A postcard from the capital of Yemen: Sana'a | صنعاء

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“Situated in a mountain valley at an altitude of 2,200 m, Sana’a has been inhabited for more than 2,500 years. In the 7th and 8th centuries the city became a major centre for the propagation of Islam. This religious and political heritage can be seen in the 103 mosques, 14 hammams and over 6,000 houses, all built before the 11th century. Sana’a’s many-storeyed tower-houses built of rammed earth (pisé) add to the beauty of the site.”

 

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(left) Dar AL-Hajar, The Rock Palace

(right) Old Sana’a City

A Postcard from the top of the World: Nepal | नेपाल

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Nepal, can be synonimized with the phrase, 'Top of the World' because it is the country in the world that is home to the world's tallest mountain, 'Mount Everest: 8848 m.

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Pemba Doma Sherpa (1970-2007) was the first glorious Nepalese woman who conquers the Mt. Everest from the northern side in 2000.

Bern Switzerland

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In 1848 Bern was chosen by the first Swiss Parliament to be the Federal Capital of Switzerland. In 1983 the historic old town in the centre of Bern became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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(left) 700th Anniv of Swiss Confederation.

Beiteddine Palace | قصر بيت الدين from Lebanon

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“Today Beiteddine, with its museums and its gardens, is one of Lebanon's major tourist attractions. The Beiteddine palace complex, Lebanon's best example of early 19th century Lebanese architecture, was built over a thirty year period by Emir Bechir El Chehab II, who ruled Mount-Lebanon for more than half a century.”

Stamps

(left) from a series of 10 stamps with different themes, Civil Defence

(right) René Moawad (1925 – 1989) was President of Lebanon for 17 days in 1989 when he was assassinated by unknowns.

THX Steve!

A postcard from the center of the world: Delphi, Greece

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Delphi in ancient times was considered the center of the known world, the place where heaven and earth met. This was the place on earth where man was closest to God.

In Mythology, Delphi was the meeting place of two eagles, released by Zeus and sent in opposite directions. Where they met indicated the center of the earth.

The oracle of Delphi was a spiritual experience whereby the spirit of Apollo was asked for advice on critical matters relating to people's lives or affairs of the state.

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From a series of five stamps “Destination Greece”.

Regensburg an der Donau

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Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. The large medieval centre of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Cahedral of St Peter,  Regensburg Germany.

The city of Oporto | Portugal

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The city of Oporto, built along the hillsides overlooking the mouth of the Douro river, is the second-largest city in Portugal after Lisbon. The 172 metres long Dom Luís I Bridge, is a double-deck metal arch bridge that spans the River Douro between the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia.

Historic Centre of Oporto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar is a Unesco World Heritage site. This card is mainly focussing on the Luiz I Bridge.

A Skyscraper from Taiwan: Taipei 101 | 台北101

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Taipei 101, formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, is a landmark skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. The building ranked officially as the world's tallest from 2004 until the opening of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2010.

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(left) From a set of four definitive beetle-stamps: “musk long-horned beetle”.

(right) A lighthouse.

Lake Kulsai from Kazakhstan

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The Kolsai Lakes are three blue mountain lakes, known as the ‘pearls of the northern Tien-Shan’, that lie within the ridges of the Kungei Alatau range at heights of up to 2700m (8858ft) above sea level.

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(left) 100th anniversary of Mukhamedzhan Karatayev, writer, specialist in study of literature, academician of the science Academy.

(right) Coat of arms of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

 

Mosques from Malaysia

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Asy-Syakirin Mosque is known as  “Jewel in the Park”. The main prayer hall, the three-story air-conditioned building can accommodate 2,500 people while the lower prayer hall on the ground floor can accommodate an additional 3,500 people.  

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Hydrangea macrophylla (Hortensia) is a species of Hydrangea native to Japan. It is widely cultivated in many parts of the world in many climates. The Malay word for it is Bunga Tiga Bulan.

