I Love Stamps

Including this one of a Common Cuckoo from Belarus, thanks to Yana :)

Actually I have started collecting stamps way before postcards, not sure about the age but def before my teens. Perhaps because they were more accessible to me...not in the 'right' philatelic way of course (I am still not a proper philatelist, and I suspect I'll never be!) but as my dad was working in Germany we'd sometimes visit, and I was able to buy  unassorted lots - oh the joy of going through it all discovering what I've gotten..! I still have 6-7 stamp albums on my shelf and love going through them from time to time. Of course these days I leave the stamps intact on postcards and covers...but as I was little I used to maul the letters I received, shame...Anyhoo, it's all very well, stuff that brought or bring joy :))

Chain Postcard - Lizards And Colours

Last year was the year of chain postcards, it was a great way to give this lizard card a life, and with such colourful stamps :)) From Croatia, Poland Slovenia and Serbia.

Vanuatu Underwater Post Office

Now here is something that I really thought would be one of the last missing countries/wanted postcards on my list! But as it happens, my friend went to a few 'hard to get' Caribbean countries, and I was able to swap for equally htg countries. Many many thanks to Denise! Not only is it from Vanuatu, one of the smallest and remotest countries - it is a waterproof postcard sent from their Underwater Post Office :)) (only the cancellation doesn't seem to be waterproof ;))

 

Situated within the Hideaway Island marine sanctuary, the Underwater Post Office sits in around three metres of water and both divers and snorkellers are able to post special “waterproof postcards”. If snorkellers cannot duck-dive down that far, Hideaway Island staff will be on the spot to help out. During opening hours the cards will be cancelled/embossed by the postal staff in the Underwater Post Office. Instead of being stamped with ink to show that the card has been sent, the Post office has developed a new embossed cancellation device.

 

If you check Vanuatu stamp issues you will for sure start ooh-ing and aah-ing, such beautiful and unique designs! This particular stamp was issued in 2008, in a set of 4 self-adhesive stamps titled Xtreme Underwater Postmen.

 

UNESCO - Vilnius Historic Centre, Lithuania

Political centre of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the 13th to the end of the 18th century, Vilnius has had a profound influence on the cultural and architectural development of much of eastern Europe. Despite invasions and partial destruction, it has preserved an impressive complex of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and classical buildings as well as its medieval layout and natural setting.

I was completely surprised to realise that I, in fact, haven't blogged about Vilnius so far..! Or maybe I forgot to add a tag...I do have a couple of views of this beautiful town, last received is from Heidi with the Lithuanian postcrossing stamp :)

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE

As the country's grand mosque, it is the key place of worship for Friday gathering and Eid prayers. During Eid it can be visited by more than 40,000 people. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and the eighth largest mosque in the world;  it was initiated by the late president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who wanted to establish a structure which unites the cultural diversity of Islamic world, the historical and modern values of architecture and art.

Great choice of card, as of the commemorative stamp issued for Dubai Crown Prince this year. Many many thanks Weny!

Guernsey Traditions

Lovely postcard showing some of the Guernsey traditions, typical bonnets and weaving crab pots. Its been a looong while since I've received a postcard from this Channel Island, and then Kathy came along - with the bonus of the postcrossing stamp. Thanks so much! xD

(ohoh I have just realised that I haven't at all posted my 1st postcard from Guernsey)

 

Official - Puppies

I guess its really hard to go wrong with puppies! Love the stamp set, thank you Carli from Hong Kong :) Wishing everyone a happy weekend; over and out ;)

 

Donkeys Overload

Last month I have done a multiple swap with Snježana who also loves donkeys and happened to have some doubles to share - she used some excellent stamps! First full set from 2001 with comic illustrations, second full set from 2013 with honey flowers. Hvala Snježa :))

 

Trajan's Forum In Rome, SMOM Stamps

 

Sure any view of the ancient remains in Rome is splendid, but the reason why I love this postcard are the stamps and cancellation(s) - the Sovereign Military Order of Malta issues its own, and I am thankful to Luca that he added them to my collection! xD

Yellow Seahorse, Hong Kong

This wonderful seahorse card was sent by dear fellow-postcrosser Yuen, and am also thrilled with the zodiac signs stamps, which have the reigning planets as attachments! Thanks so much Yuen, this is such a great postal item :))

For info I will quote what is written at the back:

'Yellow Seahorse (Hippocampus kuda) is a common resident of Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park. Females may be yellow in colour while males may be grey/brown. Both sexes display spots on the body. The species is commonly found entangled in coral communities and sargassum beds. It can change body colour according to the environment and it relies on its camouflage for defence.'

People Of Tibet

As the last post for Sunday Stamps #121: Stamps from China I add two portraits of people from Tibet - a young girl in the snowy mountains, and a representation of folklore. I couldnt find anything on the latter but I will do more extensive research as this costume looks very interesting...

I was thrilled to see this many stamps on the back: the 1st is from a set of four Historic Relics of Macao issued in 1997 and shows the Ruins of St. Paul's, which are in some way hauntingly beautiful...The other two scenic stamps are two from a set of four showing Shennongjia Forestry District.

