Travel Postcard

Holland

2011-12-17T05:03:00.000+08:00

Holland is a name in common usage given to a region in the western part of the Netherlands. The term Holland is also frequently used as a pars pro toto to refer to the whole of the Netherlands. This usage is generally accepted but disliked by many Dutch people in the other parts of the Netherlands.

Antique Map-postcard

2011-12-16T04:52:00.000+08:00

Abraham Ortelius-Septentrionalium Regionum Descrip

Ortelius based this influential map on the work of earlier authorities including Mercator, Zeno and Magnus. Of particular interest are the mythical islands of Brasil, Frisland, Drogeo, Icaria, and St. Brendan. Part of Mercator's imaginary polar continent is depicted with a note that it is inhabited by pigmies. Iceland (Islant, Thule) is basically unchanged from Mercator´s map of Europe from 1554 with the shape originated by Zeno. Greenland is separated from Europe by a wide sea and a portion of North America appears in the upper left corner with the name Estotilant. The map is adorned with a variety of very inventive creatures including a half-man, half-sea creature playing a lute. Latin text on verso.

Nederland

2011-12-15T05:46:00.000+08:00

Nederland is the Dutch name for the Netherlands and the short name for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is also the name of several villages:

Nederland, Overijssel, in Steenwijkerland, Netherlands

Nederland, Colorado, United States

Nederland, Texas, United States

Temple of Heaven

2011-12-14T05:21:00.000+08:00

The Temple of Heaven, literally the Altar of Heaven (天坛/天壇) is a complex of Taoist buildings situated in the southeastern part of central Beijing. The complex was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. It is regarded as a Taoist temple, although Chinese Heaven worship, especially by the reigning monarch of the day, pre-dates Taoism.

The Chinese Wall

2011-12-13T05:14:00.000+08:00

The Chinese Wall is a thousand-foot-thick rib of raw rock curving northward from 8,396 foot Haystack Mountain for approx.10 miles.

This awesome monolith is the largest and most dramatic of several such formations which scrape the skyline of Montana's Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, and contiguous Great Bear and Scapegoat Wildernesses.

Windermere, UK

2011-12-12T07:05:00.000+08:00

Balloon over Windermere, from Gill Head.

Windermere is surrounded by sand bottom lakes.

Lake Butler (the largest) is on the west, Lake Down on the east, and Lake Bessie on the southeast. By means of a system of canals, Butler, Down and six other lakes are connected to form what is known as the Butler Chain.

Taal Volcano

2011-12-11T05:52:00.000+08:00

Is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philipines,found between the towns of Talisay and San Nicolas, Batangas.

The volcano has a lake inside its crater.

Something to enlighten your days

2011-12-10T06:46:00.000+08:00

Qutang Gorge

2011-11-14T18:57:00.000+08:00

In the Qutang GOrge, the river guides will awe you the mystery of Bellow Gorge, the history of the Whitewashed Wall and the cultural legacy of the WHite Emperor City. Though short in distance, the Qutang Gorge is grand in landscape.

Caishi Rock

2011-11-08T13:58:00.000+08:00

Caishi Rock (采石磯), a famous ancient battlefield lying to the southwest of the city, is regarded as the best of three rocks that project over the Yangtze River.

Map Postcard of Greece

2011-11-03T14:02:00.001+08:00

Old Map of Crete of the Venetian Time (15th Century)

The Tempest

2011-11-01T14:06:00.000+08:00

The tempest directed by Chris Spring.

Costumes designed by Joaane Greenwood.

Handelskade, Willemstad, Curaçao

2011-10-27T02:41:00.001+08:00

Despite being nearly four hundred years old (Willemstad was founded in 1634), the city is remarkably well preserved and boasts some of the best Dutch colonial architecture in the world. The Handelskade, which follows the narrow patch of land on the Punda side of St. Anna Bay, was once the main commercial street in Willemstad, as merchant vessels could effectively come right up to the store fronts. However, the Penha department store (the yellow building at the far right, which dates from 1708) is still located along the Handelskade.

The historic area of Willemstad, including Punda and Otrabanda, was made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997, as it "is a European colonial ensemble in the Caribbean of outstanding value and integrity, which illustrates the organic growth of a multicultural community over three centuries and preserves to a high degree significant elements of the many strands that came together to create it."

Latvia Map Postcard

2011-10-19T04:37:00.000+08:00

Postcard from series of drawings by Latvian artist Ansis Cirulis published by photographer Janis Rieksts, 1919.

I'm so glad to be such lucky to receive this gorgeous retro map postcard from Latvia !!

Thank you to Aleksejs & Lidia !

Black & White

2011-10-15T02:25:00.001+08:00

Look at those gorgeous emborsed stamps ....

