TravelswithCharie

Baybay Beach We arrived in the Philippines just before typhoon Paeng struck. We were able to make it to our island home before the heavy rains and thunderstorms. As soon as we got off the plane, I decided we'd first eat lunch at the beach. It was a good decision because halfway through our lunch, the rain and wind drove diners from the sand to cover indoors.  Post typhoon, we drove around the city and found this quiet beach.  We went to various schools to give school supplies through my foundation, BalayniCharie. This elementary school in Panitan was inundated and the floodwaters peaked just below the window.  The books were destroyed and swept away by the flood. In my neighborhood, we organized a distribution of school supplies for the kids and donated pre-owned clothes, shoes and slippers for the adults. The kids also had some hot chicken soup.  An hour and a half away in Pilar, we gave school supplies to 306 children at San Esteban Elementary School. It's been a b...

The enchanting coastline of Ivisan, Capiz I was nominated to share 5 Things I love about Capiz, Philippines for 5 days. #CaptureCapizToday is a photo challenge initiated by the Provincial Government of #Capiz through the Provincial Tourism Cultural Affairs office to promote tourism destinations and attractions in Capiz. (My problem with this challenge was I had so many favorite things about Capiz it was difficult to choose just 5). Please check the links below to learn more about Capiz. https://www.travelswithcharie.com/2018/12/the-season-for-sea-and-seafood.html https://www.travelswithcharie.com/2016/10/10-reasons-why-you-should-visit-capiz.html https://waytogo.cebupacificair.com/things-to-do-capiz/ The stunning sunset on Baybay Beach, Roxas City The boldly pink Church of Our Lady of Snows in Dumarao, Capiz How to engage in a boodle fight at Bitoy’s on Baybay Beach, Roxas City The picturesque Gugma Beach in Sapian, Capiz is off the beaten path. For more information about tourism sites...

As we continue to stay at home to help flatten the curve on corona virus, I’m finding more ways to make the most of the situation. One of these is catching up with writing travel articles from my trip to Europe last year. Several have been posted on the blog. Please check them out.      On Week 2 of my Travel in the Time of Corona series, I’m sharing images from past travels that remind me why I love traveling so much.    Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto, Japan Kubuswoningen (The Cube Houses), Rotterdam, The Netherlands   Sardines shop, Lisbon, Portugal St. James Church (St. Jacob’s Church), Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany Baybay Beach, Roxas City, Capiz, Philippines   Crossing the runway, Gibraltar, British Overseas Territory Salzberg, Hallstatt, Austria “My home is where my travels begin.”   TravelswithCharie  ***** Images by TravelswithCharie 

Beyond the sea-to-table cuisine that Capiz is famous for, the province serves a plateful of surprises to feed your wanderlust. Gugma Beach Aptly named Gugma (Love), this off the grid stretch of warm grey sand in Sapian ticks all the right boxes for a splashing good time with its expansive views of the coastline and striking rock formations by the shore. The White Sand Beaches of Ivisan Speaking of beaches, the town of Ivisan has fine white sand beaches bordered by palm trees. The laid-back vibe of Basiao, Ayagao and Patio beaches will please the consummate beachgoer. Pumpboats are available to explore the tiny shoreline of Maba-ay Island, just minutes from Basiao beach. Ruins of Railway Bridge Once upon a time, there was a railroad connecting Capiz and Iloilo. Buses eventually replaced the trains which were finally put to bed in 1985. There are remnants of the supporting approach to a railway bridge in Dao, about thirty minutes from Roxas City. Hardwood pylo...

It's a beauteous evening, calm and free The holy time is quiet as a nun Breathless with adoration, the broad sun Is sinking down in its tranquility The gentleness of heaven broods o'er sea Excerpt from It's a beauteous evening by William Wordsworth

Sorry to disappoint you but there are no aswang in Capiz. If there were, the airlines would lose money since we could probably get promo fares more frequently on the back of an aswang. Seriously though, release your fear. Come to Capiz. Wear a garlic bracelet, if you must. But do come and experience our world.  1. Life is simpler in flip flops Baybay Beach and Mantalinga Island Baybay Beach in Roxas City is the choice of denizens for its proximity to the city center and its seafood restaurants. It's easy to slough off the calories gained from an indulgent lunch with a walk on the beach. If you crave variety, we have more beaches for you to comb in Ivisan, Olot ayan, Pan-ay and Pilar.  http://www.travelswithcharie.blogspot.com/2006/05/hello-baybay-beach.html 2.  Baby let's cruise  Palina Greenbelt Ecotour The Palina Greenbelt ecotour is a good introduction toward understanding the negative effects of fish pens in our waters. It wasn't lon...

Sunrise Waking up to this. Street Cleaners "If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well'." -  Martin Luther King, Jr. Tuna "My big fish must be somewhere." Ernest Hemingway, the Old Man and the Sea Vitamin Sea   Keep calm and eat lunch. Fisherfolk “Perhaps I should not have been a fisherman, he thought. But that was the thing that I was born for.” - Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea Poetry in Motion "If all politicians fished instead of spoke publicly, we would be at peace with the world." Will Rogers Sunset "The day is done  and the darkness falls  from the wings of night." Henry W. Longfellow  ***** Ima...

New to the beachside restaurant scene is Anot's with its fresh and innovative menu. When we had lunch there recently, my friend, Clay, requested the chef to serve us his top favorite dishes from the menu. Here's what we got. For starters, we had fried, crispy kangkong which was a complete surprise. Never knew kangkong could be this good. It wasn't oily at all and every delicious leaf was crispy. I didn't even need the extra mayonnaise dip to add flavor. This is an appetizer you can't put down. Prawns are a personal favorite especially the sweet variety only found in the seafood capital of the Philippines. But this dish was a little too spicy for my palate. Eating squid is an acquired taste, I think. It's meat is thick and chewy. Didn't score highly with me but I'm not an adventurous eater either. Mangagat fish is in a neck to neck race with bangus (milkfish) on many local menus. This mangagat is prepared with tiny scallops and a special s...