All my posts today are dedicated to China in case you are interested ;)
And here you can see some really gorgeous Chinese stamps, honest! Just click the links :)

                                                        

Merzouga And Erg Chebbi, Morocco

So the next stop is not Unesco, but still as impressive as it can be..! Merzouga is a small village in southeastern Morocco, about 50 kilometers from the Algerian border. Its a part of the itineraries of many tourists cos of its proximity to Erg Chebbi, a large dune formed by wind-blown sand - it can reach a height of up to 150 meters and altogether spans an area of 22 kilometers from north to south and up to 5-10 kilometers from east to west. We were taken into the desert on camels and climbed the dune - man, I was so out of shape, trying to catch up with everyone but losing my breath, sooo embarassing..! :/

Its one of those experiences when you don't mind how touristy it is and that you have to take the tour AND I was so lucky to be in the group of only eight (and the seven others being such cool people). Whats more, what I didnt find in Marrakech I found in Merzouga: a friendly PO person who understood my need for different stamps! Alas I had already sent most of the postcards to others by that point (as I dont like leaving it for the last day) but used them on future stops for my humble self - and the one here is so amazing, my first containing actual seeds that can be planted!! Of course I dont plan to try it out, they look very fine where they are :)

Emperor's Mosque, Sarajevo, BiH

The Emperor's Mosque (Careva Džamija) was built in 1457, and as such is the first mosque to be built after the Ottoman conquest of Bosnia. Considered one of the most beautiful mosques of the Ottoman period in the Balkans, the mosque features a roomy interior and high quality decorative details. Most of its splendour is owed to Suleyman the Lawgiver, one of the most renowned Sultans of the Ottoman Empire, who rebuilt it in 1565 after a great devastation.

Sarajevo - unique symbol of universal multiculture - continual open city is on the Unesco tentative list for 15 years now, and to be frank I am greatly surprised its not already on the main Unesco list! Its such a magnificant city with rich and turbulent history.

Whats also magnificant about this postcard are the stamps used - issued by Hrvatska Pošta Mostar, one of three companies responsible for postal service in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These two are from the set of four issued in 2006 representing native birds, in this case the Great Crested Grebe and the Hoopoe. Gorgeous creatures! And special thanks to Goge :)))

Map - Nova Scotia, Canada

Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces on the Atlantic Coast, with population just under a million. Its The Bay of Fundy has the highest tidal range in the world - Burntcoat Head in the Minas Basin has the greatest mean spring range with 14.5 metres and an extreme range of 16.3 metres.

Great maps, and on top of it titanic stamps with the special cancellation, thanks Ash! xD

Castillo Moro, Gibraltar

And now... a wonderful RAS that kept a grin on my face for a whole day (and then some) :D My 1st written & stamped postcard from Gibraltar, and the stamp? Europa 2011 showing Croatian Plitvice Lakes! The only thing that is missing is cancellation, something which is not surprising for a British overseas territorry  :/ Thank you so much Fabienne, this surprise is beyond words! :)))

The postcard shows the Moorish Castle (and its most prominent feature The Tower Of Homage), a medieval fortification in Gibraltar unique to the Iberian peninsula because it was built by the Marinid Dynasty of Morocco.

Torres Del Paine National Park, Chile

Parque Nacional Torres Del Paine is situated in southern Chilean Patagonia, 312 km north of Punta Arenas. The landscape of the park is dominated by the Paine massif, rising dramatically over the Patagonian steppe. Pictured is a view from Pehoe Lake. Torres del Paine was designated a World Biosphere Reserve by Unesco and is on its tentative list :)

As I like to learn about flora and fauna of different countries...The area is home to a plant with stunning flowers called Calceolaria Uniflora, and endangered Chilean Huemul - the South Andean Deer <3

The stamp is simply gorgeous! The grey lines are actually shiny silver, and is from the series for 'preserving the polar regions and glaciers' from 2009. Then there is a curious round green sticker and two different postmarks. In all, I was very happy to find this in my mailbox - thank you Dani!

Sunset At Cayman Islands

Beautiful Cayman Islands from Pat, thank you so much :) The stamps are looovely!

The Cayman Islands are a British Overseas Territory located in the western Caribbean Sea - the territory is a major world offshore financial centre (which is familiar from Hollywood movies..!). The islands continued were governed as part of the Colony of Jamaica until 1962, when they became a separate Crown colony while Jamaica became an independent Commonwealth realm.

Prayer At Wat Sri Chum, Sukhothai, Thailand

In the North central Thailand there are remnants of the old Thai Empire capital of Sukhothai, dating from the 13th century. Sukhothai means Dawn Of Happiness :) It consisted of at least 193 temples that are now excavated and partly reconstructed.
I love this postcard as a photograph <3 I haven't realised until now that it is also an Unesco site..! But I will be searching for a wider depiction of the grand archaeological site to put it on my Unesco list :) Many thanks to Beam who sent this card for the Choose a Country RR - and the stamps are marvelous too! The ones with people actually have a sparkling relief xD

Lagodekhi Protected Areas, Georgia

Lagodekhi is a small town and district in east Georgia. The district is home to a national park of the same name, popular for bird-watching. The only man-made structure in the area is a Meteo Station, used in the USSR times for research and observation.

Last winter I was THIS close to travelling to Georgia - but I was late with purchasing an affordable flight.. This is what happens if you linger for only a day..! My only 'consolation' was that I found out afterwards that some of the cool places there are unreachable during winter months. Which leaves me with a question: when will I find the time then? Anyways! Big thanks for this beautiful card & stamps goes to FB friend Khatuna :)

B&W London (With A Tinge Of Red)

I have received many cards of London, it will take me a while to post all of them...actually I cannot imagine I ever will! When the series of stamps with Album Covers was issued I searched all the local post offices for them (at the time we were living in Southeast London), in the end I had to venture further to find only one sheet available - well in retrospective it was a success..! As usual the stamps were not cancelled, argh. Three were sent as a cover and cancelled, but that will go on my other blog :)