City Maps of Olde England

2011-10-14T18:09:00.000+08:00

Chester

Established on the River Dee by the Romans (note the Roman coins depicted on the map), Chester is known for its medieval walls, whose parapets form a continuous promenade almost two miles long. Formerly a port, the town, as Speed notes, "hath been accounted the key into Ireland". But by Speed's lifetime the Dee estuary was filling with silt, which helped spur the growth of nearby Liverpool into a major port.

Thank you to Serene to send me this postcard !!

Floating Market Thailand

2011-10-13T17:39:00.000+08:00

Damnernsaduak Floating Market, Rajburi Province, Thailand.

Damnernsaduak is believed to be one of a well-known and an attractuve travelling sites. Historically, Damnoenssaduak was actually the name of the canal dug in the reign of King Rama IV by the military men and the people of Rajburi, Samutsakorn and Samutsongkram Province directed by Phayasrisuriyawong, the minister of Defence.

Holland

2011-10-13T06:01:00.000+08:00

Thank you to Danielle for her second card to me even the first card was loss during transit.

One Pilla Pagoda

2011-10-10T14:19:00.001+08:00

The One Pillar Pagoda (Vietnamese:Chùa Một Cột, formally Diên Hựu tự , which litterally means “long lasting happiness and good luck”) is a historic Buddhist temple in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

The unique pagoda is located in the western part of the city, near Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Ong Ich Khiem St., Ngoc Ha, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.

According to legend, ageing Emperor Ly Thai To of the Ly dynasty, who had no children, used to go to pagodas to pray to Buddha for a son. One night, he dreamt that he was granted a private audience to the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, who was seated on a great lotus flower in a square-shaped lotus pond on the western side of Thang Long Citadel, gave the King a baby boy. Months later, when the Queen gave birth to a male child, the Emperor ordered the construction of a pagoda supported by only one pillar to resemble the lotus seat of his dream in the honour of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. According to a theory, the pagoda was built in a style of a lotus emerging out of the water.

Istra, Croatia

2011-10-07T14:22:00.003+08:00

Istria (Croatian, Slovene: Istra), formerly Histria (Latin), is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner. It is shared by three countries: Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy.

Natalia bought this postcard from her vacation in Croatia.

Yaremche Waterfall

2011-10-05T02:27:00.001+08:00

Waterfalls of Ivano-Frankivsk region:

Yaremche: waterfall on the river Prut (at the foot of Hoverla Mountain), waterfall on the river Bahrivets; "Probiy" (height - over 8 meters, Yaremche) on the river Prut, "Huk" on the river Zhene

Royal Castle Neuschwanstein

2011-09-28T01:13:00.000+08:00

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, who grew up nearby at Hohenschwangau Castle.

The entire facade of the castle was covered with slabs of limestone. This material was found in Alterschrofen near Swan Lake (Swansee). The supporting walls were built of brick

About London

2011-09-26T06:15:00.002+08:00

Tam Cốc

2011-09-19T09:25:00.000+08:00

The Tam Coc (“three caves”) portion is a three-hour excursion by small boat along the Ngo Dong river, beginning at the village of Van Lam and proceeding through a scenic landscape dominated by rice fields and karst towers. The route includes floating through three natural caves (Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba), the largest of which is 125m long with its ceiling about 2m high above the water. The boats are typically rowed by one or two local women who also sell embroidered goods.

Oregon's Lighthouse

2011-09-13T08:24:00.001+08:00

There are eleven lighthouses standing strong along the Oregon coast. Many of these have been restored, and offer a look back into Oregon's past. Two of them, Cleft of the Rock Lighthouse and Pelican Bay Lighthouse, were created by lighthouse enthusiasts.

Clockwise from top left : Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, Yaguina Bay Lighthouse, Cape Arago lighthouse, Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Coquille River Lighthouse, Heceta Head Lighthouse, Lightship Columbia, Cape Meares Lughthouse, Cape Blance Lighthouse, and Umpqua River Lighthouse.

Himeji Castle, Japan

2011-09-12T13:15:00.000+08:00

Himeji Castle, also called Shirasagijo (White Heron Castle) due to its white outer walls, is the best preserved castle in all of Japan.The castle is regarded as the finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture, comprising a network of 83 buildings with advanced defensive systems from the feudal period.

Schoner Niederrchein (Map Postcard)

2011-09-07T02:42:00.005+08:00

The Rhine flows from Grisons in the eastern Swiss Alps to the North Sea coast in the Netherlands and is one of the longest and most important river in Europe, at about 1,233 km.

The Rhine is the longest river in Germany. It is here that the Rhine encounters some of its main tributaries, such as the Neckar, the Main and, later, the Moselle.

The postcard shows part of the Rhine , from Emmerich to Dusseldorf.

Emmerich at the Rhine is a city on the lower part of the River Rhine in the northwest of the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and center of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.

The Japanese and Chinese fonts is printed on the stamp.

Lapins / Rabbits

2011-09-06T14:39:00.000+08:00

hooray ...my first nouvellesimages postcard !!

