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Spring at the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Japanese inspired bamboo tea house The Bellagio Hotel Conservatory and Botanical Gardens always presents some of the most visually appealing floral displays. I never fail to see their seasonal offerings when I'm in Vegas. This Spring's theme is the Japanese Garden. The scene is complete with a temple, a bamboo tea house, stone lanterns, a footbridge, and cherry blossom trees, the quintessential symbol of spring in Japan. The garden is awash with tulips, the elemental spring bulb. I spotted an exuberance of daisies, hyacinths, chrysanthemums, lilies, cyclamens and other blooms I couldn't name. Above is the cherry blossom tree with 300 oversized acrylic blossoms and leaves. Overhead are painted paper parasols which may or may not provide shade from the sun but are pretty nonetheless.  These photos were taken in the evening so the mood is markedly different. The colors are more edgy and the lighting adds a magical quality to the fountains. 

Vegas - It's not all that it seems

Ca' d'Oro The last time I was in Venice was nearly two years ago. It was in mid June and Venice was teeming with visitors.  We took the vaporetto which was jam-packed with passengers bound for St. Mark's Square. It was scary full. And I had no view of the beautiful palazzos that line the canals.  So nice to see a replica of the Ca' d'Oro's façade in Las Vegas. This 15th century palace is my favorite building in Venice.  It's all about the balconies, each one with its own distinct personality.  Tour Eiffel Disguised against the black of night, who would think that this tower is on the Strip and not in the City of Light? Were it not for the building in the background, this scene could be mistaken for Paris! Miracle Mile Shops Clouds dot the bluest sky inside a shopping mall. It's nice to be indoors when it's smouldering hot outside and have a glimpse of the sky, faux though it may be.  Fortunately, I have something he

Meditation Hills

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. That cr

Sweet Pandan

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

January

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

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

Top Travel Destinations in 2015

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 Columbia  Oklahoma