The Blue Mountains | Jamaica

Postcard
The Blue Mountains are the longest mountain range in Jamaica. It is part of UNESCO World Heritage site Blue and John Crow mountains.

The site encompasses a rugged and extensively forested mountainous region in the south-east of Jamaica, which provided refuge first for the indigenous Tainos fleeing slavery. They resisted the European colonial system in this isolated region by establishing a network of trails, hiding places and settlements.

Liwonde National Park | Malawi

 

Postcard
Liwonde National Park is in the southern part of Malawi near the Mozambican border. It is situated on the left bank of the Shire river between Lake Malombe and Liwonde.

Wildlife in Liwonde National Park is abundant. Especially elephant and hippo numbers are high for this small national park: respectively 900 and 2000, which makes it one of the densest populations in Africa.

Village of Cumalıkızık | Turkey

Postcard
Cumalıkızık is a village located 10 kilometers east of the city of Bursa, Turkey, at the foot of Mount Uludağ. Its history goes back to the Ottoman Empire's foundation period.

Bursa and Cumalıkızık: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire is a serial nomination of eight component sites in the City of Bursa and the nearby village of Cumalıkızık. The historical texture of the village has been well protected and the civilian countryside architectural structures of the early Ottoman period are still intact.

Cathedral of St James | Croatia

Postcard
Šibenik is a historic city in Croatia, located in central Dalmatia region. The Cathedral of St James in Šibenik, built between 1431 and 1535, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Corregidor Island | Philippines

Postcard
Corregidor is a small and rocky island in the Philippines, located about 50 kilometers from Manila. The island is shaped like a tadpole.

Due to this location, Corregidor has historically been fortified with coastal artillery to defend the entrance of Manila Bay and Manila from attacks by enemy warships.

The 31th state: California | USA

Postcard
California is located on the west coast of North America. It is the largest US state by population, and the third largest by area. California joined the Union in September 1950 as 31th state. Did you know that California's economy is larger than that of any other state in the country? If it were a country, California would be the 6th largest economy in the world!

The highlights of this state depicted on this postcard are San Francisco's Golden Gate bridge, the State Capitol in Sacramanto, Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, the fabulous redwood forests and Mount Shasta.

Michigan, the 26th state | USA

Postcard
Michigan is a state in the Great Lakes and Midwestern regions of the United States. The capital is Lansing, and its largest city is Detroit. De Zwaan (Dutch for The Swan) is an authentic Dutch windmill in the city of Holland, Michigan. It is the only authentic, working Dutch windmill in the United States.

Michigan is the 26th state that joined the Union, in January 1837.

The 15th state: Kentucky | USA

Postcard
Originally a part of Virginia, in 1792 Kentucky became the 15th state to join the Union of the USA. Kentucky is known as the "Bluegrass State", a nickname based on the bluegrass found in many of its pastures due to the fertile soil.

The state bird is the Northern cardinal. Kentucky is known for its thoroughbred horse racing and has plentiful white-tailed deer populations. The raccoon is a common mammal in Kentucky.

Hawaii, the 50th state | USA

Postcard
The Hawaii Territory was an 'organized incorporated territory' of the United States that existed from August 12, 1898, until August 21, 1959. At that date Hawaii joined the Union as the 50th U.S. state: the State of Hawaii.

The card shows some of the best Hawaii has to offer: Waikiki Beach, the Humpback Whale, Volacano eruptions, and the NaPali coastline.

Lorentz National Park | Indonesia

Postcard
Lorentz National Park is located in Papua, Indonesia. With an area of 25,000 km2, it is the largest national park in South-East Asia. The park is named for Hendrikus Albertus Lorentz, a Dutch explorer who passed through the area on his 1909–10 expedition.

The park is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999.

Stamps
Actually one missing.

The island of Guam

Postcard
The card shows a picture of the entire island of Guam from 13,000 feet (4000 Km) showing the Earth's horizon on a perfectly clear day.

The text on the card reads "Guam Micronesia". Here Micronesia refers to the overall region, not the country. Micronesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. Micronesia is divided politically among several sovereign countries. One of these is the Federated States of Micronesia, which is often called "Micronesia" for short and is not to be confused with the overall region.

Stamp
The postmark reads Barrigada. This is the post office located near/at the airport.

Jongmyo Shrine | South Korea

 

Postcard
Dedicated to the forefathers of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), the shrine has existed in its present form since the 16th century. The shrine was a primary place of worship for kings throughout Joseon Dynasty.

The memorial service, called Jongmyo Jaerye, is said to be the oldest complete ceremony in the world, and was carried out in obedience to the king’s order. Ritual ceremonies linking music, song and dance still take place there, perpetuating a tradition that goes back to the 14th century.

Ersha Island | China

Postcard
Ersha Island is an island in the Yuexiu District of Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. More than 80% of the residents in Ersha Island are expats and working personnel from foreign invested institutions. Also many consulates of foreign countries in Guangzhou are living on the island.

Curonian Spit | Russia

Postcard
The Curonian Spit is a 98 km long, thin, curved sand-dune spit that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea coast. Its southern part lies within Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia and its northern within Lithuania.

