Föhr, North Frisia

I have worked on the North Frisian island of Föhr for six months, and only towards the end have I realised that I haven´t sent but a few postcards from there - and when I came home, that I haven´t sent a single view card..! Oh how silly, honestly.

Föhr is the second largest of the North Frisian Islands on the German coast of the North Sea - which are all popular tourist destinations for Germans. Being settled already in neolithic times, Föhr had been a part of mainland North Frisia until 1362, when the coastline got destroyed by a heavy storm flood known as Saint Marcellus´s flood, and several islands were formed. The northern part of the island consists mainly of marshes, and the southern part of sandy geest (gravelly soil with heathland vegetation).

A dialect of the North Frisian language called Fering is still spoken there; there are still many Uthland-Frisian type of farmhouses to be seen or even visited; and the traditional costumes can still be seen worn for special occasions - like confirmation, which I rushed to see because of it. It is really an enjoyable and surprisingly unique corner of the earth. However it takes getting used to being dependant on the hourly ferries, which then dock in a minor harbour and you need to take a further train, and usually yet another train to get to a place of interest. On some days off I spent more time on the public transport than at the visiting point 😅 still managed a postcard or two, as will be seen in my future posts.

Bulgarian Roses And Donkeys

'Bulgarian rose oil is very popular and widely used by perfume producers all over the world. It is taken from the Rosa Damascena, which is grown near the towns Karlovo and Kazanlak. At the end of may in this region there are celebrations honouring the rose.'

Even though I've swapped for this one cos of the donkeys, and didn't even see roses as a possible theme, I am thankful to Evgeniya for writing this information on the back :) благодаря!

Ladakh Woman

A different postcard from India...from the very north where Ladakh ('land of high passes') extends from the Kuen Lun mountain range to the main Great Himalayas to the south, inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent. It is one of the most sparsely populated regions in Jammu and Kashmir and its culture and history are closely related to that of Tibet. 

A woman spinning wool, thanks a lot Piyali :)

Yaqona Ceremony, Fiji

My 2nd card from Fiji but now I realise the 1st to be featured on my blog...thanks to Deane, another great postcrosser I had the pleasure to swap with this winter.

It shows the Yaqona Ceremony - after Yaqona plant, whose root and stem are washed and dried thoroughly, then pounded into a powder to be mixed with water and filtered through a silk cloth. Yaqona is a central and ancient part of Fijian ceremony which gathers family and friends.

It is a local name for the plant kava (which funnily means coffee in croatian) which is consumed throughout the Pacific Ocean cultures because of its sedative characteristics - it  is primarily consumed to relax without disrupting mental clarity. Oh I could use some, as it is proven to help with social anxiety!

Balinese Dancers, Indonesia

Beautiful Balinese dancers whose attire is inspired by the ancient hindu princesses, with a great set of stamps, one of them matching. Many thanks to Maya :)

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)

 

Seto Bhairav, Kathmandu, Nepal

This impressive image is of the mask of Seto Bhairav (White Demon) in Kathmandu Durbar Square (which is part of Unesco but as I've posted about it already I'll just concetrate on this detail :)). It is one of the most important deities in Nepal, sacred to Hindus and Buddhists alike.

Bhairava is the terrifying aspect of Shiva, and this is one of the largest masks representing it - it is specially revealed during the Indra Jātrā religious street festival, which lasts for eight days from the 12th day of the bright fortnight to the 4th day of the dark fortnight of Yanlā, the eleventh month in the lunar Nepal Era calendar.  A pipe sticking out of the mouth of Sweta Bhairava dispenses alcohol and rice beer on different days.

How terribly interesting this sounds - big thanks to Krishna, also a great photographer!

Performers From Kebbi State, Nigeria

My first thought upon receiving this card was - well not 3rd time but 5th time lucky! I have swapped for a postcard from Nigeria three times before, once it was send by a travelling friend, nothing happened until Ahmed so kindly re-sent his cards, and I am grateful! I think the scene he picked is great and the stamp...the look on Cross River Gorilla's face...priceless

 

Cuban Tobacco

 

Here are my first postcards from Cuba...Most of the sent cards arrived safely by now but some are still travelling...fingers crossed they also reach their meant destinations.

