Hong Kong: Hong Kong Railway Museum

Yesterday I got two postcards from Hong Kong.

One of them is from the Hong Kong Railway Museum. The Hong Kong Railway Museum was opened in Tai Po in 1986. It is housed in the Old Tai Po Market Railway Station.

Stamp:
Year of the Monkey (from set of four) (issued 16-01-2016)

Thank You very much Katie!

Hong Kong: Year of the Monkey

Yesterday I got two postcards from Hong Kong.

One of them was printed in Taiwan and celebrates the Year of the Monkey. It was used to create a maxicard. The stamp is from a set of four and was issued on 16th January 2016. It also celebrate the Year of the Monkey.

As the card was actually intended to be sent from Taiwan, it is prepaid in New Taiwanese Dollar.

Thank You very much Joe!

Bahrain: Al Fateh Grand Mosque in Manama

Yesterday I got nine postcards including two from Bahrain.

One of them shows the Al Fateh Grand Mosque in Manama. Manama is the largest city of Bahrain and since 1921 also its capital. It is an important trading centre and financial hub. Manama was the Arab Capital of Culture in 2012. The Al Fateh Grand Mosque was built between 1987 and 1988. It is the largest mosque in Bahrain and one of the largest in the World. It has the World's largest fibreglass dome and is a popular tourist attraction. It houses the National Library of Bahrain since 2006.

Stamps:
Charity Stamp (issued 2009 (?))
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (from set of sixteen) (issued 15-07-2002)

Thank You very much Edwin!

Bahrain: Bahrain Pearling Trail

Yesterday I got nine postcards including two from Bahrain.

One of them shows the Wind Tower of the Isa Bin Ali House, which is a part of the Bahrain Pearling Trail. Pearling was once the most important economy of the country. It was first mentioned in around 2000 BC and had its heyday between 1850 and 1930, when there were around 30000 pearl divers. However in 1930 the pearl market crashed after the introduction of cultured pearls from Japan. The Bahrain Pearling Trail connects 17 buildings in Muharraq City, three off shore oyster beds and a part of the seashore at the southern tip of Muharraq Island. Since 2012 is the Bahrain Pearling Trail on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamps:
Charity Stamp (issued 2009 (?))
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (from set of sixteen) (issued 15-07-2002)

Thank You very much Edwin!

France: Avignon

Yesterday I got nine postcards including one from France.

It shows various views of Avignon. Avignon is a town in the French Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Between 1309 and 1377 was Avignon the residence of the Pope. Since 1995 is the Historic Centre of Avignon with the Papal Palace, the Episcopal Ensemble and the Avignon Bridge on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 2000 was Avignon the European Capital of Culture.

Stamp:
New Marianne 20g

Thank You very much Françoise!

Hungary: Hungarian National Museum

Yesterday I got nine postcards including one from Hungary.

It shows a history painting from the collection of the Hungarian National Museum. The Hungarian National Museum was opened in Budapest in 1802. The museum shows exhibitions about the history of Hungary. The theme of the painting is the armed anti-Habsburg uprising of the Kuruc in Royal Hungary between 1671 and 1711. 

Stamp:
Philaclub (from set of three) (issued 04-12-2009)
EUROPA (from set of two) (issued 08-05-2015)

Thank You very much Karr!

New Zealand: Spider and Monkey

Yesterday I got nine postcards including one from New Zealand.

It shows an illustration of a spider and a monkey.

With great old stamps and another related one:
Agriculture (from set of six) (issued 26-04-1978)
Healthcare (from set of three) (issued 05-08-1981)
Sea Resources (from set of five) (issued 07-06-1978)
Year of the Monkey (from set of four) (issued 13-01-2016)

Thank You very much Sharon!

USA: Lake Superior

Yesterday I got nine postcards including one from the USA.

It shows the North Shore of Lake Superior in the State of Minnesota. Minnesota is the second northernmost State and is known as Land of 10000 Lakes, due to its many lakes. The Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes of North America and also one of the largest freshwater lakes in the World.

Stamps:
Geometric Snowflakes (from set of four) (issued 23-10-2015)
Eid (issued 08-08-2013)
Penguins (issued 01-06-2015)

Thank You very much Keiko!

Japan: Sendai Pageant of Starlight

Yesterday I got nine postcards including one from Japan.

It shows the Sendai Pageant of Starlight. The Sendai Pageant of Starlight is one of Japan's biggest winter illumination displays and takes place in Sendai in December every year. 

With a nice "matching" stamp:
Tales from Stars (from set of four) (issued 22-01-2016)
There is a shining spot of foil on the stamp.
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much Keiko!

Russia: Dark Empire

Yesterday I got nine postcards including one from Russia.

