INDIA ~ Periyar National Park - UNESCO ~

...Third fantastic National Park card from India...this time showing an elephant family...it must be awesome to see this "gentle giants of the jungle" in their natural habitat ツ....Thanks a lot kbdessai!

Photo: Manish Poddar The Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve is situated high in the ranges of the Western Ghats, in south Indian state of Kerala - known as the God's Own Country. Periyar wildlife sanctuary in Kerala has a scenic lake at the heart of the sanctuary. Formed with the building of a dam in 1895, this reservoir runs around the contours of the wooded hills, providing water to the local wildlife through out the year. Though Periyar Kerala is a Tiger Reserve, tourists visit this place to view the Indian elephants in the act of sprinkling water and playfulness by the Periyar lake.

From backside card:
Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri Mountains are a mountain range along the western side of India and one of the world's ten "Hottest biodiversity hotspots". A total of thirty nine properties (including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests) are designated as UNESCO WHS - 20 in the state of Kerala, 10 in Kamataka, 5 in Tamil Nadu and four in Maharashta. Periyar National Park in Kerala is one such property.

Stamps:

Dr B R Ambedkar Jayanti
(Issued 01-03-2009)
Flora - Wild Flowers of India 
(Issued 03-09-2013)

SINGAPORE ~The Penny Black pub- 2015 World stamp Exhibition ~

...Never thought this nice panoramic postcard came from Singapore wen I first saw it...a traditional English pub view...with beautiful colorful large stamp and special cancellation...Big Thanks Ravindra!!

Located in  Boat Quay, this Victorian pub was designed and built in England by master craftsmen and shipped piece by piece to Singapore where it was re-assembled by the same craftsmen.

The name “Penny Black”  comes from the world’s first ever self-adhesive postage stamp, first issued on the 6th May 1840.

Stamp:

Flora and Fauna - Gardens by the Bay
(Issued 28-06-2012)

SINGAPORE 2015 is the 3rd World Stamp Exhibition to be held in Singapore. It is to be held in conjunction with Singapore's 50th Year of Independence, with the full support and patronage of the Federation lnternationale de Philatelie (FIP) and under the auspices of the Federation of Inter-Asian Philately (FIAP).

The logo comprises of the name of the exhibition SINGAPORE 2015 together with the Lion Head symbol of the nation and four wavy lines representing the sea, bracketed by two symmetric edges of a postage stamp, one on the top and another at the bottom. It symbolises the world stamp exhibition in Singapore in the year 2015.

BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA ~ The National and University Library - Sarajevo ~

... beautiful historic building on the Miljacka River, at the far end of the Old Town... Many thanks Jobbo!!

The National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in the city of Sarajevo.

The Vijecnica as it was called was initially the largest and most representative building of the Austro-Hungarian period in Sarajevo and served as the city hall built in a pseudo-Moorish style at the end of the 19th century.

The building was destroyed in 1992 during the Siege of Sarajevo and 90 per cent of the books in it were destroyed. It has since been restored and reopened May 9, 2014.

Sent from France:

National symbols Mankind (Women)- Marianne
(Issued 16-07-2013)

FRANCE ~Languedoc coast ~

...a naturist beach resort...not for me...but if you like it why not(◕‿-) ...thanks Jobbo!!

Cap d'Agde is well known for its naturist  section where the beach and surrounding facilities including shops, restaurants and banks, one of the largest developed resorts of this type in the world. Most of the section is 'clothing optional' but the 5km long beach in this part of the resort is naturist only.

The Languedoc, is the central region of the south of France; it includes the western Mediterranean coast of France, stretching from the Rhone valley in the east, to the Spanish border in the south west.

Stamp:

National symbols Mankind (Women)- Marianne
(Issued 16-07-2013)

SRI LANKA ~ Polonnaruwa -Council Chamber of King Nissankamalla - UNESCO~

...Great new view of the impressing ancient Buddhist city ruins of Polonnaruwa... Sri Lankan amazing architecture dating back to 12th Century AD...Many thanks once again Ravindra!!【ツ】

Photo: Roelof Munneke Polonnaruwa is the second most ancient city of Sri Lanka's kingdoms and the first declared capital city by King Vijayabahu I. Today the ancient city of Polonnaruwa remains one of the best planned archaeological relic sites in the country, showing the grandeur of the first rulers.

