MY POSTCARD-PAGE

SRI LANKA ~Stilt Fishermen-Ahangama~

2012-01-25T10:06:00.014+01:00

A new great postcard from Sri Lanka for my collection... Something I've never seen...My first thought was ...why don’t they use nets?? It looks a really uncomfortable position, sitting on poles fixed in the coral reef and balancing on a height of about two meters, but it seems to be a centuries-old tradition!
By searching for information about this strange looking way of fishing I found that by using nets the fish could get disturbed and may disappear.
Many Thanks Ravindra!! (Hoping to find some of your favorites soon.:D)

With a set of lovely stamps!!They have such a large variety of beautiful stamps...

A few kilometres beyond Koggala, the town of Ahangama is famous for having the greatest concentration of stilt fishermen along the entire coast.The tradition is passed on from father to son and with it the particular skills of each fishing family.
Though they may be beautiful to look at, stilt fishermen have it rough. They spend hours sitting on a thin plank, hoping to catch one or two fish about 5 cm-long, that they sell for about 2 cents each. The rough waves keep the big fish away, so they sometimes have to settle for te smallest catch. But it’s a small price to pay in order to preserve centuries-old traditions.

Stilt fishing had disappeared after the devastating tsunami that hit the country and other parts of the Indian Ocean, but soon the people returned to their customs, and now you can spot them sitting on their uncomfortable stilts, hoping to catch something.

BELGIUM ~ Doornik-UNESCO~

2012-01-23T09:53:00.007+01:00

This card shows another wonderful UNESCO site of my country... If you ever planning a trip to Belgium and visiting our UNESCO sites this one must certainly on your list...The Cathedral with 5 towers is really impressive!!:D Bedankt Dorien!
With the self adhesive 'Tagetes portula' stamp from 2008 (Created by: Buzin)

Along with Tongeren, Tournai is the oldest city in Belgium and it has played an important role in Belgiums cultural history.The mixed Romanesque- and Gothic-style cathedral of Notre Dame de Tournai and the belfry, the oldest in Belgium, have been jointly designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Tournai cathedral is one of the most beautiful religious monuments in the Western world. Its treasury contains the silver and copper Shrine of Our Lady, completed in the early 13th century. The Cathedral also houses works by Rubens and his contemporary Jordaens.

RUSSIA ~Famous People~

2012-01-16T10:26:00.006+01:00

Received this great card today(RU-715427)... It shows Russian most famous people... though most of them are known all over the world!! Thanks a lot Kate!!

Really nice stamps too!

SRI LANKA ~Gurulu Raksha Mask~

2012-01-10T10:23:00.005+01:00

Got this great and a bit different card today...The snake or Naga as it is called, symbolizes protection. It is said amongst Sri lankan people that having these in homes brings good luck and protection, many locals hang a Gurulu Raksha mask outside their houses to ward away demons...
So by hanging this on my postcard board I hopefully will also be protected against "evel spirits"!:D Thanks Ravindra!!

...And each time with different and wonderful stamps!!

The Gurulu (Garuda Raksha) is the portrait of a mythical bird devouring a snake.
This is a typical example of a Sinhalese ritual mask. The Sinhalese use the mask during 1) Kolam dancing - dramatic performances representing both human and superhuman characters 2) Devil dancing - associated with exorcising rituals, removing devils and illnesses from people 3) Sokari dancing - worn during theatre performances or Devolmadu ceremonies, or public rituals in Sri Lanka.

GERMANY ~Valley of the Red Grape~

2012-01-09T10:04:00.004+01:00

Great postcard showing beautiful scenery from German wine regions.. Must be a wonderful place for hiking... And it shows again that we not always have to travel far to see beautiful places.:D (Distance from Brussels to the Ahr Valley is only about 240km)... Thanks Sabine!!

High above the narrow Ahr Valley, which was called „the wildest daughter of the Rhine“ by the Romanticists, is known for its red wines. It connects the famous winegrower’s villages in the “Valley of the Red Grape”. On a length of 35 kilometres the trail winds from Altenahr to Bad Bodendorf through the steep vineyard terraces.

COOK ISLANDS ~Rarotonga~

2012-01-04T12:38:00.010+01:00

Got this wonderful postcard today from "The heart of Polynesia",The Cook Islands... Another dream destination and my first new place in 2012!!
Hopefully the start of many more...:D:D Thank you very much Rod!!

Sooo lovely stamps too...

A net of 15 islands in the heart of the South Pacific spread over an area the size of India with a population no bigger than a small New Zealand country town, 11,400 souls. These unique and friendly Polynesians have their own language and government and enjoy a vigorous and diverse culture with significant differences between each island.

RAROTONGA is the youngest island in the Cook Islands (named after Captain COOK, who sighted them in 1770). Raratonga is almost completely encircled by reefs, creating beautiful safe lagoons. This island of volcanic origin rises 600 meters (2000 feet) and is inhabited only around the coastal belt.

USA ~Minnesota-yah, you betcha~

2012-01-03T11:26:00.017+01:00

Another great card from the USA (US-1448771) shaped in the form of the state... With one of the favorite words in their unique dialect: UFF-DA (Norwegian origine) an expression of disgust, frustration or exhaustion... Reading it really made me smile!:D:D Thanks!
Nice stamps!!

Minnesota is a state in the Midwest of the USA. Known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, it technically has well over 15,000. The northern tip of Minnesota that juts into Lake of the Woods is the most northern point in the lower 48 states of the United States.

USA ~Utah~

2012-01-02T12:43:00.006+01:00

Great postcard from the USA showing the many contrasts of Utah... great mountain ranges, rock formations, fields of flowers, canyons...In 2002 Utah became the fifth state in the United States to host the Olympic Winter Games. Thanks Sarah!!

Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union. Utah is the 13th most extensive, the 34th most populous, and the 10th least densely populated of the 50 United States. The name "Utah" is derived from the name of the Ute tribe and means "people of the mountains" in the Ute language.Utah is bordered by Arizona on the south, Colorado on the east, Wyoming on the northeast, Idaho on the north and Nevada on the west. It also touches a corner of New Mexico.
Utah is the most religiously homogeneous state in the Union. Approximately 60% of Utahns are reported to be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church, which greatly influences Utah culture and daily life.

NETHERLANDS ~Hollandsche Bloemenvelden~

2012-01-02T11:35:00.010+01:00

This card shows a typical dutch view (NL-945831)... The sender got this "vintage" card from het dad who collected them over the years and now she can send them around the world... A lovely story!:D Thanks Yvon!

Even the stamps are from before the euro (still in guldens)

The Netherlands is renowned as the land of tulips and there is no better time of year to visit the flower fields than spring, when the bulbs are in full bloom.

