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A Visual Guide to Herzegovina

Pelješac Bridge Our first stop in Herzegovina was at Neum where we had a beautiful view of the channel leading to the Adriatic Sea and the new Pelješac bridge which links Southern Croatia to the mainland of Croatia. This 1.5 mile long bridge cuts travel to the mainland by 37 minutes and bypasses the two border crossings between Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina. Traffic at the borders can be frustrating especially when there are big tour buses waiting to get through.  Neum Kravica wildflowers in May Kravica Falls Kravica Falls is 25 miles south of Mostar. It’s a popular destination especially in the summer months. There’s an entrance fee. There are also restaurants, souvenir stalls and a huge parking lot for which there is a small fee.  Medjugorje My pilgrimage to Medjugorje story here:  https://www.travelswithcharie.com/2022/05/the-medjugorje-pilgrimage-trail.html Apparition Hill, Medjugorje Stari Most For more information about Stare Most, check my travel article here:  https://www.trav
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Hamungaya with Jonard Villarde

Pagtilipon. Acrylic on paper. 2023 Hamungaya (Hiligaynon for fruitful or bountiful) is the solo show of Jonard Villarde at Teddy's Art Space in Roxas City. This series of paintings  traces the trajectory of fish from the net cast by fishermen to the porters and couriers who take them in woven boxes to market where it will be sold and end up on our dinner plate. The artist pays homage to the often "unseen" folk who form the chain of hands that deliver food to our table.  Pagtilipon (gathering) of fisherfolk with the tools of the trade: fishing net to catch fish, paddle, baskets to hold fish, the bountiful catch and the pole to carry the baskets of fish. Kargador. Acrylic on paper. 2023 The Kargador (porter) takes the haul in woven boxes and baskets to the courier for delivery. Note how the artist painstakingly portrays the woven boxes and baskets which he has observed since his childhood . Fish mobiles. Acrylic on paper. 2023. Couriers take the catch to market on their
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The Endemic Flora of Cuartero

Tungaw-Tungaw Kristine Rose M. Fabuna Acrylic on canvas, 2021 "Sang una nga panahon kun kami ara sa talon Litik-litik sang Tungaw-Tungaw amon ginakaun Para maka sapin-sapin Sang amon nga gutom." Translation :  "Once upon a time when we were in the forest We ate shredded tungaw-tungaw  To satisfy our hunger." The Endemic Flora of Cuartero paintings were created by the students of Cuartero National High School in Capiz under the Special Program in the Arts project entitled: Dunang Maduagon ,  A Visual Documentation of Cuartero Endemic Flora. Dunang maduagon means naturally colorful. The goals of the thesis and study were to bring to light various flora endemic in the municipality and make the community aware of their importance and uses. Furthermore, the study sought to provide not only written documentation but also visual representation of the flora through these paintings. Mrs. Roda Henorga was the Thesis/Production Adviser and Ramie Capuyan was the Program Head,
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Circle Island Tour

We started our circle island tour in Sigma, Capiz where we gave school supplies (through BalayniCharie Foundation) to the children at Doña Fructuosa Elem School. Our Lady of the Snows From Sigma, it was less than an hour's drive to Dumarao where we visited the pink church of Our Lady of the Snows. Dumarao is the last town in Capiz before reaching the border between Capiz and Iloilo. Santa Barbara convent   The historical church and convent of Santa Barbara in Iloilo is worth a stop to see the beautifully preserved convent with its original wooden floor and wrap-around balcony.  St. Anne's Church Our first stop the following day was at Molo Church or St. Anne's Church which is dedicated to 16 female saints. Their statues adorn the pillars that lead up to the altar.  Miagao Church Miagao Church is one of four Baroque churches designated as UNESCO World Heritage site under the collective title "Baroque churches of the Philippines". It dates back to the 18th century a
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Heard it through the grapevine

  Yes, I heard it through the grapevine that there's a winery in Capiz. But it slipped my mind because so much was going on, what with the holidays.  Then suddenly my PA sent me a short post about it and off we went to see the fruit associated with  Bacchus thriving in tropical shores.  We got there on the last hour of the last day. Actually, the person in charge of the mini vineyard was about to close for the day and for the season but saw us coming and let us in. He also gave us a tour and talked about the grapes grown in the vineyard.  The red grapes are of the Baikonur variety. These are seeded grapes. The grape vines are trellised using bamboo poles. The entire vineyard is protected by a greenhouse plastic roof to protect the vines from the elements. A bamboo fence surrounds the area and a mesh net hangs down the sides to keep birds and animals from eating the fruits and taking aim at the young, fragile vines. This an organic vineyard, totally fertilizer free.  Life is good if
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Where to go in 2023

San Francisco, California  Condé Nast Traveler   https://www.cntraveler.com/story/best-places-to-go-in-2023 Fodors Go List 2023 https://www.fodors.com/go-list/2023 Fodors No List 2023 https://www.fodors.com/news/news/fodors-no-list-2023 Frommer's Best Places to go in 2023 https://www.frommers.com/slideshows/848547-frommer-s-best-places-to-go-in-2023 Lonely Planet Where to go in 2023 https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/where-to-go-when New York Times 52 Places to go in 2023 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/travel/52-places-travel-2023.html Travel and Leisure Best Places to go in 2023 https://www.travelandleisure.com/best-places-to-go-2023 ***** Image by TravelswithCharie  
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Interview with the first Filipino to travel to all 193 UN sovereign countries

Lourdes Ricasa with Capizeños, Peewee Roldan, Mike Ignacio, Dr Munich Conlu There are fewer than 300 people who have visited all 193 United Nations recognized sovereign countries. Odette Aquitania Ricasa is one of them and is the first Filipino to have done so. The last country on her "road to 193" was Iraq, which she visited in August of this year. Ricasa's travels have been authenticated by NomadMania, a non profit organization that validates the countries and regions visited by its community of travelers through a rigorous verification process. Ricasa is also a member of the Travelers Century Club (TCC) having visited 304 of 325 countries, islands and territories on the TCC list. Ricasa is the author of six books (she's currently working on her seventh book), is an accomplished painter, a motivational speaker and a pianist.  Ricasa has received numerous awards including First Prize in an International Speech Contest sponsored by Toastmasters Club and several Best
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Kuris Kuris

Kuris Kuris (to doodle) officially opened on December 5th at Ang Panublion Museum. The four featured artists, Lucille Manuel, Nubbin Beldia, Julien Tan and Angie Boluso Viterbo, were classmates at St. Mary's Academy. What started as doodling in grade school for these friends turned into passion projects they embraced through adulthood. Their paintings are rich narratives of their growing up years in Roxas City.  Kuris Kuris exhibition ends December 30. Ophelia in Summer, Oil on Canvas Ophelia in Summer by Lucille Manuel is representative of her style of painting using blue hues and a female subject. The tragic story of Ophelia is not lost to the viewer. This is a bittersweet work which Lucille dedicated to friends and classmates who have left this world. Happy Days, Mixed Media Julien Tan's fascination with pop art manifests itself in this painting, Happy Days. Tan took his interest a step further by adding his personal childhood experiences and recollections to his canvases li
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