World Travel - Taiwan

One of the card series that I've mentioned recently :) I like receiving one example of any popular series, and this one is quite nice. It's been made even nicer with the colourful back and special postmark - thank you Jennifer :)

Sunset In Taipei, Taiwan

Today, a short time after a real-time sunset, I've decided to dedicate to sunset views :) This one thanks to my busy-bee friend Nat.

The most prominent building on this picture is the Taipei 101, formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, a landmark supertall skyscraper in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. The building was officially classified as the world's tallest in 2004 (509,2 m), and remained such until the completion of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (829,8 m) in 2010. In 2011, the building was awarded the LEED platinum certification, the highest award according to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, and became the tallest and largest green building in the world.

Tea Garden, Taiwan

Taiwan is famous for its tea, which are of three main types: oolong tea, black tea and green tea. The earliest record of tea trees found in Taiwan can be traced back to 1717 in Shui Sha Lian (水沙連), present-day Yuchi and Puli, Nantou County. 

This is also where this tea garden is placed, doesn't it look wonderful? Although I am a definite coffee junky, tea still occasionally finds its place in my life, esp on the cold(ish) winter nights - herbal teas are my favourite. The lovely one we drink these days contains peppermint, lemon balm, chamomile, blackberry leaves, lavander, and then some more.

Teng even matched this card with a tea stamp. 謝謝 !

Year Of The Monkey

The Monkey (猴) is the ninth of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The Year of the Monkey is associated with the Earthly Branch symbol 申.

This will probably be the only YOTM card for me but its a great one isnt it? Complete with a mini-sheet. Thank you Midori Lee :)

 

Alishan National Scenic Area, Taiwan

Another welcome getaway scenery, a mountain resort in the Chiayi County in Taiwan. Looks like a set for a fairytale, no?

Absolut Vodka, Taiwan

 

Still so rarely coming across the fab Absolut Vodka ads...very thankful to Yi-Ju for sending these :) (There are actual holes in the 'spy' version ;))

Mucha - Posters

More Mucha art in my collection to show :) The first is a theatre poster going under name of 1918-1928 Prague, and the second the advertisment for Bleu Deschamps, apparently a whitening agent. Ellen used a variety of lovely stamps - the ones to the right being esp colourful. Alas I cannot work out their year of issue...This and other two posts below are for this week's Sunday Stamps, check what the other entries on Colourful Stamps are :)

Cartoon Map Of Taiwan

'Let's Be Friends', cool message on a cool postcard :) The stamp is huuuge, and with one of my fav topics too, big big thanks to Kim! Its a mini-sheet-stamp issued in 2006 showing a colony of the King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) - supercuuuute <3>

Alishan Forest Railway, Taiwan

This beautiful black&white photo shows the Alishan Forest Railway, a 86-km network of 762 mm (!)narrow-gauge railways running up to and throughout the popular mountain resort of Alishan in Chiayi County, Taiwan. The railway, originally constructed for logging, is itself a tourist attraction with unique Z-shaped switchbacks, 50 tunnels, and over 77 wooden bridges.

This is the first self-adhesive printed stamp from Taiwan that I have seen; I love the special postmark, celebrating the 100 years of the railway's construction in 2011. (the year of the rabbit, as you can see..!) Thanks frankou!

Absolut Disco

An offer on shiny Absolut card was not to be missed - thank you Yi-Ju! :)

Official - Princezna Hyacinta, Mucha

TW-619020

The lithograph (1911) was printed to advertise Princezna Hyacinta, a fairy tale ballet and pantomime by Ladislav Novák and Oskar Nedbal, an acclaimed Czech violinist.

The fairy tale follows a blacksmith who dreams that his daughter is a princess kidnapped by a sorcerer. In the design you can see hearts, the blacksmith's tools, a crown and instruments of sorcery all referring to the plot. The motif of the hyacinth is used throughout the design, from the embroidered robes to the silver jewellery as well as in the circular object held by the princess.

Its been a long while since I've received a Mucha, and this wonderful surprise arrived from Taiwan, accompanied with great stamps. Thank you Apple! :)

Legolas, Lord Of The Rings, In 3D

At the time of release of the 1st LOTR movie Legolas was my favourite character, because he didn't speak much and was so brilliant with his bow and arrows :) Later I figured that whatever short sentences he said were true yes, but kinda superfluous heh.

