tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82713277804248563102024-03-13T17:16:58.867+01:00Postcard VaultBerndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-27904191267223017202016-04-27T00:33:00.000+02:002016-04-27T00:34:05.129+02:00Sri Mariamman Temple<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkZiyNekyr2mtbp4kOtkRq4t76Fp5HdAXG_h0oraKjXSoaeiqBjyI32RhCGmgeML3YULyLJ8jo6lSfA_P0KPhlJTKyP36RCHIo5ru1h5GlcH5J3h1_xmuTyxC3pihFrHaoGClQPiYRoE/s1600/Singapore_postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, singapore, hindu" border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkZiyNekyr2mtbp4kOtkRq4t76Fp5HdAXG_h0oraKjXSoaeiqBjyI32RhCGmgeML3YULyLJ8jo6lSfA_P0KPhlJTKyP36RCHIo5ru1h5GlcH5J3h1_xmuTyxC3pihFrHaoGClQPiYRoE/s320/Singapore_postcard.jpg" title="Sri Mariamman Temple" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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This is an old picture of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Mariamman_Temple,_Singapore">Sri Mariamman Temple</a>, the oldest Hindu temple of Singapore. For all you crazy letter enthusiasts, this is the Tamil spelling: ஸ்ரீ மாரியம்மன் கோவில்.<br />
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These stamps commemorates 49 years of independence. Singapore gained independence from the UK in 1965 after a referendum<strike>, just like Scotland did 50 years later</strike>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOYR8YPIIWZcAeAARzygQb0AB4jK1KHXKc2tSI525C59nhtO5h6Pz6ntkJ5BInv5z5KT5wfD8VLd6WP5BVvqY5So03ygcV87i1bL8309OAkpe8WNU3lThxezW5b7eMYQ95LOE0yRN36g/s1600/Singapore_stamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="independence, stamps, referendum" border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOYR8YPIIWZcAeAARzygQb0AB4jK1KHXKc2tSI525C59nhtO5h6Pz6ntkJ5BInv5z5KT5wfD8VLd6WP5BVvqY5So03ygcV87i1bL8309OAkpe8WNU3lThxezW5b7eMYQ95LOE0yRN36g/s320/Singapore_stamps.jpg" title="Stamps of Singapore" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-15537632494015540322016-04-26T22:11:00.004+02:002016-05-03T05:51:35.393+02:00Rooftops of Paris<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7UlkI_TsDryYTwNgXadoqncjjOlp3kmlhhKPQVGoMxF5RL4fk-bQs5SY2edrbfRvt7sCu43E726JTJ3pvBCzGGMQVCMs3TjzaslfuobqrAEfiUYxA9pz2IHCoSOYet8ciOVunc3_ojQ/s1600/Paris_postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, rooftops, Haussmann" border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7UlkI_TsDryYTwNgXadoqncjjOlp3kmlhhKPQVGoMxF5RL4fk-bQs5SY2edrbfRvt7sCu43E726JTJ3pvBCzGGMQVCMs3TjzaslfuobqrAEfiUYxA9pz2IHCoSOYet8ciOVunc3_ojQ/s320/Paris_postcard.jpg" title="Paris" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Information regarding the location of the photographer are welcome.<br />
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Cool your beers and get exited for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2016">2016 UEFA European Championship</a> - provided that you like football, otherwise there's still blowing soap bubbles or drinking tea for you. And why does the UK get to send three teams?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95wrMBp8JEWTvadHQO0lLltXclIEyVvHDbVd9SFoKsGchJvOX9vxLyZFJ2_iivKmR_0rWQ-8Xe7M5PicjJKzokEdXA6BLiZ-G9zHqT45dQqFRbnvL8Kqj52KdPluK4qUM63EwKr5wWpw/s1600/Paris_stamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="UEFA, championship, football, soccer, europe" border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95wrMBp8JEWTvadHQO0lLltXclIEyVvHDbVd9SFoKsGchJvOX9vxLyZFJ2_iivKmR_0rWQ-8Xe7M5PicjJKzokEdXA6BLiZ-G9zHqT45dQqFRbnvL8Kqj52KdPluK4qUM63EwKr5wWpw/s320/Paris_stamp.jpg" title="Euro 2016 stamp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-84266854882910254262016-04-03T02:00:00.000+02:002016-04-07T22:15:10.386+02:00Year of the Monkey<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgBGt1sMLAt355OwcC9NNdVAwbignFpXM1b7uCtIIoe48nGh434yyTvifMJ8hOPiHKgXZjSempX3K2lY3fr37Pi_bOZddFcqGQv7RDXN-RgZaSmYV5nlbsjihPICBYfXPY_tErQCgj6o/s1600/vietnam_postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="vietnam, postcard, cruising ships, sea" border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgBGt1sMLAt355OwcC9NNdVAwbignFpXM1b7uCtIIoe48nGh434yyTvifMJ8hOPiHKgXZjSempX3K2lY3fr37Pi_bOZddFcqGQv7RDXN-RgZaSmYV5nlbsjihPICBYfXPY_tErQCgj6o/s320/vietnam_postcard.jpg" title="Hạ Long Bay" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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This amazing place is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%E1%BA%A1_Long_Bay">Hạ Long Bay</a> in North Vietnam. If you intend to propose to your girl, take her there to make it a surefire thing. Make sure not to bring other people there, as you'll get married either way.<br />
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On February 8th, 2016, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_%28zodiac%29">Year of the Monkey</a> began, thus the stamp. There appears to be a pink one as well, if you happen to have it, send it to me on a postcard please.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Lf2SeWh2TBA8rYDAQHgE7QcVF2pwoOcMPiO9LDdJLtvjbvodCKOAGRg8N-3XwkK1SFQ8Hpd-wE-8rVDSyMQIJQa3R98LodgkZY8Pg1MHpc66jnmrZY6_QjoeZfLhJUTrG8QjmcSKG6k/s1600/vietnam_stamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="stamp, vietnam, 10500, year of the monkey, zodiac" border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Lf2SeWh2TBA8rYDAQHgE7QcVF2pwoOcMPiO9LDdJLtvjbvodCKOAGRg8N-3XwkK1SFQ8Hpd-wE-8rVDSyMQIJQa3R98LodgkZY8Pg1MHpc66jnmrZY6_QjoeZfLhJUTrG8QjmcSKG6k/s320/vietnam_stamps.jpg" title="monkey see monkey stamp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-74791333279227932012016-03-30T19:57:00.002+02:002016-04-03T02:02:03.470+02:00Old columns, old dances<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIG6d2PzWOg88zXAkodsWvPHc4XreZXOjSrF3sDsxh0IsPzuSh9ro_96clBl2m6d9JSxfRYf1Kmv84u5kcv-8y0OYrF_Bnq0DdVQroHSFPcZawZ63hukE9G4raXJhZKa39xz_oW66S54/s1600/Ancient_Corinth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, greece, columns" border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIG6d2PzWOg88zXAkodsWvPHc4XreZXOjSrF3sDsxh0IsPzuSh9ro_96clBl2m6d9JSxfRYf1Kmv84u5kcv-8y0OYrF_Bnq0DdVQroHSFPcZawZ63hukE9G4raXJhZKa39xz_oW66S54/s320/Ancient_Corinth.jpg" title="Ancient Corinth" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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These are the ruins of once mighty <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Corinth">Corinth</a>, a city in Ancient Greece. There's also a new <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corinth">Corinth</a>, but they've come up with new buildings and basically it's a lot less cool than the old one.<br />