JAPAN ~Kotoji Lantern-Kanazawa-Ishikawa~

2011-12-30T10:15:00.019+01:00

...And with this wonderful wintery garden scene (JP-224091)I'm saying goodbye to 2011...It was a great "postcard year"... I want to thank all my postcard friends because without you all I couldn't made my blog and a big thanks to all visitors (over 31.000-from 171 countries)...I hope to see you all again in 2012!!

~~~~~~~GELUKKIG NIEUWJAARR~HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Gerda :D:D~~~~~~~

With great stamps too.Thanks Asuka!

Kenrokuen is classified as one of Japan's "three most beautiful landscape gardens". Kenrokuen features various ponds, streams, waterfalls, bridges, teahouses, trees, stones and flowers. The water for the many streams and rivers of the park is diverted from a distant river by a sophisticated water system constructed in 1632. The name Kenrokuen literally means "Garden of the Six Sublimities", referring to spaciousness, seclusion, artificiality, antiquity, abundant water and broad views, which according to Chinese landscape theory are the six essential attributes that make up a perfect garden.

UKRAINE

2011-12-29T10:33:00.009+01:00

Got a lovely envelope from Alex today... Thanks a lot for all your nice wishes...
I wish you also all the best in 2012!! :D:D

I don't know what's happening but I have so many cards travelling, some of them already a long time and none of them seems to arrive... to Romania,Ukraine, Austria, England, France,Sri Lanka... So I'm gonna wait a while before sending new cards!!:(

Love the stamps too!
And with really cute season's greeting card! :D

The Central Concert Hall Kiev, Palace of Culture!

HONG KONG ~Public Housing Estate~

2011-12-28T10:14:00.005+01:00

I've beeen spoiled with wonderful official cards this last few days... Today a great card from Hong Kong (HK-44601) arrived. The sender wrote that this view is from years ago. Nowadays the public Housing Estates are much more beautiful and modern... However it is still very crowded...

I could never live that way... I need my space and I love to go outside in my garden whenever I feel like it!!:D Thanks Iris!
With lovely (older)stamps!

In Hong Kong, the government provides public housing through flats which are rented at a lower price than the markets, and through the Home Ownership Scheme, which are sold at a lower price. These are built and administered by the Hong Kong Housing Authority and the Hong Kong Housing Society. Nearly half of Hong Kong population lives in public housing.

SWITZERLAND ~Aletsch Glacier-UNESCO~

2011-12-27T10:59:00.012+01:00

Got a wonderful view of one of Europe's nature wonders (CH-96470)...It is sad to read that this glacier is on the list of places to visit before they disappear through climate changes... Thanks Simone!

"On August 18th, 2007, photographer Spencer Tunick used hundreds of naked people in a "living sculpture" on the Aletsch Glacier in a photo shoot intended to draw attention to global warming and the shrinking of the world's glaciers. The temperature was about 10 °C at the time of the photo shoot."

Here in Belgium the year 2011 is also expected to enter the record books as the warmest year since records began in Belgium in 1833. In 2011 the average temperature stood at 11.6 degrees Celsius. (If you like you can always find the weather "live" on my blog :D)

Nice stamp from the serie "The handicapped artists" special stamps (Christian Oppliger)

The Aletsch Glacier is the largest glacier in the Alps. It has a length of about 23 km (14 mi) and covers more than 120 square kilometres (46 sq mi) in the eastern Bernese Alps in the Swiss canton of Valais. The whole area, including other glaciers is part of the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001.

RUSSIA ~Moscow-People’s Friendship Fountain ~

2011-12-26T17:08:00.008+01:00

A great official from Russia (RU-680935). This fountain is on the list of the world's most breathtaking fountains in the world... Wish I could visit it someday... Thanks a lot Lyudmila!

With lovely stamps!

The All-Russian Exhibition Centre. The Central Pavilion 1954.
The People’s Friendship Fountain (also known as Friendship of Nations) on Moscow features 16 gilded statues of maidens in their national costumes, representing all the Soviet Union Republics. The fountain is complemented by a red granite octahedral pond with a surface area of 4000 square meters. This fountain is run by an eight-pump system that can shoot 1200 liters of water from the jet to reach 800 high 24 meters per second.

FINLAND

2011-12-26T16:48:00.005+01:00

Another great night view from Finland (FI-1282339)... The color of the sky is just stunning! Thanks Liris!!

With the nice Aurora Borealis stamp from 2009.

GREAT BRITAIN ~Cornwall-map~

2011-12-21T09:34:00.005+01:00

This must be one of the nicest mapcards I ever received...Each time I look at it I find something new to see or read!:D Thank you very much Ilona!

With a really tiny Christmas stamp!

Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar.

BELGIUM

2011-12-20T08:47:00.004+01:00

Thanks Johan for your nice card and wishes!! Belgium will almost certainly not have a white Christmas this year as we have high temperatures for this this time of year...
(P.S. Ik denk dat je kaartje wat vertraging heeft opgelopen door een fout huisnr...21 in plaats van 31...:D:D)

Whit great matching stamp!

SINGAPORE

2011-12-20T08:29:00.005+01:00

The first of two nice season's greetings cards... A really cute card with "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer... Thanks a lot Edna, especially for the really lovely present you sent to me!! It's GREAT!

Envelope with a set of wonderful stamps!!Singapore stamps - 2011 Fauna + Insects

SRI LANKA ~Butterflies~

2011-12-19T10:40:00.021+01:00

Got this wonderful butterfly card today...They are one of my favourite animals. I try to plant many nectar producing flowers in my garden and each time I see these colourful, delicate creatures "fluttering" around it makes me smile!:D:D Thank you sooo much Ravindra!It's a lovey Christmas present......
As usual great stamps!!

"Butterflies of Sri Lanka" From the book: Moments of Truth in the Wilderness.
Butterflies are the most highly visible of all the myriad species of insects....

Small pictures of parts of my own garden in summer...

MONACO ~Monte-Carlo~

2011-12-15T10:51:00.005+01:00

...And here an example of how nice "postcard people" are :D:D
Thanks to Sheila who offered on her blog a postcard from her visit to Monaco, I now got my first wonderful written and stamped card of this luxurious place for the rich and famous... Thank you very much Sheila(http://apostcardaday.blogspot.com/)!!!

With great stamp and postmark!Date of issue: September 19, 2011

The Principality of Monaco is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about 16 km (9.9 mi) from Italy and is the most densely populated country in the world.

Monte-Carlo, created in 1866, named in honor of Prince Charles III, hosts an internationally famous Casino, luxury hotels and leisure facilities!

FINLAND ~Aurora Borealis~

2011-12-14T09:44:00.004+01:00

And this awesome card I got as an official (FI-1274486)... "Aurora Borealis", one of the most amazing natural wonders of the world and can be seen around this time of year above the Arctic Circle ... I really would love to see it live one day... Thanks a lot Juho!

With lovely matching Aurora Borealis stamp!

The Northern Lights are created when charged particles from solar wind hit the atmosphere of the earth.The most common colours of the Northern Lights are greenish-yellow and red.

There have been many myths about the Northern Lights.The people of Norway thought the lights were dead warriors fighting.The Vikings thought they were female messengers of the God Odin, to mark those to be killed in battle. The people of Laps and Finland believed they were messangers of God. The Nothern Lights were one of the last unsloved mysteries of the natural world!

HUNGARY ~Keszthely~

2011-12-10T13:58:00.005+01:00

Nice official (HU-42537) showing many beautiful views... Thanks a lot Gyöngyi.

Lovely stamp too!!

Keszthely is a Hungarian city located on the western shore of Lake Balaton.One of its main tourist attractions is Festetics Palace, which was built in 1745 in baroque style. The Balaton Museum displays geological and archaeological exhibitions and presents the history of Lake Balaton.The Faculty for Agriculture of University of Pannonia is located in Keszthely.

