Myanmar: Kyaiktiyo Pagoda

On Thursday I got a postcard from Myanmar.

It shows the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda. The Kyaiktiyo Pagoda or Golden Rock is a small pagoda built on the top of a granite boulder covered with gold leaves. According to the legend the rock is precariously perched on a strand of Buddha's hair. It is one of the holiest sites in Myanmar and a popular pilgrimage site and tourist destination.

Stamp:
Musical Instruments (from set of two) (issued 27-07-2017)

Thank You very much Jobbo!

Game of Thrones stamps from the United Kingdom

On Thursday I got not only a postcard but also three covers including one from the United Kingdom.

With awesome stamps:

Post and Go - Game of Thrones (whole set) (issued 23-01-2018)

with a First Day Special Postmark from Belfast

Inside was an information card about Game of Thrones.

Already on Wednesday I got my ordered Game of Thrones stamps from the United Kingdom. You can see close-ups of the stamps here.

cover from Malaysia

On Thursday I got not only a postcard but also three covers including one from Malaysia.

Stamps:

60 years diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom (whole set) (issued 03-11-2017)

MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line (from set of four) (issued 17-07-2017)

Legoland Malaysia (from set of six) (issued 04-12-2017)

Inside was a maxicard of a Malayan Tapir. The Malayan Tapir is the largest of the five species of tapir and the only one native to Asia. It was once found throughout the tropical lowland rainforests of Southeast Asia, but due to human activity it is today in danger of extinction.

The stamp was issued on 21st November 2017 and is from a set of six stamps about tourist destinations in Pahang, Perak and Terengganu.

Thank You very much Yuki!

cover from Turkey

On Thursday I got not only a postcard but also three covers including one from Turkey.

Stamp:

meter stamp

Inside was a Turkish postcard.

The card shows Mardin. Mardin is a city in Turkish Kurdistan and the capital of the Mardin Province. It is known for its old town which seeks for the inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Since 2016 the city is under forced administration.

Thank You very much Yalçin!

Romania: Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest

On Tuesday I got a postcard from Romania.

It shows the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest. Bucharest is the capital and largest city of Romania. It is also the sixth largest city of the European Union. The Palace of the Parliament is the seat of the Romanian Parliament. It is the largest administrative building and heaviest building in the World. It was constructed as part of a reconstruction plan of Bucharest started by Nicolae Ceaușescu after an eartquake in 1977.

Stamp:
Collection Cars (from set of four) (issued 30-08-2017)

Thank You very much Mihnea!

Austria: Petronell-Carnuntum

On Monday I got two postcards: one from Austria and one from Finland.

The card from Austria shows various views of Petronell-Carnuntum. Petronell-Carnuntum is a community in the Austrian State of Lower Austria. It is especially known for its archaeological park, which got the European Heritage Label in 2013.

EDIT: As of July 2021 Carnuntum is now inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Danubian Limes.

Stamp:
60th birthday of Falco (issued 16-03-2017)
with a special postmark from Graz

Thank You very much Anita!

Finland: Sweet William

On Monday I got two postcards: one from Finland and one from Austria.

The card from Finland shows a Sweet William. The Sweet William is a flower native to southern Europe and parts of Asia which has become a popular ornamental garden plant. It is edible and may have medicinal properties.

Stamp:
Snow Queen (issued 03-11-2017)
with a special postmark from Saariselkä

Thank You very much Johanna!

Ceuta: Flag

On Saturday I got my first card from Ceuta.

Ceuta is a Spanish city on the north coast of Africa. Since 1995 it has the status of an autonomous city. It is claimed by Morocco. 

The card shows the Flag of Ceuta.

Stamp:
EUROPA (issued 21-04-2017)
with a special postmark from Ceuta

Thank You very much William!

Belgium: Bois du Cazier

On Thursday I got two postcards: one from Belgium and one from Thailand.

The card from Belgium shows the Bois du Cazier. The Bois du Cazier is a former coal mine in Wallonia. It is best known for the mining disaster of 1956, when 262 workers lost their lives. The mine was closed in 1967 and today it is used as museum. As one of the Major Mining Sites of Wallonia it is since 2012 on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 2017 it also got the European Heritage Label.

With a matching stamp:
Major Mining Sites of Wallonia (issued 07-07-2014)

Thank You very much Gerda!

Thailand: Mueang Boran

On Thursday I got two postcards: one from Thailand and one from Belgium.

The card from Thailand shows the Floating Market at Mueang Boran. Mueang Boran, also known as Ancient Siam or Ancient City, is an open-air museum in the Samut Prakan Province. It shows 116 structures of Thailand's famous monuments and architectural attractions, of which some are life-size replicas of existing or former sites and others are scaled down miniatures. The park has the shape of Thailand and the structures are at the correct places. It was opened in 1972 and is said to be the largest open-air museum in the World.

With nice stamps:
Parrots (from set of four) (issued 15-01-2001)
Chakri Dynasty (from set of ten) (issued 04-04-1982)
Paintings (from set of four) (issued 24-02-2003)

Thank You very much Jobbo!

Germany: Castle of Falkenlust

On Wednesday I got two postcards: one from Germany and one from Japan.

The card from Germany shows the Castle of Falkenlust in Brühl. The Castle of Falkenlust was built between 1729 and 1740 at the behest of Clemens August of Bavaria, the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne. It belongs to the most important baroque and rococo buildings in Germany. Since 1984 it is together with the Castle of Augustusburg on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

I had this card laying around unwritten for a long time and now had the perfect chance to send it to myself.

