MYANMAR ~ Bagan - Mandalay Region - UNESCO ~

...My last postcard for 2016 is coming from South East Asia most exotic place according to my dear postcard friend Jobbo.. .breathtaking view of Bagan...  the kingdom of 13.000 temples... the temples and pagodas stretches out as far as the eye can see... Marco Polo once described it as the “gilded city”... it is the most popular tourist attraction...Thanks a million Jobbo!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Mandalay Region  (formerly Mandalay Division) is an administrative division of Myanmar. It is located in the center of the country.The regional capital is Mandalay.

Bagan is located in the central plain of Myanmar. Ancient city of kings between XI and XIII centuries competed to see who built more temples, taller, and more gold, reaching the incredible figure of 13,000 temples. Today about 2,500 Buddhist monuments (temples, stupas, monasteries, etc) are preserved.

Bagan became a UNESCO WHS site in 2019.

Stamps:

World Buddhist Summit
(Issued 09-12-2004)

The 27th South East Asian Games
(Issued 02-09-2013)

SRI LANKA ~ Sand Dunes - Pooneryn ~

... Great card nr 2 from the series "Unseen Sri Lanka" with matching stamp... this beautiful pearl-shaped island located in the Indian Ocean offers such a high diversity in nature... a view so totally different from the lush green tea plantations that I received recently... Thanks a lot Ravindra!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Pooneryn is located in the  North Eastern part of the country. These sand dunes can be seen after travelling towards Kawtharimunai from Poonerin in the Poonerin Peninsula.

It is a belt of low sandy terrain which extends from Pooneryn town on the mainland northwestward in the Pooneryn peninsula. As a result of the tidal currents and the small waves and wavelets combined with the dry windy southwest monsoon, this particular feature has been gradually developed. The sand is carried by the winds from southwest towards the lagoon side of the peninsula.

Stamp:

Sand Dunes
(Issued 02-12-2016)

TOGO ~ Tamberma Valley - UNESCO ~

... Another little African "gem" to add to my collection... my second card from Togo and a great UNESCO site... according to tourism-related descriptions the hardest and least populated part of the country to get to... this amazing valley is home to a unique collection of fortified villages with houses like mini fortresses....the constructions create a surreal place... Big Thanks Maick (once more♥) for helping me to get this "unique" postcard!! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ➜  A Journey of Postcards

Togo is a small West African country surrounded by Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Atlantic Ocean. The only port and capital city is  Lomé.

These villages were built in the 17th century by people fleeing the slave trade in Benin and remained isolated until very recently. The local Batammariba people are skilled builders and have put together these castle-like structures using only clay, wood and straw, and no tools. The look they created was to help ward off invasions by neighboring tribes and served as a scaring tactic.

A typical house is called a Tata and consists of a series of towers connected by a thick wall with a single entry point meant to trap an enemy should the house be invaded. A hole in the ceiling of the first chamber would allow the house occupants on the roof to shower the enemy with arrows from above.

Stamps:

Bella Bellow Commemoration, 1945-1973
(Issued 1999)

The 36th Summit of the Organization of African Unity or OAU, Lome
(Issued 03-07-2000)

CANADA ~ Christmas Greetings ~

... A sweet vintage Christmas postcard with Greetings stamp... my Best Wishes to you too and may your mailbox be filled with wonderful postcards in the New Year ✉... Thanks a lot Glenn!! ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)

Stamp:

Christmas
(01-11-2016)

CANADA ~ Bruce Peninsula National Park - UNESCO ~

...Fantastic Canadian national park nr 7 ツ... amazing sunrise over Halfway Bay white stone beach ... one more of Canada's beautiful treasures... it houses some of the most popular hiking trails... with sweet Christmas stamps... my warmest Holiday Wishes to you too and my sincere thanks for this "unique" postcard and soooo many more!! ( ˘ ³˘)❤

Bruce Peninsula National Park is a national park on the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario. Located on a part of the Niagara Escarpment, the park comprises 156 square kilometers and is one of the largest protected areas in southern Ontario, forming the core of UNESCO's Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve.

The park has trails ranging in difficulty from easy to expert, and connects to the Bruce Trail.