Thank you to Mike, Netherland send me the postcard .

Rabbits (or, colloquially, bunnies) are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world. There are eight different genera in the family classified as rabbits

Map Postcard of Canada

2011-08-23T13:50:00.002+08:00

Thank you to Zack send me this awesome map postcard.

Taman Ayun Temple, Bali

2011-08-19T02:26:00.000+08:00

Taman Ayun Temple is a Royal Temple of Mengwi Empire and it is located in Mengwi Village, Mengwi sub district, Badung regency and about 18 Km north side of Denpasar town. It is strategically located beside of major roadway between Denpasar to Singaraja. It is set on the land which is surrounded by the big fish pond and look like a drift on the water. It owns the beautiful temple building with multistoried roof and Balinese Architecture.

Českolipsko, Czech Republic

2011-08-16T07:50:00.000+08:00

The Českolipsko Region consists of the following tourist districts: Mácha´s region and its subregions–Českolipsko,Mácha’s region, Ralsko and Kokořínsko, České středohoří region, region of Lužické

Mountains, Ještěd Ridge and Podještědí.

The area is known for its attractive natural resources potential – three protected landscape areas and several magnificent rock formations. Furthermore, there are many cultural and historical structures, church landmarks, a significant concentration of traditional architecture, two approved natural landscape zones as well as strong tradition of glassmaking and a first-rate network of cycling and tourist tracks.

Bunny Angel

2011-08-10T07:11:00.001+08:00

Conserve Malaysia's built heritage (7)

2011-08-08T02:20:00.000+08:00

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, Penang

Winner of the UNESCO Conservation Award 2000 and the National Architecture Award for conservation 1995, this once extremely dilapidated mansion was restored in the mid-1990s to the highest standards. It now dazzles visitors with indigo-blue walls, and incorporates 38 rooms, 5 courtyards, 7 staircases and 220 windows.

Conserve Malaysia's built heritage (6)

2011-08-06T05:24:00.002+08:00

Kampung Cina, Kota Bharu, Kelantan

Nov' 2001, 3km away from the town, was the first Chinese settlement in Kota Bharu. The buildings demolished included a Kapitan Cina's residence and a 100 year old Chinese temple. The traditional Malay style buildings, art deco and colonial period structures gave this riverside site its distinctive character.

Conserve Malaysia's built heritage (5)

2011-08-05T07:21:00.002+08:00

Jonker Street, Malacca (Melaka)

Before the launch of 'Jonker Walk' in August 2000 as a concept to enhance the tourism value of this historic street, this building was a genteel residence with its beautifully maintained street frontage and traditional gate / fence "pintu pagar"

Conserve Malaysia's built heritage (4)

2011-08-04T06:17:00.002+08:00

Kampung Cina, Kuala Terengganu

The rich cultural and economic traditions of this historic district in Kuala Terengganu which can trace its origins to at least the latter part of the 17th century, is threatened by rapid urban redevelopment and unimaginative planning.

Conserve Malaysia's built heritage (3)

2011-08-03T05:14:00.002+08:00

Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman, Kampung Sungai Kecil, Kedah and Kuala Lumpur

This ensemble of buildings (built 1920s - 1930s), was dismantled, moved to its present location at No.2 Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur where it was restored between 1996-97. The project received an Honourable Mention in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage 2000 Awards for Cultural Conservation.

Conserve Malaysia's built heritage (2)

2011-08-02T13:30:00.000+08:00

Heeren Street , Malacca (Melaka)

A model restoration project has been undertaken by Badan Warisan Malaysia of an early shophouse type unique to Melaka. Following the completion of the restoration (October 2007), this will be used as a resource and interpretative centre for the local community as well as visitors to the city's historic core.

Conserve Malaysia's built heritage

2011-08-01T19:58:00.000+08:00

Tjantek Art Bistro, Kuantan, Pahang

A charming example of how an old shophouse has been adapted to new use. This has been achieved with minimal intervention and maximum retention of the original building.

Reminiscence of Shantang

2011-07-27T13:23:00.000+08:00

A 1500-year old street lining one of Suzhou's many canals, Shan Tang Street connects the ancient Stone Road (Shi Lu), in the old city center, to Tiger Hill (Hu Qiu) and gets trod on from end to end during Suzhou's Ga Shen Xian festival.

Most buildings here, being genuinely really old, had run past their expiry date when the government had them all renovated a few years ago. If you liked Pingjiang Historic Street, you'll probably like this even better.

Boats ply the waters of the canal running alongside the road, adding to the historical atmosphere characteristic of Suzhou back in the days of He Lu, father of ancient Suzhou.

