TravelswithCharie

Halfway between Roxas City and Kalibo is the town of Sapian, Capiz which is the home of the lush gardens of Meditation Hills. Yes, it is a great place to meditate amidst nature's beauty and bounty. What I like best about the Healing Chapel is its location halfway up the hill. It has a commanding view of the surrounding countryside and the hills across the road below.  This uphill path leads to the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. I didn't venture the climb as we were there at midday and it was really too hot and the sun had sapped away my energy. All I wanted to do was take a nap. The best time to attempt this climb would be early morning or late afternoon. Bring a hat or parasol and suntan lotion.  The grounds are well manicured and the trees seem to have grown and recovered easily after the devastation of the super typhoon, Yolanda.  Above the grotto and many more steps to hurdle is a big white cross which can be seen for miles around. T...

Exploring our island has led to many wonderful discoveries. On this day trip to Pandan, Antique, we drove from Roxas City to the coastal town of Buruanga in Malay then continued on paved roads to this rustic beach town. We realized soon enough that we should stay longer as there was quite a bit to see and do but we'll have to save that for another day. We'll come back to this laid back and friendly niche, that's thankfully off the grid, soon enough. Eat, beach, relax, repeat This is the first thing that greeted us when we entered the resort. Two hammocks beckoning us to rest from the midday sun. How easy it is to surrender to the whisper of the sea, swaying palm fronds and clear blue skies! Not a wave in sight  It was the calmest sea. And though my room was just across from the beach, it was blissfully quiet except for the whir of the ceiling fan. Glorious sunset I started my walk on the beach at 4:30 p.m. The sun was still high on the hori...

Yosemite in Winter January by  John Updike The days are short The sun a spark Hung thin between The dark and dark Fat snowy footsteps Track the floor Milk bottles burst Outside the door The river is A frozen place Held still beneath The trees of lace The sky is low The wind is gray The radiator Purrs all day. *   *   * Image by  TravelswithCharie

We mourn the loss of lives in the recent terror attack at Charlie Hebdo and the taking of hostages at a kosher supermarket, both incidents in Paris.  We pray for the victims and their families and for peace and tolerance in our increasingly fragile world.   *   *   * Image by TravelswithCharie

Milan Cathedral, Milan  New York Times 52 Places to Go in 2015 Milan, Cuba, Philadelphia, Yellowstone National Park, Elqui Valley in Chile, Singapore, Bolivia, Faroe Islands, Macedonia For more of the 52 Places to Go in 2015 check this link:  http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/01/11/travel/52-places-to-go-in-2015.html?ribbon-ad-idx=2&src=me&module=ArrowsNav&contentCollection=Europe&action=swipe&region=FixedRight&pgtype=article Lonely Planet Top 10 Countries El Nido, Philippines Singapore, Namibia, Lithuania, Nicaragua, Republic of Congo, Serbia, Ireland, Philippines, St. Lucia, Morocco For more on these countries and other top travel lists from Lonely Planet click here: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel/countries National Geographic Best Trips 2015 Mont  St. Michel, France Corsica Medellin, Colombia Koyasan, Japan Maramures, Romania Haida Gwaii off the coast of British Columb...

Wishing all of you a happy and safe crossover to 2015! * * * Image by  TravelswithCharie

Had to stop and take pictures of the amazing cloud formation today. It was a sight to behold. Image by TravelswithCharie

Ramparts of Saint Malo The stone ramparts of Saint Malo stretches 1,754 meters and wr a p around the old town known as the intra-muros . A stroll along these ramparts is a walk through the history of this city which traces its origin to the arrival of Maclow, a monk from Wales, in the 6th century. Saint Malo is named after him.  Le Grand Bé There are exits to the beach below from the ramparts. It's possible to walk to the islands of Fort National, Le Petit Bé and Le Grand Bé when it's low tide. But high tide has a way of rushing in and leaving unsuspecting visitors stranded on the islands. It's best to check with the tourist office for the times when it's safe to walk to the islands. The waters of La Manche may rise as high as thirteen meters and pound the walls of Saint Malo. The oak tree trunks lining the seashore and which form the breakwater can attest to the might of the waves.  Grande Plage On a cold and intermittently wet November ...

This is the second year I've taken a sunrise shot after Christmas day outside my door in Central California. Today, I saw these birds flying in the sky and made a lovely guest appearance on this photo. "It's the hour when night breaks away from the day, my dove, let me go." Jean Genet, The Balcony *  *  * Image by TravelswithCharie