TURKEY ~Bursa - UNESCO tentative list ~

...Lovely view of a historical city, dating back to before the Silk Road from Asia, (it was the western end of the Great Silk Road)...Thanks Onder!!


With nice stamp and postmark:
13th Istanbul Biennial celebrated
(Issued 17.09.2013)

Bursa lies in the northwestern part of Turkey near the Sea of Marmara. It is the fourth largest city in Turkey and is famous for its peach, chestnut, and silk, although lately, heavy industry located in the outskirts of the city has surpassed these traditional industries.

Bursa was the second capital of the Ottoman State between 1335 and 1413. The city was referred to as "Hüdavendigar" (meaning "God's Gift") during the Ottoman period, while a more recent nickname is "Yeşil Bursa" (meaning "Green Bursa") in reference to the parks and gardens, as well as to the vast and richly varied forests of the surrounding region.

Yesil Mausoleum, Bursa is a tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage.The Yesil Cami i is considered one of the best examples of early Ottoman architecture. Its interior as well as it exterior is covered with elaborate marble and tilework. The Yesil Cami served as a royal mosque that housed a madressa, bathhouse, soup kitchen and the tomb of Mehmed I.

SRI LANKA ~Gotuwala Nine Arch Viaduct~

An impressive historical bridge view...another one from postcard friend Ravindra who also collect trains on postcards... he wrote that he travelled over this bridge several times...Thanks a lot Ravindra!!


With nice  "World Tourism Day 2011" stamp
Seas, lakes and rivers
(Issued 27-09-2011)

©Photo A Felix J. Perera

The ‘Nine Arch Bridge’ between Ella and Demodara railway stations on the Badulla line is an outstanding civil engineering marvel of the British colonial era.

Gotuwala Viaduct  was built in 1921 and is located almost 3,100 feet above sea level, the largest viaduct in the country is 99.6ft high and has been built entirely of solid rocks, bricks and cement without using a single piece of steel.

People call it the ‘Ahasnamayepalama’ (Bridge of Nine Skies) in Sinhala because of the view from below. When one stands underneath it and looks up it is a beautiful sight of ‘nine skies’ through the nine arches, hence the Sinhala name. One end of this curved nine-arch bridge is a tunnel.

ISLE OF MAN ~ Lighthouse - Point of Ayre ~

My post for this weekend's theme: lighthouses...read more Connections to the World!

 Here a great lighthouse view...my third card sent by James from The Isle of Man a place of beauty and history which lies in the Irish Sea between the United Kingdom and Ireland...Thanks a lot James!!【ツ】

Photo Mike Guy Located at the most Northerly tip of the Isle of Man, built in 1818 by Robert Stevenson.The Point of Ayre lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse on the Isle of Man.

The cast iron tower was placed at the edge of the sea about 225 m from the main light. In 1950, a concrete tower was built another 230 m seaward, and the historic tower was relocated atop the new tower.

Stamps:

Manx National Heritage "The Story of Mann"
(Issued 03-08-2004)

MYANMAR ~ Mandalay - Kuthodaw Pagoda - UNESCO~

..This fantastic panoramic card came as an unexpected surprise from Rod's cruise on the Irrawaddy river with Pandaws river Expeditions...Another impressive religious Buddhist site from a place of which I never thought to get another (received also one in 2008) written and stamped card from...almost a sea of white pagodas... Thanks a million Rod!!


With cute stamp:
27th Sea Games Myanmar 2013
(Issued 2.09.2013)

©Photo Moe Min Some of the 729 stupas at Kuthodaw Pagoda famous for the world’s largest book. That means that there are 729 marble slabs regarding  the entire Pali Canon of Buddhism. It will take time 5 months and 3 days to complete the entire book when 2400 monks read 24 hour and it will take  one year and 3 months when a man read 8 hours a day.

The stupa itself, which is gilded above its terraces, is 188 feet (57 m) high.

It lies at the foot of Mandalay Hill and was built during the reign of King Mindon.
Mandalay is the second largest city in Burma (after Yangon), and a former capital of Myanmar. The city is the economic and religious hub of upper Myanmar and is centred around the Royal Palace.