With a matching stamp:
Castle of Falkenlust (issued 02-01-2018)
with a matching special postmark

Japan: New Year

On Wednesday I got two postcards: one from Japan and one from Germany.

The card from Japan is a reproduction of an old New Year's card

Stamp:
Moomin (from set of twenty) (issued 10-01-2018)
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much Keiko!

Japan: Ritsurin Garden

On Tuesday I got a postcard from Japan.

It shows the Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu. The Ritsurin Garden is one of the most famous historical gardens in Japan. It dates back to the 17th century and became a Special Place of Scenic Beauty in 1953.

Stamp:
International Letter Writing Week (from set of two) (issued 06-10-2017)

Thank You very much Keiko!

Ivory Coast: Ceremony in Initiation

Last Friday I got two postcards: my first card from Ivory Coast and one from Vietnam.

Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, is a country in West Africa bordering on Guinea, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Mali and Ghana. In 1960 the country became independent from France. Its economy is largely based on agriculture especially the harvesting of cocoa and coffee. Yamoussoukro is Ivory Coast's political capital, while Abidjan is the economic capital and largest city.

The card shows a little boy wearing a sea shell dress for his ceremony of initiation. 

Stamp:
8th Francophone Games in Abidjan (from set of six) (issued 21-07-2017)

Thank You very much Mike for arranging this card for me!

Vietnam: Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

Last Friday I got two postcards: one from Vietnam and my first card from Ivory Coast.

The card Vietnam shows an archaeological site within the Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi. The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long was built in the 11th century on the remains of a Chinese fortress on drained land reclaimed from the Red River Delta. It was the centre of regional political power for almost 13 centuries without interruption. The Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is since 2010 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

With an awesome matching stamp:
Sculptures from the Citadel of Thang Long (issued 10-10-2017)

Thank You very much Phan!

Taiwan: 7th Taiwan Postcrossing Meet-up

On Thursday I got three postcards: one from Taiwan, one from Malaysia and one from Russia.

The card from Taiwan is the official card of the 7th Taiwan Postcrossing Meet-up. 

The card was signed during the meet-up.
Stamp:
Year of the Dog (from set of two) (issued 01-12-2017)
with a special Postcrossing postmark

Thank You very much!

Russia: Zabivaka

On Thursday I got three postcards: one from Russia, one from Taiwan and one from Malaysia.

The card from Russia shows the mascot of the 2018 FIFA World Cup writing Christmas cards for Postcrossing. The 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place in Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018. It is the first time that Russia will host the FIFA World Cup. A total of 64 matches will be played by 32 teams in twelve venues located in eleven cities, of which ten are in European Russia. Germany is the defending champion and Iceland and Panama will both make their first appearances at a FIFA World Cup. The mascot is an anthropomorphic wolf called Zabivaka.

The card was made into a maxicard with one of Russia's Christmas stamps of 2017 which also shows Zabivaka.

The card was signed during the Postcrossing Meet-up in Moscow.
With a nice matching stamp:
Christmas (from set of three) (issued 01-12-2017)
with a Christmas postmark from Moscow

Thank You very much Evgeniya!

Malaysia: 5th Klang Valley Postcrossing Meet-up

On Thursday I got three postcards: one from Malaysia, one from Russia and one from Taiwan.

The card from Malaysia is the official card of the 5th Klang Valley Postcrossing Meet-up.

The card was signed during the meet-up.
Stamp:
International Definitive - "Fauna" (from set of eight) (issued 01-10-2016)

Thank You very much Siew Wui!

Malaysia: Pos-silang

On Wednesday I got two postcards: one from Malaysia and one from Thailand.

The card from Malaysia is an official card for Malaysia's recent Pos-silang stamps.

With an awesome stamp:
Legoland Malaysia (from set of six) (issued 04-12-2017)
with a special postmark about the Stamp Week

Thank You very much Matthew!

Thailand: Monks

On Wednesday I got two postcards: one from Thailand and one from Malaysia.

The card from Thailand shows Buddhist monks.

On the backside are special postmarks of the ASEAN Journey exhibition at the Sam Sen Nai Philatelic Museum.
Stamp:
ASEAN (issued 08-08-2015)
It is a joint issue with the other ASEAN countries.

Thank You very much Kelvin!

cover from China

On Wednesday I got not only two postcards but also a cover from China.

On the cover is a meter stamp showing the Shanghai Disneyland. 

With a nice stamp:

Disney Princess (issued 02-12-2017)

Thank You very much Lin Zhu!

Germany: Baby Animals - Seal and Deer

On 2nd January German Post issued two new stamps in its baby animal series, one showing Deers and one showing Seals. On Tuesday I got the Seal stamp on a matching postcard.

The Common Seal is an animal from the group of the true seals. It is found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. Females bear a single pup after a nine-month gestation, which they care for alone. Pups are able to swim and dive within hours of birth and develop quickly on their mothers' fat-rich milk. During the 19th and 20th century there were many campaigns to eradicate the Common Seals, because they were considered to be a food competitor. Today it is protected. In 2006 it was the German Animal of the Year.

My father bought this card for me on a recent trip to the sea.

With a nice matching stamp:
Baby Animals (from set of two) (issued 02-01-2018)
with a special postmark from the Seal Caring Station in Norddeich

On Tuesday I also got two covers with the stamps and First Day Special Postmarks.