Bruce Peninsula National Park is known for  the rocks of the Niagara Escarpment and the wildlife, which includes black bear, many species of birds, wild orchids, massasauga rattlesnake, and much more.

Stamps:

Christmas
(01-11-2016)

SRI LANKA ~ Mokara Bota Gold Orchid ~

... So beautiful flower✿ postcard...Orchids are one of my favorite "indoor" flowers...the number of species in the Orchid family is almost four times that of mammal species on Earth and twice the amount of bird species... with lovely flower stamp... once more a great Christmas ✨present✨from a dear postcard friend♥...Thanks a lot Ravindra!!

Sri Lanka with its unique tropical and cooler climates has over 185 identified species of orchids ranging over 78 genera. 74 species are endemic to Sri Lanka and many species found in the country are quite rare.

The diversity of orchids in Sri Lanka is one of the reasons that the island is named one of the top 25 bio diversity hotspots globally, while being the most species diverse in Asia when considering unit land area.

All Sri Lankan Orchids fall under the protection of the Fauna & Flora Protection Ordinance.

Stamps:

Dr A.N.S. Kulasinghe
(Issued 26-10-2016)

Definitive stamp Flowers of Sri Lanka
(Issued 07-10-2016)

MYANMAR ~ Budha Image - Bagan ~

...A wonderful early Christmas surprise from a dear postcard friend... two young monks meditate inside one of the many thousands of ancient Buddhist temples... unfortunately on 24 August a  6.8-magnitude earthquake damaged dozens of these ancient structures...I don't think I have to ask if you had a great time over there... (◕‿-)... Thanks a million Jobbo!!【ツ】

Bagan, also called Pagan, is one of the previous capitals of Burma. It was the capital of the Pagan-kingdom. This kingdom is also been called the First Burmese Kingdom.

This ancient city located on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, is home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries. The shape and construction of each building is highly significant in Buddhism with each component part taking on spiritual meaning.

Many Buddha images from the Bagan period have been made of bronze, iron, sandstone or wood but the most images are located in pagodas and have been made of bricks and plaster.

Stamps:

The 27th South East Asian Games
(Issued 02-09-2013)

The 52th Anniversary of Independence
(Issued 04-01-2000)

GERMANY ~ Bremen - UNESCO ~

... A picturesque view of the marketplace...with one of the most beautiful town halls... coming from a bordering country... this card shows once again that we don't have to travel so far to see nice places ツ(distance between Brussels and Bremen is about 400km)...with fantastic matching stamps and cancellations... Thanks a lot Dustin for this lovely surprise!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Photo: Christoph Reinhard
The City of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. The Old Town Hall was built in 1409 and renovated in the 17th century. It was especially designed to act as a Town Hall, and used this way over the ages. With next to it the St. Peter's Cathedral.

The Roland statue is 5,55 meter high and dates from 1404. It stands in front of the Town Hall, but faces sidewards to the church. Roland statues can be found in a number of German towns, they represent market rights and freedom.

 They have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2004.

Stamps:

Tourism - Bremen Marketplace
(03-04-2014)

Ships - The 200th Anniversary of Steamship Die Weser
(Issued 08-12-2016)

THAILAND ~ A row of Budha Images in Wat Yai Chai Mongkol ~

...This nice postcard  from Glenn is coming from "The Land of Budhism"... beautiful Thai culture... it  all looks very impressive...Thanks once more Glenn!! (✿ ♥‿♥)➜ Gem's World Postcards

 Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon is  a restored Buddhist temple dating back to the Ayutthaya Kingdom period (1350-1767)  located in southeast Ayutthaya. It has been the pride of Siamese people since the 13th C.

Stamps:

WIPO Award for Creative Excellence
(Issued 03-05-2016)

 H.R.H. Princess Chulabhorn
(Issued 01-12-2012)

H.R.H.Princess Bajrakitiyabha
(Issued 07-12-2012)

VIETNAM ~ Hoi An Ancient Town - UNESCO ~

... Lovely Vietnam postcard nr2 from Glenn... the architecture is a blend of Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese influences... more than 800 historic buildings in Hoi An have been preserved... Thanks a lot Glenn!!【ツ】

Hoi An city is situated in Central Vietnam. Old Town Hội An, the city's historic district, is recognized as an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century, its buildings and street plan reflecting a unique blend of influences, indigenous and foreign. Prominent in the city's old town, is its covered "Japanese Bridge," dating to the 16th-17th century.