The monument of the council Chamber of King Nissankamala (1187-1196) is situated in the Royal garden. The massive lion Figure made of stone at the Southern end of the building was the throne of the King as shown by the inscription under its belly.

 The ancient city of Polonnaruwa has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1982.

Stamp:

Solar System-Uranus
(Issued 05-12-2014)

CROATIA ~ Nature Reserve -Lokrum Island ~

Lots of wonderful views on this great panoramic postcard... Thanks a lot Jobbo!!

Photo: Ju Reservat Lokrum i Katija Dolina,Dr sc. The island covers 72 hectares and is located on the eastern Croatian coast in the Adriatic Sea, near the city of Dubrovnik. About 15 minutes is needed to get there by taxi-boat which runs from the old city harbour. No hotels have been built on the land and the destination is for day-trippers only.

Lokrum is a Nature and a Special Forest Vegetation Reserve under the protection of UNESCO. Except with the rich forest vegetation, this little island is adorned with a botanical garden filled with exotic plants, eucalyptus, cacti and similar species, as well as with the remains of the 12th century basilica, a 15th century convent and a 19th century summer mansion of Maximilian of Habsburg, with gardens and parks.

Stamp:

Euromed - Boats of the Mediterranean
(Issued 09-07-2015)

SRI LANKA ~Capture of King Sri Vikrama Rajasinghe - a drawing from 1818 ~

Nice view of the past...a drawing that shows an important event in Sri Lanka's history...with this incident ended the monarchy on the island...Thanks Ravindra!

Sri Vikrama Rajasinha (1780 - January 30, 1832) was the last of four Kings, to rule the last Sinhalese monarchy of the Kingdom of Kandy in Sri Lanka. The Nayak Kings were Telugu Buddhists that spoke Tamil. The King was eventually deposed by the British under the terms of the Kandyan Convention, in 1815, ending over 2300 years of Sinhalese monarchy on the island. The island was incorporated into the British Empire, and Sri Vikrama Rajasinha was succeeded by George III, as monarch of British Ceylon.

The capture of the king Sri Wickrama Rajasingha (drawing shows)  was effected by the rebel chief Ekneligoda Dissawa, one of the henchman of Ehelapola, a Minister at the Royal Court of Kandy.

Stamps:

Solar System-Mars
(Issued 05-12-2014)
Ancient Sri Lanka - Medieval Eras
(Issued 12 -06-2015)

BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA ~Karagözbey Mosque - Mostar ~

One more nice surprise thanks to Jobbo...lovely art postcard...my third card ever receive from Bosnia and Herzegovina (last one dates from 2012)... Many Thanks once again Jobbo!!

Karagözbey Mosque is a mosque in the city of Mostar. With its big dome and high minaret it is the largest in the region. Karagözbey Mosque was built in 1554 or 1557 by Mehmed Bey Karagöz (Mehmed-beg Karađoz), the brother of Ottoman vizier Rüstem Pasha. The plans for the mosque were drawn up by famed Turkish architect, Mimar Sinan. There are no images in the gallery.

The mosque was severely damaged during World War II, and faced near destruction during the Bosnian War in the early 1990's. However, Karagözbey Mosque, like the rest of Mostar, underwent extensive repairs between 2002 and 2004. The mosque was completely renovated, and reopened to the public in July 2004.



Author: Sead Vladović Guče

Stamp:

Definitive Issue - Drinking Fountain in Tuzla
(Issued 10-04-2007)

MONTENEGRO ~ Our Lady of the Rocks & St. George islands ~

...Lovely view of two small islands...Thanks a million Jobbo for thinking of me during your travels and luckily for me you did found a postoffice ✌(◕‿-)✌!!

Our Lady of the Rocks ( Gospa od Škrpjela ) is one of the two islets off the coast of Perast in Bay of Kotor, Montenegro (the other being Sveti Đorđe Island).

It is an artificial island created by bulwark of rocks and by sinking old and seized ships loaded with rocks. The Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rocks  is the largest building on the islet; it has a museum attached.

St George (Sveti Dorde) is a natural islet. It's ringed by a dozen elegant cypress trees and crowned by the Monastery of St. George, dating back to the 12th century and still inhabited by monks.

In the 18th century the island became a favorite burial place for local sea captains, whose crypts remain today. The island is closed to the public.