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The stamps show Greek dances. In the top left corner it says Κοτσαρι Ποντιακος / Kotsari Pontiakos, which can also be found on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk0F3zw09UY">youtube</a>. I can't tell you much about the dresses but the colors remind me of the colorful papers in which confection used to be wrapped. Very pretty!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4AbwRQDxj1tGyeW5ISoZrhBPAug-NPLaoKMfSmSnMvU2OxfEdM-fwSPDCBpgj5XMEWU2ZNGDjtbCsA6uCuQ-nttHBo_S0gBIEMnpgNhXMBEv4oAd9wvQEadK_Hd67XvXqq-arDiyHeA/s1600/Greece_stamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="stamps, greece, hellas, kotsari pontiakos" border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4AbwRQDxj1tGyeW5ISoZrhBPAug-NPLaoKMfSmSnMvU2OxfEdM-fwSPDCBpgj5XMEWU2ZNGDjtbCsA6uCuQ-nttHBo_S0gBIEMnpgNhXMBEv4oAd9wvQEadK_Hd67XvXqq-arDiyHeA/s320/Greece_stamps.jpg" title="Dancing Stamps" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-59211061305046539632016-03-30T02:21:00.003+02:002016-03-30T02:33:09.371+02:00Maiden Tower<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnouansoHOZKgASv3lO_Px4UTjVFZvsWad-at0GO8E5IfChvORYsBxwVxTvIxC-xJXUQq3cRRcGHsMCHznCNLCgGf0ZASXk_xPrtQiOBTjFiV4YwInzOr69LUFnWpS1Fdu1ZvAWiDGmHE/s1600/Maiden_Tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="baku, Qız Qalası, Giz Galasi, postcard" border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnouansoHOZKgASv3lO_Px4UTjVFZvsWad-at0GO8E5IfChvORYsBxwVxTvIxC-xJXUQq3cRRcGHsMCHznCNLCgGf0ZASXk_xPrtQiOBTjFiV4YwInzOr69LUFnWpS1Fdu1ZvAWiDGmHE/s320/Maiden_Tower.jpg" title="View of Maiden Tower" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maiden_Tower_%28Baku%29">Maiden Tower</a> in Baku served to imprison all the naughty maidens that would not behave. Rumors say that it was once part of the city fortification, but that's highly debated among historians, so you better stick to the maiden story.<br />
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If you're into cute animals then these stamps are just the thing for you, but be aware that one of them is not an animal, but the commemoration of 130 years of telephone communication in Azerbaijan. I'm not gonna tell you which one though.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkukQCROjZW7GutOQS1TyAlqvwX7BvdqO9pCqgwlal_cSLnigStagqCmkv-UoE7_yDZOksL1-5gb2WjN7D-hK2YLifJ54ix-cuRH2jhyIc4wYC07F65rL-2L9b-EQs858ZESwBdtVMPLg/s1600/Azerbaijan_stamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="stamp, azerbaijan, cat, horse" border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkukQCROjZW7GutOQS1TyAlqvwX7BvdqO9pCqgwlal_cSLnigStagqCmkv-UoE7_yDZOksL1-5gb2WjN7D-hK2YLifJ54ix-cuRH2jhyIc4wYC07F65rL-2L9b-EQs858ZESwBdtVMPLg/s320/Azerbaijan_stamps.jpg" title="Animals and Telephones" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-66168006031908229822016-01-07T15:07:00.003+01:002016-01-07T15:08:56.620+01:00Vast steppes<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaE64arMwLHcR3Y7ySzijdZvIwWTg0w1wUXzjgqubHyttvHV7FMHEsv6TpCONMZwhoLP-fcCNZWRQQyXBxPzpeHg7gTe-RCHTexwDxUTSt8kHXltNVDFqMcNj8cDlhrlL5lPhUi_q1y_o/s1600/Mongolia_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, mongolia, ger, grass" border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaE64arMwLHcR3Y7ySzijdZvIwWTg0w1wUXzjgqubHyttvHV7FMHEsv6TpCONMZwhoLP-fcCNZWRQQyXBxPzpeHg7gTe-RCHTexwDxUTSt8kHXltNVDFqMcNj8cDlhrlL5lPhUi_q1y_o/s320/Mongolia_1.jpg" title="Mongolian steppe" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span id="goog_1869257558"></span><span id="goog_1869257559"></span><br />
These are my first postcards from Mongolia. You can see the typical steppes and traditional housing, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yurt" target="_blank">called yurt in English, but "ger" in Mongolian</a>. To enable nomads to follow their herds to different grazing grounds, these tent-like buildings can be disassembled and reconstructed easily.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHHKdnP9uz0S8Iij3QAl6NPRMQOdfzc4lv1kzvuttPLCrOWiez0uxV9Fk0yr33oCBNo7sQXe6TQMnTHdMpG0Ju9z2g-_6XnRxtii1gXu3OZD6f8SHT7wS9NdKCAGPBX-TXmEw6Gw_FSI/s1600/Mongolia_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, mongolia, ger, yurt, family" border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHHKdnP9uz0S8Iij3QAl6NPRMQOdfzc4lv1kzvuttPLCrOWiez0uxV9Fk0yr33oCBNo7sQXe6TQMnTHdMpG0Ju9z2g-_6XnRxtii1gXu3OZD6f8SHT7wS9NdKCAGPBX-TXmEw6Gw_FSI/s320/Mongolia_2.jpg" title="Inside view of a ger" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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The stamp shows a drop of water. I could link the wiki article but I you've probably heard of it before.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXNsQRW2sxWkg9XR4JNtJkD837nqBGbTSXcmvCfJbpYDwE4J3oXNPIolkAI7OJ5nB1EuAbJ-LTDGy8EG2Yb-bVpv2bJd9p6ewpq2dE6WIVSHaWVmoimGRcDWpAXexsBZ3rwLC-x2RVQk/s1600/Mongolia_stamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="stamp, mongolia, water, liquid gold" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXNsQRW2sxWkg9XR4JNtJkD837nqBGbTSXcmvCfJbpYDwE4J3oXNPIolkAI7OJ5nB1EuAbJ-LTDGy8EG2Yb-bVpv2bJd9p6ewpq2dE6WIVSHaWVmoimGRcDWpAXexsBZ3rwLC-x2RVQk/s320/Mongolia_stamp.jpg" title="Stamp of Mongolia" width="277" /></a></div>
<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-24771522683190057662015-02-25T02:45:00.001+01:002015-02-25T02:45:28.184+01:00More beaches of the Adriatic Sea<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvKGH8m71zd0WF6PJrYJNixH3zD_4LtiXlpTSsnqHEFY4ONmcT_86oVk0DvQNxDrCAWnBnATfSVRsJD8VYV8gnvBxjDIfvrGBh7EBubcIbcJ64oR7hA30IneFHlIM5aI54wOrOLzyPNY/s1600/Albania_postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, albania" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvKGH8m71zd0WF6PJrYJNixH3zD_4LtiXlpTSsnqHEFY4ONmcT_86oVk0DvQNxDrCAWnBnATfSVRsJD8VYV8gnvBxjDIfvrGBh7EBubcIbcJ64oR7hA30IneFHlIM5aI54wOrOLzyPNY/s1600/Albania_postcard.jpg" height="216" title="Beach of Dhërmi" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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This pretty beach is in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dh%C3%ABrmi" target="_blank">Dhërmi</a>, a village at the coast of Albania. Coincidentally, there is a picture on wikipedia that was shot from the exact opposite side of that rock in the middle: <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Dhermi_beach.jpg" target="_blank">Link</a>.<br />