Hội An (會安) translates as "peaceful meeting place". In English and other European languages, the town was known historically as Faifo. This word is derived from Vietnamese Hội An phố (the town of Hội An), which was shortened to "Hoi-pho", and then to "Faifo".

 It is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1999.

Stamps:
Music and Dance
(Issued 03-06-2008)

Architecture - Landscape
(Issued 16-01-2012 )

VIETNAM ~ Ha Long Bay - UNESCO ~

... More great cards from Glenn's travels in Asia... wonderful view of the most famous bay of Vietnam...it is one of the world’s natural wonders... and the most beautiful tourist destination... the bays calm water and the thousands limestone pillars forming a spectacular seascape...Thanks a lot Glenn! ! \_(♥‿♥)_/

Photo: Thê`Thuc
Halong Bay is located in the Quang Ninh province of Vietnam along the 120km coastline of Bai Chay Beach. There are more than 1960 limestone, rocky, tall islands of various sizes and shapes which are rich in tropical vegetation.

Halong Bay is approximately 579 square miles in size and is home to approximately 1600 fishermen who live in floating villages. The rich bio-diversity of the bay, and its beauty and its history has captured the interest of many throughout the ages.

The Halong Bay became  a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

Stamps:

Architecture - Landscape
(Issued 16-01-2012 )

SRI LANKA ~ Bambarakanda Falls - Balangoda ~

...Great waterfall in an amazing setting... the tallest on the island... it is not a wide waterfall but drops as a thin line from a rocky outcrop... this is the first of 12 new postcards issued by Sri Lankan post showing unseen places of natural beauty... I already know for sure that 2017 will be once more a fantastic postcard yearツ... looking forward to see more...always special with a matching stamp...Thanks so much Ravindra!!\_(♥‿♥)_/

With a height of 263 m (863 ft) is it  the 299th highest waterfall in the world. The Bambarakanda Falls  lies in the Badulla District among a evergreen forest in the Kalupahana Area.

The fall is formed by the Uduweriya Haputale mountain and Kuda Oya, a tributary of Walawe River.

Stamp:

 Bambarakanda Falls
(Issued 02-12-2016)

PAKISTAN ~ Sheosar Lake - Deosai National Park ~

...Fantastic nature view and new National Park... it is often quoted as “The Roof of the World”  because it is the second highest plateau in the world after the Chang Tang in Tibet and one of the highest lakes... In local Balti language, Deosai is called Byarsa, meaning "summer place"... it can only be visited during the summer season... Thanks a lot Aamir!! ❁◕ ‿ ◕❁

Photo: Usman Ghani
From backside postcard:
Sheosar Lake is located in Deosai Plateau (near Skardu) at an elevatior of 13.590 ft. Deosai is a treeless wildernessover 13.000ft covering an area of more than 3.0000sq k. Sheosar lies at the western end of the plateau towards the Astore side. The lake is deep blue in colour and presents magnificient views of snow-capped mountains. Himalayan Marmots and many migratory birds can be seen around the lake.

The Deosai National Park is located in Northern Pakistan and  was established in 1993 to protect the survival of the Himalayan brown bear and its habitat. Deosai is the combination of two words "Deo" (giant) and "Sa" (shadow). For centuries, it is believed that this place is haunted by giants, so it became "The Land of the Giants".

Stamps:

Muhammad Ali Jinnah
(Issued 11-09-1994)

Muhammad Ali Jinnah 19. August
(Issued 19-08-1998)

The 55th Anniversary of the Birth of Benazir Bhutto
(Issued 21-06-2008)

BULGARIA ~ Vitosha National Park - Sofia ~

My postcard for this weekends theme "winter scenes"...you can always join here: Connections to the World! ツ

...I'm not a big fan of snow... but I must say on a postcard it looks gorgeous.... a winter wonderland ♥... Sofia is one of the unique capitals of Europe with a mountain... just a half-hour away from the city center.... a great place for skiing and snowboarding... with nice  postcrossing stamp...Thank you very much Marijana!! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Photo: © Boyko Kalev - Design: Vlado Prangov
In 1934  part of the mountain of 6,600 ha was declared a park. Its boundaries have been changed many times and today encompass the entire mountain of 27,079 ha area. Vitosha Nature Park is the oldest park on the Balkan Peninsula.