Photo:Branislav Strugar

Stamps:

Stamp Day
(Issued 02-10-2008)

ISLE OF MAN ~ Peel Castle -St Patrick's Isle ~

...Great castle view in a beautiful setting overlooking the Irish sea...a place steeped in history...Thanks a lot James!!

Peel Castle was originally a place of worship before becoming the fort of Magnus Barefoot, 11th century Viking King of Mann. The castle stands on St Patrick's Isle which is connected to the town by a causeway.

The buildings within the castle are now mostly ruined, but the outer walls remain intact. Excavations in 1982-87 revealed an extensive graveyard as well as the remains of Magnus Barefoot's original wooden fort. The most spectacular finds were the 10th century grave of "The Pagan Lady" which included a fine example of a Viking necklace and a cache of silver coins dating from about 1030.

The Castle's most famous "resident" is the so-called Moddey Dhoo or "Black Dog" ghost.

Stamps:

The 1000th Anniversary of the Tynwald Tapestry
(Issued 10-04-2015)

SPAIN ~ Barcelona- Sagrada Familia - UNESCO ~

Fantastic and impressive night view...Barcelona's top tourist destination... Thanks a lot  Johan for this great holiday postcard!! ♥

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain.It is also Europe's largest metropolis on the Mediterranean Sea. Barcelona is the 16th-most-visited city in the world and the fifth most visited in Europe after Paris, London, Berlin and Rome, with several million tourists every year.

The Sagrada Família, is a massive, privately-funded Roman Catholic church that has been under construction in Barcelona, Catalonia, since 1882 and is not expected to be complete until at least 2026. It is considered as the master-work of renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926).

Although not finished, the church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and in November 2010 was consecrated and made a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XXVI.

Stamps:

The 25th Anniversary of the Spanish Constitution
(Issued 05-12-2003)
The 100th Anniversary of the Spanish Air Force
(Issued 31-05-2011)


 with is cancellation in the bottom left corner...ʘ͜͡ʘ

SRI LANKA ~Yapahuwa ~

...View of a beautiful historical site of ancient Sri Lanka with  as always great stamps used...Big Thanks once again Ravindra!!

Yapahuwa served as the capital of Sri Lanka in the later part of the 13th century (1273-1284) and it housed the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha for 11 Years. Built on a huge, 90 meter high rock boulder in the style of the Sigiriya rock fortress, Yapahuwa was a palace and military stronghold against foreign invaders.

After the Fortress was abandoned monks converted it into a monastery and monks still reside among the ancient ruins.

Yapahuwa’s steep ornamental staircase , which led up to the ledge holding the tooth temple, is one of its finest features.

Stamps:

Ancient Sri Lanka - Medieval Eras
(Issued 12 -06-2015)

SRI LANKA ~Rice terrraces - Hill Country ~

...After so many wonderful cards  the beauty of this island♥ still amazes me...Thanks a lot Ravindra!!

The "Hill Country" is  a mountainous region in the centre of Sri Lanka.

Rice continues to be the staple food among Sri Lankans with an estimated 1,000,000 plus hectares of land supporting paddy cultivation. Close upon 1.8 million farmer families are engaged in the paddy cultivation process in the country.

Stamps:

Solar System-Earth
(Issued 05-12-2014)
Vesak
(Issued 20-04-2015)

INDIA ~Kaziranga National Park - UNESCO ~

...India's National Park nr 2...more beautiful wildlife... one of the largest mammals in the world that faces always the threat of poaching for its horn and continuing habitat loss... Thanks a lot kbdessai!

photo: Kangkan From backside postcard:
Kaziranga National Park, located in the North eastern state of Assam in the flood plains of the Brahmaputra River's south bank was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 for its unique natural environment. The park, which covers an area of 42.996 ha (106.250acres), has the distinction of being home to the world's largest population of the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros.

Beginning with a few rhinos in 1905, the park today boasts of more than 70 per cent of the world’s population of the Indian Rhinoceros.

The greater one-horned rhinoceros is the largest of the three Asian rhinos and, together with African white rhinos, is the largest of all rhino species. Males can weigh up to 2.7 tonnes. They have a single black horn between 20-60 cm long and a grey-brown hide with skin folds, which give it an armor-plated appearance. The upper lip is semi-prehensile.

Stamps:

Mahatma Gandhi
(Issued 01-03-2009)
Olympic Games - Beijing, China
(Issued 08-08-2008)
 Drukpa Lineage of Buddhism
(Issued 14-05-2014)