ANDORRA ~Map~

2011-12-08T10:23:00.010+01:00

Sometimes you think you never will be able to get a written and stamped postcard from some "Hard-to-get" places and then you recieve two within a few months.:D This time a beautiful map card... I'm getting more and more fond of mapcards, immeditately they show you lots of interesting facts about a country!! Thank you very much Fabienne!!

Great Europa stamp Forest 2011 (Spanish)

Andorra is a small landlocked country, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains, between Spain and France. The Principality of Andorra (with its 468 km2) is the largest of the 6 smallest states in Europe.Andorra la Vella, is the highest capital city in Europe, being at an elevation of 1023 metres and the official language is Catalan.

IRELAND ~Trim Castle~

2011-12-08T09:58:00.008+01:00

Fantastic castle view... And it is also "famous" because Braveheart was filmed here... Ireland is already a long time on my wishlist for a walking holiday!! Thanks a lot Claudia!!

And with a wonderful Christmas stamp!!

Trim,Co. Meath: Charmingly situated on the River Boyne, Trim Castle is one of the oldest ecclesistical centres in Ireland. The town is a good centre for salmon and trout fishing on the Boyne and other rivers of the district. The ruined Norman Castle, the largest in Ireland was originally founded by de Lacy in 1173 and during the 13th C much was rebuilt. The present well preserved ruines occupy an area of two acres, in which at one period Prince Henry (later Henry V) was kept prisoner. (from the back of the card)

UKRAINE

2011-12-05T09:57:00.010+01:00

Thanks a lot Olga for this wonderful card and for using such great stamps!!!:D:D

Rostra were the rams of Mediterranean fighting ships. They were originally made of hard wood, but bronze sheathing or castings over extensions of the ships' keels soon proved more efficient.Rostra were the rams of Mediterranean fighting ships. They were originally made of hard wood, but bronze sheathing or castings over extensions of the ships' keels soon proved more efficient.

USA ~Cape May- New Jersey~

2011-11-30T13:46:00.005+01:00

Wonderful beach with lighthouse...I think there is always something magical about them... The marking the lines between land and sea, sea and sky... Thanks a lot Rose!!

Great stamp (I think created on stamp.com)...unique and with a turtle, one of my favorite animals...

One of the largest lighthouses on the Atlantic coast. The present Cape May Lighthouse was built in 1859. It is a successor to two previous lighthouses lost to the sea by sand and erosion. In the foreground, the ocean surf rolls onto the beach.
The Cape May Lighthouse is one of the regions's most familiar, most photographed and most painted landmarks.

CHINA ~Traditional Celebration~

2011-11-30T13:41:00.006+01:00

This nice cards shows "Traditional Celebration" (from the back of the card)... But I don't know what they are celebrating, maybe Chinese New Year???:( Thanks Wen Hua!

With three great stamps!

ROMANIA ~Sighisoara-UNESCO~

2011-11-28T12:45:00.006+01:00

Got a great card of Romania,"the land of vampires"!:D It is not only a new UNESCO site... but I think we all know "Dracula" and this place is also the birhtplace of Vlad the Impaler (1456 to 1462), a fifteenth-century prince of Wallachia from which Stoker created Dracula,... Thanks Joseph!!

Nice stamps too!!

Founded by Transylvanian Saxons during the 12th century, Sighisoara still stands as one of the most beautiful and best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. Designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, this perfectly intact 16th century gem with nine towers, cobbled streets, burgher houses and ornate churches.

PERU ~Madre de Dios~

2011-11-24T11:16:00.005+01:00

...Wonderful card of the Amazon jungle showing the beautiful nature, animals, native people, fruit... of this amazing worldecosystems that is considered to be the most varied on the planet. ... Thanks a lot Jane!!

With beautiful stamp too!

Madre de Dios is the most southeastern region of Peru; it is located in the border with Brazil and Bolivia. The region is covered almost entirely by the Amazon jungle. The name of the region is one of the denominations (in Spanish) of the Virgin Mary and means “Mother of God”. Puerto Maldonado the capital of the Region is a small city, which was founded in 1902.

SRI LANKA ~Vatadage-Polonnaruwa-UNESCO-11/11/11 Cancellation~

2011-11-22T08:22:00.005+01:00

Received a wonderful example of religious Budhist architecture,a "Vatadage" (meaning round relic house) and is one of the oldest and most beautiful monuments of Polonnaruwa...

Just in case you planning a trip (whish I could say that :D)
...I found this on the intenet:it is forbidden to take photograph of persons with their back towards a Buddha statue in many places in Sri Lanka, including at Polonnaruwa, as a sign of respect for the Buddha!!! Always good to know... Thanks a lot Ravindra!!

Whith lovely stamps!And the card has the cancellation of the unique date 11/11/11 and to be sure... it is not once but three times postmarked!!! Unfortunately as Rememberance day is a National Holidy our postoffices where all closed...

Buddhism was introduced in Sri Lanka in 247 BC. Ancient cities like Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa have historical importance.
Vatadage Temple, in Polonnaruwa, is a uniquely Sri Lankan circular shrine enclosing a small dagoba. The vatagage has a three-tiered conical roof, spanning a height of 40–50 feet, without a center post, and supported by pillars of diminishing height.It was part of a monastery which flourished in Polonnaruwa when the capital was still at Anuradhapura.

NETHERLANDS ~Dutch Dolmes-Drenthe~

2011-11-17T10:18:00.006+01:00

Got a very interesting card from my neighbouring country Holland (NL-870313)... Everyone knows Stonehenge in England but I never heard of older and more numerous megalithes in Holland...And they are only 194 km (121 miles) from where I live...

...There are a lot of mysteries abouth them...Why did these simple farmers make such a tremendous effort to drag those heavy boulders to a construction site and pile them up to making a huge stonegrave? And how on earth did they do this..?

With very nice stamps!!

There are more numerous Dolmens in the Netherlands than anywhere else. Of the 53 Dolmens in the Netherlands, 52 of them are located in the province of Drenthe.A Dolmen today is just a remnant of a burial monument. The gigantic rocks were originally out of sight under a mound of sand or earth. Discoveries have revealed that the Dolmen was a communal burial tomb. They would contain the remains of up to a hundred people, making them a virtual cemetery.

FRANCE ~Disneyland -Paris~

2011-11-16T09:54:00.013+01:00

This card made my day!!:D:D
...Who wouldn't be happy to find this two smiling Disney characters "Mickey and Minny mouse" at you when you open your mailbox... I think everyone knows and loves those fantastic Disney figures... And most of us grew up with them all... Hééél erg bedankt Johan!!

Disneyland Paris located in the Paris suburb of Marne-la-Vallée, is the Disney Empire's European variant of their archetypal "Magic Kingdom" theme park. It was the second Disney theme park resort to open outside the United States, after Tokyo Disney Resort. With 15 million visits in 2010, Disneyland Paris has overtaken the Eiffel Tower as the most popular tourist destination of the Paris region, and is the fourth most visited theme park in the world.

UKRAINE ~Kiev-Mariyinsky Palace~

2011-11-15T14:08:00.010+01:00

Wonderful castle view...It is painted in such lovely blue and cream colors... Thanks a lot Olga!!

With lots of great stamps!!

View of the the Mariyinsky Palace constructed at 1744 for the russian Empresse Elizavetia and completed in 1752.The palace was burned down in the early 19thC and reconstructed at 1870. Now the palace is one of the residences of the Ukrainian President and located on the right bank of the Dnieper river. It is one of the most visited tourist attractions of the city.

AUSTRIA ~ Cover~

2011-11-15T14:03:00.002+01:00

Thanks a lot Edna for this great cover and especially for the beautiful Singapore magnet included!!

CZECH REPUBLIC ~The dancing house-Prague~

2011-11-14T13:59:00.010+01:00

