Journey to the Last Secret Place"). Presentation and book signing of German edition.

November 14, 2006. 7:30 PM. Berlin, Germany
Urania
"Das Herz der Welt. Eine Reise zum letzten verborgenen Ort" ("The Heart of the World: A Journey to the Last Secret Place"). Presentation and book signing of German edition.

November 13, 2006. 8 PM. Bonn, Germany
Das Kaleidoskop, Kinopolis
"Das Herz der Welt. Eine Reise zum letzten verborgenen Ort" ("The Heart of the World: A Journey to the Last Secret Place"). Presentation and book signing of German edition.

November 4, 2006. Kathmandu, Nepal
Indigo Gallery
"The Hidden-Land of Pemako". A presentation with Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche.

June 1, 2006. Canterbury, England
Waterstone Bookstore
"The Heart of the World: A Journey to Tibet's Lost Paradise". Presentation & book signing.

May 27, 2006. Findhorn, Scotland
The Shambhala Center
"The Quest for Shangri-La in Mind and Landscape". Presentation & book signing.

May 24, 2006. Nairn, Scotland
Cawdor Castle
"The Heart of the World: A Journey to the Last Secret Place". Book launch of the UK edition of The Heart of the World. Presentation & book signing.

May 13, 2006. Santa Barbara, California
Presentation for Authentic Asia
"Pilgrimage to the Pure Crystal Mountain: Sacred Mountains in Tibetan Buddhist Belief and Practice"

May 12, 2006. Denver, Colorado
First Universalist Church
"Hidden Worlds and Hidden Texts: The Gnostic Revelation of Paradise and the Buddhist Tradition of Hidden-Lands"

May 11, 2006. Boulder, Colorado
Naropa University
"Buddhist Hidden-Lands and the Geography of Paradise" - Tibet's tradition of beyul, or "hidden-lands", prefigures the Western notion of Shangri-La. This presentation explores the longing for paradise and immortality expressed within all cultures, revealing literature and myth as a creative re-envisioning of the world around us, freeing us of established patterns and illuminating the world- and ourselves- in new and liberating ways.

September 21, 2005. Hua Hin, Thailand
International Wellness Summit.
"Original Wellness: A Natural History of Spas"- From Gilgamesh to Thomas Mann's epic novel Magic Mountain, the so-called Wellness Revolution has roots that pre-date our own species. This keynote presentation explores the literary and cultural sources of one of the world's fastest growing industries.

SELECT MEDIA EVENTS, REVIEWS, & INTERVIEWS 2008

Social Register Observer, Summer 2008: "A Rare Journey: Ian Baker - Explorer, Buddhist Scholar, Writer, Photographer", by Fernanda Gilligan

The Carmel Valley News, April 24, 2008: "Author and Adventurer follows 'his bliss' around the globe", by Arthur Lightbourn

Rancho Santa Fe Review, April 10, 2008: "Author and Adventurer follows 'his bliss' around the Globe", by Arthur Lightbourn

The Santa Barbara Independent, April 10, 2008: "A Journey to the Heart of the World: Author and Adventurer Ian Baker to Speak about his Travels in Tibet", by Ben Preston  

The Tibet Connection (Radio Pacifica 90.7 FM), April 8, 2008:  Interview with Julie Adler

Samui Express, March 15, 2008: Rare Journeys to the Heart of the World", by L. Cartlidge

MEDIA EVENTS & INTERVIEWS 2006

TELEVISION INTERVIEWS:

Austria: ORF TV, November 17, 2006

Germany: ZDF, "Aspekte", September 22, 2006

Channel 3SAT, September 25 & 26, 2006

Thailand: Thai TV "Morning Talk", February 1, 2006

RADIO INTERVIEWS:

England: BBC, June 16, 2006

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES:

Scotland: "Nairnshire Press and Journal", "Explorer in Cawdor"

SELECT PAST MEDIA EVENTS

TELEVISION:

CNN (London and Hong Kong)

LIVE with Jack Savage

CBS Sunday Morning Edition

CN8

RADIO:

WNYC- FM (NPR) "Leonard Lopate Show"

National Public Radio (NPR) "To the Best of our Knowledge"

OPEN GROVE with Claudia Christian (2004)

LIVING DIALOGUES with Duncan Campbell (2004 & 2006)

MAGAZINE/NEWSPAPER PROFILES & REVIEWS

Asian Affairs, Journal of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs. Book review: "The Heart of the World" by Ron Rosner

Explorers Journal. Book review: "The Heart of the World" by Ron Rosner

Los Angeles Times, January 2004. Profile and book review by Susan Salter Reynolds

National Geographic Adventure, November 2004. Book review. "River of Myth: Tibet's Tsangpo was Exploration's last Prize. Ian Baker was its Taker"

Mens Journal, November 2004. Book review: "The Man who found Shangri-La"

San Franciso Chronicle, November 2004. "Through Leeches to the Lotus: A Western Explorer finds the worldly location of Tibet's mythic Shangri-La" by Jeff Greewald

Denver Post, December 2003. Profile by Dylan Foley

Newark Star Ledger, December 2003. Profile by Dylan Foley

Mens Journal, January 2000 - "Last Tango in Kathmandu" by William McGowan

Washington Post (Style section), May1999 - Profile by William McGowan

Middlebury Alumni Magazine - "Legends of the Falls" by William McGowan

Andover Bulletin, Fall 2000 - "From Search and Rescue to Shangri-La" by Tana Sherman

Explorers Journal, 2000- Profile by Milbry Polk

National Geographic Magazine, January 2000 - "In the Field"

Newsweek, June 1999 - "In Quest of Shangri-La" by Patricia Roberts

News Day, May 1999 - "A Real Life Indiana Jones?" by Mary Voberil

National Geographic Adventure, April 1999- "Siege of the Tsangpo" by Michael McRae and "Explorers for the Millenium" by Todd Balf

Wall Street Journal, March 1999. "If There is a Shangri-la, This Is It" by William McGowan

The Washington Times, January 1999. "Fabled Waterfall found near World's Roof in Tibet" by Ruth Larsen