Kecak Dance At Tanah Lot, Indonesia

 

I have discovered among my older scans a postcard with a great set of se-tenant stamps titled Forests: Nature at your service, issued in 2011. It is not specified what kind of a conifer it is, or the cute creature peeking behind it.

The postcard shows a performance of Kecak, otherwise known as Ramayana Monkey Chant, in front of a pilgrimage temple Tanah Lot in west Bali. Looks very mystical!

Encamp, Andorra

Encamp is the main town in the parish of the same name in central Andorra, situated on the Valira d'Orient river in a beautiful mountainous setting. Many thanks to Fabienne for this view and using the Europa stamp :)

In 2011 Europa stamps presented forests, and most of those stamps were/are gorgeous - I am happy to show some of them here for Sunday Stamps #131 theme Trees. Please check my other posts below, and what others have contributed this week :)

Nitra Castle, Slovakia

Nitra Castle or Nitriansky Hrad was built in the 11th century on the place of an earlier fort and dominates the city skyline. Its core is the St. Emmeram's Cathedral, whose bell tower can be seen on this postcard. This is easily my favourite postcard received from Slovakia, and with the lovely Europa forest stamp. Thank you Radim :)

UNESCO - Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona

The Glarud Thrust is a major thrust fault in the Alps of Switzerland, which forms the contact between older Helvetic Permo-Triassic rock layers and younger Jurassic and Cretaceous limestones. Thrust faults of this kind are not that uncommon but this is a well-accessible example which has as such played a great role in the development of  geological knowledge on mountain building.

Many thanks to Sara who helped me a lot with Swiss Unesco sites, and used a beautiful Europa forest stamp on this one :)

UNESCO - Mausoleum Of The First Qin Emperor, China

 

No doubt thousands of statues still remain to be unearthed at this archaeological site, which was not discovered until 1974. Qin (d. 210 B.C.), the first unifier of China, is buried, surrounded by the famous terracotta warriors, at the centre of a complex designed to mirror the urban plan of the capital, Xianyan. The small figures are all different; with their horses, chariots and weapons, they are masterpieces of realism and also of great historical interest.

I have just realised that I have already posted about these stamps! But they are quite beautiful and I really do love the green mossy trees one - they represent the Shennongjia National Nature Reserve known for its high plant diversity. Issued in 1998. Thank you Twenty :)

Inge Löök Grannies

 

Inge Look is a former professional gardener and lately a successful illustrator from Finland, best-known for the two loopy grannies pictured above :) I thought I'd love to have one card in my collection and this one seemed perfect as it depicts ecstasy over the received mail hehh. 

The stamp is something we've seen on Sunday Stamps before but its such a nice one, issued in 2010 representing Finland's Torronsuo National Park. Thank you Mindee :)

GEO - Flamingos In Flamingo

 'Hundreds of Flamingos gathered at a lake on Mexico's peninsula Yucatan, and accidentally built a gigantic shape of their own species; lucky once-in-the-lifetime shot for the photographer.'

Amazing isn't it? This is the first of today's postcards that I will post related to Sunday Stamps and this week's topic: trees. The second stamp being issued by Deutsche Post in 2012 showing landscape at dusk.

UNESCO - Historic Centre Of Český Krumlov, Czech Republic

 

Situated on the banks of the Vltava river, the town of  Český Krumlov was built around a 13th-century castle with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements. It is an outstanding example of a small central European medieval town whose architectural heritage has remained intact thanks to its peaceful evolution over more than five centuries.

This aerial view is one of the most beautiful I have seen on a postcard :) And the stamps...awesome! Both Krtek and A je to! (Pat & Mat) are my childhood cartoons and I love having these stamps, thank you loads Radana :))