Great view of the most famous modern building in Prague (CZ-143079)...The building is also called Ginger & Fred, referring to Ginger Rogers and Fred Astair – the legendary dance duo...maybe with a lot of imagination and a few glasses of wine!:D For me it looks a bit weird and funny... Thanks Barbora!!

Lovely stamps too!

Located on the corner of Rasinovo Nabrezi and Resslova street, alongside the Vltava River.
The building is an example of a deconstructivist architecture, with an unusual shape – you can actually see a couple – woman and man dancing together, holding their hands, with a skirt that sways to the music.
The building was built from 1992 to 1996.

BELGIUM ~Remembrance Day~

2011-11-11T09:51:00.020+01:00

Today 11th November 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. 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

Designe by Sir Reginald Blomfield, and unveiled by Lord Plumer in 1927, the Menin Gate commemorates 54.338 men of the British Commonwealth except New Zealanders, who died in the Ypres salient in the Great War, up August 16, 1917 and have no known grave. After dat date, those with no known grave are commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial. All Canadian and Australian soldiers with no known graves in the salient are commemorated on the Menin Gate. The Last Post has been played here every night 8pm, by members of the Ypres Volunteer Fire Brigade since 1928.

Tyne Cot Cemetery near Passendale

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).

NEW ZEALAND ~The Koru~

2011-11-10T09:59:00.009+01:00

Great and simply card (NZ-59100) but with a powerful cultural and spiritual symbol "The Koru" from the Maori... Maori name for New Zealand is "Aotearoa" and means "the land of the long white cloud". Thanks Frances!

The New Zealand Experience stamp issue (6 stamps)
Stamp 4:Māori culture is an essential part of New Zealand’s identity and history. As tourists trek around the country they’ll come across traditional Māori arts, the power of kapa haka performance and marae, and possibly even pick up some Te Reo Māori (the Māori language).

The koru, which is often used in Māori art as a symbol of creation, is based on the shape of an unfurling fern frond. Its circular shape conveys the idea of perpetual movement, and its inward coil suggests a return to the point of origin. The koru therefore symbolises the way in which life both changes and stays the same.
...It is a symbol of new life, growth, strength, and peace...

RUSSIA ~Moskou-Vassilievski Spusk (Slope)~

2011-11-10T08:27:00.012+01:00

Wonderful panoramic nightview (RU-607232) of the Vasilievvsky Spusk(slope) and St Basil's Cathedral a russian landmark on Red Square. With on the left the Walls of the Moskou Kremlin which are a UNESCO site. The colors of the sky... with almost fairy-tale looking buildings... Just amazing!! Thanks Evgeniya!!

Back of the card is almost as beautiful as the front with all this great stamps!!

View on Vasilievsky spusk (slope), Kremlin and St. Basil's the Blessed (Protection Veil of Our Lady) Cathedral from Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge. At the far end of Red Square you will find Vasilievsky Spusk (Slope"), where mass meetings and concerts are held on days of importance.Red Square is located in the center of Moscow, and much like the Kremlin, it is famous throughout the world.

THE NETHERLANDS ~The world famous book shelf, Anne Frank house~

2011-11-08T08:32:00.014+01:00

Got a very special postcard today...This card shows the place where she wrote her famous diary that a lot of people must have read or known...I really think that the story of Anne is a very sad but touching story that should be remembered and treasured forever. Heel erg bedankt Wendela!!

On October 14th, PostNL has launchend a real stamp, featuring Postcrossing!I must be one of the first to receive this stamp. GREAT!!

The Anne Frank House is probably the most famous attraction in Amsterdam. This is the actual house where Anne Frank, her family, and four others spent two years in hiding before being betrayed and turned in to the Nazis. This house was converted into a museum to preserve the horrific memories of the Holocaust.Her diary was found, kept and published in 1947. The book has been translated into 67 languages.

..."Think of all the beauty still left around us and be happy." Anne Frank...

AUSTRALIA ~Tasmanian Wilderness-UNESCO~

2011-11-07T10:12:00.005+01:00

Wonderful scenic view of the "Tasmanian Wilderness" with Alpine Meadows,Waterfall Valley...I think this area must be one of the last wild and most intact places on earth!
With great UNESCO stamp too... Thanks ROD!!

The Tasmanian Wilderness is one of the three largest temperate wilderness areas remaining in the Southern Hemisphere. The region is home to some of the deepest and longest caves in Australia. It is renowned for its diversity of flora, and some of the longest lived trees and tallest flowering plants in the world grow in the area. The Tasmanian Wilderness is a stronghold for several animals that are either extinct or threatened on mainland Australia.

The Tasmanian Wilderness was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1982 (extended 1989).

BELGIUM ~Antwerp~

2011-11-03T11:47:00.006+01:00

Always nice to show my own country... Heel erg bedankt Johan for this great card with special postmark!!

With special postmark from the Antwerp Book Fair. It is a large trade fair for books, held annually.( The Antwerp Book Fair celebrates its 75th anniversary). All Flemish and Dutch publishers, and several foreign language distributors present their newest books at the fair.

Antwerp, located on the right bank of the river Scheldt is the second largest city of Belgium and has the second largest harbor of Europe.
The city has numerous architectural highlights, most of which date from the 16th (the golden era of Antwerp) and the 17th century and is also known as the diamond center of the World.

FRANCE ~The Route of Santiago de Compostella in the Tarn-UNESCO~

2011-11-01T10:08:00.015+01:00

And a great map card showing a part of the famous "Camino de Santiago de Compostella", (a pilgrimage route that people have been walking for more than 1000 years)... It has always fascinated me why people go on pilgrimage...what are their reasons for following this ancient network of different routes and then all meet at the end...WIP UNESCO swap. Thanks Jean-Michel!!
With lovely stamp too!

Probably the most famous Christian pilgrimage route of all is the medieval route to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain, alleged burial place of St. James, brother of John the Evangelist and one of Christ's twelve apostles.
There are four main paths in france!
The historic, legendary Via Podensis, so rich in spiritual resonance and socio-cultural encounters, “first European Cultural itinerary” and inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, is followed along its way by the GR 65 long distance trail.

ROMANIA ~Costesti-UNESCO~

2011-11-01T09:49:00.004+01:00

One of two new UNESCO sites that I received yesterday... A great and interesting site from Romania!! WIP UNESCO swap. Thanks Raluca!!

The Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains are Iron Age defense works built as protection against Roman conquest. They were built between the 1st centuries B.C. and A.D. by the Dacians, who lived in what is now Romania.
Six locations are part of this site:
- Sarmizegetusa Regia
- Costesti-Cetatuie
- Costesti-Blidaru
- Luncani-Piatra Rosie
- Bãnita
- Cãpâlna

USA ~Florida-map~

2011-10-27T10:34:00.009+02:00

Wonderful and my first mapcard from "The sunny State" Florida! (US1358158)...I love the bright colors and all the interesting details on this card! Thanks Rose!

Great stamp (I think created on stamp.com)...unique and with pumpkins... really ideal for this time of the year!!

Florida is located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean with state capital Tallahassee.

MALAYSIA

2011-10-26T11:04:00.010+02:00

Another official and interesting postcard from Malaysia (MY-77722)showing 4 types of traditional handicraft...I do love all the beautiful designs and colors. Thanks Mui!
With nice stamps too!!

(left) Making moon kites which are popular in the East Coast.
(top left) Basket weaving requires nimble fingers.
(top right) Popular in Kuala Kangsar, labu sayung is made by hand.(bottom) Hand-drawn batik features unique designs.

THE NETHERLANDS

2011-10-26T10:44:00.006+02:00