This fantastic 3D card arrived from Taiwan, thank you so much Wu Yi! I always think 3D cards are so cool someone is bound to nick them along the way...so I was so thrilled to recieve it <3>There is something really unique and interesting as Wu Yi's hobby - beautiful hairpins. Here is her blog that can tell you much more about it: http://www.hairpinmuseum.org/

Old Map Of Taiwan

I love old maps, and this one arrived for one of the RRs - originally it is about 120 old, made while Taiwan was ruled by Japan. Thank you Cisne, the stamps are lovely too :)

Indigenous Woman Of Amis Tribe, Taiwan

Amis are one of the fourteen officially recognised Taiwanese aboriginal tribes., and also the largest one. Interestingly, an Ami chant was used in the popular song Return To Innocence by the musical project Enigma. I wanted to write that the woman is with a cigar, but I cannot be sure that I'm right! I'd love to know more about this photo.

As usual, great card & stamp from Kim :)

Sedra Ceremony, Thimphu

This gorgeous card of Bhutan was sent by dear Kim from Taiwan, for the 4th round of her great Kid's Project ;) The theme of this card was: 'What do you see when you look out your window?' The kids came up with this brilliant question which seems random but from the answers you can find out the coolest things about one's country..!

Thank you Kim and Candy, looking forward to the next round <3

YOTD - Taiwan II

A great couple of cards from Taiwan from very dear mooncastle and sandcastle (i love their nicknames!) - it was difficult to choose cards from such a great set, but in the end my favourite colours of the background prevailed :)

Alas the 1st card got damaged on the way, probably because some posts (presumably croatian, grr. well i've seen my former mailman doing it! a relief he's an ex, heh) put elastic bands to keep the cards together. I am so thankful that the stamp didnt get damaged, it is so big and beautiful..!

Thank you girls, you brightened up my mailbox :D

YOTD - Taiwan

Oh how i love this card...very expressive and yet playful with all the beautiful rainbow colours. it is also velvety to the touch :) This card was sent by dear Ellen who explained that the top right corner image on the back represents the 1st dragon stamp in china, probably very valuable nowdays.

She also wrote the translation of the characters on the back, which give the traditional description of a dragon: head like a camel, horns like a deer, eyes like ghost, ears like an ox, body like a snake, scales like a carp, claws like and eagle, and palms like a tiger. What a simple creature! heh. They forgot the breath of an oven.

Thank you so much Ellen, and for the beautiful stamps :)

Train Running Through Cherry Blossom Forest, Taiwan

Kim is a wonderful teacher/postcrosser who's been arranging swaps from all over the world for her students :) Everyone is just so happy to participate in her project cos there's a lot of good vibe going on..!

In the 2nd round i've swapped with Howard - it was great to read his neat writing and that there were questions for me to answer (my card is on its way now). I really REALLY like this card with the combination of the cherry blossoms and the train in motion! And the stamp with the dragonfly of course :)))

July Donkeys

 I absolutely love this card, which i got from private swap with Tanja from Finland :)

Tanja was on a holiday in the beautiful Azores and totally recommends it - she also purchased some beautiful cards, and i was lucky to find this donkey among them and that she was willing to trade. Thank you very much Tanja for another great swap! :=D

These Irish donkeys were sent to me by dear Kim as RAS.
Thank you so much for this great surprise! :))) and the stamps are as gorgeous as always!

This lovely card is from Lotty's Animal RR, the Cats Vs Donkeys group. It is a double but recently i've decided not to worry about that :) The stamp is really cute too! I love the fact that i get so many finnish postcards and yet i hardly ever get stamp doubles. thank you Suvi!

Feral Donkeys Of Ascension Island

This donkey card has been sent from Taiwan - but really, in whole honesty, what would be the chances to get a (donkey) card from Ascension Island?! I love this card, its combination of photo & sketch, the red tones...thank you very much kim from enriching my collection in this way! :)

Btw i will admit that i had no idea where the Ascension Island is...now i've learnt its in the South Atlantic, is part of British Overseas territory and is a neighbour to Tristan da Cunha. Veeery far away! Definately wouldn't have thought there are donkeys there ;)