Bosnia/Croatia 2012: Sarajevo - Time to say goodbye...

"Use your eyes to see the needs, and use your talents to meet them..."

(A delayed flight)

Day 08: SARAJEVO/ISTANBUL/DUBAI/KL
18/04/2012 (Wednesday)

After breakfast we had time to spare before departing to the Airport at 11:00. To while away the time, we went for another round of shopping at the bazaar for t-shirts and sun-glasses.

Our flight from Sarajevo was delayed and we had to rush for our connecting flight to KL via Dubai. The flight from Dubai was also delayed. We reached KLIA almost 2 hrs late at 16:30.

(High in the sky)

The next day I was in PMC to have my annual executive medical check-up and with the jet lag and upset tummy, my medical results will sure be hay-wired...

👈👈 2012: Betong, Thailand

2012: Blagaj/Kerciva, Bosnia 👉👉

Bosnia/Croatia 2012: Kerciva - A walk in the woods...

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket..."

(Beautiful colors of spring...)

Day 07: MOSTAR/BLAGAJ/KERCIVA WATERFALL/JABLANICA/SARAJEVO
17/04/2012 (Tuesday)

We checked out after breakfast and took the mountain road to Studenci passing through the town of Medugorje, one of the best-known pilgrim destination in the catholic world attracting millions of visitors after the phenomenal sightings of virgin Mary in 1981.

(A long climb to the top of the waterfalls...)

(A nice view from the top...)

( A nice view from the restaurant in the woods...)

Next stop was at Kravice Waterfall, one of the many natural waterfalls landscape in Bosnia situated in Neretva valley in Studenci. The beautiful panoramic view is worth the long cold walk in the woods. We reached the origin of the waterfalls and had a lot of photo shots of the waterfalls from different angles.

(A short rest at the bottom of the falls...)

(Taking cover from the drizzle...)

(A group picture with BNM girls...)

We proceeded to Blagaj, a small town situated by the river Buna 12 km from Mostar, and came to an important place where the source of water for Bosnia and Eastern Europe emerges. The abundant source of water comes from a cave below a gigantic steep rock. Perched on the river bank beneath the steep rock is an old Derwish Tekia Monastery, originating from the 15th century.

(Signage to the many attraction sites...)

(A cave beneath the steep rock...)

(Old Derwish Monastery at the background...)

(Crossing River Buna...)

(A restaurant by the river...)

(Taking a rest by the fire place...)

(This is only the appetizer...)

We had a delicious lunch of pan-fried trout at a restaurant next to the monastery.

On the way back to Sarejevo the bus stopped at Restaurant Zdrav Voda in Jablanica for a taste of barbequed lamb.  Dinner was at Michele Restaurant a short walking distance away from Astra Garni hotel.

👈👈 2012: Sarajevo/KL

2012: Mostar, Bosnia 👉👉

Bosnia/Croatia 2012: Mostar - City of poetry...

"Do not let the shadows of your past darken the doorstep of your future..."

(An old painting of the famous bridge in Mostar...)

Day 06: DUBROVNIK/NEUM/MOSTAR
16/04/2012 (Monday)

After breakfast we checked-out and started our journey towards Mostar. It was raining all the way but it didn't prevent us from enjoying the beautiful coastal view between Dubrovnik and Neum.

When we reached Mostar we were greeted by Selmir, the local guide and were ushered straight to Hindin Han Restaurant for a sumptuous hot lunch.

(One cold, hungry tourist...)

(The stone walkway in the old city...)

Mostar is situated along Neretva River and is the biggest city in Hazergovina and second to Sarajevo. It is a city of contrast culture, color and cuisine. It was named after the name of the guard of the old bridge'Mostari'. Mostar is also known as city of poetry or sleepy city of stone.

(Neretva River dividing the old and new city...)

(The Bridge of Mostar...)

(View of Nevrata River from our hotel room)

After lunch we had a 2-hour walking tour in the old city. The narrow alleys are lined with souvenir shops and coffee shops. We visited the old mosque, the Hamam, the old Turkish House and the famous Mostar Bridge. The Old Bridge was totally destroyed during the war with Serbia and was reconstructed in 2004 and now become one of the important landmarks in Mostar.

(The entrance to the Mosque...)

(The bridge of Mostar at night...)

After the tour of the city, we checked in Bristol hotel located in the center of the city, right next to the Tito's bridge.

After a short rest, we had an early dinner in Veranda Restaurant, a short walking distance from the hotel.

👈👈 2012: Blagaj/Kerciva, Bosnia

2012: Porcitelj/Dubronik, Croatia 👉👉

Bosnia/Croatia 2012: Dubrovnik - Every stone has a tale...

"Conquer our habits or they will conquer you..." - Rob Gilbert

(Beautiful scenic view along the route...)

Day 05: SARAJEVO/POCITELJ/DUBROVNIK
15/04/2012 (Sunday)

At 09:00 the bus started leaving Sarajevo and headed towards Dubrovnik in Croatia through Konijc, a city totally destroyed during the war and has since been rebuilt and transformed.

