Tromsø, Norway

Perhaps the best/handiest spot to organise observation of the Northern Lights, Tromsø is the largest urban area in Northern Norway and the second largest north of the Arctic Circle (after Murmansk). Most of Tromsø, including the city centre, is located on the island of Tromsøya, 350 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle. 

For me personally, there is another important reason to visit this icy place - it is the 'birth town' of my favourite band, Röyksopp. I hope they will include some place near on their new tour!

Longji Rice Terraces, China

Also called Dragon's Backbone ( because the rice terraces resemble a dragon's scales, while the summit of the mountain range looks like the backbone of the dragon ), they are located in Longsheng County, about 100 kilometres from Guilin, Guangxi, South China. The harvest season is depicted here, I hope to witness it one day! Thanks a lot Jian Lun for offering in a tag :))

Baobab Tree, Madagascar

I have met more wonderful postcrossers this year, and one of them is Haya who sent me this great sunset view with the enormous baobab tree - I have tried to find out which tree exactly, and found some interesting stuff, like a cafe inside a tree! Thank you very much Haya :)

Happy New Year 2015!

           Best Wishes For The New Year 2015,

                      may you receive many great postcards!

Its one of the coldest new year's eves ever recorded in my region brrr. Ironically, its the first nye in ages that I've set my mind on going to, so my friend and me will enter 2015 in determination and bravery heh. Something I could definitely use in the year to come. But before I leave to freeze my a** off, I will choose 3 postcards for my blog and will hope that at least one of them represents a future travel destination in 2015 :))

We The Peoples...United Nations New York

Great card from Denise, gorgeous Taj Mahal stamp, thanks! Not written on the back what ethnic group is on the picture, I will faintly guess it is the Himalayas in the background...if anyone has any idea feel free to contribute in a comment.

Water Village, Brunei

Also called Kampong Ayer in Malay, is an area of Brunei's capital city Bandar Seri Begawan that is situated after the Brunei Bay. 39000 people live there, which is roughly ten percent of the nation's total population. All of the Water Village buildings are constructed on stilts above the Brunei River.

Many thanks to Saedah Ismail, for my only 2nd postcard from Negara Brunei Darussalam :)

 

Golden Lane In Prague Castle

Lovely view of the colourful Golden Lane -  its name is connected with 16th century alchemists, who had to look there, according to legends, for a reaction to produce gold. As part of the castle it is also UNESCO - but so many places in Prague are, I have already posted about them too, so this comes separately..! I am hoping to visit Prague again soon, it is definitely one of the most beautiful towns I have ever been to.

Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Lush green hills always attract me like a magnet...The Cameron Highlands are known for its tea estates, as well as orchards, farmlands, waterfalls, wildlife, mossy forest,  and the indigeonous Orang Asli peoples. As the sender says, she loves having a cup of fresh tea at plantations such as in this picture, and I am jealous - thank you Victoria Jane :)

Charamel Falls, Mauritius

Thanks to wonderful Samuel and Vivi I get another great postcard from Mauritius :D

Chamarel is a village located in Rivière Noire District of Mauritius, primarily known for its scenic locations and nature attractions in its neighbourhood, among them the Charamel Falls. The surrounding area is also known for its locally grown coffee.Mmmm :)

Namtso Lake, China

Another stunning view from China - Namtso or Lake Nam is a mountain lake in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, approximately 112 kilometres NNW of Lhasa. It  lies at an elevation of 4,718 m and has a surface area of 1,920 square km (but is still far from being the highest lake).

There are five uninhabited islands of reasonable size - they have been used for spiritual retreat by pilgrims who walk over the lake's frozen surface at the end of winter, carrying their food with them. They spend the summer there, unable to return to shore again until the water freezes the following winter. This practice is no longer permitted by Chinese authorities.

Many thanks to Shu, I got this via a tag on the forum, and now i'm thinking its been ages since i participated in tags...well 'ages' can be a relative term; for someone sending postcards every week, months is a long time..!

Give Me Your Nose, Snowman!

Great donkey postcard from Nalini, thank you! Wish we had snow but its so weirdly warm...ugh.

Bagpuss

I have never heard of Bagpuss before seeing this stamp, but hey its a puss :D It is a UK children's television series, and only 13 episodes were made back in 1974 but it remained a classic. The title character was "a saggy, old cloth cat, baggy, and a bit loose at the seams".

Come to think of it, its interesting how cats are being portrayed in the media - its hard to think of a cat character that that is overall positive..! This one might be closest to it. Thanks Eileen :))

Brandenburg Gate, Germany

This is a silent reminder of my recent (1st) visit to the fascinating German metropole :)
From a postcrossing meeting, thanks to Andy :)

UNESCO - Holašovice Historical Village Reservation, Czech Republic

Holašovice is an exceptionally complete and well-preserved example of a traditional central European village. It has a large number of outstanding 18th- and 19th-century vernacular buildings in a style known as 'South Bohemian folk Baroque', and preserves a ground plan dating from the Middle Ages.

With Unesco stamps, one of them matching Holašovice, thanks to Anna :)

Official - Best Wishes

parhaimmat onnittelut = best congratulations!
What I like about this official card is that it has matching cute bear on the stamp - kiitos arja-liisa :)
 

UNESCO - Medina Of Tunis, Tunisia

Under the Almohads and the Hafsids, from the 12th to the 16th century, Tunis was considered one of the greatest and wealthiest cities in the Islamic world. Some 700 monuments, including palaces, mosques, mausoleums, madrasas and fountains, testify to this remarkable past.

Wonderful view of the rooftops of the Medina sent by Mahdi, thank you :)

UNESCO - Old Havana, Cuba

 

Pre-paid postcards showing views of the Havana Vieja, with the basilica and the monastery of San Francisco de Asis. 

Vintage Gang

 

It was a lovely surprise from a friend, thank you Elsie xx

UNESCO - Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, Germany

Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe is a unique landscape park in Kassel, central Germany. The area of the park is 2.4 square kilometres (590 acres), making it the largest European hillside park, and second largest park on a mountain slope in the world. Construction of the Bergpark, or "mountain park", began in 1696 at the behest of the Landgraves of Hesse-Kassel and took about 150 years.

Reservoirs and channels behind the Hercules Monument supply water to a complex system of hydro-pneumatic devices that supply the site’s large Baroque water theatre, grotto, fountains and 350-metre long Grand Cascade.

For a tag, danke Claus :)

 

Mucha - Monaco, Monte-Carlo

Thanks a bunch Elishka :)