tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14937902696929064232024-02-07T21:02:56.607-08:00Hagaki MawariMaggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.comBlogger217125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-19378904857369200172018-02-21T13:56:00.000-08:002018-02-21T13:56:22.741-08:00Melbourne, AustraliaThanks Elizabeth for this atmospheric cityview of Melbourne. Reminds me of my home city, Seattle. :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/39490614385/in/album-72157624278983979/" title="Melbourne"><img alt="Melbourne" height="640" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4696/39490614385_a88b2c2de6_z.jpg" width="454" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
Melbourne is the capital and largest city of the state of Victoria. Elizabeth writes that she was able to visit nearby St. Kilda Beach at sunset and saw the smalled penguins in the world (<i>Eudyptula minor</i>). Their common name is simply "little penguin."<br />
<br />
Apparently you can also see this sign. I love it!<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahmworthy/8002331238/in/photolist-dc93hf-88aqp2-CQSQLw-oPv8ZH-oxh9xg-oN88md-t99qY-dc92ud-dc92qG-dc91NL-dc8ZKe-oPM2g4-dc92fk-oPKcb5-oPKgQA-grEhKd-oN88AG-dc91TB-oN88pu-dc91mv-dc91ct-dc93jL-oQ8bEG-oxEh4W-dc92Es-dc92mA-J2RXb-oxheqn-oQ9ZUx-t99wU-8EqKEc-egzLJ8-dc92A3-t99ah-oVbAMe-pzxR5g-8Lztgh-5txgRH-dc92Q9-5txhgD-8uTr8z-dc91SA-dc91si-8cCsez-pS49gS-4aT9AD-egFvVL-dc92bT-8LwoEv-EsoBLg" title="St Kilda Beach Australia Penguins Sarah Worthy Sept 2012-5"><img alt="St Kilda Beach Australia Penguins Sarah Worthy Sept 2012-5" height="320" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8439/8002331238_f1c27b2bd2_n.jpg" width="305" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
Photo by Sarah Worthy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/40363034822/in/album-72157627326998879/" title="IMG_20180221_133916"><img alt="IMG_20180221_133916" height="240" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4740/40363034822_6d29f40898_m.jpg" width="175" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
Stamp showing Alpine National Park, Victoria, from a 2014 set of three on the theme "Wilderness Australia."Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-8093692178352169772018-02-21T13:36:00.003-08:002018-02-21T13:37:52.323-08:00Colorful sails, MalaysiaThis lovely card came as an official, MY-186201.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/14890476279/in/album-72157624238906223/" title="IMG_9707"><img alt="IMG_9707" height="331" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3906/14890476279_bc3bf4a228.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
There isn't any info about the photographer or where this was taken.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/39697027924/in/album-72157627326998879/" title="IMG_20180221_132718"><img alt="IMG_20180221_132718" height="180" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4676/39697027924_f382ae6ae2_m.jpg" width="320" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
The stamp, issued in August 2007, shows the post office of Yangon, Myanmar. It was an ASEAN joint issue commemorative.Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-77723439705396572802018-02-18T11:14:00.000-08:002018-02-22T11:18:53.174-08:00Salzburg, Austria<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/14890695627/in/album-72157624951593770/" title="Salzburg"><img alt="Salzburg" height="344" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3869/14890695627_54cbb44fd2.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Die Salsburger Winterskyline / The Winter Skyline of Salzburg<br />
Photo: Hansjörg Murenwald<br />
<br />
This card was from Rafal for (old) Vacation RR #850. Many thanks Rafal, I love this card. In the picture you can see Salzburg's Old Town including Hohensalzburg Castle on the hilltop to the right; just below the castle St. Peter's Abbey; just left of it the Franciscan Church tower spire; Salzburg Cathedral with the two rounded spires; and Nonnberg Abbey, a Benedictine monastery with the red spire just barely visible in the back. I'm sure there are a few other historic buildings in there but those were the ones I could figure out. The Old Town is a UNESCO world heritage site and is also Mozart's birthplace. You can almost hear the music just looking at this card!<br />
<br />
I would love to visit Salzburg someday. So beautiful!<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/39632203544/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_20180218_110929"><img alt="IMG_20180218_110929" height="240" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4720/39632203544_8a8dba40f4_m.jpg" width="180" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Stamp issued in 2012 for the 200th birthday of Rudolf von Alt.Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-79355543128180892232018-02-18T10:46:00.000-08:002018-02-18T10:52:02.855-08:00Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland<span style="color: white;">I sent this card to myself when I visited Scotland in the December 2013. Edinburgh at Christmas is one of the most beautiful places I've been. There are a ton of free museums, architecture lit up at night, and you can have tea at Elephant House Cafe, the birthplace of the Harry Potter books! Not to mention the wonderful postcards. Unfortunately, I didn't actually get to see this particular castle in person although I did see Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle so I was not exactly castle-deprived.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/15077266135/in/album-72157646598938760/" title="Eilean Donan Castle"><img alt="Eilean Donan Castle" height="339" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3919/15077266135_f8f4b02d61.