Welcome to Another World - the best of 2004. (Chapter 1)

In the year of 2004 I had a remarkable opportunity to explore personal and professional challenges. At a time in my life when sanity may insist on pursuing traditional roles and comfortable experiences, I was launched into a new country, a new way to use my professional skills and a culture shock that didnt show itself until many months into this remarkable journey





Many events and adventures were not captured by camera - but they live as vibrantly in my mind as though they had been...

For me, pictures are a story in themselves - creating other possibilies in the viewers mind, or helping create a different perspective of events. These pictures remind me of the remarkable year of 2004, a year that is marked by a deep personal satisfaction for an optomistic soul like myself. So technically, they may or may not be the 'best' but the images touch me.

Beautiful landscapes exist within 20 K of Mostar. I joined a small hiking club when I first arrived.

This was the year that the stari most was reopened - and for many Mostarians it was met with mixed feelings...which a foreigner can only guess at.

The most extreme experience was an unprepared trek up Velez with Jeremy. The mountain climates are very harsh with sudden changes at all times of the year.Tarik, our guide insisted on this picture using Jeremy's towel like a flag.

And, I never get tired of this image of the Prenj mountain range seen on the highway from Sarajevo to

Mostar.  We were on the upper 3rd of the face when the storm hit.

The year was marked by my meeting extraordinary people - not just famous people...

...but Mostarians who not only carry the drama and tragedy of war and the seductive magnetism of this amazing place - but also bring gaiety, laughter and special spontaneous moments. How ironic it is to find honest humour in the middle of this environment - . I am very lucky to have met such people who find a ways to make life lighter. Vanessa and Lynne Redgrave and the Prince of Wales were probably the biggest VIP people I have actually ever met. But people are people. And friendship is the most valuable resource we have.

It was my first leap into a country where english is not spoken, and so also my need to pursue language lessons - which led to even more adventures... Adventures such as a magical hike into the ancient Bosnian kingdom last ruled by King Tvrtko in the 14th century,

... or river rafting on the emerald Naretva! 

...or finding hidden caves while exploring abandoned water mills....

... or hearing the sound of cuckoos in the distance.

....or simply looking for frogs in Hutovo Blato park.












August 19th brought Jeremy to Mostar. And this was the beginning of the best trimester of the year. For two weeks we explored many areas around BiH. Both our cameras were destroyed in the storm on Velez.





...To be continued...(Chapter 2)