Chimei Giant Lion, Penghu

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

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

(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.

People's Grand Study House

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".

Puzzle Postcard

My first ever puzzle postcard in my collections.

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

Building of Trading Stock exchange on Nicholas Square

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

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

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

Cathedral of the Annunciation

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

Enlighten Your Days

Rumcajs

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