 

The Khotyn Fortress, Ukraine

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Khotyn fortress is located in the Western Ukraine not far from the city Chernivtsi and surrounded with a small town Khotyn.

Recently Khotyn fortress celebrated its 1000 anniversary. The fortress over the river Dniester was built in times of Vladimir the Great in order to defend western borders.

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Byzantine and Ommayad ruins from Anjar | عنجر, Lebanon

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“Anjar, 58 km from Beirut, is completely different from any other archaeological experience you will have in Lebanon. At other historical sites in the country, different epochs and civilisations are superimposed one on top of each other. Anjar is exclusively one period, the Umayyad.

Lebanon's other sites were founded a millennia ago, but Anjar is a relative new-comer, going back to the early 8th Century AD. Unlike Tyre and Byblos, which claim continuous habitation since the day they were founded, Anjar flourished for only a few decades. Other than a beautiful Umayyad mosque in Baalbeck, we have few remnants left from this important period of Arab history.”

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Elmina Castle from Ghana

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Elmina Castle described as the first known European structure of fortification in Ghana. Built by the Portuguese in1482, a trade centre for ivory, gold and later slaves. It was captured by the Dutch in 1637 and later purchased by the English in 1872.

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Centenary of the birth of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah (1909-2009), first president of the Republic of Ghana.

  

Temple complex of Baalbek, Lebanon

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Baalbek is the name of an archeological site in Lebanon. In Roman times it was known as Heliopolis or City of the Sun. Today the city, 85 km from Beirut, is an important administrative and economic centre in the northern Beqaa valley.

The origin of the name Baalbek is not precisely known. The Phoenician term Baal means 'lord' or 'god' and was the title given to the Semitic sky-deity. The word Baalbek may therefore mean 'God of the Beqaa valley' (the local area) or 'God of the Town', depending on different interpretations of the word.

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Arc de Triumph from Tyre, Lebanon

 

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Tyre is the fourth largest city of Lebanon. It was an island in ages past, celebrated for its beauty.

Tyre emerges today from the debris of centuries. Excavations on the site have uncovered remains of the Crusader, Arab, Byzantine and Graeco-Roman cities.

 

The Greeks believed that various aspects of their civilization had their origin in Tyre. The introduction of the alphabet into Greece was attributed to Cadmus of Tyre, and it was Europa, the sister of Cadmus, who gave her name to the continent.

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(left) from a series of 10 stamps with different themes, Civil Defence

(right) René Moawad (1925 – 1989) was President of Lebanon for 17 days in 1989 when he was assassinated by unknowns.

Thx Steve!

 

Traditional Omani Dance

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The music of Oman has been strongly affected by the country's coastal location, with Omani sailors interacting with, and bringing back music from, Egypt, Tanzania and elsewhere. More recently, a Portuguese occupation has left its own marks, while geographic neighbors like the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Iran have also had a profound influence.

In contrast to other Arab countries, Omani traditional music has a strong emphasis on rhythm. Drums are an important part of many Omani dances to keep the timing as they chant/sing.

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National symbol of Oman: Khanjar Knife (a silver, hand- crafted knife or dagger).

Orellana, El ultimo paraiso, Ecuador

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Francisco de Orellana is the capital of the youngest province of Ecuador, Orellana. Also known as El Coca, which is located very close to the dense rainforests in the Amazon, near the confluence of the Coca and Napo River. Its name comes from the Spanish expeditionary Francisco de Orellana who are in these territories in search of El Dorado, but during his journey he discovered the Amazon River. 

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(left) The Mitad del Mundo (Spanish: Middle of the World) is a tract of land owned by the prefecture of the province of Pichincha, Ecuador. The 30-meter-tall monument, built between 1979 and 1982, was constructed to mark the point where the equator passes through the country.

 

(right) Independence Day in Ecuador is celebrated on August 10, to commemorate the day when the group of local patriots started a revolt against the president Ruiz de Castilla and established Juan Pio Montufar as the president.