Kuthodaw Inscription is on UNESCO Memory of the World Register. Documentary heritage submitted by Myanmar and recommended for inclusion in the Memory of the World Register in 2013.

CRIMEA ~Vorontsov Palace~

Great second card showing the majestic Northern facade of the palace... The stone used was mined locally as part of an effort to blend the building with its mountainous surroundings in the style of a medieval English castle... Thanks a lot Alex for another view of this unique building!!


With nice tiny stamp!!

The Vorontsov Palace is a historic palace situated at the foot of the Crimean Mountains, southern Ukraine.

 This Palace is one of the oldest and largest residential palaces in all of Crimea, and is one of the most popular tourist attractions on Crimea's southern coast, built over a 20 year period from 1828-1848. Several architectural styles are nicely blended together to create the overall effect, it united Gothic and Arabic architecture.

 Churchill slept here during the Yalta conference in 1945.

 Crimea is known as the Autonomous Republic of Crimea,surrounded by the Black Sea. It has its own parliament and capital, Simferopol, but is governed by the Constitution of Crimea in accordance with the laws of Ukraine.

SRI LANKA ~Yatala Dagoba - Tissamaharama ~

...Wonderful ancient Budhist stupa,  another spectacular site of the island...they are probably the largest brick structures known to the pre-modern world...Thanks again Ravindra!!


 With lovely stamps of famous Srilankan:
 Muttiah Muralitharan is a cricketer and
 Joe Abeywickrama was an actor.

© Photo Dominic Sansoni The Yatala Dagoba, in the town of Tissamaharama is a stupa Buddhist religious monument attributed to King Yatala Tissa. It was built about 2300 years ago and restored to its former glory in the 1980s.

The wall of Yatala Dagoba is surrounded by sculpted  elephant heads and moat. Several important artifacts have been discovered, during the excavations at the site. A head of a Buddha statue, standing Buddha statue, and a figure of a king believed to be of King Kawantissa.

Tissamaharama is one of the most nicest towns in the southern coast.

USA ~ Texas - map ~

...I really love map cards like this..."The Lone Star State" comes from the symbolism of the star on the 1836 flag of the republic, the "National Standard of Texas." The single golden star on a blue background signified Texas as an independent republic and was a reminder of the state's struggle for independence from Mexico.
Thanks a lot Judy!!


 With lovely stamps.
 I like especially the "Johnny Cash" stamp!

Entered the Union: December 28,1845 (28)
State Capital: Austin
State Flower: Bluebonnet
State song: Texas our Texas
State Motto: Friendship
State Bird: Mockingbird
State Tree: Pecan
Highest Point: Guadalupe Peak
Lowest Point: Gulf of Mexico
Rank by size: 2nd





©Smith-Southwestern, Inc

USA ~Arkansas - map ~

First of two great new additions to my US state map cards... known as the  "The Natural State" because of its natural beauty, clear lakes, streams abundance of natural wildlife...Thanks Chuck!!


 With nice US flower "forever" stamps!!

©Bluff City Post Cards Capital: Little Rock
Origin of Name: French interpretation of the Algonquin Indian word "ookansa," (referring to the Quapaw Tribe who lived in Arkansas) meaning "south wind"
State Motto: Regnat populus (The people rule)
State Bird: Mockingbird
State Nickname: The Natural State
State Flower: Apple Blossom
State Insect: Honeybee
State Mammal: White-tailed Deer
State Instrument: Fiddle
State Song: “Arkansas”
National Parks: 1 • National Forests: 2 •
State Parks: 51
Famous for: America's only Diamond Mine, Hot Springs National Park

PAKISTAN ~Artefact of Gandhara - Peshawar Museum ~

Impressive and so beautiful carved Buddhist art sculpture...Budha seated on a lotus with round Him an adoring hierarchy of kings, elders, and old-time Buddhas... I never knew Pakistan has so many ancient Budhist sites...Thanks so much Hasnain!!


With great stamps also!!

The Peshawar Museum is a Museum situated in the historic city of Peshawar. The Museum has one of the largest and most extensive collections of Gandhara art of the Buddhist period and is considered to be one of the biggest collections of Buddhist objects in the world.