On the park’s territory 61 types of habitats were identified; among them of greatest interest as far as nature conservation goes are the natural spruce forests, the peat areas, the moraines and the caves.

Stamp:

Postcrossing
(23-12-2015)

ALBANIA ~Valbona to Thethi trail - National Parks

...Breathtaking nature view and my first written and stamped postcard from Albania and both places are National Parksツ...it shows the trail from Valbona (995m) over the Valbona Pass (1.759 m) to Thethi (716m)... follows the route of an ancient mule track linking the tribal regions of Shala and Nikaj... about two-thirds of the territory of the country is either hilly or mountainous .. Thanks a lot Indrit!! \_(♥‿♥)_/ ➜ POSTCARD ALBANIA

Photo: Albania Alpine Adventure © Arba Editions
The Republic of Albania is a Balkan nation in south eastern Europe and situated on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea, bordering Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia and Greece.

The areas around Thethi and Valbona constitute two separate Albanian National Parks, the Thethi National Park and Valbona Valley National Park.

Valbona Valley National Park is a part of the Prokletije mountain range. Designated in 1996, the park includes the Valbona Valley and the Valbona River and lies between high and craggy peaks all strictly protected natural areas.

Thethi is a national park in the extreme north of the country, designated by government decree in 1966 and is located along the Theth River and features several mountain peaks over 2500m height.

Stamps:

Distinguished national personalities
(Issued 17-08-2016)

The 190th Anniversary of the First Locomotive
(Issued 27-09-2015)

CUBA ~ Plymouth Car ~

...Once more a great Caribbean postcard... Cuba's streets are famous for their iconic American classics from the 1950's also used as local taxis...a step back into automotive time... Heel Erg Bedankt Jonas en Sarah! ツ

Plymouth was a brand of automobiles based in the United States, produced by the Chrysler Corporation and its successor Daimler Chrysler. The brand first appeared in 1923 in the US to compete in what was then described as the "low-priced" market segment dominated by Chevrolet and Ford.

The Plymouth was the high-volume seller for the automaker until the late 1990s. The brand was withdrawn from the marketplace in 2001. The Plymouth models that were produced up to then were either discontinued or rebranded as Chrysler.


Stamp:

prepaid postcard
?????

CAYMAN ISLANDS ~ Greetings from Hell - Grand Cayman ~

...Fantastic surprise postcard nr 2... once you arrive in the paradise of the Cayman Islands, you can take a side trip to Hell, literally... never in a million years I would have thought to get a postcard showing Hell in the Carribean... it was on my wishlist after getting one from Hell Norway and USA...Thank you very much Andrene♥   must have been a dream holiday!! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Greetings from Hell...see you soon!
"Hell" is a group of short, black, limestone formations eroded from ironshore in Grand Cayman. Located in West Bay, it is roughly the size of half a football field. Visitors are not permitted to walk on the limestone formations but viewing platforms are provided.

There are numerous versions of how Hell received its name, but they are generally variations on "a ministration exclaimed, 'This is what Hell must look like.'"

It is also claimed that the name "Hell" is derived from the fact that if a pebble is thrown out into the formation, it echoes among the limestone peaks and valleys and sounds as if the pebble is falling all the way down to "Hell." Regardless of how it first came to be called Hell, the name stuck and the area has become a tourist attraction,

Stamp:

Marine Life - Definitives
(09-10-2012)

CAYMAN ISLANDS ~ Grand Cayman ~

...Found this amazing early Christmas✨ gift in my mailbox today... a fantastic new Island to add to my collection... as written on the postcard a "Tropical Paradise"... crystal clear blue water... a place I only can dream of... Thanks soooo very much Andrene!! Big Hug !! ( ˘ ³˘)❤

"Visitors from cruiseships arrive to find an enchanted island with glorious beaches and abundant wildlife"
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory in the western Caribbean Sea. This territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman located near to Cuba, Costa Rica,  Panama, Mexico and Jamaica.

