A postcard from the Cook Islands

This is the last post of 2011, what better way to end this year with a postcard from the exotic  Cook Islands!

---  Happy 2012! ---

Postcard

“The 15 islands of the Cooks lie halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii, scattered like fragrant frangipani petals floating across 2.2 million square kilometres of a seductive, sensual ocean. Boasting rare beauty, an idyllic climate, warm welcoming people with the widest white smiles and a pace of life unsurpassed for peace: the Cook Islands is Paradise.”(www.cookislands.travel)

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(left) Raratonga Starling. Rarotonga is the most populous island of the Cook Islands.

(right) Spanish Dancer, a very large and colorful sea slug.

THX Rod!

Sule Pagode from the Republic of the Union of Myanmar

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Yangon, also known as Rangoon,  is a former capital of Burma. In 1989, the military government officially changed the English translations of many colonial-era names; among these changes was the alteration of the name of the country from "Burma" to "Myanmar".  The capital is now Naypyidaw.

The Sule Pagoda is located in the heart of Yangon. A pagoda, in Southeast Asia, is a cone-shaped monumental structure built in memory of Buddha.

(sources: Wikipedia, www.myanmars.net)

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Myanmar Harp (Saung) used in traditional Burmese music.

It travelled more than three months because it was "missent to Thailand".

The Bupaya Pagoda from Myanmar

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Bupaya Pagoda is a famous pagoda located in Bagan (formerly Pagan), along the banks of the Ayeyarwady River. The pagoda is small in size, and is widely believed to have been built in the 200s by King Pyusawhti.

The original pagoda was completely destroyed in the 1975 earthquake, and was reconstructed using modern materials, with less adherence to the original construction design. Bagan is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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ASEAN Joint stamp issue - Presidential Palace, Hanoi (2007)

The stamp is dated 19 September 2011. So it travelled more than 3 months! But there is a sticker on the back “ missent to Thailand”.

2011 Año Internacional de los Bosques, Mexico

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The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2011 as the International Year of Forests.

All 7 billion people on earth have their physical, economic and spiritual health tied to the health of forests. The year’s theme of Forests for People highlights this relationship and our role in ensuring forests’ well-being and development.

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The ancient city of Teotihuacan is the most visited of Mexico's archaeological sites and a must-see if you're in Mexico City.

Nassau Harbour, Bahamas

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Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

Located on New Providence Island, Nassau has an attractive harbor, a colorful blend of old world and colonial architecture, and a busy port. The tropical climate and natural beauty of the Bahamas has made Nassau a popular tourist destination. (Wikipedia)

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The desert rose (Adenium spp.) is pictured on this 2006 flora issue.

Government museum from Chennai | சென்னை, India

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“Government Museum, Chennai is a multi-purpose State Government Museum located in Egmore, which is the heart of the city, spreading to an area of 16.25 acres of land. Six independent buildings in this Museum campus has 46 galleries.”

http://www.chennaimuseum.org/

Chennai,  formerly known as Madras, is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu,

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(left) Newborn Health in India

(middle) St Joseph’s College, Bangalore

(right) The Bible Society of India

A temple from Greece: the Erechtheion | Ἐρέχθειον

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The Erechtheion is an ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens in Greece. The temple as seen today was built between 421 and 406 BC.

On the south side, there is a large porch with columns, and on the south, the famous "Porch of the Maidens", with six draped female figures (caryatids) as supporting columns

(Wikipedia)

 

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From a series of five stamps “Destination Greece”.

Mongolian nomads

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On the edge of the 21st century, Mongolia remains one of the only countries to retain its ancient culture and traditions. The extreme climate and geography as well as the landlocked condition greatly influenced the Mongol's way of life who have always lived close to their animals and the land.

The Mongolian nomads are often called "Five-animal people" because the nomadic society is based on the five principal animals traditionally herded: horses, camels, cattle, sheep and goats. They also keep Tibetan yaks, used for producing milk and cheese.

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From a set of 4 stamps: Wild Animals, the Yak (2011). 

San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge .. from China

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The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean.

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(right) from a series of bird stamps: the Przevalski's Redstart

Volpiano a small village in Italy

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Volpiano is a municipality in the Province of Turin, in the Italian region Piedmont. The city is located about 15 km north-east of Turin.

It' s an industrial (fuel, transportation, electronics) and agricultural (wheat, corn) center in the lower Canavese.

(Wikipedia)

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European Field Archery Championship 2011

Baseball from Cuba

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Baseball came to Cuba in the 1860's. Brought by Cubans who studied in the United States and American sailors in Cuban ports. It quickly spread through the island and took heart with the Cuban people who were fighting for their independence from Spain.

The Netherlands has beaten Cuba 2-1 to win the baseball World Cup 2011 in Panama.

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50th anniversary of The National Aquarium of Cuba, a scientific research center specialized in environmental education and disclosure of the flora, fauna and ecology of the marine environment. 

A town called Týn nad Vltavou, Czech Republic

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Týn nad Vltavou is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has

approximately 8,200 inhabitants. The settlement was founded in the 10th century as a trading place.