The display of Gandhara Art in the main hall includes Buddha's life stories, miracles, worship of symbols, relic caskets, and individual standing Buddha sculptures.Buddhist civilization of Gandharat flourished in northern Pakistan 2,000 years ago

Peshawar Museum was actually built in the memory of a famous queen named Queen Victoria and at first the original name of Peshawar Museum was Victoria Memorial Hall which later changed into Peshawar Museum when the museum’s head changed to a Muslim known as Dilawar Khan.

SRI LANKA ~West Coast -

First of 3 wonderful Sri Lanka postcards waiting to be uploaded...A gorgeous golden sunset featuring palm tree silhouettes and a Bullock cart...Paradise does indeed exist!!
Thanks a lot Ravindra...more to come^__^


As usual a with a variety of nice and interesting stamps.

The West coast is the area stretching south from Colombo towards Galle.  It is the most developed and most tourists oriented from all. The beautiful coastline is full of hundreds of hotels and guesthouses with different standard.

 A bullock cart  is a two-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicle pulled by oxen (draught cattle). It is a means of transportation used since ancient times in many parts of the world. They are still used today where modern vehicles are too expensive or the infrastructure does not favor them. Used especially for carrying goods, the bullock cart is pulled by one or several bullocks.

THAILAND ~Floating Market - Damnoen Saduak~

Sent by friend Benny travelling  in Thailand...a lively and colorful market... many small boats selling colorful fruits, vegetables, snacks and souvenirs.... Thanks a lot Benny!!


With nice definitive stamp showing popular tourist destination, Phuket.
(Issued 05-07-2012)

The large and well-liked floating market at Damnoen Saduak is located about 80 km southwest of Bangkok in Ratchaburi province and is one of Thailand's most well-known tourist attactions.

The market name comes from the canal that it sits upon, the canal was dug in the reign of King Rama IV by soldiers from 3 provinces, Ratchaburi, Samutsakorn and Samutsongkram to connect 2 of Thailand's main rivers.





© www.visart.co.th

GERMANY ~Bielefeld - 4th International Postcrossing meet-up~

Great "surprise" postcard coming from one of my neighbouring countries...signed by sooooo many other postcard lovers... there's hardly enough room on the card for all those signatures:D... but a special thank goes to Kati of Finland who thought of me!!!


Stamp celebrating The 50th Anniversary of the Fehmarnsund Bridge. (Issued 04-04-2013)

Photo I. Wandmacher -View from the Sparrenbridge on the city Bielefeld is a city in the north-east of North-Rhine Westphalia. The historical centre of the city is situated north of the Teutoburg Forest line of hills, but modern Bielefeld also incorporates boroughs on the opposite side and on the hills.

Bielefeld is home to a significant number of internationally operating companies, including Dr. Oetker, Gildemeister and Schüco. It has a university and several Fachhochschulen.

VENEZUELA ~Margarita Island- Juan Griego ~

Today a postcard coming from South America...wonderful tropical beach...my second one from the island Margarita...according to the sender "Paradise on earth"...and for sure I believe it!! ^__^
Thanks a lot Enrique!!!


With greeat stamp:
Joint issue Iran (Pico Bolivar)
(Issued 16-11-2004)

Photo Christian Mondin Margarita is a Venezuelan island (about 25 miles from the mainland) in the Caribbean Sea and is part of Nueva Esparta state. It's comprised of two islands connected in the middle by the mangrove-filled lagoon of La Restinga National Park.

Taguantar is a beach in Juan Griego a city on the northern side of the island and is the most northern port in Venezuela. It is one of the most important cities in Margarita and located right next to the sea and has a beautiful beach.

BONAIRE ~ Netherlands Antilles - Hawksbill turtle~

...Fantastic new exotic place...a little treasure..and with one of my favorite subjects, marine life... especially sea turtles...Bonaire has been a leader in marine protection since 1961, when it passed legislation to protect turtles... Thanks a lot Diana for this wonderful postcard!!


With nice tiny stamp:
Caribbean Netherlands - Subject Sailboats - Optimist
(Issued 01-02-2012)

Photo Dos Winkel Bonaire  is a Caribbean island that, with the uninhabited islet of Klein Bonaire nestled in its western crescent. Together with Aruba and Curaçao it forms a group referred to as the ABC islands of the Leeward Antilles, the southern island chain of the Lesser Antilles.