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On the stamp you can see the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adriatic_Sea" target="_blank">Adriatic Sea</a> and all the countries bordering it: Italy on the left, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece on the right.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMCYVI-pUwX3zeChde8NK-LjPfwB_UCpJk9EeV7i3pw33dK284_tV1Y3IA0KX6hMnv7tEy-HPDwR91Ah2dx4koGiwJh-CZw-1LxfwyeUEITnFJXFjjRMnmsBtEE9rOC-0Asd4q-N2dUA/s1600/Albania_stamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="forumi i qyteteve adriatik, shqipëria" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMCYVI-pUwX3zeChde8NK-LjPfwB_UCpJk9EeV7i3pw33dK284_tV1Y3IA0KX6hMnv7tEy-HPDwR91Ah2dx4koGiwJh-CZw-1LxfwyeUEITnFJXFjjRMnmsBtEE9rOC-0Asd4q-N2dUA/s1600/Albania_stamp.jpg" height="245" title="Stamp of Albania" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-37540261044381694902015-02-04T04:51:00.002+01:002015-02-17T21:15:36.883+01:00Namdaemun<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7aQW9IMIfpLMwbT60nbf_lc7ISTmwBzELpIemY9gg2L169SdDxDQir9tA8Sgq1RNbDDeUGVobVfEi6E4rfUxaM4RpdXgfQ2keuUB6KcpfTb6qRboeFxP0F6EfWhwX7wSylQaU_XtscE/s1600/Hangang_River.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, south korea, 63 building" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7aQW9IMIfpLMwbT60nbf_lc7ISTmwBzELpIemY9gg2L169SdDxDQir9tA8Sgq1RNbDDeUGVobVfEi6E4rfUxaM4RpdXgfQ2keuUB6KcpfTb6qRboeFxP0F6EfWhwX7wSylQaU_XtscE/s1600/Hangang_River.jpg" height="223" title="Hangang River" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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View over the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_River_%28Korea%29" target="_blank">Hangang River</a>. In the background: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/63_Building" target="_blank">63 Building</a>, once the tallest buildings in Asia.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKmDxD1uhkGsJSezktgnr0dL9Hb5HbnUhB7OlruMQIjmFWUNTJlLYJq-VlvYlbZ4Et7vaVIEKQlcfWIGU7vuECchZYjWYvsUw08OB4D3hBH5okk4Resu_L-ie5FpIgWhvIP8steTjuOM/s1600/Namdaemun_Gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, south korea, seoul" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKmDxD1uhkGsJSezktgnr0dL9Hb5HbnUhB7OlruMQIjmFWUNTJlLYJq-VlvYlbZ4Et7vaVIEKQlcfWIGU7vuECchZYjWYvsUw08OB4D3hBH5okk4Resu_L-ie5FpIgWhvIP8steTjuOM/s1600/Namdaemun_Gate.jpg" height="223" title="Namdaemun Gate" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namdaemun" target="_blank">Namdaemun</a>, also known as Sungnyemun, is one of the eight gates in the Seoul city wall. Unfortunately, it was set on fire in 2008, but reconstructed shortly after.Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-37125576728757424602015-02-02T06:20:00.001+01:002015-02-02T06:20:12.708+01:00More sheep!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKiFEw5BfcWKvKYKX06HbZOCi7khX8VyOJedG8sU0UwohNUoj2W13QyKBn8yByRfwLYmyrnaa3HXA1hP110UNp7ycbFmrrR4qxJ3JQvxNvrSdbQoCR1-mjIis6j_z5tGzSDyqAhXBqnw/s1600/Faroe_postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, kaldbak" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKiFEw5BfcWKvKYKX06HbZOCi7khX8VyOJedG8sU0UwohNUoj2W13QyKBn8yByRfwLYmyrnaa3HXA1hP110UNp7ycbFmrrR4qxJ3JQvxNvrSdbQoCR1-mjIis6j_z5tGzSDyqAhXBqnw/s1600/Faroe_postcard.jpg" height="223" title="Sheep of Faroe" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Picture taken near the village of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaldbak" target="_blank">Kaldbak</a>.<br />
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The stamp depicts shepherds who see the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Bethlehem" target="_blank">Star of Bethlehem</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dJmy3dvsk3b5ZqAGylnpNQar4Y9PHmE4a15oezhyphenhyphenULIsxgpdMdrhgJGIBsHgYqjlGSp_dhaivFIb6Rr9RvtrYXIoVHMZQt84FmVEaaZ-a0dLCu8QUXg1hTE_i_Ok1rJR2MQLJDv4aSk/s1600/Faroe_blue_stamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="hirðarnir, shepherds, christmas star, bethlehem" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dJmy3dvsk3b5ZqAGylnpNQar4Y9PHmE4a15oezhyphenhyphenULIsxgpdMdrhgJGIBsHgYqjlGSp_dhaivFIb6Rr9RvtrYXIoVHMZQt84FmVEaaZ-a0dLCu8QUXg1hTE_i_Ok1rJR2MQLJDv4aSk/s1600/Faroe_blue_stamp.jpg" height="320" title="Stamp of Faroe" width="260" /></a></div>
<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-53338676090278715912015-01-14T01:24:00.004+01:002015-01-14T01:25:40.376+01:00The Kingdom in the SkyI've received a bunch of cards from Lesotho, and they're all beautiful!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharXYBZ_A18KGPrEC9uoMtszccI1VY2A6FL2_5D9qdTZ24f6dGbI0EvO0HkAVzs6dSJb9j6bNckiUSCeI3wyyJjgPoeeKzrQubGL9LKhrQ79HrDO5BB8z-EyRnc16HXJuk_uUjBgkaBEQ/s1600/Moteng+Village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, lesotho" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharXYBZ_A18KGPrEC9uoMtszccI1VY2A6FL2_5D9qdTZ24f6dGbI0EvO0HkAVzs6dSJb9j6bNckiUSCeI3wyyJjgPoeeKzrQubGL9LKhrQ79HrDO5BB8z-EyRnc16HXJuk_uUjBgkaBEQ/s1600/Moteng+Village.jpg" height="224" title="Moteng Village" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Moteng Village.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7WhPDx5csx2ATFKKFVrcN5jlvZnfxco-JLKeFaX0jkXImkwI35ztjUWr-o04TLth0VdWMlwP81R7WXqArGlcd8VJpnFDNKR5Mkbe2dHH8SN7ke8t_SwnmEezWgzKP4634hX-88o16ss/s1600/Cave+Dwellings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, lesotho" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7WhPDx5csx2ATFKKFVrcN5jlvZnfxco-JLKeFaX0jkXImkwI35ztjUWr-o04TLth0VdWMlwP81R7WXqArGlcd8VJpnFDNKR5Mkbe2dHH8SN7ke8t_SwnmEezWgzKP4634hX-88o16ss/s1600/Cave+Dwellings.jpg" height="224" title="Cave Dwellings at Ha Kome" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
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The cave dwellings at Ha Kome are a National Heritage Site. They've been carved out in the 19th century and people are still living there today.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPEDVW_-4DVnz0okemaBsCbJb-c4jGBImLVarNecYIvKSKJ0ZNmbFmTkE1sg4nl2L232RChr6vthP2Pwi4oU4WNrI9a1AOy0pro_VumsdBq3VP_wnNWbSQ1FCYybk5EzaOwxMWkPvhfFM/s1600/The+Highlands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, lesotho" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPEDVW_-4DVnz0okemaBsCbJb-c4jGBImLVarNecYIvKSKJ0ZNmbFmTkE1sg4nl2L232RChr6vthP2Pwi4oU4WNrI9a1AOy0pro_VumsdBq3VP_wnNWbSQ1FCYybk5EzaOwxMWkPvhfFM/s1600/The+Highlands.jpg" height="224" title="The Highlands" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The highlands of Lesotho can get pretty cold, with temperatures of up to -20°C.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pI_4cOQkO0h4bM_jzIuMg6wJtJiN7xaDEvqUjE1WFA618fCzPAvLBb7IUFiSfsMFqJtsvHZ88w2tvPfYg8lk71lrdNDI_Xr4yuSl6LCoPsfHFWiDUtno9OHuKlPN3b8dpKCJq0tEo6g/s1600/Harvest+Time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, lesotho" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pI_4cOQkO0h4bM_jzIuMg6wJtJiN7xaDEvqUjE1WFA618fCzPAvLBb7IUFiSfsMFqJtsvHZ88w2tvPfYg8lk71lrdNDI_Xr4yuSl6LCoPsfHFWiDUtno9OHuKlPN3b8dpKCJq0tEo6g/s1600/Harvest+Time.jpg" height="224" title="Harvest Time" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