It shows the cover of one of the comic books from the Dark Empire series. Dark Empire is a Star Wars comic book metaseries produced by Dark Horse Comics. It consists of 14 books and follows the events in the Star Wars franchise after Return of the Jedi. It was published between 1991 and 1995.

Stamps:
300 years Tsarskoe Selo (from set of three) (issued 18-06-2010)
XXI Olympic Winter Games (issued 11-02-2010)

Thank You very much Irina!

Netherlands: Multiview

Yesterday I got nine postcards including one from the Netherlands.

It shows various places in the country.

Stamp:
Dutch Icons (from set of five) (issued 03-01-2014)

Thank You very much Freddy!

Guinea: Musée Préfectoral de Kissidougou

This week I got fourteen postcards including my first card from Guinea.

Guinea is a country in West Africa bordering on Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. It is a member of the African Union and the United Nations. The capital of Guinea is Conakry. In 1958 the country became independent from France and in 2014 it was at the core of the Ebola outbreak.

The card is from the Musée Préfectoral de Kissidougou and shows a Kissi woman. Kissidougou is a town in the southern part of Guinea and is the capital of the Kissidougou Prefecture. The Kissi are the largest ethnic group in the town.

Stamps:
2008 Africa Cup of Nations (two from set of eighteen) (issued 20-01-2008)

Thank You very much Madeleine!

Vietnam: My Son Sanctuary

This week I got fourteen postcards including one from Vietnam.

It shows the My Son Sanctuary. The My Son Sanctuary was located in the capital of the Champa Kingdom, a state between the 4th and 13th century which owed its spiritual origins to Indian Hinduism. The site was forgotten and just rediscovered in the 20th century by French archaeologists. During the Vietnam War it was destroyed, but soon after rebuilt, although the construction techniques used by the Cham builders are not completely understood. The My Son Sanctuary is since 1999 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamps:
Year of the Monkey (whole set) (issued 01-12-2015)

Thank You very much Phan!

Luxembourg: European Museum in Schengen

This week I got fourteen postcards including one from Luxembourg.

It shows the European Museum in Schengen. Schengen is a village near the meeting place of the French, German and Luxembourgian border. In 1985 the Schengen Agreement was signed there, which led to the creation of Europe's borderless Schengen Area. The European Museum was opened in 2010 and shows exhibitions about the Schengen Agreement.

The card is a maxicard. The stamp on it is personalised and celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement. It was cancelled in Schengen on 29th October 2015 with a related postmark.

Stamp:
Presidency of the Council of the European Union (from set of two) (issued 01-07-2015)

Thank You very much Hanko!

Poland: Royal Salt Mine of Wieliczka

This week I got fourteen postcards including one from Poland.

It shows the Salt Lake at Weimar Chamber of the Royal Salt Mine of Wieliczka. The Royal Salt Mine of Wieliczka is one of the oldest salt mines in Europe. The mining started in the 13th century and had royal status. It illustrates the historic stages of the development of mining techniques in Europe from the 13th until the 20th century. Between the 14th and the 18th century the Royal Salt Mine of Wieliczka formed together with the Royal Salt Mine of Bochnia the largest mining company in Poland. In 1918 the mine became a state property of the Republic of Poland, which monopolised the salt trade. Since 1978 is the Royal Salt Mine of Wieliczka on the UNESCO World Heritage List, in 2013 the Royal Salt Mine of Bochnia was added.

Stamps:
Rose (from set of two) (issued 15-09-2015)
Sieradz (issued 29-07-2005)

Thank You very much Ania!

Italy: Royal Palace of Turin

This week I got fourteen postcards including one from Italy.

It shows the Royal Palace of Turin. In 1563 became Turin the capital of the Duchy of Savoy and the House of Savoy soon started to built palaces in the city. The Royal Palace was one of them. It was built in the 16th century and was modernised in the 17th century. In 1861, when the House of Savoy became Italy's royal family, Turin became the first capital of the unified Italy. Turin already lost the status as capital in 1865, but soon became an important centre of industry, especially of the automotive industry. In 1902 and 1911 the city hosted the Universal Exposition and in 2006 the Winter Olympics. Today is Turin the fourth largest city of Italy and the capital of the Piedmont Region. The Residences of the Royal House of Savoy, including the Royal Palace, are since 1997 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamp:
Italian Mail (from set of two) (issued 19-09-2015)

Thank You very much Gian Luca!

Germany: Schwetzingen Palace

This week I got fourteen postcards including four from Germany.

One of them shows the Schwetzingen Palace and a fountain in its garden. Schwetzingen is a town in the German State of Baden-Württemberg. The Schwetzingen Palace was used as summer residence of Electors Palatine Charles III Philip and Charles IV Theodore. It was built between 1700 and 1750 and is especially known for its gardens. Today it houses the annual Schwetzingen Festival. 