That day in 1809 is now referred to as the ‘Primer grito de independencia’ which marks the beginning of Ecuadorian struggle for independence. The Spanish were finally defeated in 1822 and Ecuador became part of the Gran Colombia, an alliance formed by Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

Fountains at the Kuching Waterfront, and Square Tower from Malaysia

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Situated on the banks of Sarawak River is the picturesque Kuching Waterfront. This picturesque location has not lost its beauty and charm with time even though the city around it has been modernized. The magnificent musical fountains, a tea terrace, an observation tower, modern sculptures and a restored Chinese Pavilion are some of the latest additions to Kuching Waterfront.

Square Tower is a heritage structure on the Kuching Waterfront. It is one of those odd looking buildings that is hard to miss. It was built in 1879, originally used as a prison, and it even had dungeons. Then, it was turned into a fortress, and even into a dance hall.

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XXI IUFRO world congress 2011.

IUFRO is a non-profit, non-governmental international network of forest scientists, which promotes global cooperation in forest-related research and enhances the understanding of the ecological, economic and social aspects of forests and trees.

A Library from Pompton Lakes, New Jersey USA

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Pompton Lakes is a 2.97 sq mile suburban community in Passaic County which is home for over 11,900 residents.

Emanuel Einstein, President of Somerset Manufacturing Company and Vice President of Raritan Woolen Mills, summered in Pompton Lakes for many years prior to his death in 1909. It was announced the year after his death that his wife and children had decided to perpetuate his name by erecting and presenting to the Borough of Pompton Lakes a two-story building to be named the Emanuel Einstein Memorial.

The original building contained a library with a reading room open at all hours for public use.

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Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.

A postcard from Montenegro: coastal city Budva | Будва

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“Budva is small and fascinating old town at the Montenegro coast. 2500 years of turbulent history, a natural surrounding that takes breath away and friendly, open-minded people made this town the central point of Montenegrin tourism.”

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(left) 75 years of Belvedere events

(right) From a series of four stamps about tourism (2010).

Okha | Oxa, The Oil Town from Sakhaling, Russia

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Okha is a city and important oil hub on the northern tip of Sakhalin island in the Russian Far East.

Sakhalin, formerly known as Karafuto to the Japanese, is a large and very sparsely populated island which was the center of a long power struggle between Russia/USSR and Japan for control of its large oil and gas resources.

(picture on the right) A lighthouse on the northernmost point of Sakhalin: Cape of Elisabeth on Schmidt Peninsula.

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(bottom) From Sixth Definitives series - Russian Kremlins - Nizhniy Novgorod Kremlin

Lubart's Castle from Lutsk | Луцьк, Ukraine

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Lutsk is one of the most ancient cities of Ukraine. Its historical centre is located near the river Styr and the name come from the old Ukrainian word “luka”, i.e. a meadow, a flood-land place in a river arch.

Lutsk High Castle, also known as Lubart's Castle, began its life in the mid-14th century as the fortified seat of Gedymin's son Lubart, the last ruler of united Galicia-Volhynia. It is the most prominent landmark of Lutsk, Ukraine and as such appears on the 200 hryvnia bill.

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From a large series of definitives, a Kumanets (right) (stoneware for water) and a Crock (left).

A postcard from Iran: Walnuts from Saveh | ساوه

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Iran is one of the main countries where natural stands of walnut trees still exist, mainly in the north and western forests of the country.

Sāveh is a city in the Markazi Province of Iran. It is located around 100 km southwest of Tehran.

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From a series of 10 definitives 2010, a Bluestripe Angelfish.

Thx Mahdi!

A postcard from Minsk, Belarus.

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View of Hotel Minsk. Nezalejnasti Square.

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Equestrian sport. From a series of 3 stamps: Horse Racing.

A postcard from US Virgin Islands

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“Iguanas can be found everywhere in the Virgin Islands. This little pre-historic creature can be quite friendly, despite his appearance.”

During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish (Danish West Indies). Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.

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Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.

THX Nancy!