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Harvest Time.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGz-vxeIvLjUZC_-Um7LMFOMyAwkvS_1rk4NlEuRfer2Zd1aDhGkchgHtJYKkvcHaNiJtYUjltLIK-M5I4cOQ3DaxDTdh9ayGGr649h5iAEdnSAcG_lX0spF8s1IDxpp6y_RLVBUtc5SI/s1600/Makhaleng+Valley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, lesotho" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGz-vxeIvLjUZC_-Um7LMFOMyAwkvS_1rk4NlEuRfer2Zd1aDhGkchgHtJYKkvcHaNiJtYUjltLIK-M5I4cOQ3DaxDTdh9ayGGr649h5iAEdnSAcG_lX0spF8s1IDxpp6y_RLVBUtc5SI/s1600/Makhaleng+Valley.jpg" height="223" title="Makhaleng Village" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makhaleng" target="_blank">Makhaleng</a> Valley.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGkaqW6pRMtSi_bTILn0sOfGrez39cZWq4pFrLq2FhSC4lsdRfFPIX56XJUzy6MwtBDbd5hKrIaw3Inw1Qe4G1YQWZ4UnMwPaGr8uK7GfAOn7G0KK6WqkYhP0F8Y6jpBSBS61mRwwSXU/s1600/Basotho+Riders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, lesotho" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGkaqW6pRMtSi_bTILn0sOfGrez39cZWq4pFrLq2FhSC4lsdRfFPIX56XJUzy6MwtBDbd5hKrIaw3Inw1Qe4G1YQWZ4UnMwPaGr8uK7GfAOn7G0KK6WqkYhP0F8Y6jpBSBS61mRwwSXU/s1600/Basotho+Riders.jpg" height="224" title="Basotho riders in traditional attire" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sotho_people" target="_blank">Basotho</a> are an ethnic group in southern Africa. Lesotho is named after them.<br />
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Top left: "The Wanderer" (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bematistes_aganice" target="_blank">Bematistes aganice</a>), a butterfly from south and south-eastern Africa.<br />
Top right: The Northern Flicker (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_flicker" target="_blank">Colaptes auratus</a>) is a woodpecker that lives in North America. Not sure what he's doing on a Lesotho stamp.<br />
Bottom: Turbina oblongata doesn't seem to have a wiki article yet.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ubTm91he8h_hTsjK8HWGThl-jTk4wsDIjMgtUNw3PligXTwSLIZ_QM4PlcV-7e9eqFGnSVpTRJLU1K2OWDBhJ7vn4i0k1JRGrvMy6Wfmx-PidQqLFTfA_XM9gWj2CKDgtETLjCfdHfk/s1600/Lesotho_stamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="the wanderer, the northern flicker, turbina oblongata" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ubTm91he8h_hTsjK8HWGThl-jTk4wsDIjMgtUNw3PligXTwSLIZ_QM4PlcV-7e9eqFGnSVpTRJLU1K2OWDBhJ7vn4i0k1JRGrvMy6Wfmx-PidQqLFTfA_XM9gWj2CKDgtETLjCfdHfk/s1600/Lesotho_stamps.jpg" height="228" title="Stamps of Lesotho" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-34249697243714302532014-12-19T04:53:00.000+01:002014-12-19T04:53:28.730+01:00Quick, comrade! Get in the car!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7WH9SY4GN73Eh2pxMOcXUzBSyKMzl1uiCaM_rqY9XkfcKcxi5fbpYWGMVgCuLsA6FHEGc4H-5JliaOQsyVDDg4ZiolPKIuKhqRIjy_AL7Dxe-ZNrvWYApYsg9smcDKF-sMlSKj4RJ84/s1600/Moscow_card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, russia, robeda trading house, monument" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7WH9SY4GN73Eh2pxMOcXUzBSyKMzl1uiCaM_rqY9XkfcKcxi5fbpYWGMVgCuLsA6FHEGc4H-5JliaOQsyVDDg4ZiolPKIuKhqRIjy_AL7Dxe-ZNrvWYApYsg9smcDKF-sMlSKj4RJ84/s1600/Moscow_card.jpg" height="320" title="1912 Moscow" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Backside: "Owners of the Pobeda Trading House in front of the monument to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_the_Great" target="_blank">Peter I.</a> 1912"<br />
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Left stamp: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumphal_Arch_of_Moscow" target="_blank">Triumphal Arch of Moscow</a>, erected to commemorate the victory over Napoleon <br />
Middle stamp: Crater lake of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maly_Semyachik" target="_blank">Maly Semyachik</a> volcano on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamchatka_Peninsula" target="_blank">Kamchatka Peninsula</a><br />
Rights stamp: Russian foodstuff. The machine makes tea, the pancakes are called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blintz" target="_blank">blinchiki</a>. The rings could be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bublik" target="_blank">baranka</a>. There's also honey and caviar. Delicious!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3Gde4CLGad8W_hogqY8VjpLslHHKVOGqhWid6rc_2L5gQQfxG9uUdwh5xj4XXLBsxRuy2CLAiD-eWdDuSjbTRnIdKEClcq8SQZLXUfyDw2s-IarNMNxr4WFHUjIYVoGIoHLP9FLjfG0/s1600/Moscow_stamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="triumphal arch of moscow, maly semyachik, kamchatka, baranka, blinchiki" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3Gde4CLGad8W_hogqY8VjpLslHHKVOGqhWid6rc_2L5gQQfxG9uUdwh5xj4XXLBsxRuy2CLAiD-eWdDuSjbTRnIdKEClcq8SQZLXUfyDw2s-IarNMNxr4WFHUjIYVoGIoHLP9FLjfG0/s1600/Moscow_stamps.jpg" height="143" title="Stamps of Russia" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-8009791542558077082014-12-17T04:03:00.000+01:002014-12-17T04:03:50.018+01:00Yaqona CeremonyLast week I've received this card from Fiji, it traveled almost 4 months to reach me. And it was a rough ride, too, but I'm very glad that it arrived after all.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLXKOH_p792EYHfNYQgUZnKIsSzsUhUU_ZAsSqaaqBnPp1dDmIvoonsaC-uMjFvV9FagmGQYZ9-PtKqhtx9GlxtZGyd2k4BAmGLfQi9HK2WpDCE-UAnMiJfUU_r4EIdb2vo3I6bN_3_0/s1600/Fiji_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, fiji, kava, tanoa" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLXKOH_p792EYHfNYQgUZnKIsSzsUhUU_ZAsSqaaqBnPp1dDmIvoonsaC-uMjFvV9FagmGQYZ9-PtKqhtx9GlxtZGyd2k4BAmGLfQi9HK2WpDCE-UAnMiJfUU_r4EIdb2vo3I6bN_3_0/s1600/Fiji_front.jpg" height="210" title="Yaqona Cerenomny" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Backside: "Also referred to as kava, this ceremonial drink is made from the crushed root of a plant of the same name. Very little reason is required for the yaqona bowl (tanoa) to be brought out and drinks offered to all present. It also, however has an important place in formal meetings and ceremonial occasions."<br />
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The bird on the left is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarlet_robin" target="_blank">Scarlet Robin</a> (or possibly a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_robin" target="_blank">Pacific Robin</a>). On the right, you can see a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striated_heron" target="_blank">Mangrove Heron</a> fishing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGwa8YBnT7zrBIk8jBXMLb5hMN1oCQc18erwJh0uXIVLzmuQDQR_ibMQ86wR26AFgMvxU0PnQ0np2OIwbLx48aGSiRoLYp5LLBCapUHIC4ZLPo5lM9snul4Ln3xPyZXAzV-ftYTXw9Xk/s1600/Fiji_stamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="scarlet robin, mangrove heron" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGwa8YBnT7zrBIk8jBXMLb5hMN1oCQc18erwJh0uXIVLzmuQDQR_ibMQ86wR26AFgMvxU0PnQ0np2OIwbLx48aGSiRoLYp5LLBCapUHIC4ZLPo5lM9snul4Ln3xPyZXAzV-ftYTXw9Xk/s1600/Fiji_stamps.jpg" height="320" title="Stamps of Fiji" width="297" /></a></div>