2011-07-25T19:31:00.003+08:00

Cappella Sistina, Vatican City

2011-07-20T07:53:00.001+08:00

(Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel; the work took approximately four years to complete (1508–1512))

Built between 1475 and 1483, in the time of Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere, the Sistine Chapel has originally served as Palatine Chapel. Sistine Chapel (Latin: Sacellum Sixtinum; Italian: Cappella Sistina) is the best-known chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope in Vatican City.

The chapel is rectangular in shape and measures 40.93 meters long by 13.41 meters wide, i.e. the exact dimensions of the Temple of Solomon, as given in the Old Testament. It is 20.70 meters high and is roofed by a flattened barrel vault, with little side vaults over the centered windows.

The wall paintings were executed by Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Cosimo Rosselli, Luca Signorelli and their respective workshops, which included Pinturicchio, Piero di Cosimo and Bartolomeo della Gatta.
Michelangelo Buonarroti was commissioned by Pope Julius II della Rovere in 1508 to repaint the ceiling; the work was completed between 1508 and 1512. He painted the Last Judgement over the altar, between 1535 and 1541, being commissioned by Pope Paul III Farnese.

Sapa, Vietnam

2011-07-18T13:19:00.000+08:00

Sapa is located in Lao Cai province, 350 km from Hanoi, close to the border with China. The Hoang Lien Son range of mountains dominates the district, which is at the eastern extremity of the Himalayas.This range includes Vietnam’s highest peak, Fansipan, at a high of 3142m above sea level and a vast area covered by thick forest, rich in wildlife.

Sapa is home to a great diversity of ethnic minority people. It is likely that, Sapa was first inhabited by highland minorities of H’mong and Yao group.

From Hanoi to Lao Cai:

* By road: It is 335 Km by road.
* By Train: The French started to build the rail road to Lao Cai from early 20th Century and nowadays this portion has been developing very fast to satisfied great demand especially for tourists to go to Lao Cai. Every day there are many trains depart from Hanoi to Lao Cai .

Thank you to Yeo bought me these postcards.

Cathedral Island, the St. Apostles Peter and Paul Cathedral

2011-07-16T12:44:00.000+08:00

Mânăstirea Moldovita, Romania

2011-07-14T13:23:00.000+08:00

The Moldoviţa Monastery (Romanian: Mânăstirea Moldoviţa) is a Romanian Orthodox monastery situated in the commune of Vatra Moldoviţei, Suceava County, Moldavia, Romania.

The Monastery of Moldoviţa was built in 1532 by Petru Rareş, who was Stefan the Great's illegitimate son. It was founded as a protective barrier against the Muslim Ottoman conquerors from the East.

(Wikipedia)

Palac W Antoninie, Poland

2011-07-12T19:32:00.000+08:00

Princes Radziwill Hunting Palace in Antonin built in 1824 by Karl Friedrich Schinkel for Prince Radziwill .

The palace is a wooden, timbered, the foundation, built on the plan of a Greek cross - the main body shaped octagonal , to which was added four lower wings. The facade is painted the color of the so-called. imperial yellow ( German Kaisergelb). The entire interior of the main body is great for decorative trójkondygnacyjna hall roof, supported on a pillar located flues of fireplaces, decorated with hunting trophies. Formerly held in her concerts. One wing houses the staircase leading to the interior balconies, living room leading to the other three wings.

Chimei Giant Lion, Penghu

2011-07-11T06:36:00.000+08:00

The Chimei islet is located on the southern tip of the Penghu islands. There are quite spectacular views of the islet, where the cylindrical basalt in shape of a giant lion squats on the cliff.

Edinburgh Castle & Ross Fountain

2011-07-07T04:33:00.000+08:00

Edinburgh Castle as seen from Princes Street Park

Ross Fountain is an ornate iron fountain from the mid-19th Century located at the west end of Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh. Figures depicted on the fountain include mermaids and four females depicting science, the arts, poetry, and industry. A final female figure stands at the apex of the fountain.

Chaumiere Normande

2011-07-06T04:23:00.000+08:00

(Wikipedia)

The cottage is a traditional rural dwelling house in western Europe, taking its name from its roof covered with straw (straw of wheat or rye , rods reeds ). In France, it is present particularly in Normandy and Briere .

The construction of houses in the Normandy countryside the peasants had to use all the common materials of their habitat: water mixed with clay, stone, wood and an abundance of cultivated cereals such as wheat or rye .

The base of the house is often made of flint because of its sealing properties very useful during the autumn and the winter . The walls and roof are made from a blend of oak beams, called studs , between which is a mixture of straw, clay and water, known as cob (local land or coulter).

To be watertight, the thatched roof must have a steep slope.

Thus, for its height is reasonable, the house must be close, even be very long: this partly explains the characteristic shape of the traditional Normandy cottage, it often consists of a series of rooms communicating with each other and each with a window and a door to the outside.

Map Postcard of Sachsen - Anhalt

2011-07-04T00:32:00.000+08:00

Saxony-Anhalt is one of 16 states of Germany.

It is located in the western part of eastern Germany.