I got this card a few weeks ago in a cover.

With a matching stamp:
1250 years Schwetzingen (issued 02-01-2016)
with a special postmark from Schwetzingen

Thank You very much Kerstin for sending me the card in an envelope!

Germany: Central Airport Tempelhof

This week I got fourteen postcards including four from Germany.

One of them shows the Airlift Monument at the Central Airport Tempelhof in Berlin. The Central Airport Tempelhof was opened in 1923 as one of the first commercial airports in Germany. In 1948 and 1949 it was the centre of the Berlin Airlift during the Berlin Blockade. The airport was closed in 2008.

I bought this card when I visited Berlin last year.

Stamp:
Centenary of  World War I (issued 07-08-2014)
with a special postmark about the centenary of relations between Afghanistan and Germany
In 1915 the Niedermayer-Hentig Expedition, a diplomatic mission, was sent by the Central Powers German and Ottoman Empire to Afghanistan. Its purpose was to encourage Afghanistan to declare full independence from the British Empire, enter World War I on the side of the Central Powers, and attack British India. Although the Russian Empire and the United Kingdom tried to intercept the mission, it reached Kabul in September 1915. The mission failed in its main task of rallying Afghanistan, but a friendship treaty between Afghanistan and the German Empire was signed in January 1916.

Germany: Kaitersberg and Großer Arber

This week I got fourteen postcards including four from Germany.

One of them shows various views of the Kaitersberg and the Großer Arber in the Bavarian Forest. The Großer Arber is the highest mountain in the Bavarian Forest and is thus often called King of the Bavarian Forest. It is a popular skiing resort.

I got this card a few weeks ago in a cover.

With nice matching stamps:
Bavarian Forest (issued 02-01-2016)
Bavarian Forest (issued 07-04-2005)
with a special postmark showing also the Großer Arber

Thank You very much Julia for sending me the card in an envelope!

Germany: Bavarian Forest

This week I got fourteen postcards including four from Germany.

One of them shows various views of the Bavarian Forest. The Bavarian Forest is a wooded low-mountain region in Bavaria. It is a part of the same mountain range as the Bohemian Forest in the Czech Republic. In 1970 Germany's first national park was established there and today is the Bavarian Forest the largest protected forest area in Central Europe.

I got this card a few weeks ago in a cover.

With a matching stamp:
Bavarian Forest (issued 02-01-2016)
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much Stephanie for sending me the card in an envelope!

USA: National Postal Museum

This week I got fourteen postcards including one from the USA.

It was printed by the National Postal Museum and shows a boy stretching to put his mail into a Doremus-style collection box.

Stamps:
Penguins (issued 01-06-2015)
Summer Harvest (two from set of four) (issued 11-07-2015)
with a special postmark from the National Postal Museum about New York City Stamp Art

Thank You very much Keiko!

Russia: Sliding Hill Pavilion in Lomonosov

This week I got fourteen postcards including one from Russia.

It shows the Sliding Hill Pavilion in Lomonosov. Lomonosov is a municipal town in the Petrodvortsovy District of Saint Petersburg. Until 1948 the town was known as Oranienbaum. It was once a Russian royal residence. The Palaces and Parks Ensembles of the Town of Lomonosov are together with the Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1990.

It is an official card: RU-4339835

Stamps:
Russian Kremlins (from set of twelve) (issued 01-10-2009)
Flora and Fauna (from set of fifteen) (issued 29-08-2008)

Thank You very much Natalia!

Thailand: Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and Zoo

This week I got fourteen postcards including one from Thailand.

It shows a Crocodile Show at the Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and Zoo in Bangkok. The Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and Zoo is an internationally renowned crocodile zoo, but also other animals are shown there. During a crocodile show the performers put parts of their body in the mouth of a crocodile and also do other tricks. The shows are performed everyday. The Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and Zoo suffered from poor management and bad housekeeping and is known for animal abuse.

It is an official card: TH-216623

Stamps:
Red Cross (issued 30-03-2012)
New Year (from set of ten) (issued 15-11-2013)
150 years Ranong (issued 21-07-2012)

Thank You very much Suchada!

Czech Republic: Kdyně

This week I got fourteen postcards including one from the Czech Republic.

It shows various views of Kdyně. Kdyně is a town in Western Bohemia. In 1678 the first textile factory of Bohemia was founded there and later the town became a centre of the textile industry.

It is an official card: CZ-798979

Stamp:
Postcrossing (issued 05-09-2015)

Thank You very much Klára!

Belarus: Illustration

This week I got fourteen postcards including one from Belarus.

It shows an illustration, which seems to be published by BELPOCHTA.

It is an official card: BY-1818526

Stamp:
75 years National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus (issued 10-11-2014)
Foil is applied to the stamp.

Thank You very much Marina!