Bonaire's capital is Kralendijk. Bonaire was part of the Netherlands Antilles until the country's dissolution on 10 October 2010,when the island (including Klein Bonaire) became a special municipality within the country of the Netherlands.

 Bonaire is home to three of the world’s seven species of sea turtles. Green and hawksbill turtles can be seen year-round, while loggerheads generally visit only during the nesting season.

The hawksbill turtle has a pointed face with a distinct beak-like appearance. Its scutes overlap, and the edge of the carapace is serrated toward the rear of the body. Hawksbills weigh up to 85 kg (185 lbs). Bonaire has a juvenile and sub-adult population year round with most adult turtles present only during the nesting season.

BELGIUM ~Remembrance Day - In Flanders Fields 11/11~

Today, Remembrance Day is a public holiday in Belgium... A number of commemorative events are held in Ieper (Ypres) to mark the anniversary of Armistice Day on 11th November 1918.
From 1914 to 1918 the 'Westhoek', the western part the Province of West-Flanders, was the scene of the Great War.In August 2014 the world will mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War... Hundreds of thousands of soldiers of more than 20 nationalities fell in this conflict.

...I think Memorials like this are exceptionally important because the allow military leaders to remember the faults of our forefathers and let us learn from their mistakes in order to create hopefully a better world...

The Menin Gate/Menenpoort Ypres
Following the Menin Gate Memorial opening in 1927, the citizens of Ypres wanted to express their gratitude towards those who had given their lives for Belgium's freedom.
Every night at 20:00 hours (8.00pm) a moving ceremony takes place under the Menin Gate in Ieper - Ypres. The Last Post Ceremony has become part of the daily life in Ieper (Ypres) It has been going for almost every year since the First World War, except for a brief period during the German Occupation.

"In Flanders Fields", a poem penned by Canadian doctor, Major John McCrae at an advanced aid post at Essex Farm, near Ypres, in 1915. It was published in Pruch Magazine in December 1915 and inspired the use of the poppy as an enduring symbol of remembrance day. Mc Crae died with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in January 1918 and is buried at Memeraux, France.

This is the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world. There are 11,976 war graves from WW1 here, including 8.961 from the United Kingdom. 1.368 from Australia, 1.025 from Canada, 520 from New Zealand, 90 from South Africa, 6 from Geuersney, 2 from British West Indies and 4 from Germany. Of these 8.366 or 70percent, are "Known unto God". At the rear cemetery is " Tyne Cot Memorial" which commemorates 34.887 men with no known graves of Britain (33.707), New Zealand (1.179) and Newfoundland (1).

Visiting Tyne Cot cemetery this summer...the size and scale of this really overwhelming countless crosses...row by row...such a sad view...should be visited by everyone, especially our world leaders...if only to learn from the mistakes of the past!!

BELGIUM ~Brussels - Christmas cancellation ~

...Lovely bright red postcard showing the highlights of Brussels...Thanks a lot Johan especially for my first Christmas stamp this year and  the special year-end cancellation.



With nice Christmas  3D stamp commemorating the end of 2013 with the most common scene of Christmas period, the crib.

And great "Three Kings" or "Three Wise Men" first day cancellation (Issued 28-10-2012)

Brussels is the capital of Belgium and of the European Union and the seat of many international organizations such as the NATO.


With its more than 1000 years of history the city offers many fascinating sights to visit. It has  the most beautiful historic market square and the highest concentration of restaurants in the world.








© Edit Thill, S.A. Bruxelles

USA ~International Postcard Week~

Hello to all of you my dear postcard friends...it's been quiet around here...but I really wasn't in the right mood lately for postcards....not that I haven't been receiving cards over this period, I got plenty of great postcards and some from special and new places...

However a  few weeks ago our beloved dog, a Golden Retriever Bono died at the age of 11 unexpected after a short illness...he was a part of our family and I still miss him a lot...:(

...I slowly starting again with uploading and my first comes from Brenda sent for "The International Postcard Week" A wonderful world map card (artwork from Rick Geary) of a limited editon of 250!
Thanks so much Brenda and sorry for not thanking you in person... :(

With great clear postmark!!