People's Grand Study House

2011-06-29T06:47:00.000+08:00

Russell of New Zealand bought me this North Korea postcard at the World Expo in Shanghai.

The North Korean education system (Juche Education) is based on the principle of "study while working". This was part of the extensive construction in P'yŏngyang in honor of President Kim II Sung's 70th birthday in 1982. The library was opened as the "centre for the project of intellectualizing the whole of society and a sanctuary of learning for the entire people."

The building can house up to 30 million books,of which it contains around 10,800 documents, books and "on the spot guidance".

Russian Doll ~ From Russia with Love

2011-06-28T13:13:00.000+08:00

A matryoshka doll, or babushka doll is a Russian nesting doll which is a set of wooden dolls of increasing size placed one inside the other.

Russian wooden dolls within smaller dolls were called matryoshka. In old Russian among peasants the name Matryona or Matriosha was a very popular female name.

Map postcard of Seoul

2011-06-24T02:22:00.000+08:00

The Map Postcard reminded me about a place called Bukchon Hanok Village.

I'm so lucky that I stayed 2 nights in one of the Hanok (traditional korean house), Bukchon Guesthouse.

That's me in front of the main entrance door.

We have to bow our-self down before enter into the room.

The compound not big but very cozy.

The small garden.

The living room .... and the photos on the wall first caught my eye.

Peek at our room.
Room style is 'On Dol'- Korean Style Warm Floor.
There are only 5 rooms in this guesthouse.

Puzzle Postcard

2011-06-22T02:16:00.001+08:00

My first ever puzzle postcard in my collections.

" A secret love under the moonlight by Shin Yun-bok. "

Map Postcard of Korea

2011-06-21T07:08:00.000+08:00

Korea
The land of morning calm

In the Korean language, Korea as a whole is referred to as Han-guk (한국) in South Korea, and Chosŏn (조선) in North Korea. The latter name, also Romanised Joseon, is from the Joseon Dynasty and the earlier Gojoseon. "The Land of the Morning Calm" is an English language title for the country loosely derived from the hanja characters for Joseon.

Building of Trading Stock exchange on Nicholas Square

2011-06-18T00:04:00.000+08:00

Anna wrote on the back of the postcard that , " This card is from Kharkiv, a Ukrainian city. This Stock Exchange was ruined during WWII. Now this place is a park and the trams are still going".

Seokguram Grotto's Temple

2011-06-17T07:17:00.001+08:00

This is how the exterior of Seokguram Grotto looks alike.
Can you see the little hill behind the temple.

There is where the Buddha is placed.

Seokguram Grotto

2011-06-15T06:38:00.000+08:00

Seokguram Grotto during grand mending in 1913.

The Seokguram Grotto is a hermitage and part of the Bulguksa temple complex. It lies four kilometers east of the temple on Mt. Tohamsan, in Gyeongju, South Korea. It is classified as National Treasure No. 24 by the South Korean government.

Sakyamuni (Main Buddha) in Seokguram Grotto, National Treasure No.24.

India began a tradition of carving the image of Buddha in stone, holy images, and stupas into the cliff walls and natural caves. This practice was transferred to China and then Korea.

Deva Kings

Seokgullo (Road toward Seokguram Grotto)

Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal, Gyeongju Bus Terminal, or Gyeongju Station
Take Bus 10 or 11 at the opposite side of the station/terminal.
Get off at Bulguksa Temple.
Take the Seokguram tour busfrom Bulguksa Temple to Sukgulam Grotto.
Fares = 1500 won (for 1 way)

The Moscow Kremlin

2011-06-09T23:29:00.000+08:00

Cathedral of the Annunciation

Beautiful illustration by old folktale drawn by Art Nouveau painter Bieibiu.

Enlighten Your Days

2011-06-08T23:55:00.000+08:00

Rumcajs

Look at this gorgeous stamp and stamp mark on the postcard !!

Map of Belgium

2011-06-07T20:49:00.000+08:00

Beautiful little drawings of monuments in the map-card.

Seoul Metropolitan Subway Map

2011-06-02T08:31:00.003+08:00

All metropolitan subway lines are categorized into different colors to allow all passengers to easily recognize them. In addition, the numbers associated with each line are indicated at the end of each and every line.

First, find the line number of your destination. Then, find the position of the desired station on the map. Finally, check the route on the map, which will take you from the current location to the destination. For example, there are two possible least-transfer routes if you wish to depart from Ttukseom Station on line 2 and arrive at Banghwa Station on line 5.

Kinkaku-Ji Temple in Kyoto

2011-05-31T07:16:00.000+08:00

This is the famous temple, Kinkaku-Ji Temple in Kyoto. Kyoto is the historical and popular sight-seeing city.

Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺 Temple of the Golden Pavilion), also known as Rokuon-ji (鹿苑寺 Deer Garden Temple), is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. The garden complex is an excellent example of Muromachi period garden design.It is designated as a National Special Historic Site and a National Special Landscape, and it is one of 17 locations comprising the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto World Heritage Site.

Stylised Map Card from Latvia

2011-05-30T07:09:00.000+08:00

It is shape of Latvia with all towns and cities of Latvia.

Riga is the capital city.

Korea Cultural Heritage : Dan Cheong

2011-05-26T20:01:00.001+08:00

Korean temples and old houses often have colorful roofs. 'Dan Cheong', a characteristic of Korea, has been developed over many years, in which the colors and designs have changed.

Colors such as azure, red , yellow, white and black were use to paint pictures and designs onto roofs, pillars and walls of Korean buildings.

'Dan Cheong' is the word describing all works of art, such as formative works of art, craft work and paintings which are found on buildings made of stone, old tombs, portraits of Buddha and in caves.

You may refer here for more my recent photos about Dan Cheong.

N Seoul Tower

2011-05-25T20:56:00.000+08:00

Found this postcard in Namdaemun market.

There are 2 part in this postcard. The small portion can be folded in when sending.

N Seoul Tower is best observatory space of Seoul, where you can enjoy the panoramic scenery of Seoul. It is located in Namsan Mountain, central Seoul, South Korea. Built in 1969, at a cost of approximately $2.5 million, and opened to the public in 1980, the tower has been a symbol of Seoul and measures 236.7 m (777 ft) in height (from the base) and tops out at 479.7 m (1,574 ft) above sea level. It has also been known as the Namsan Tower or Seoul Tower. After the tower's original owner merged with the CJ Corporation, it was renamed the N Seoul Tower (official name CJ Seoul Tower).

Malaysia : Latest Updates through postcard (6)

2011-05-21T07:18:00.001+08:00

PENANG

Kek Lok Si or "Temple of Supreme Bliss" sits atop a hillock in Georgetown, Penang Island.

Malaysia : Latest Updates through postcard (5)

2011-05-20T06:20:00.000+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR

(top left) Kuala Lumpur's Jamek Mosque harks back to 1909
(bottom left) The former Kuala Lumpur Railway Station was built in 1910
(right) The National Monument was created by Felix De Weldon.

Malaysia : Latest Updates through postcard (4)

2011-05-19T06:16:00.000+08:00

PENANG

Trishaws in the courtyard of Khoo Kongsi, built in 1984.

(insets)
Pillars with carved dragons.

Shrine richly decorated with gold leaf.

Main entrance to the clan house.

Malaysia : Latest Updates through postcard (3)

2011-05-18T06:13:00.000+08:00

PENANG

Seri Maha Mariamam Temple is dedicated to Lord Murugan.

(Insects)
KOMTAR houses government and commercial offices

Khoo Kongsi is the most elaborate clan house in Penang (believe me, it's gorgeous and worth to visit)

Pagoda at Kek Lok Si featuring Chinese, Thai and Burmese architecture.

Malaysia : Latest Updates through postcard (2)

2011-05-17T09:06:00.000+08:00

PENANG

The 65 storey KOMTAR is Penang's tallest landmark

(inserts)
Kek Lok Si is the largest Buddhist temple complex in South-east Asia.

The Penang Bridge links the island to the mainland (the second Penang bridge is under-construction and there is a new coming proposal in tunnel-under-sea)
Before the Penang Bridge was there, people used to take ferry to travel to/from the Island to Mainland which is still in uses today.

Chulia Street is a riot of colourful signboards.

Malaysia : Latest Updates through postcard (1)

2011-05-16T06:59:00.002+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR

(top right) The Pavilion is a popular shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur

(center right) Visitors to Chinatown are greeted by an archway

(bottom left) Old shop-houses in Chinatown
(bottom right) An overhead plastic canopy in Chinatown
(right) The KL Monorail zips through the city on an elevated track.(the headache traffic jam happening in city)

Porto, Portugal

2011-05-11T06:40:00.000+08:00

Porto, also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal.

I think the outstanding tower is the Clérigos tower.

Clérigos church tower was the tallest structure in Portugal when completed in 1763 (the national record is now Lisbon's Vasco da Gama Tower), and as the main feature of the city's skyline, ships used it as a guide when coming into Cais da Ribeira.

It's a remarkable baroque landmark designed by the Italian architect Nasoni, who also designed the adjoining church. It has become a popular tourist attraction for the aerial view of the city from the top (76 meters up -- after a steep flight of 240 steps). Inside the church, the highlight is a polychromatic Baroque-Rococo marble ratable.

Map of Israel

2011-05-10T08:44:00.002+08:00

Thank you Debora for the nice map card and the stamps !!

Map of Fichtelgebirge, Germany

2011-05-09T08:32:00.002+08:00

The Fichtelgebirge is a mountain range in northeastern Bavaria, Germany. It contains an important nature park, the Fichtelgebirge Nature Park, with an area of 1,020 square kilometres (390 sq mi).