The Curonian Spit is a cross border UNESCO World heritage site, together with Lithuania.

Stamp
The stamp is a matching stamp! You can actually feel the dunes.

Durham Castle and Cathedral | United Kingdom

Postcard
Durham Cathedral captures a thousand years of British political, social and religious history. The Cathedral has been in continuous use since its original construction 900 years ago.

Behind the cathedral stands the castle, an ancient Norman fortress which was the stronghold and residence of the Prince-Bishops of Durham, who were given virtual autonomy in return for protecting the northern boundaries of England, and thus held both religious and secular power.

Durham Castle and Cathedral is a Unesco World Heritage site.

Ningaloo Coast | Australia

Postcard
"Ningaloo Marine Park is a World Heritage-listed site found half way up the West Australian coastline. The crystalline water harbours the world’s largest fringing reef, a 260 kilometre (162 mile) long coral reef swarming with turtles, tropical fish, manta rays, humpback whales and the elusive whale shark. Nowhere on earth do these majestic creatures reliably congregate in such large numbers as here, at Ningaloo Reef."


(source: http://www.australia.com/en/places/ningaloo.html)

Vaduz Castle | Liechtenstein

Postcard
Vaduz Castle is the palace and official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. The castle gave its name to the town of Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein, which it overlooks from an adjacent hilltop. It is thought that the castle was constructed as a fortress as early as the 12th century.

Stoclet House | Belgium

Postcard
The Stoclet House is a mansion in Brussels, Belgium. It was built by architect Josef Hoffmann for banker and art lover Adolphe Stoclet between 1905 and 1911. Hoffmann’s goal was to make the Gesamtkunstwerk – ‘a total work of art’ – which meant designing the building as a complex piece of art including all its contents such as the garden, furniture and decoration.

The house today is empty, and there are just a couple of caretakers who are protecting this architectonic treasure from gradual decay.

Stamp
Did you notie this amazing stamp has an interesting feature? It is like a 'stamp within a stamp'.

Thank you very much Gerda!

Archaeological Site of Olympia | Greece

Postcard
Located in a serene and rich valley at the confluence of the Alpheios and the Kladeos rivers, lies the archeoligical site of Olympia. In antiquity it was famous beyond the borders of mainland Greece for hosting the Olympic Games every four years, starting in 776 BCE.

The archaeological site of Olympia is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Thank you Tone!

Het Eyland Formosa | Taiwan

Postcard
Printed in 1726 by Francois Valentijn, this is the earliest printed map of Taiwan or Formosa. It is considered the first specific printed map of Formosa. Valentijn's map covers the entire island, as well as the nearby Pescadores, now known as the Penghu Islands. Valentijn based this map on the 1640 manuscript (hand drawn) map of Formosa drawn by Johannes Vingboones.

At the time the western part of Taiwan was partially colonized by Chinese immigrants, while the eastern lands were dominated by ferocious headhunting tribes with an history of inhospitality.

The Dutch VOC, which established itself in western Formosa in 1624, was as intent on pacifying the aggressive Formosan aborigines and ultimately establishing a trading center capable of rivaling Macao and thus challenging Portuguese dominance of the China trade. The Dutch were ultimately driven out of Formosa entirely in 1668 by a Chinese backed aborigine resistance.

Huis Ten Bosch | Japan

Postcard
Huis Ten Bosch (ハウステンボス Hausu Ten Bosu) is located in Sasebo city in Japan. This special theme park models Holland in the Middle Ages with complete replicas of Dutch buildings, streets, boats and windmills. The park is named after Huis ten Bosch, one of the three official residences of the Dutch Royal Family.

Stewart Island | New Zealand

Postcard
Stewart Island is New Zealand's third largest island, situated 30 kilometres south of the South Island.

Over 85% of the island is National Park, and most people come here for the hiking and birdwatching. About 400 people inhabit this island permanently.

Devastating aftermath of Hurricane Irma in Saint Martin / Sint Maarten

Postcard
Hurricane Irma, the strongest Atlantic storm in recorded history, is continuing to tear a deadly path through the Caribbean, causing widespread destruction and reducing buildings to rubble, on a track that could lead to a catastrophic strike on Florida.

Sint Maarten / Saint Martin suffered great damage after this Category 5 hurricane battered the island. Video reports show truly shocking devastation.

Podersdorf am See | Austria

Postcard
Podersdorf am See is a market town in the east of Austria on the shore of the Neusiedler See. It is located very close to the Hungarian border. The economy of the town is based on tourism and quality wine making.

Podersdorf is located within the area of the UNESCO World Heritage site Fertö / Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape. A cross border site together with Hungary.

Stamp
In rememberance of Austrian musician Falco who would have turned 60 this year. Dont we all remember Rock Me Amadeus and Jeanny? Unfortunately he died in a car crash in 1998.

Seokguram Grotto | South Korea

Postcard
The Seokguram Grotto is an artificial grotto constructed of granite that contains a monumental statue of the Buddha. The temple was constructed between 751 and 774.

Together with Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto is a Unesco World Heritage site.