<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-12438495178318912862014-11-15T19:49:00.000+01:002014-11-15T19:50:26.451+01:00Les îles du SalutNot to be confused with the independent country <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guyana" target="_blank">Guyana</a>.<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Guiana" target="_blank">French Guiana</a> is further East, and spaceport of the European Space Agency <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Space_Agency" target="_blank">ESA</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEief0u9xATV1P9L6KhlVgYW9oeY0yOIV9K1Omuw0LwuG6_dXTLldoSacWqnFbfaxfsHz1o5qVrU4d5r0VlNLhyphenhyphengHTI4av8IC6MSnVJe3Zsae5IRpTBOJYC79vjPMAcdQb_R4xz58izezQo/s1600/FR.Guyana_postcard_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, french guiana" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEief0u9xATV1P9L6KhlVgYW9oeY0yOIV9K1Omuw0LwuG6_dXTLldoSacWqnFbfaxfsHz1o5qVrU4d5r0VlNLhyphenhyphengHTI4av8IC6MSnVJe3Zsae5IRpTBOJYC79vjPMAcdQb_R4xz58izezQo/s1600/FR.Guyana_postcard_front.jpg" height="212" title="Les îles du Salut" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The pictures are from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%8Eles_du_Salut" target="_blank">Islands of Salvation</a> near the coast of French Guiana. I'm also attaching two pictures of the envelope, which I find particularly pretty:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvzeVi1wJhtSaFzgpTS396oqulsMgG0qXcYE-n1At254KYf1_Uwgyst5fNYOlKo-c7EXPEUaUe-bKTXUSnAmFLTVNhj3tfOdu2xLjIySpySvp8gEtPonIeAEXC1U6zW8etYxURmbXbIA/s1600/FR.Guyana_envelope_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="french guiana, envelope" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvzeVi1wJhtSaFzgpTS396oqulsMgG0qXcYE-n1At254KYf1_Uwgyst5fNYOlKo-c7EXPEUaUe-bKTXUSnAmFLTVNhj3tfOdu2xLjIySpySvp8gEtPonIeAEXC1U6zW8etYxURmbXbIA/s1600/FR.Guyana_envelope_front.jpg" height="223" title="Front side" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zizmakFT5DzLLRtesEwdvo4dkRLEuYjgEWQXDyd1_Jz58St-yt1cP281pTFkmRtL44Q7qgaWxgFTHjCCutP-UkjKT1glthknaWvSl-yJldzpGg0JPiMObZupQc13OL8vSCwe8Fxrr_4/s1600/FR.Guyana_envelope_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="french guiana, envelope" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zizmakFT5DzLLRtesEwdvo4dkRLEuYjgEWQXDyd1_Jz58St-yt1cP281pTFkmRtL44Q7qgaWxgFTHjCCutP-UkjKT1glthknaWvSl-yJldzpGg0JPiMObZupQc13OL8vSCwe8Fxrr_4/s1600/FR.Guyana_envelope_back.jpg" height="223" title="Back side" width="320" /></a></div>
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All the stamps you can find in French Guiana are French, too, and the Euro is used as currency. Here, you can see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marianne" target="_blank">Marianne</a>, a national symbol of France. At least I think it's here. Hope I'm not confusing her with Marlène or Marie, she would be furious.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIszymXVIQdcQFm4dJihzDQUvXHvSM4DHZczMT6KHnuTlctZQtADTGsnxGKHNpLo8ghTxObbAJWM9TByPUrQs3LRP7q_HzLaUxc6blrgw9PAo6T1ehHtwfKgjmHbStK2WNvdaO5hZmMHo/s1600/FR.Guyana_stamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="stamp, france, french guiana, 20g" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIszymXVIQdcQFm4dJihzDQUvXHvSM4DHZczMT6KHnuTlctZQtADTGsnxGKHNpLo8ghTxObbAJWM9TByPUrQs3LRP7q_HzLaUxc6blrgw9PAo6T1ehHtwfKgjmHbStK2WNvdaO5hZmMHo/s1600/FR.Guyana_stamp.jpg" height="320" title="Marianne" width="256" /></a></div>
<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-5102441375973624692014-11-10T18:56:00.002+01:002014-11-10T18:56:48.234+01:00Republic square<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7zOOPRJo8L3cTaOSiSVlKRB0SsFY1Sa-3Q-SglUOQ0IT-iDayDouM97shERQq6TIkD_2_VOfVt3AJv4DK4mJyTz7w6_he5nDB4ya2osZvJIEAh7ym7LGmcoMkKfdTCr20_KXiBZY5Xc/s1600/Yerevan_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, armenia, yerevan" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7zOOPRJo8L3cTaOSiSVlKRB0SsFY1Sa-3Q-SglUOQ0IT-iDayDouM97shERQq6TIkD_2_VOfVt3AJv4DK4mJyTz7w6_he5nDB4ya2osZvJIEAh7ym7LGmcoMkKfdTCr20_KXiBZY5Xc/s1600/Yerevan_front.jpg" height="227" title="Republic square" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here you can see government building of Armenia, to be found at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_Square,_Yerevan" target="_blank">Republic square</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yerevan" target="_blank">Yerevan</a>. It used to be called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Lenin" target="_blank">Lenin</a> square and even featured a large statue of the communist politician, which was later replaced by a TV monitor. The clock you can see on the tower is 4 meters wide. Amazing!<br />
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The symbols are letters from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_alphabet" target="_blank">Armenian Alphabet</a>, Ը and Ճ. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cgNVfbh2oTQ1iHeRPhprMQkxg73M8qs5MvdKQKVV7gQO7OBSM8pj2hYvCRt84Fep_pDdaD2ihH3eaTE3H63M-E3gu7t7__YcPeA_ZyUZRYjwoOmbtq1Zk65Y5PFOQzz0fmG5nNidToc/s1600/Armenia_stamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span id="goog_1396429853"></span><img alt="stamps, armenia, alphabet, Ը, Ճ" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cgNVfbh2oTQ1iHeRPhprMQkxg73M8qs5MvdKQKVV7gQO7OBSM8pj2hYvCRt84Fep_pDdaD2ihH3eaTE3H63M-E3gu7t7__YcPeA_ZyUZRYjwoOmbtq1Zk65Y5PFOQzz0fmG5nNidToc/s1600/Armenia_stamps.jpg" height="175" title="Stamps of Armenia" width="320" /><span id="goog_1396429854"></span></a></div>
<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-13868200943842944102014-11-10T18:38:00.003+01:002014-11-10T18:38:56.691+01:00Mountains and tits<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6syJUFZsVp66dPwMJRRSNq_54DHI1n2WQUZ9RFXEn4M_6gZ8phOFSgQnXQNUsAuLb9cnsZ4OZ3YTErsTkYLL5xc_iVai-pa05EHrbzgHuPazUKWNKUiUByE4VDwhwG-kTAE4APiAnsEw/s1600/Andorra_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, andorra" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6syJUFZsVp66dPwMJRRSNq_54DHI1n2WQUZ9RFXEn4M_6gZ8phOFSgQnXQNUsAuLb9cnsZ4OZ3YTErsTkYLL5xc_iVai-pa05EHrbzgHuPazUKWNKUiUByE4VDwhwG-kTAE4APiAnsEw/s1600/Andorra_front.jpg" height="222" title="Escaldes-Engordany" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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A beautiful view of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escaldes-Engordany" target="_blank">Escaldes-Engordany</a>, second largest town of Andorra. This country is located in the Pyrenees mountains, between France and Spain. On the left of the picture, you can already see parts of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andorra_la_Vella" target="_blank">Andorra la Vella</a>, the capital. The building in in the middle with the pointy blue tower <br />
<a href="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centro_Termol%C3%BAdico_Caldea" target="_blank">Centre Termolúdic Caldae</a>, a spa.<br />