This card comes from a neighbouring country (NL-840651)...A simple but picturesque black and white beautiful scenery of a dutch landscape!! Thanks Diana!

GERMANY

2011-10-24T14:22:00.004+02:00

This official German postcard (DE-1093243) shows a "praying angel", a detail of the church in Wetzlar in a very strange purple color... Thanks Christa!
With very interesting stamp!

Wetzlar Cathedral is a large church in the town of Wetzlar. The struction began in 1230 and is still unfinished, since the western front is still missing its northern belfry. Because of its long period of construction, the church combines romanesque, gothic and baroque architecture.

UKRAINE ~Crimea-Mount Ai-Petri~

2011-10-20T10:32:00.014+02:00

Got a stunning card showing an awesome white mountain in the sun against a clear blue sky... and this picture was taken by the sender itself...Thanks a lot Olga!!

With great stamps too!!
Although not Crimea's highest mountain (1,234m), Ai Petri (Saint Peter) is undoubtedly one of the great icons of the peninsula. For many kilometres along Crimea's south coast, its huge rock towers dominate the scene, rising abruptly from the magnificent lower slopes of natural pine forest. It's certainly one of the most spectacular, with its sparkling white limestone peak and its jagged `teeth'.
The peak is actually the weathered remains of a huge coral reef formed millions of years ago, when this area was under the sea, and although the limestone here is exceptionally dense - hence its longevity - fossils have been found in the rocks.

SRI LANKA ~Arugambay~

2011-10-18T13:35:00.007+02:00

And another "Pearl" far away is Sri Lanka... An amazing beach view... Just wondering why it looks so desolate and not full with tourists... Thanks a lot Ravindra!!:D

And with great matching stamp.

Arugam Bay is situated on the Indian Ocean in the dry zone of Sri Lanka's South-East coast and known as one of the best three surfing spots in the world.Many of the buildings were destroyed in the 2004 tsunami.Due to its popularity among tourists the area has managed a slow recovery by private initiatives only.

CROATIA ~Dubrovnik-UNESCO~

2011-10-18T13:25:00.005+02:00

Seeing this wonderful aerial view of Dubrovnik I can understand why its called the "Pearl of the Adriatic"... Thanks a lot Ivana!:D

With lots of beautiful stamps!!

Dubrovnik is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic sea coast situated in the extreme south of Croatia. In 1979 the city joined the Unesco list of World Heritage Sites

ANDORRA

2011-10-17T13:59:00.007+02:00

A great start of the week with a new country for my collection... Every first card sent from a new place is always special...This wonderful card shows many beautiful views of Andorra!!
Even though it is a European country and only about 950km away from Belgium I really don't know much about it...Thanks a lot Ave!!

Andorra is a small landlocked country, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains, between Spain and France. The Principality of Andorra (with its 468 km2) is the largest of the 6 smallest states in Europe.Andorra la Vella, is the highest capital city in Europe, being at an elevation of 1023 metres and the official language is Catalan.

AUSTRALIA ~Minke Whale~

2011-10-11T12:02:00.005+02:00

Received an awesome whale card with a lovely First day Issue stamp on the front! It is a great new addition for my whale collection... Thanks a lot Xue!!:D

Australia considers the AAT (Australian Antarctic Territory) to be a distinct Australian territory, and release of AAT stamps helps to emphasise this claim since 1957.

The Antarctic minke whale is one of the smallest baleen whales. It has a slender, streamlined body with an elongated head. Minke whales grow to be about 7.8-9m long, weighing about 5,400-6,800kg.

FINLAND ~Olavinlinna Castle~

2011-10-03T10:13:00.011+02:00

Received a great castle view (FI-1182721). This is my second official Finnish card in a row showing this castle... By searching for information I found on the internet that it is also called St Olaf castle...I love this view too!!

With sooo nice stamp...Branches of friendship - from a sheet of five stamps.
Issued: 24.01.2011 (forValentine) The colourful peculiar birds are sleeping on their own branches. Make them take wings - send some postcards to friends with these stamps...Designer: Janne Harju

Olavinlinna Castle (St. Olaf's Castle) is a 15th century three-tower castle located in Savonlinna. It is the world's most northern medieval stone fortress still standing.
Currently, the castle hosts several small exhibitions, including the Castle Museum which displays artifacts found in the castle or related to it, and the Orthodox Museum which displays icons and other religious artifacts both from Finland and Russia. The castle forms a spectacular stage for the Savonlinna Opera Festival, held annually in the summer since 1912.

USA ~Mount Shuksan~

2011-09-28T11:44:00.006+02:00

Great snowy mountain view...The back of the card says:"Winter alpenglow on Mount Shuksan from Picture Lake" (US-1261159) By seeing this postcard I understand why Shuksan is one of the more often photographed mountains in the Cascade Range!! Thanks Arianne!!
And with sooooo many lovely stamps!!

The defining features of The North Cascades' are its impressive mountains including Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, and Mount Shuksan; several National Wilderness Areas and National Recreation Areas, Ross and Chelan lakes and the rugged North Cascades National Park.

UKRAINE ~Kiev~

2011-09-26T09:50:00.003+02:00

Great view of Kiev... I always loved cities located beside a river... Thanks a lot Alex!!
Love the special stamps too!!

View of Kiev river port and a part of Podol. Podol which lies along Dnieper bank is one of the oldest Kiev regions. Several centuries ago it was a district of trade and craftsmen. Ships loaded with goods, pilgrims and travelers came to main city port which was situated here. Nowadays Podol became one of the most prestige Kiev districts.

SRI LANKA ~Anuradhapura-Isurumuniya Lovers-UNESCO~

2011-09-26T09:40:00.007+02:00

Great card showing a beautiful stone carving... The sacred city of Anuradhapura is one of the seven world heritage sites in Sri Lanka and considered a must see place for tourists who are interested in exploring historic sites.Thanks a lot Ravindra!!
With nice bridge stamps!

Isurumuniya Lovers - Anuradhapura Isurumuniya temple, in Anuradhapura, built in the 3rd century B.C. is noted for its rock carvings. The best known among these is the "Lovers". Many a poet and song writer has taken inspiration from this carving to write their masterpieces. It is believed that the carving may represent Saliya, and the low-caste maiden whom he loved. Saliya was the son of the great king Dutugamunu.

BELGIUM ~Tintin special stamp cancellation~

2011-09-23T11:29:00.031+02:00

Received a wonderful envelope with postcards from Belgian's most famous comic books "The adventures of Tintin" from hergé.The series is one of the most popular European comics of the 20th century, with translations published in more than 80 languages and more than 350 million copies of the books sold... I love the books too,I've been a big Kuifje (Tintin) fan for years....
Each postcard with a beautiful stamp and with special cancellation!!
Héééééél erg bedankt Johan!:D:D
Stamp from the album:The Black Island

Stamp from the album:Prisoners of the Sun

Stamp from the album: The Blue Lotus

Before the movie release of the Secret of the Unicorn film, Belgian Post issued a new serie of stamps. These are a chronological review of all the Tintin films made through years.
The stamps feature scenes from the 1947 Crab With The Golden Shears puppetry film, the early Belvision feature animation version of The Black Island (1961) and Temple Of The Sun (1964), and The Blue Lotus from the 1990′s TV series, set side by side to images from the books they were based upon. Also included are two shots from the Mystery Of the Golden Fleece and The Blue Oranges, the quite hilarious Tintin movies form the early 60s.

LIECHTENSTEIN ~Castle Vaduz~

2011-09-22T10:24:00.013+02:00

Got my second written and stamped card from the tiny state Liechtenstein today....Being this my third Vaduz Castle card I'm wondering if they don't have postcards showing something else from there!!:D:D But I love it anyway...

With nice Liechtenstein 2007 Europe Cept stamp Scouting!

The Principality of Liechtenstein lies in the middle of Europe, situated between