(View of the town from Jablanica rest area...)

Along the way, we had a short pit stop at a restaurant outside Jablanica for a toilet break and scenic photo shots of the untouched nature's beauty surrounding the hydro-electric dam. The restaurant's quaint atmosphere is an idle halfway stop for travelers going towards the Adriatic Sea and one of its specialties is grilled lamb.

(An imposing castle at the hill top...)

(Spring bloom of Jacaranda...)

The picturesque mountain route followed along the river Neretva. The river is in abundance of fresh water fish and scattered salmon farmeries could be seen along the route. There were many private and government owned vineyards, fruits and vegetable farms and we passed one of the many famous breweries of Bosnia along the way. On the way, we passed the city of Mostar but will only stop for a night when we return from Dubrovnik.

( A photo outside the mosque...)

(Maze of cobble stone walk way...)

(Narrow alleys and small exits...)

We had lunch at Staklo Restaurant in Pocitelj and later visited Masjid Hadzi Alija. From the mosque we had a good view of the Sahat Kula fortress perched imposingly on top of the hill facing the town of Pocitelj. In its time, the fortress served as a protective wall against enemy invasions that came from Neretva Valley.

(The start of a walking tour of the old city of Dubrovnik...)

(The North entrance to the city...)

(A Croatian cat having a sun bath...)

We passed the resort city of Neum by the Adriatic Sea. This is the only resort city by the Adriatic Sea which belongs to Bosnia which has only 10 km long of coastline, whereas Croatia has more than 1000 km coastal line along the Adriatic Sea.

(Outside a typical souvenir shop...)

(The side alley by the Cathedral...) 

(Glistening blue Adreatic sea at the water front...)

We went through border checks, criss-crossing between Bosnia and Croatia and reached Dubrovnik around 16:00. Roberto, our local guide was already waiting for us outside the old city of Dubrovnik.

(The jetty for a boat cruise...)

(The old city at night...)

The old city of Dubrovnik has been recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. The panoramic view of Dubrovnik old city is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful sights in the world. The impressive city walls in contrast with the turquoise blue Adriatic Sea is simply breathtaking. We had a 2-hour tour and by walking through the streets, every stone had a tale to tell and we had a glimpse of the history through the candid narration of our guide. The visit included the Rector’s Palace, Fransican Monastery, the Clock Tower, Orlando’s Columns, many churches and a mosque and ended the walking tour at Sponze Plaza. We had dinner on the terrace by the sea at Poklisar Restaurant overlooking the scenic water front. For dinner we had Risoto, a dish which needs an acquired taste to appreciate and had a taste of the local ice cream.

(Time for a good rest...)

We spent the night at Kompas Hotel Dubrovnik a short drive away from the city.

👈👈 2012: Mostar, Bosnia

2012: Sarajevo, Bosnia 👉👉

Bosnia/Croatia 2012: Sarajevo - Tunnel of hope...

Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?..."

(An oil painting of Sarajevo)

Day 04; SARAJEVO CITY TOUR
14/04/2012 (Saturday)

After breakfast we started our tour of Sarajevo with a visit to the Tunnel of Hope, a tunnel dug by the people of Sarajevo when the city was under the 4-year siege by the Serbian army.

(Our local tour guide)

(The tunnel starts from a garage)

(A house, totally destroyed)

(Waiting in line to enter the narrow tunnel)

(A safe walkway to cross the bombarded town)

(Taking a peek of the tunnel of hope)

(Careful!.. Danger ahead)

Later we had a walking tour of Sarajevo in the drizzling rain and visited historical mosques including Masjid Gazi Husrevby, Masjid Ali Pasha, Masjid Czar’s, Masjid Bascarsija, Old Orthodox Church, Museum Icons, Town Hall, Bazaar and Copper Smith road.

(A typical street crowded with tourists)

(The grand clock tower)

(A fountain of cool spring water) 

(Inside the compund of Masjid Ghazi)

Sarajevo is the capital and the largest city in Bosnia. It is located in Sarajevo valley and surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along Miljacka river. The city is famous for its various religious beliefs including Islam, Ortodox Christian, Catholic and Jews, co-existing for decades. Thus Sarajevo is also known as “Jerusalem of Europe” or “Jerusalem of Balkans”

(Taking a rest after the walking tour)

(The old camel stop, outside the covered bazaar)

(Colorful tram criss-crossing the city)

(The writing on the wall of the Synagogue)

After the city tour we broke off from the group and went for a little souvenir shopping then rested in the room until it was time for dinner. It was raining dogs and cats when we walked quite a distance away from our hotel to Restaurant Lovac situated behind the Cathedral. It was a 3-course dinner accompanied by live local and western music.

(Raw cabbage and tomato dish)

(Sweet pomegranate, a popular fruit in Bosnia)

(Ready for the road @ Astra Garni Hotel)

👈👈 2012: Porcitelj/Dubronik, Croatia

2012: Visoco, Bosnia 👉👉