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(left) Symbolic drawing of sign of the Zodiac: Virgin

(middle) Beauty of flowers – Anemone

(right) 100th Anniversary of the National Technical Museum in Prague - SPORT CAR JAWA 750

A map of the Russian Federation

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Capital: Moscow

Ethnic groups: 81% Russians, 3.7% Tartars, 1.4% Ukrainians  

Population: 142.946.000 (2010)

(source: Wikipedia)

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Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park

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„Once an important infantry and cavalry post in which Lt. George Armstrong Custer and the Seventh Cavalry set out from in 1876 on their fateful excursion against the Sioux ate the Little Big Horn. History comes alive at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park.“

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(left) Navajo Juwelry

(right) Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.

City Hall San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago

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The City of San Fernando is the larger of the two cities in Trinidad and Tobago, and the second largest municipality. The motto of San Fernando is: "Sanitas Fortis" - In a Healthy Environment We Will Find Strength.

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Grand Harbour | Il-Port il-Kbir from Malta

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Grand Harbour is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been used as a harbour since at least Phoenician times. The natural harbour has been greatly improved with extensive docks and wharves, and has been massively fortified.

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From a set of three Christmas stamps (2011).

Feldstone tombs from Oman

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The protohistoric* site of Bat lies near a palm grove in the interior of the Sultanate of Oman. Together with the neighbouring sites, it forms the most complete collection of settlements and necropolises from the 3rd millennium B.C. in the world.


*Protohistory refers to a period between prehistory and history, during which a culture or civilization has not yet developed writing, but other cultures have already noted its existence in their own writings. For example, in Europe, the Celts and the Germanic tribes may be considered to have been protohistoric when they began appearing in Greek and Roman texts. (source: Wikipedia)

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(left) The khanjar  is the traditional dagger of Oman.

(right) 41th National Day

A postcard from Mongolia

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A child in the countryside is milking a goat. Many children go to the countryside during their summer vacation to help their grandparents or parents. When summer vacation is over they go back to their provincial schools that are located far away from the countryside.

 

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From a set of 4 stamps: Wild Animals, the Camel (2011).

Old and new Town Hall, Chemnitz

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Chemnitz, more than 800 years old, is situated in the heart of Saxony. Known from 1953 to 1990 as Karl-Marx-Stadt. The city is the third-largest in the new Federal States; about 245,000 people live here. Chemnitz is named after the river Chemnitz.

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Ballonblume or Chinese bellflower.

Litoměřice - the Garden of Bohemia

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„The region got the name the Garden of Bohemia in the 17 th century. There on confluence of the river Labe and Ohře, in pictorial areas of České středohoří. There is one of the most beautiful Czech town, the royal town Litoměřice, where at the present time lives about 26 000 inhabitants.“

Church of the Annunciation of Our Lady

This monumental Baroque construction by Octavio Broggio from 1701-31 was started already by his father Giulio, on top of five residential houses of the Jesuit seminary. Today the church is used only occasionally for concerts, for most of the time it remains closed to the public.

(source: http://www.litomerice.cz/)

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Signs of the Zodiac: Sagittarius

Obudu Hills, Nigeria

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“Obudu is one of the finest and most magnificent tourist destinations in the world today. Deep in the tropical rain forest of Cross River State, presents an area of idyllic tranquility and an enchanting scenery. “

(source: http://www.cometonigeria.com/)

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2000 years of Nigerian Arts

NIGERIAN FOUNDING FATHERS- Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904 - 1996), Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello (1909 - 1966), Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909 - 1987), Alhaji (Sir) Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (1912-1966)

Gothic, Baroque and Oriental designs: Paoay Church, Philippines

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The Paoay Church (also known as the St. Augustine Church ) is a historical church located in the town of Paoay in Ilocos Norte, Philippines.

Construction of the Paoay Church was started by the Augustinian friars in 1694. It was completed in 1894.

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A Copper-band Butterflyfish, a Picasso Trigger and a True Clownfish.

 

Great Temple of Faqra, Lebanon

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Situated in Mount Lebanon, at an elevation of 1550m, Faqra is unique for its remarkable remained monuments which included: temples, columns, altars and rock cut tombs. Its uncommon setting and the abundance of its cool mountain flowing have incited the earliest civilizations to build temples and altars to worship their God.

The visitors were mostly impressed by its sensational ruins particularly by the great temple of Faqra that is partly cut out of the living rock and rises in a spectacular location.

(source: http://www.lebguide.com/)

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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.

 

Dunes de Merzouga, Morocco | Maroc

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Merzouga is a small village in southeastern Morocco about 50 kilometers from the Algerian border.

The dunes are a scene of constant change and fascination as sunlight transforms them from pink to gold to red. The largest dunes are near the villages of Merzouga and Hassi Labied.

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A postcard from Ghana

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Ashanti, or Asante, are an Akan people who live predominantly in Ghana and Ivory Coast.

“One of the more beautiful items to come from Ghana is Kente cloth. Kente is an Asante ceremonial cloth that is hand-woven on a loom.”

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Centenary of the birth of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah (1909-1972), first president of the Republic of Ghana.