Switzerland and Austria, snow-covered mountains and sunny valleys.

The castle was first built some 700 years ago. Since 1712 it has been in the possession of the Prince of Liechtenstein, since 1938 it has been the residence of the prince’s family, so it is not open to the public. The 12th century keep and the structures on the east side are the oldest parts of the castle.

USA ~Woodland Brook-Minnesota~

2011-09-20T14:00:00.012+02:00

Beautiful typical nature scene from Minnesota... I'm also looking forward to autumn, when trees start to change color... It is a great time for making long walks!!
Thanks Ruth! WiP Typical Swap

Love the cartoon stamps too!! And what a coincidence I've seen last friday the movie "Up" on our Belgian TV and I liked it a lot!!:D:D

"A fast moving Woodland Brook rushes by an avalanche of fall colors."

USA ~Amish Country-Pennsylvania~

2011-09-20T10:54:00.011+02:00

Great card showing Amish children. I think a day in a life of a typical Amish child must be very different from that of a non-Amish child...
Thanks Cathy!! WiP August general swap

With nice stamps!
Amish Country, Pennsylvania. The Amish Family learns the value of playing and working togheter at an early age. Teamwork and cooperation build a strong community-relationship for the Amish people who enjoy life without use of elctricity of automobiles.

In today's world, Amish clothing is considered to be an expression of humility, simplicity, and non-conformity. An important aspect of the Amish religion is that one's lifestyle reflects the deepest convictions of one's faith. How one dresses is no different.

SRI LANKA

2011-09-19T12:41:00.012+02:00

This card shows a remote scenery of a village of the beautiful Sri Lanka! I must say that bus looks really crowded and uncomfortable...:D:D
...Even if I never get the chance to visit your gorgeous island, I've seen so many wonderful places through all your postcards... Thanks you so much Ravindra!!

And again with such nice stamps!!

RUSSIA ~Tula~

2011-09-15T09:54:00.004+02:00

Received a nice official (RU-493974) from Russia!

Tula is a city and administrative center of Tula oblast of Russia. Tula city is situated about 193 km south of Moscow on Upa river. Tula city is known for traditional Russian cookies made with honey and gingerbread.
The city is also known for its production of weapons, which dates back to the time of Peter The Great. Tula has the status of "Heroic City" for having held back the Nazis during WWII. A short drive from Tula is Yasnaya Polyana, the estate of the legendary Lev (Leo) Tolstoy.

UKRAINE ~Pedestrian Park Bridge~

2011-09-14T11:13:00.007+02:00

Got a wonderful bridge view from Alex! Reading about Trukhanov Island I think it must be a great place to visit, a litle "heaven" in the big city of Kiev... I was wondering... have you ever been there?:D Thanks a lot Alex!!

With nice Ukraine stamp of Yuri Gagarin issued for the 50th anniversary of Human Spaceflight!The stamp also has the famous autograph of the astronaut.

Park Pedestrian Bridge is a light construction 400 metres in length that connects Kiev to the Trukhanov Island. Opened in 1957, this is the only bridge constructed specifically for the pedestrian traffic over the Dnipro river.
Trukhanov Island is a beautiful green space in the heart of Kiev, and is a favorite destination for both locals and visitors. Island visitors can enjoy wonderful beaches, cafes, bars, restaurants, a number of sport activities such as beach football (soccer), swimming, tennis, biking and during the winter months snow skiing. Fishermen believe that this oasis is a lucky place.

ROMANIA ~House from Berbesti-Maramures~

2011-09-14T11:02:00.003+02:00

A nice view of a typical old Romanian household...Thanks Raluca!

Maramureş is considered as one of the best preserved zones in Europe from the perspective of cultural anthropology and ethnography.House of Berbesti (1795), interior.

MALAYSIA ~Market day~

2011-09-12T08:43:00.004+02:00

Thanks a lot Edna for this wonderful market view...The people are spoiled with choices!!:D Hope you had a safe journey home...

Narrow walkways lead through a maze of stalls laden with seafood of any variety and size, vegetables of numerous shapes and colour, meat, spices and loads and loads of fruit.

SRI LANKA ~The Tempel of Tooth Relic, Kandy ~

2011-09-08T10:04:00.006+02:00

Thanks Ravindra for this great card from the past...
And I love the legend about it!! According to the legend, the tooth was taken from the Buddha as he lay on his funeral pyre. It was smuggled to Sri Lanka in 313 AD, hidden in the hair of Princess Hemamali who fled the Hindu armies besieging her father's kingdom in India. A great story...:D

Located in Kandy, (the country’s most celebrated cultural city) long a center of the Buddhist faith, the stunning 17th-century Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) is believed to house the left upper canine tooth of the Lord Buddha himself. This precious relic attracts white-clad pilgrims, bearing lotus blossoms and frangipani, every day.

BELARUS ~Minsk~

2011-09-08T09:57:00.004+02:00

Received my second official card from the same serie postcards(other one has stations on)...This shows wonderful churches in the capital Minsk!

With nice flowerstamp!

1. The Protection of the Holy Virgin Church
2. The icon Joy of All Who Sorrow Church
3. The Holy Pirit Cathedral
4. St. Mary Magdalene Church
5. The Nativity of Christ Church, Village Bolshoe Stiklevo

UNITED KINGDOM ~Warkworth Castle~

2011-09-07T10:25:00.002+02:00

Got this awesome castle view today...
Nice stamp too!

A 12thC Motte Castle built by Earl Henry of Northumberland the son of King David I of Scotland. The gatehouse and keep were added later in the 13thC

ITALY ~Rome-UNESCO~

2011-09-05T15:18:00.002+02:00

This card brings back such nice memories!
Italy... one of the few countries I have visited during a school holiday a looooong time ago... I remember the beautiful and historic city, amazing art and architecture. .... To stand in front of one of the Seven Wonders of the World was incredible.I think the Colosseum is astonishing, and is a sight that everyone should visit at least once!

The Colosseum is an elliptical amphitheatre in the center of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.Capable of seating 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. As well as the gladiatorial games, other public spectacles were held there, such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.

AUSTRALIA ~First Day Issue-Antarctic Expedition~

2011-09-03T12:28:00.007+02:00

Due to serious back problems I was not be able to sit for long... But now I'm feeling a bit better so here are my cards received this week!
...Thanks Alex for the great information about my Taiwan postcard and Nenad if you still are interested in a swap just email me.

Wonderful maxicard and I love the theme...

Australia is celebrating the 100 years of Antarctic expeditions.This is the first of four stamp series which will be issued every year until 2014.
Birdlife on Macquarie Island. The main photograph was taken by expeditioner Harold Hamilton.

AUSTRALIA ~Great Barrier Reef-UNESCO~

2011-09-03T12:22:00.004+02:00

Received my second card from the "Great Barier Reef", a wonderful multiview of one the seven wonders of the natural world!

Mission Beach
Diver and Coral
Schooling Sweetlips
Green Sea Turtle
Clown Fish
The Great Barrier Reef is a site of remarkable variety and beauty on the north-east coast of Australia. It contains the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, with 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of mollusc. It also holds great scientific interest as the habitat of species such as the dugong (‘sea cow’) and the large green turtle, which are threatened with extinction.

USA ~Bryce Canyon National Park-Utah~

2011-09-03T12:17:00.007+02:00

Great overwhelming nature view... But I do like my cards sent from the country of origine and this one came from Canada...:(

Bryce Canyon National Park is named after Ebenezer Bryce, a pioneer who came to the area in 1875 to harvest timber, and helped to settle southwestern Utah and northern Arizona. The region was officially establised as a national park on September 15, 1928. Despite its name, this is not actually a canyon, but rather a giant natural amphitheater created by erosion along the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau.