Petäjävesi Old Church

2011-05-06T13:23:00.002+08:00

Petäjävesi Old Church in central Finland, was built of logs between 1763 and 1765. This Lutheran country church is a typical example of an architectural tradition that is unique to eastern Scandinavia. It combines the Renaissance conception of a centrally planned church with older forms deriving from Gothic groin vaults.

This is a detail of the decoration of this old wooden church. The church is still in use during summertime, many couples want to be married there.

Love the matched stamp and card !!

Khmer Woman, Poipet, Cambodia

2011-05-03T07:14:00.000+08:00

Khmer Woman, Poipet, Cambodia , 2005

Photo Yoonki Kim

The image of the Cambodian woman has always been compared to the celestial goddesses on the walls of the great temples Angkor Wat. The pleasant smile and distant gaze serve as a paragon for Cambodian women. Apsara, as they are called, represent water and purity and the fluidity of the virtuous female.

This postcard was send from Singapore, Marque.
Thank you.

Visit Korea Year

2011-04-27T07:50:00.004+08:00

Did you know that year 2010 - 2012 is the Visit Korea Year.
There are several events / promotions conducted throughout the years.

Highlights include a Korea wide shopping extravaganza called the Korea Grand Sale, a 3+1/4+1 sale on select hotel rooms called the One More Night Promotion, and even a free shuttle service to such great destinations as Busan, Gyeongju, and Jeonju.

Free Shuttle Bus Service
Period of Traveling
January 1 ~ December 31, 2011 (12 Months)

Target
Overseas visitors and foreign residents

Intervals
Every day except Mondays

Read more details here.

Cúpulas - Pelotas / RS

2011-04-25T13:40:00.000+08:00

Some details of the city's main building ~ Church domes in Pelotas, Brazil .

Brazil - Pelotas, Church domes
Cupulas - Pelotas/RS - Brasil

Fotografias: Laureano Bittencourt

Electoral College Reform

2011-04-21T07:27:00.003+08:00

Fifty states of equal population and therefore equal electoral weight.

I wonders is the people elect the president or it's actually electoral college.

"The election for President and Vice President is not a direct election by United States citizens. Citizens vote for electors, representing a state, who are the authorized constitutional participants in a presidential election."

Interested in studying politics? Check out college degrees online

Map of Munich

2011-04-19T08:42:00.007+08:00

The postcard shows rhe central part of Munichs street map. WIthin the red ring was the old medieval town, blue lines are underground. On the right is the river Isar with museum island and the central park. Dear Balat, hope you have receive my postcards.

Looking to study German or other languages?

Start your search at online university degree

Letters & Journals

2011-04-14T08:09:00.001+08:00

I've received from a postcard from Letters & Journals.
Thank you Jackie, the postcard is awesome and I really like your writting.

Multiview of Thailand

2011-04-12T06:51:00.000+08:00

Such lovely buddha stamp !!

Map Postcard of Sweden

2011-04-11T08:34:00.002+08:00

From early May until late August, Sweden’s sun brightens the night and lengthens your sightseeing days.

Even in Kiruna, for the month of Jan ~ Darkness 24 hours and in month of Jun ~ Sun does not set !!

Historic Malacca Postcards Exhibition

2011-04-07T08:27:00.004+08:00

Old photographs tell many private and secret stories. Old photographs in the form of picture postcards, in particular, are public exposition of things, people, sights seen by travellers along the way, that momentarily captured their private attention.

This is an exhibition of more than hundred postcard views of Malacca between 1900-1950 seen through the eyes of colonial travellers.

What was seen and experienced ?

What was represented ?

What was valued ?

How pertinent are these qualities today ?

What have we gained and lost through time ?

Free Admission

19 February - 22 May 2011

Friday (1pm - 5pm)

Saturday & Sunday (11am - 5pm)

56 Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Malacca, Malaysia

(a dutch building next to Baba Nyonya museum)

Thank you to Mr. Poh & Mr Collin Goh for details information shared during visit.

(Information gather from the Pocket Guide)

Multiview Card of Finland

2011-04-06T07:07:00.000+08:00

Awesome postcard & stamp received !!

Don't Mess With Texas

2011-04-04T08:54:00.000+08:00

Don’t Mess with Texas means don’t litter. And that’s no joke. Since 1986, we’ve kept tons of trash off of Texas roads and highways. But with over 24 million people living in our great state and more moving in every day, there’s always more work to be done. Check out the many ways you can get involved. See where you can lend a hand, order a free litterbag, report a litterer, or just sit back and watch your favorite Don’t Mess with Texas commercials.

Maldives

2011-03-29T08:55:00.002+08:00

My superior bought me this 2 postcard back from Maldives. A perfect vision of paradise, barefoot luxury where the tropical splendour of the Maldives combines with world-class hospitality. This is a sybaritic combination of three distinct resort experiences on two islands, surrounded by a coral reef and lagoon.