Grand Cayman Island is the largest of the three Cayman Islands and the location of the territory's capital, George Town.
Of the three islands, Grand Cayman contains approximately 95% of the territory's entire population and the island encompasses 76% of the entire land mass.

Stamp:

Marine Life - Definitives
(09-10-2012)

BELGIUM ~ Merry Christmas ~

My postcard for this Weekends theme - December Holidays - see more: Connections to the World!

...With Christmas and New Year round the corner, it's time to post my first received wonderful "Season's Greetings" card... I got it a while ago from my dear postcard friend Johan... with stamp depicting knitted Christmas and New Year patterns refer to warm winter sweaters ✶✮✮✶ ... they evoke the warm atmosphere of the holidays end of the year ✶✮✮✶... with lovely special "Best Wishes" first day cancellation... Hééééél erg Bedankt Johan!! (✿ ♥‿♥)  ➽  Johan postcards

Stamp:

(Issued 24-10-2016)

KYRGYZSTAN

...Beautiful view of a country with breathtaking natural beauty... it is home to the world´s 3rd highest mountain range... there are almost two thousand lakes,  most of them are small mountain lakes...with nice special cancellation from the 70th "Salon philatélique d'automne" in Paris...Thanks once more Johan for this unique collector's item!【ツ】

Designer: A. Pariniuc
Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked and mountainous country located in Central Asia and bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China. Its capital and largest city is Bishkek.

Kyrgyzstan is one of the former Soviet Union republics, which declared its independence in 1991.

Stamp:

Flora of Kyrgyzstan
(Issued 29-07-2016)

HONG KONG ~ Portraits of Peninsula - Annie Leibovitz ~

.... A bunch of happy looking employees working in Hong Kong's oldest hotel(1928)... the legendary "Grande Dame of the Far East"... photographed by widely considered one of America’s best portrait photographers... with nice airport stamp cancellation... Thanks a lot Glenn!! ✈Enjoy your trip✈ Gem's World Postcards

Photo: Annie Leibovitz
"Portraits of Peninsula" is a collection of black-and-white photos that go to the heart of the guest experience that distinguishes Peninsula hotels as the finest in the world. With the photos, Leibovitz departs from her tradition of celebrity portraiture to focus on the people and personalities behind the Peninsula brand. While not famous, the faces of Peninsula pageboys, housekeepers and bellmen are just as compelling as those of celebrities when seen through her lens.

Photographer Annie Leibovitz was born on October 2, 1949, in Waterbury, Connecticut. In 1970 she landed a job at Rolling Stone and went on to create a distinctive look for the publication as chief photographer. In 1983 she began working for the entertainment magazine Vanity Fair, continuing to produce images that would be deemed iconic and provocative. Having also worked on high-profile advertising campaigns, Leibovitz's images have been showcased in several books and major exhibitions around the world.

Stamp:

The 150th Anniversary of Stamp Insurance
December WM(08-12-2012)

USA ~ Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Ohio ~

...Great views of a more recent US National Park...  numerous waterfalls, rolling hills, caves and a winding river provide beautiful scenery... lots of walking and bicycling trails, unusual geologic formations and beautiful farmlands... special railroad tours on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.. as extra bonusツwonderful national park stamp cancellation and sticker... Thanks soooo much Andrene!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

It is the only national park in Ohio and the park was established in 1974 as the "Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area" and was designated as a national park in 2000.

The winding Cuyahoga—the "Crooked River"-was named by Mohawk (Native American tribe)—gives way to rolling floodplain, steep valley walls and ravines, and lush upland forests.

Animals found in the park are include raccoons, muskrats, coyotes, skunks, red foxes, beavers, peregrine falcons, river otters, bald eagles, opossums, three species of moles, white-tailed deer, Canada geese, gray foxes, minks, great blue herons, and seven species of bats.

Stamps:

Christmas (Issued 11-10-2013)

 Eastern Tailed-Blue Butterfly
(Issued 24-09-2016)