CZECH REPUBLIC ~Krkonose Mountains~

2011-08-29T08:41:00.008+02:00

And a wonderful card with lots of different great views...
Love the stamp too!

The Giant Mountains (Krkonose Mountains) are the most well known mountains in the Czech republic – mountain Snezka is the highest peak of the country. The Giant Mountains are the most visited region in Czech in the winter season.

TAIWAN

2011-08-29T08:31:00.003+02:00

...Nice card from Taiwan... The sender wrote that this card shows the history of Taiwan...From 1912 till 1945 Taiwan was a part of Japan, so the icon got the flag of Japan. But I don't know why some years are green??
With really nice stamp!

GERMANY ~Royal Castle Neuschwanstein~

2011-08-24T12:58:00.011+02:00

And my second offical card today is this amazing castle in a beautiful setting, on a rugged peak! (had it on my favourites list for a long tome.:D)I always thought that is was a fairy-tail looking castle and now I found on the internet that it was the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle and that it appeared in several movies... Thanks Willi!!
Love the stamp too!

Neuschwanstein Castle, royal palace in the Bavarian Alps of Germany, the most famous of three royal palaces built for Louis II of Bavaria, sometimes referred to as Mad King Ludwig.It was built between 1869 and 1886. Only about a third of the building was actually completed.

FINLAND ~St. Olaf's Castle~

2011-08-24T12:47:00.007+02:00

...It is nice to receive something different from Finland, mostly I got the typical nature views. So I do like this beautiful castle nightview a lot ! Thanks Tarja!!

With lovely speciale shaped stamp.

St. Olaf's Castle is a 15th century three-tower castle located in Savonlinna. It is the world's most northern medieval stone fortress still standing.
Currently, the castle hosts several small exhibitions, including the Castle Museum which displays artifacts found in the castle or related to it, and the Orthodox Museum which displays icons and other religious artifacts both from Finland and Russia. The castle forms a spectacular stage for the Savonlinna Opera Festival, held annually in the summer since 1912.

LITHUANIA ~Klaipeda-sail boat Meridianas~

2011-08-23T10:38:00.011+02:00

I JUST LOVE this amazing view... It has something mystic about it!
As being a huge fan of tall sailing ships for years, I'm so happy with this card... It is one of my dreams to sailing on one only powered by wind...(But maybe I will be seasick the whole time...:D)
...Bit sad that it is now a restaurant and don't sail anymore... Thanks a lot!!

Nice stamp too!!Depicted on this stamp from 2009 is Mecislovas Reinys,a Roman Catholic bishop.
Some interesting point: He successfully defended his doctoral thesis in Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (BELGIUM)!!! in 1912. With his fellow students he worked at organizing a Lithuanian students' league.

The threemasted sail boat Meridianas is one of the most beautiful symbols of the city Klaipeda.The boat was~built in 1948 in Finland.Today it houses a restaurant in which one can try "Rainekes" beer brewed in accordance with the old traditions.A view of the Meridianas, moored in Klaipėda, Lithuania. She was constructed in 1948 and was used to train sailors. Today, she is primarily a tourist attraction and restaurant.

SRI LANKA ~Fruit stall~

2011-08-22T10:02:00.008+02:00

After receiving a card showing Sri lanka's breakfast and one with their lunch and dinner... I got today an wonderful card with all local fruits at a fruit stall... The only one I recognize are the bananas and especially the quantitiy of them! The fruit must taste so much better than the ones we buy at our "local" ...supermarket.:D Thanks Ravindra for another great card!!

And like always with colorful and really nice stamps!!

JAPAN ~Kinkakuji Temple-Kyoto-UNESCO~

2011-08-22T09:55:00.006+02:00

Great card from Japan (JP-190331) arrived today...Another wonderful example of the typical architecture of their temples. This ones two top floors are completed covered in gold leaf... And its reflection in the pond is such a beautiful sight... With as extra bonus that it's also a UNESCO site! Thanks Lyo!!

Nice stamp too!

Kinkakuji Temple, which as originally erected in 1397 by dybast Yoshimitsu Ashikaga, is harmonious with is back mountains and gardens.Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. That is one of Kyoto's "must-take-a-look" for foreigners.

FRANCE ~Altkirch- Maison du Bailli~

2011-08-18T08:28:00.012+02:00

Have lots of great cards received today,all from the official postcrossing site!!
...Nice streetview in France!(Couldn't find many information on the net about "The Maison de Bailli", 16thC, only in french...and my french is not so good.:D)Thanks Alain!
With many stamps!

Altkirch is in the Haut-Rhin department of the Alsace region.The town is in an attractive location on a raised hill.
I got this great information thanks to Famalubel!! THANKS AGAIN!:D:D
During the Ancient Regime, a bailli was the man who represented the King of France, in the cities located in northern France. He was responsible for the local administration and application of the justice.
He was living in an house called, La Maison du Bailli.

POLAND ~Bielsko-Biala~

2011-08-18T08:26:00.010+02:00

Wonderful nightview with a beautiful fountain in front! Thanks Barbara!
With a wonderful stamp!

Night view of medieval castle Bielsko-Biala, the oldest and largest construction of historical importance, erected in the old town of Bielsko.Today, it houses the museum and is used for permanent and temporary exhibitions and chamber music concerts.

GERMANY ~Dusseldorf-Zollhof~

2011-08-18T08:18:00.006+02:00

Received three strange looking buildings... they are a landmark in the city! Thanks!

Lovely stamp too!

The building complex consisting of three separate buildings, was designed by American architect Frank O. Gehry and completed in 1998. Floorplans and facades of all three buildings curve and lean, reason for them being likened to leaning towers. The tallest building is 14 stories high and just under 50 m tall. Each building has a different facade cladding - the outer two in white plaster and red brick respectively; the central building's stainless steel facade reflects material and shapes of its two neighbour buildings.

CROATIA

2011-08-17T08:23:00.004+02:00

This card shows many beautiful cities of Croatia and one of their natioanal parks Plitvicka Jezera (1st picture), I would love to visit them all...:D Thanks a lot Ivana!

And with two great stamps!

ARGENTINA ~The House of Archbishop Colombres-Tucumán~

2011-08-16T10:48:00.005+02:00

My second card today also shows a great building, beautiful reflected in the water...But I just don't know why they put a sticker on front of the card???Thanks Viviana!

Love the stamps too!

It is situated inside 9 de Julio Park in San Miguel de Tucumán. Bishop Colombres's Home is one the most interesting examples of colonial houses of late 18th century. It consists of two stories with quebracho beam ladders dating from the time it was built. The place was restored around 1913 for the last time.
In its interior are pieces of furniture belonging to its owner, Bishop Eusebio Colombres, apart from some portraits of Argentine national heroes painted by Lola Mora and old coins and bills collections.
The house was declared to be a Historic National Monument in August, 1941.

USA ~Coker College-Hartsville- South Carolina~

2011-08-16T08:39:00.005+02:00

Great stately building as you only find them in the USA... :D I think it must be a privilege to study at this college!! Thanks Sally!!

The stately hall, the focal point of the Coker College campus houses classrooms, faculty offices and the magnificent Charles W Coker Auditorium. Constructed in 1910, Davidson Hall is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Coker College - regarded as one of the leading liberal arts institutions in the Southeast.

FINLAND

2011-08-11T15:45:00.005+02:00

Beautiful nature views... "Four Seasons" in Finland! Thanks Sirpa!

With yummie berries and cake stamp!

BELARUS ~Minsk~

2011-08-11T09:32:00.005+02:00

Received a lovely panoramic card with nice views of Minsk!
1. National airport.
2. Bus-station "Vostochny".
3. Rail-road station.
4. Bus-station "Moskovsky".
5. Old building of the air terminal "Minsk-1.
Thanks Alex!

Minsk, the capital of the Republic of Belarus, is an ancient city with a rich history.

JAPAN ~Mt Fuji ~