Amsterdam

2011-03-28T14:05:00.001+08:00

Dutch Scene's ~ Bridges of Amsterdam

Bruce Lee

2011-03-22T08:51:00.004+08:00

Friend of mine, Shoak Teng bought a stack of postcards from Taiwan.

Bruce Lee (born Lee Jun-fan; 27 November 1940 – 20 July 1973) was a Chinese American and Hong Kong actor,martial arts instructor. He is widely considered by many commentators and other martial artists to be the most influential martial artist of modern times, and a cultural icon.

The above postcard was re-printed from an article dated Ming Gua 60s.
It's read as thru an interview with Bruce Lee, he disclosed the weakest portion of our body.

Thank you Shoak Teng for the postcards!

3rd Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

2011-03-18T06:14:00.001+08:00

(the above images from here)

Hot-air balloons Fiesta come back again in the land of Malaysia.

More than
20 balloonists from 13 countries including Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands, USA, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, UK, Thailand, Vietnam, India, France and Malaysia, display their most vibrant airborne creation.

Hot Air Balloon Fiesta for Year 2009

Free Malaysia Heritage Walk

2011-03-17T08:34:00.009+08:00

I love to 'WALK' within place I lived, especially when travel overseas is become a 'luxurious' for me.

How happy I am when I know that there are group of people (who call themselves Be Tourist) conducted the free walk.

Malaysia Heritage Walk is free, starting from the meeting point of Central Market’s Door Entrance at 10.30am every day.

From Central Market itself, the walk took us past historical landmarks like Masjid Jamek to appreciate its Islamic architecture and Moghul and Moorish designs, Lebuh Ampang which was originally made famous by the Chettiar community from South India after they established money-lending establishments along this road, Jalan Tun H.S.Lee previously known as High Street with some of the oldest shophouses around, the Lebuh Pasar Besar or Old Market Square where Yap Ah Loy used to run his opium and gambling dens, and Jalan Hang Kasturi where the row of shophouses known for selling dried seafood and Chinese herbs, are left with just one or two today dealing in the same trade.

I took the Free-walk few months back.

Those are some of my sharing.

Every building have their own story behind.

We respect each others religion.

Some places that we tends to forget

Lifestyle

Thank you sweet Ely (our tour guide) for given us such details information (can't find in any travel book) and accompany us under the hot sun.

Yumi Sugiyama (friend that I met in the Walk), I 'm so sorry about the disaster that happen in Japan now. Pray for the peace and safe for all the people.

The Yorkshire Dales

2011-03-15T15:29:00.002+08:00

(Left) (Top) Muker, Swaledale
(Left) (Bottom) Burnsall, Upper Wharfedale
(Right) (Top) Redmire & Pen Hill, Wensleydale
(Right) (BOttom) Ribblehead Viaduct, Upper Ribblesdale

The Yorkshire Dales is an area of great natural beauty in northern England, a large part of which has been designated as a national park.
Much of the landscape here is limestone country - lush green valleys (known locally as "dales") crested with white limestone cliffs ("scars") and limestone pavements cutting through wilder uplands beneath towering peaks ("fells") of dark millstone grit.

Map Postcard of Poland

2011-03-14T18:25:00.003+08:00

The map postcard of Poland.

Illustration card from Lithuania

2011-03-09T09:29:00.004+08:00

According to Ugue, the 3 colours (yellow, green and red) represent Lithuania's flag. The two soldier show how they play the basketball and the others show how they celebrate when they win the match.

Autoris.

Map + Multiview of Turkey

2011-03-08T03:03:00.000+08:00

Cappadocia (square no.4) which is unique in the world and is a miraculous nature wonder is the common name of the field covered by the provinces of Aksaray, Nevsehir, Nigde, Kayseri and Kirsehir in the Central Anatolian region.

In these cities made in form of rooms connected to each others some of the rooms were connected to each other only with the tunnels tight and permitting passing of just a person. At the access gates of these tunnels there were huge stone rollers used for closing the tunnels for security reasons.

Multiview of Anaalucia

2011-03-07T02:58:00.000+08:00

The name Andalusia traces back to the Arabic language Al-Andalus.

I never be bored to look at each and every squares.

Musei Vaticani

2011-03-04T08:51:00.003+08:00

Thank you to Viviana for this gorgeous antique Rome map from Vatican museum.

Ignazio Danti (1536-1586), born Pellegrino Rainaldi Danti, was an Italian priest, mathematician, astronomer, and cosmographer.

Luxembourg

2011-03-03T09:06:00.003+08:00

1) Ville Haute - vue du mur Vanceslas / nocturne
2) TOur espagnole
3) Citadelle du St.esprit et rue St. Ulric
4) Viaduc de clausen et l'Alzette pittoresque