These show the world-renowned Cuban tobacco, i.e. the fields, production...and the 'Godfather of Cuban tobacco' Alejandro Robaina. His family had been growing tobacco in the Pinar del Rio province since 1845, and even after the 1959 revolution he remained an independent grower (even though the most plantations were absorbed into cooperative organisations). Respect!

Ukraine Borscht Map

The eyes of the world are directed to Ukraine these days, and not for a good reason...In hope things will resolve for the best in this beautiful country, I am posting a map of their regional soup specialty, and wonderful illustration stamps (2008) of Ukrainian traditions - holiday of Holy Transfiguration and christening in Crimea, wedding ceremony and Harvest Festival in Dnipropetrovsk. 

Are thoughts are with you Ukraine!

A Fisherman In Portugal

 

Love this kind of a daily scene...and the boat's name 'Tres Amores', I wonder - actually I am quite sure the meaning is on some deeper level, maybe even rooted in the tradition? Many thanks Jose :)

Daily Life In Mu Cang Chai, Vietnam

Mu Cang Chai is a rural district in Yen Bai province, north central Vietnam, where forestry and farming are the main econimic stay. It is  mountainous, with green rice fields in the valleys; many different ethnic groups live here in unison.

I have no words for this scene...its just such a great photograph, balanced and tranquil. E.g. just take the dog out of the picture and its a different dynamics..! Perfect, but such are the postcards Jo sends :) Actually I've tagged for this one, and yesterday morning I managed to tag again but deleted it because I felt so selfish heh. Thanky so much Jo xD (and for participating in tags with your great offers!)

Gozo Lace

 

Lace-making has been prevalent in Malta since the 16th century - traditional Maltese lace is bobbin lace formed on a lace pillow stuffed with straw; Genoese-style leafwork is essential and eight-pointed Maltese cross a frequently featured element.

Maltese buses on stamps, but we'll get to that in the next post :)

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!

Rice Terraces, Vietnam

 

The scenery of the Sa Pa region (northwest Vietnam near the border with China) reflects the relationship between the minority people and nature, which is especially seen in the paddy fields carpeting the lower slopes of the Hoang Lien Mountains. 

I have always had great swaps with Jo but this postcard was still unexpectedly amazing - I will have to admit that it must be one of my favourite cards ever..! And it was a great surprise to see a Vietnamese lighthouse stamp. Thanks so much Jo :))

Japanese Traditional Masks

 

I have won this one in one of the many Cockie's awesome lotteries, many thanks :))

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 :)

                                                        

An Envelope Of Joy, Indonesia

At first I was puzzled to have received an envelope fron Indonesia, cos I was expecting postcards from Shinta, and she knows I like them written & stamped...and when I opened it, I couldn't but gasp in amazement, cos she sent me all three cards with stamps and cancellations! To top it all, she added a folding card that I had in my favs, and the gorgeous portrait of the happy old Javanese couple which never arrived for a tag. Shinta is such a great postcrosser, and its a shame that her postcards get lost on the way cos she puts so much love into writing them...I guess her and Ana would have to compete for the neatest handwriting :P

I dont know what the painting on the folding card shows exactly, but its colourful and vibrant and I love it :) The next two cards show the traditional farming of the Indonesian islands - transplanting rice, and picking teas. The last is a detailed Unesco view, reliefs of the Borobudur Temple.

The last item is a beautiful intricate bookmark which I will keep sealed to keep it safe :)

Thank you so much Shinta! Btw do you use fragrant pen? ;)))

Marseille Soap, France

Its actually a good idea for the dazed-and-confused self to post some of the older postcards, cos its only now that I take good notice of them and know the story behind them: here I thought its 'just' a soap postcard, but it actually fits one of my collections..!

Marseille soap or Savon de Marseille is a traditional soap made from vegetable oils - in 1688, Louis XIV introduced regulations limiting the use of the name savon de Marseille to soaps made in and around the Marseille area, and only from olive oil. Today this law still applies, although the regulations now allow other vegetable oils to be used. Ok i thought the liquid in the bottle could be olive oil, but totally missed the branch and the pot! A good friend once told me: Its scary to think what you miss in life with such bad observation skills..! Its better not to think of it or I'll get utterly depressed :/ :)