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I've also received some Eurasian blue tits (cyanistes caeruleus). They look hot. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzId2xM8mZCey9l99Y98i_EBkt53Gktr3jg000ArVwvu_Bre91qgvip6O0jLBkmqil0X1HNAvp_BkNJ7GOR_DEKTOTLZmpCTHKju80Ur_hvPNkjuLaBxlvZFfRSjKzfw02FKfdtKuXPpA/s1600/Andorra_stamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="stamp, andorra, cyanistes caeruleus, eurasian blue tits" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzId2xM8mZCey9l99Y98i_EBkt53Gktr3jg000ArVwvu_Bre91qgvip6O0jLBkmqil0X1HNAvp_BkNJ7GOR_DEKTOTLZmpCTHKju80Ur_hvPNkjuLaBxlvZFfRSjKzfw02FKfdtKuXPpA/s1600/Andorra_stamps.jpg" height="120" title="Tits" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-9033336565242586292014-11-10T17:06:00.004+01:002014-11-10T17:07:06.761+01:00A Winter View<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHlJxAs0nffn_TbyrvKnoCp6Q9ef-zCB1gq-xs7G6qNQzEX7kUBUEtddVoD9Wn5nzkTb_ey1HY1s0Qkk4SfdMOiGe8WgnWqyXnYMFAPv6XnqZLNugVXLToX_zrpURgXlp9Iky0DHNpV8/s1600/Penza_kremlin_postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, Russia, kremlin" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHlJxAs0nffn_TbyrvKnoCp6Q9ef-zCB1gq-xs7G6qNQzEX7kUBUEtddVoD9Wn5nzkTb_ey1HY1s0Qkk4SfdMOiGe8WgnWqyXnYMFAPv6XnqZLNugVXLToX_zrpURgXlp9Iky0DHNpV8/s1600/Penza_kremlin_postcard.jpg" height="223" title="Penza 1913" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is the kremlin in Penza, a town of half a million inhabitants, some 600km southwestern of Moscow. The picture was taken in 1913 and you can see the town's kremlin on it. A year after that, the Russian Empire got involved in World War I. Four years later, two revolutions turned the country upside-down, leading to a civil war and, ultimately, the foundation of the Soviet Union.<br />
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More pretty kremlins can be found on the stamps.<br />
On the left: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazan_Kremlin" target="_blank">Kazan Kremlin</a>.<br />
On the right: <a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A0%D1%8F%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%BB%D1%8C" target="_blank">Ryazan Kremlin</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DQcbUsZFzKbabXlOzbb5dGJTTqLPx7IB1_XE8UiYoAA7WCmkzs8Qri3e4aKE2wZiyfSpl6OBbgNR6lz72RMIrW_kYbQwQKrnLOq81anmKhZbP9SyZOdNza1PpOQ8YdHCG1rwZgeovag/s1600/Penza_kremlin_stamps.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="kremlin, kazan, ryazan" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DQcbUsZFzKbabXlOzbb5dGJTTqLPx7IB1_XE8UiYoAA7WCmkzs8Qri3e4aKE2wZiyfSpl6OBbgNR6lz72RMIrW_kYbQwQKrnLOq81anmKhZbP9SyZOdNza1PpOQ8YdHCG1rwZgeovag/s1600/Penza_kremlin_stamps.jpg" height="101" title="Stamps of Russia" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-36213274890644234402014-11-10T16:42:00.003+01:002014-11-10T16:42:34.721+01:00Gamcheon Culture Village<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzG-2X8gUVSxx4N2-blLMpMkCGi3nUE94gi5BIZdC8Jgh27OjyUz-M0c-dfL81Q_S95DlNLsfda32cfsoXOSTKeinjFlnKnakoXqXb4gg_6IaOpDzUV_HNat_LJRFKzzkCQZZHjGaYb5Q/s1600/Gamcheon_Culture_Village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, south korea, busan" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzG-2X8gUVSxx4N2-blLMpMkCGi3nUE94gi5BIZdC8Jgh27OjyUz-M0c-dfL81Q_S95DlNLsfda32cfsoXOSTKeinjFlnKnakoXqXb4gg_6IaOpDzUV_HNat_LJRFKzzkCQZZHjGaYb5Q/s1600/Gamcheon_Culture_Village.jpg" height="212" title="Gamcheon Cultural Village" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This is Gamcheon, a village near <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busan" target="_blank">Busan</a>, the second largest town of South Korea. The village is quite famous for its curious looks and some movies were shot there. You can read a more detailed report about this place <a href="http://headstandtravels.com/gamcheon-cultural-village/" target="_blank">here</a>.Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-11247856253378592722014-11-06T02:38:00.000+01:002014-11-06T02:38:00.059+01:00Piazza del Plebiscito<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrhusazdWXX8OJrZ6YvwUV8uIOvMe0fe8D_p_Ha3z4yav6ucTHyFUNuqrLrHwWpF8EYVLZlWq-n2EnAq-D5HMqiJ_H-vrdjrEun4v7j2yrp745bTr8jLGihyphenhyphencg7u-3EWdQ1hBWjP6Ubk/s1600/Napoli_card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, italy, piazza del plebiscito" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrhusazdWXX8OJrZ6YvwUV8uIOvMe0fe8D_p_Ha3z4yav6ucTHyFUNuqrLrHwWpF8EYVLZlWq-n2EnAq-D5HMqiJ_H-vrdjrEun4v7j2yrp745bTr8jLGihyphenhyphencg7u-3EWdQ1hBWjP6Ubk/s1600/Napoli_card.jpg" height="158" title="Beautiful Napoli" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This beautiful card is from - you may have guessed already - Napoli. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_del_Plebiscito" target="_blank">piazza del plebiscito</a> sees a lot of visitors particularly at nighttime. The church with the large cupola on the right is called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francesco_di_Paola_%28Naples%29" target="_blank">San Francesco di Paola</a>. You can see the Mediterranean Sea in the back and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Vesuvius" target="_blank">Vesuvius</a> would be on the left if the card was even wider.<br />
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The stamp is from the national instruments series and shows the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Launeddas" target="_blank">launeddas</a>, a Sardinian woodwind instrument.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzuZixzq_ZIgZDdqH7fnngiOHkTOCqACunVohGG6zFd5DECNNWC_X1yQ0V-EqpqkKAF501NA0ZC-cLNpmXCKaKBGvkXe4nn3D7ojbvzpHpYBYv76vfsHboIdLzQwLhcjIA-hO5skaVJM/s1600/Napoli_stamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="stamp, italy, europe" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzuZixzq_ZIgZDdqH7fnngiOHkTOCqACunVohGG6zFd5DECNNWC_X1yQ0V-EqpqkKAF501NA0ZC-cLNpmXCKaKBGvkXe4nn3D7ojbvzpHpYBYv76vfsHboIdLzQwLhcjIA-hO5skaVJM/s1600/Napoli_stamp.jpg" height="320" title="Launeddas" width="246" /></a></div>
<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-40580586634291666932014-11-06T02:19:00.002+01:002014-11-06T02:19:41.652+01:00Petronas Towers<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVw8pTDL_q2U1rZg5RG2cXeygLHfO_NZlQHOWXH4gHHZsufIDnHprUhivPlwsWCKIHFAWNxbc7iBqesxKRAse-lZp4Jv7kEhv0NG8hn1us439tnk4rkRSTSFXlvY5efSHDJa9LbFxwSw/s1600/Malaysia-front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, malaysia, kuala lumpur, suria KLCC" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVw8pTDL_q2U1rZg5RG2cXeygLHfO_NZlQHOWXH4gHHZsufIDnHprUhivPlwsWCKIHFAWNxbc7iBqesxKRAse-lZp4Jv7kEhv0NG8hn1us439tnk4rkRSTSFXlvY5efSHDJa9LbFxwSw/s1600/Malaysia-front.jpg" height="223" title="Petronas Towers" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Backside:<br />
"Suria KLCC, the podium block of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petronas_Towers" target="_blank">PETRONAS Twin Towers</a>, houses a shopping complex, art gallery, a petrol-science centre and the PETRONAS <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysian_Philharmonic_Orchestra" target="_blank">Philharmonic Orchestra</a> Hall."<br />