2011-08-10T14:07:00.010+02:00

This is an amazing view of a sunrise on Mount Fuji, a stunning red glow!! The name of the card is "The Goddes Mountain at dusk"... Seeing the sun rise above Mount Fuji is a symbol of good luck.(I hope this also applies for seeing it on postcards!!!:D:D Thanks Mari!

Great stamps too!

Mount Fuji is with 3776 meters Japan's highest mountain. It is not surprising that the nearly perfectly shaped volcano has been worshipped as a sacred mountain and experienced big popularity among artists and common people.

VENEZUELA ~Playa Caribe-Margarita~

2011-08-09T15:01:00.005+02:00

Got a wonderful but almost empty looking tropical beach view... I sure want to escape to this "Carribean paradise" right now... because the weather here looks more like autumn than summer,it has been cold, windy and it is still raining...
Thanks Cardina!

Margarita is a Caribbean island of Venezuela, located at the Northeast of Caracas.Playa Caribe is located in the north coast of Margarita Island.
At the end of the beach you can find caves of easy exploration and during the month of July and August you could witness the most spectacular sunsets.

The NETHERLANDS ~Maassluis- ferry boat to Rozenburg~

2011-08-08T14:23:00.008+02:00

And another lovely card from a neighbouring country "Holland"...The Netherlands is a geographically low-lying country, with about 27% of its area and 60% of its population located below sea level. Thanks Callista!

With great stamps too!H.M. Queen Wilhelmina issued on septembre 23 1980!

Maassluis is a town in the province of South Holland.The 'New Waterway' river' is a busy shipping route since it is the primary access to one of the busiest ports in the world, the Europoort of Rotterdam. There are no bridges or tunnels across the Nieuwe Waterweg, which is the artificial mouth of the river Rhine. The ferry leaves every 20 minutes from Maassluis and Rozenburg, and during rush hour every 10 minutes. The (double-ended) ferryboat "Staeldiep" from 1970 has a capacity of 39 passenger cars and up to 380 persons.

GERMANY ~Speyer on the Rhein~

2011-08-08T14:05:00.008+02:00

This card is one of the two officials that I received today! A nice view of one of the last remaining parts of the old citywall! Thanks Uwe!
The German Post has issued a set of two stamps illustrating two famous world heritage sites of UNESCO - Yakushi-ji Temple of Nara (Japan) and old town of Regensburg (Bavaria, Germany).

Speyer is a city located beside the river Rhine, founded by the Romans and it is one of Germany's oldest cities.The Old Gate (Altpörtel) is the medieval west city gate of Speyer. One of an original total of 68 towers in the old walls and gates. Today it is one of the largest (55 meters high) and most architecturally significant of the remaining city gates in Germany.

FINLAND

2011-08-05T11:09:00.007+02:00

Received a really nice mapcard today!(FI-1163380).The sender wrote that the nature is very different in the southern part when compared to the north! She even put an x on the place where she lives' Great!! Thanks Siv!!
And with cute dog stamp too!

UNITED KINGDOM ~Tower Bridge~

2011-07-29T11:29:00.013+02:00

Got a wonderful night view of one of London's most famous landmarks, "The Tower Bridge". Thanks a lot Johan!!

With cute cartoon stamp!! Toby Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends TM. Based on The Railway Series by The Reverend W Awdry.Issue Date: 14th June 2011

This Victorian bridge is more than 100 years old, completed in 1894. The Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge over the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London, which gives it its name. It has become an iconic symbol of London. It is now a museum.

CROATIA ~Island Vis~

2011-07-25T10:56:00.002+02:00

This card shows a wonderful view of the harbour of Vis a picturesque Mediterranean island! Looks a lovely place for a holiday... Thanks a lot Ivana!!:D

With three great stamps too!!

Vis is the western most island of the major Croatian islands. It is located 24 miles from the mainland and covers an area of 56 square miles (90 sq km). Founded in 397 B.C. by the ruler of Sicily, Dionysius, Vis town is the oldest established town in Dalmatia. After the second World War, the island was a military base closed to visitors. Vis was reopened to tourists after Croatia's independence in 1990.

INDONESIA ~Rafflesia arnoldi-The world's largest flower~

2011-07-20T09:47:00.009+02:00

...Just look at the size of this magnificent a bit "bizarre" looking flower! As being a keen gardener I find this a great and impressive view But I don't think I would want it in my garden because of its odor of rotting meat...:D Thank you very much Edna!!

And as usual with great stamps:Indonesia issued a set of six stamps and two s/s for intangible culture on 29.03.2010.the stamps show Arjuna and Hanuman.

The flower with the world's largest bloom is the Rafflesia arnoldii. This rare flower is found in the rainforests of Indonesia. It can grow to be 1meter (3feet) across and weigh up to 7kilo (15 pounds)! It is a parasitic plant, with no visible leaves, roots, or stem. It attaches itself to a host plant to obtain water and nutrients. When in bloom, the Rafflesia emits a repulsive odor, similar to that of rotting meat. This odor attracts insects that pollinate the plant.

AUSTRALIA ~Purnululu National Park-UNESCO~

2011-07-18T09:47:00.004+02:00

Got my second great view of Purnululu National Park with matching First Day Issue Stamp!WIP June Lottery- Thanks Teresa!!

The Kija Aboriginal people, who have lived here for over 20,000 years, called the area Purnululu, the Kija word for sandstone. In 2003 Purnululu National Park was inscribed as a World Heritage Area, thanks to its outstanding geological value and its incredible natural beauty.

SRI LANKA ~Bridges and Culverts ~

2011-07-13T14:08:00.009+02:00

Received not one but two surprize cards today!! They are from a set of 4 "Bridges and Culverts of Sri Lanka" with lovely matching stamps...Date Of issue:-27.05.2011. I think its always special cards with matching stamps!! Thanks a lot Ravindra!!
A Belgian card is on its way to you...

Steel bridge-Ruwanwella (googled it for more information but I couldn't find anything about this bridge... :( )

Bogoda Wooden Bridge is probably the oldest (400 years) wooden bridge surviving with a roof in the world. It was originally built entirely of Wood, and has since been restored, even the nails used are wooden

MALAYSIA ~Batu Caves complex-Lord Murugan~

2011-07-13T14:01:00.005+02:00

Got my second card from Edna's travels...The giant golden statue and steps are looking already impressive on the postcard, so I think to be there and stand in front of it must be really imposing!!Thanks a lot Edna!!
With lovely flower stamp!

Batu Caves is a limestone hill, which has a series of caves and cave temples, located in Gombak district. It takes its name from the Sungai Batu or Batu River, which flows past the hill.
The cave is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, dedicated to Lord Murugan. It is the focal point of Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia.
Sculpted by master artisans from India, Lord Muruan looms 42 meteres high beside the 272 steps leading to Batu Caves complex.

RUSSIA ~The State Hermitage~

2011-07-11T14:14:00.006+02:00

Received a great panoramic size card (RU-427538) of "The State Hermitage" or "Winter Place" from St Petersburg in the snow...I love all the great information about the view on the back of the card!! Thanks a lot Ksenia! :D

The sender wrote:
This is the Winter Palace, the official residence of russian monarchs from 1732 to 1917, built by Francesco Bartolomeo Rostrelli. Now it's a famous museum,(there are nearly three million works on exhibit). A beautiful example of late baroque, it was almost destroyed by fire in 1837 and rebuilt!
...Then monarchs lived there and each royal life is a glamourous tragedy...

SINGAPORE ~Skyline~

2011-07-06T08:24:00.007+02:00

Wonderful Singapore's skyline and waterfront sprankling in a stunning blue color...Thanks a lot Edna!! Hope you have a great holiday and I'm looking forward to other postcards.:D
Great stamps too! 2010 Childrens Playgrounds, Cartoon

The smallest country in Asia by landmass is Singapore or The Republic of Singapore, a city state consisting of over 63 islands that lies at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It is just over 704 square kilometers.