<br />
The left stamp shows <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rambutan" target="_blank">Rambutan</a> (nephelium lappaceum), a plant similar to lychee. On the right, you can see two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera" target="_blank">lotus flowers</a>.<br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEids0GANbDMn6ihgyA0IRFZy6kcJxZf8N6lKg4UxGmFedVwJu2YHGCfWd4SzAs920CyzSAuIRq5hyHz4uL9U3U8Mkz1R7TAU8U-cLFMYWHMWZwN9QEv6x-rhNgYLvSyVPIB0rhrwkFPPls/s1600/Malaysia-stamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="lotus, rambutan, nelumbium nelumbo, nephelium lappaceum" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEids0GANbDMn6ihgyA0IRFZy6kcJxZf8N6lKg4UxGmFedVwJu2YHGCfWd4SzAs920CyzSAuIRq5hyHz4uL9U3U8Mkz1R7TAU8U-cLFMYWHMWZwN9QEv6x-rhNgYLvSyVPIB0rhrwkFPPls/s1600/Malaysia-stamps.jpg" height="136" title="Stamps of Malaysia" width="320" /></a></div>
Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-80795629695274716662014-09-09T22:15:00.000+02:002014-09-09T22:15:04.036+02:00Talafofo Falls<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4H1ngaufVXAfceZiMDEiqwbHdfFkIicaDFqLO37dI5uaYq31lgn1TbLQcHhcHdMgL-t7f1eTHmjU62wXimYiIDeifwcws0zMYbjir6Cd2P9as9-ZafpvddBzC0b1-a39UEzCTvV2W98/s1600/Guam_postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, guam, talafofo river" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4H1ngaufVXAfceZiMDEiqwbHdfFkIicaDFqLO37dI5uaYq31lgn1TbLQcHhcHdMgL-t7f1eTHmjU62wXimYiIDeifwcws0zMYbjir6Cd2P9as9-ZafpvddBzC0b1-a39UEzCTvV2W98/s1600/Guam_postcard.jpg" height="221" title="Talafofo Falls" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Backside text:<br />
<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talofofo_Falls" target="_blank">Talofofo Falls</a>, Guam's favorite waterfall, provides a refreshing swimming spot at the end of a one-hour hike up the banks of the Talofofo River.</i><br />
It seems that the hike there is the fun part of the falls.<br />
<br />
As you know, Guam uses US stamps, this one showing the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Bell" target="_blank">Liberty Bell</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gPzHWfGp07g8JYlWoT19qpoqWd63MzPkxhBWbhXWrV-BRU3Z2Z7M00Wuy4D21qIhGIe2FaKnelrrnEkQ9y9RB4VRCV9wJ1GP3OKPF-ubW1nDQOSKPam6LBBKm2ubMLGd4i7Gox8OPYg/s1600/Guam_stamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="stamps, guam, usa" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gPzHWfGp07g8JYlWoT19qpoqWd63MzPkxhBWbhXWrV-BRU3Z2Z7M00Wuy4D21qIhGIe2FaKnelrrnEkQ9y9RB4VRCV9wJ1GP3OKPF-ubW1nDQOSKPam6LBBKm2ubMLGd4i7Gox8OPYg/s1600/Guam_stamps.jpg" height="138" title="Liberty Bell" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-44455362592623473772014-09-07T16:56:00.001+02:002014-09-07T16:56:56.074+02:00National Museum of History<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5l3oFw_LPwHnyunWlXO9PvXZ7ffPpFS-3XTtmAqwHMvi9H3LlqKFKMQsrw1i0zfSkPBueJhnmgUCvlSnuOvAklhZ-LEzLzt82nmyKd9AYsnDLX8COrwI76xpnYXxSl1TBXQC-pb6ShD0/s1600/Moldova_postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, moldova, chișinău, capitoline wolf" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5l3oFw_LPwHnyunWlXO9PvXZ7ffPpFS-3XTtmAqwHMvi9H3LlqKFKMQsrw1i0zfSkPBueJhnmgUCvlSnuOvAklhZ-LEzLzt82nmyKd9AYsnDLX8COrwI76xpnYXxSl1TBXQC-pb6ShD0/s1600/Moldova_postcard.jpg" height="225" title="National Museum of History" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here's the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_History_of_Moldova" target="_blank">National Museum of History of Moldova</a> (Muzeul Național de Istorie a Moldovei). The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitoline_Wolf,_Chi%C5%9Fin%C4%83u" target="_blank">wolf statue</a> in the small picture is one of five copies of the Capitoline Wolf in Rome that Italy gave to Romania during the 1920s.<br />
<br />
The stamp shows a painting of the birth of Christ, also exhibited in the National Museum.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0vqHgdnUgaqLsCErMFLwQfi4nOmH-x7n-QhysEAIWX8Ckf_B-r-WJTZsOZsG7wNT7LSA-C7xbMQPESaf507IXy5Q1mJkQ6FoSHHt6BwVZm16ncOQ9RSW50rW5Na6Peopgm3v__awdB4/s1600/Moldova_stamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="birth of christ" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0vqHgdnUgaqLsCErMFLwQfi4nOmH-x7n-QhysEAIWX8Ckf_B-r-WJTZsOZsG7wNT7LSA-C7xbMQPESaf507IXy5Q1mJkQ6FoSHHt6BwVZm16ncOQ9RSW50rW5Na6Peopgm3v__awdB4/s1600/Moldova_stamp.jpg" height="320" title="Stamp of Moldova" width="317" /></a></div>
<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-19214276985235645602014-09-07T03:34:00.000+02:002014-09-07T03:34:05.630+02:00Séga Dance<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDavMWvyS-9Sd7TD2KT08MMCorgoCr9K-dqIpzSPfOKEZ3-2c4BcUCeb5uAKrp37SYTSs25Z-uSNXqJRQjx1aXUX63DbCaogIgN2qsNzAUAo1wzEFGxVaQg6RfAopCvk0qjKwajkwC5zs/s1600/Mauritius_beach1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, mauritius, beach, danse du séga" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDavMWvyS-9Sd7TD2KT08MMCorgoCr9K-dqIpzSPfOKEZ3-2c4BcUCeb5uAKrp37SYTSs25Z-uSNXqJRQjx1aXUX63DbCaogIgN2qsNzAUAo1wzEFGxVaQg6RfAopCvk0qjKwajkwC5zs/s1600/Mauritius_beach1.jpg" height="159" title="Séga Dance" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_music" target="_blank">Sega music</a> is very popular in Mauritius. Here's an example:<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrxwP76PyW0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrxwP76PyW0</a>Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-62712820735049107232014-09-07T02:46:00.002+02:002014-09-07T02:47:31.943+02:00Glaciers and a golden statue<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcur4QeHChNt51QKStHebNLz606w2bH-EhiaewIpb2MZV394hYe1uq1KPw34yNWox5iQZgRwiuplS9l8EOubmq_kUUORm3ctMtXc3TaiPzsYfPTNzcjP3N4Utk670TskTKHt7FPtQOmwY/s1600/Kyrgyzstan_postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, kyrgyzstan" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcur4QeHChNt51QKStHebNLz606w2bH-EhiaewIpb2MZV394hYe1uq1KPw34yNWox5iQZgRwiuplS9l8EOubmq_kUUORm3ctMtXc3TaiPzsYfPTNzcjP3N4Utk670TskTKHt7FPtQOmwY/s1600/Kyrgyzstan_postcard.jpg" height="206" title="Statue" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
To be frank with you, I've got no clue who that guy is. Clearly he had a soft spot for gold and peculiar hats, but that's all I know for now. If you have more information, please enlighten me.<br />
<br />
I think the stamp shows a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yak" target="_blank">yak</a>, although it has got no horns. A female perhaps?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4V3M4yQ1-nXFdT1q-NplYle7qxpxDzOieRy2A2WlFc4xKWcmUgZ89wn-a6D-G8cNLvIcmyGv72tM6CNqCTm99MpobE4l2xkydoyHUfrrb4s8USSO2v9b95uzx1X0cs2J6zMt__jcfPcg/s1600/Kyrgyzstan_animal_stamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="yak" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4V3M4yQ1-nXFdT1q-NplYle7qxpxDzOieRy2A2WlFc4xKWcmUgZ89wn-a6D-G8cNLvIcmyGv72tM6CNqCTm99MpobE4l2xkydoyHUfrrb4s8USSO2v9b95uzx1X0cs2J6zMt__jcfPcg/s1600/Kyrgyzstan_animal_stamp.jpg" height="252" title="Stamp of Kyrgyzstan" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
These stamps show the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tian_Shan" target="_blank">Tian Shan</a> mountain ranges. <br />
From left to right, from top to bottom:<br />
1. Ak-Say Glacier<br />
2. Kotur Glacier<br />
3. Semenovsky Glavier at <a href="http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khan_Tengri" target="_blank">Khan Tengri</a> mountain<br />
4. Zvezdochka Glacier at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jengish_Chokusu" target="_blank">Jengish Chokusu</a> mountain<br />
5. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engilchek_Glacier" target="_blank">North Inyltschek Glacier </a><br />
6. South Inyltschek Glacier, both also at <a href="http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khan_Tengri" target="_blank">Khan Tengri</a> mountain<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMQ82zLTsj14NIcdKtvsD7ThE5nXbwauke0is0P21i0UrnMlg6k2xZAC76bhyphenhyphenafccOQqB_C_mwHD9vOGY-HMqZmTd9LyjKUr1u_qsQynvWnBjB_hfD9RH9rqwdTm0LhmkycEbulQRBoI/s1600/Kyrgyzstan_mountain_stamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="khan tengri, jengish chokusu, inyltschek, kotur, ak-say" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMQ82zLTsj14NIcdKtvsD7ThE5nXbwauke0is0P21i0UrnMlg6k2xZAC76bhyphenhyphenafccOQqB_C_mwHD9vOGY-HMqZmTd9LyjKUr1u_qsQynvWnBjB_hfD9RH9rqwdTm0LhmkycEbulQRBoI/s1600/Kyrgyzstan_mountain_stamps.jpg" height="205" title="Glaciers of Kyrgyzstan" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-39838634700628011022014-09-07T01:06:00.001+02:002014-09-07T01:07:00.900+02:00A Mountain View<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOYTiH4CIwBUJ-XuB8hGxP2JufwXHKoVbHBFrghrWlz1qHHjsXNhrU0DeHk7UaLNAwDqdeUmpSdUXx5DrnycWPOv3dsh9koi3R-uQStd7q8B7CNUDXOW5gwmByJagzXzTgLZ-PaRZuNg/s1600/Macedonia_postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, macedonia, mountain" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOYTiH4CIwBUJ-XuB8hGxP2JufwXHKoVbHBFrghrWlz1qHHjsXNhrU0DeHk7UaLNAwDqdeUmpSdUXx5DrnycWPOv3dsh9koi3R-uQStd7q8B7CNUDXOW5gwmByJagzXzTgLZ-PaRZuNg/s1600/Macedonia_postcard.jpg" height="175" title="Velebrdo" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Behold the mighty mountains of Macedonia! The village that can be seen in the valley is called <a href="http://mk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B4%D0%BE" target="_blank">Velebrdo</a>.<br />
<br />
The stamp commemorates the 50th anniversary of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Meteorological_Organization" target="_blank">World Meteorological Organization</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6a3BNFKf78KbSNKd9yls-3aKvwpQqpwoj78aY05uE6dgTCA_kYsdXYx_I6XUt1ZvrJB5aYrtR82fzehC50CZCh3RTCXb3uX1mrvLzDOa9v8IAcpI1EHWsW-ozmjmaa0ax8NBluxaxJ4/s1600/Macedonia_stamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="world meteorological organization, 50 years" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6a3BNFKf78KbSNKd9yls-3aKvwpQqpwoj78aY05uE6dgTCA_kYsdXYx_I6XUt1ZvrJB5aYrtR82fzehC50CZCh3RTCXb3uX1mrvLzDOa9v8IAcpI1EHWsW-ozmjmaa0ax8NBluxaxJ4/s1600/Macedonia_stamp.jpg" height="320" title="Stamp of Macedonia" width="311" /></a></div>
<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271327780424856310.post-15878655448549718712014-09-07T00:39:00.002+02:002014-09-07T01:08:00.139+02:00Rock-cut church<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgc7vyyxGyw_LfYYeF_IRHedSc6we8kXeFF5n0oamJOrMFFg24t3jSFYNy2GrmiArscL9ZGQ7VbEnEiLYBhCngf_YvFdPXlb-W30CHC0pRtoKGXlksPQsnBaI5gurVeUejC_mmUA9oiyo/s1600/Ethiopia_postcard1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, ethiopia, biete giyorgis, lalibela" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgc7vyyxGyw_LfYYeF_IRHedSc6we8kXeFF5n0oamJOrMFFg24t3jSFYNy2GrmiArscL9ZGQ7VbEnEiLYBhCngf_YvFdPXlb-W30CHC0pRtoKGXlksPQsnBaI5gurVeUejC_mmUA9oiyo/s1600/Ethiopia_postcard1.jpg" height="199" title="Church of Saint George" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Saint_George,_Lalibela" target="_blank">Church of Saint George</a> (Bete Giorigis), one of eleven monolithic churches in Lalibela, Ethiopia. They're quite astonishing structures, all built below ground level and dating back to the 12th century. And they are a UNESCO world heritage site nowadays.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZclRMe1xdY9Ym7fvdnQE-Gaip9ly9sMlP9yvwK_y5zXValoBG-Juq-OnB4bnJ3IWkCDQdPqw2Rx8535ARNDELN9eicFAvyIigMiEO2ExoS-IMsZMHPWxp8JEQZRWVQ0v_zvvoXjGlVw/s1600/Ethiopia_postcard2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="postcard, ethiopia, jugol" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZclRMe1xdY9Ym7fvdnQE-Gaip9ly9sMlP9yvwK_y5zXValoBG-Juq-OnB4bnJ3IWkCDQdPqw2Rx8535ARNDELN9eicFAvyIigMiEO2ExoS-IMsZMHPWxp8JEQZRWVQ0v_zvvoXjGlVw/s1600/Ethiopia_postcard2.jpg" height="207" title="Hahar Gate" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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This is one of the five <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harar" target="_blank">Harar</a> Gates, part of a city wall (the "Jugol") from the 16th century that was not destroyed until this very day.<br />
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Left: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debre_Damo" target="_blank">Debre Damo</a> is a monastery and the earliest existing church building in Ethiopia and may only be visited by men. If that's no crazy enough for you, imagine that is can only accessed by making one's way hand over hand along a rope (see picture). It is unrecorded weather <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abuna_Aregawi" target="_blank">Abuna Aregawi</a>, the founder of the monastery, was a keen mountaineer.<br />
Right: <i>Tragelaphus seriptus meneliki</i>, the <a href="http://www.selamta.net/bushbuck.htm" target="_blank">Menelik's Bushbuck</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8yCuBBj3Ey7VpwTRpiL4JUWH8JGzaAsJ-_n2p9gRwqBazZjNTCnwpbt1ZgyPKfgZEbiWm7HTOhqmCf9GA_2CrrAiPkyPNzVMrW2Y-D7vQDpLIgUQs958EMb8vtGYtyDPyOw8AU9U3Hg/s1600/Ethiopia_stamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="menelik's bushbuck, debre damo, monastery, abuna aregawi" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8yCuBBj3Ey7VpwTRpiL4JUWH8JGzaAsJ-_n2p9gRwqBazZjNTCnwpbt1ZgyPKfgZEbiWm7HTOhqmCf9GA_2CrrAiPkyPNzVMrW2Y-D7vQDpLIgUQs958EMb8vtGYtyDPyOw8AU9U3Hg/s1600/Ethiopia_stamps.jpg" height="257" title="Stamps of Ethiopia" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Berndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684433550350005433noreply@blogger.com0