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">Photo by Marie Kerr.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">Eilean Donan Castle is located in Dornie, Wester Ross, in the Scottish highlands. Eilean Donan is actually the name of the small island the castle is on, where three lochs meet. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: white;">According to Wikipedia, <i>The castle was founded in the thirteenth century, and became a stronghold of the Clan Mackenzie and their allies the <span style="color: black;">Clan Macrae</span>. In the early eighteenth century, the Mackenzies' involvement in the Jacobite rebellions led in 1719 to the castle's destruction by government ships. </i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">The existing castle is a 20th century reconstruction.<i> </i></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: white;"><i><br /></i><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/26471415398/in/album-72157627326998879/" title="IMG_20180218_103046"><img alt="IMG_20180218_103046" height="162" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4746/26471415398_abe3632fb8_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></span><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<span style="color: white;">The stamp is a UK Universal Mail International Postcard stamp featuring the Highland Cow and Scottish flag.</span>Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-87772870987030600092018-02-11T13:14:00.000-08:002018-02-11T13:16:51.843-08:00Grand Canyon, USAThis is a card from several years ago, showing Havasu Falls, in the Grand Canyon in the state of Arizona.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/5576033592/in/album-72157624363416434/" title="Havasu Falls, Grand Canyon"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5310/5576033592_f2937605c9.jpg" width="500" height="353" alt="Havasu Falls, Grand Canyon"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
Sent by Solarts66 for the fast favorites tag.<br />
<br />
From the back of the card: Havasu Falls plunges 100 feet into a beautiful pool of blue-green waters. This waterfall is spectacular and is one of the most photographed in the world. There is a large beach area for lounging and picnicking in front of the waterfall.<br />
<br />
The Grand Canyon is a 446-km canyon carved by the Colorado River in the American Southwest. It is surrounded by Grand Canyon National Park. I hope to visit this area someday!<br />
<br />
The stamp is the same polar bear definitive from <a href="http://hagaki-mawari.blogspot.com/2010/08/los-angeles-california.html" target="_blank">here</a>.Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-9680982091485392922018-02-11T12:58:00.000-08:002018-02-11T12:58:33.484-08:00Mung Bean Mooncake, TaiwanLong time, no post. Well, I'm back. I have recently gotten back into Postcrossing and hope to update this blog more regularly!<br />
<br />
To start with for today, here is a card showing mung bean mooncakes from Taiwan. This card was from RachelDing for the November alternate RR. Rachel writes that mooncakes are usually popular during Middle Autumn Festival, but are eaten all year round.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/40177485572/in/dateposted-public/" title="Taiwan mung bean mooncake"><img alt="Taiwan mung bean mooncake" height="640" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4749/40177485572_ed0cecd49a_z.jpg" width="450" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
According to Wikipedia, the mid-autumn festival is for lunar appreciation and moon viewing. Moon cakes typically contain salted whole egg yolks inside, to represent the moon. Mung bean is the most common filling in Taiwan (accompanied by the egg yolks). However, "modern" mooncakes can be filled with a wide variety of ingredients such as ice cream, durian, coffee, even tiramisu!<br />
<br />
This card came with two lovely stamps.<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/40210149311/in/dateposted-public/" title="Taiwan mung bean mooncake"><img alt="Taiwan mung bean mooncake" height="165" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4713/40210149311_1c15a52926.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
The one on the right is from a 2017 issue of four stamps depicting marine life, with this particular one showing Culcita novaeguineae, or cushion star, common in Taiwanese reefs. The one on the left is from a non-denominated set of 2 issued in 2017.Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-30661300512960335132014-08-06T23:15:00.000-07:002014-08-06T23:21:37.297-07:00Gotochi Travel Blog: Hokkaido, Part IIAfter all that time in the city, I was really excited to visit Akan National Park in eastern Hokkaido, which is known for being a great place for hiking, canoeing, and hot springs. Bus service is irregular, so we rented a car in Sapporo and drove across the island. It was about a four hour drive, but it was nice to see all the countryside. I even saw my first kitakitsune (Ezo red fox)!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tetutetu/884174418" title="キタキツネ by tetu, on Flickr"><img alt="キタキツネ" height="375" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1360/884174418_ec6407f601.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tetutetu/">tetu</a>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtLbD1sWRWA6sNHmz_RDqVh-VHUpzsPF3pgPtprMS2hytI3R-4RJEsdg4-XAMHiDfKso37-lL8-OceUnv7uDHZxninphm6KZdjZQQtReyLi78iSWBzUVAgGOU2b9ve0CPFnyEPrF-GI4/s1600/Hokkaido_Kitakitsune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtLbD1sWRWA6sNHmz_RDqVh-VHUpzsPF3pgPtprMS2hytI3R-4RJEsdg4-XAMHiDfKso37-lL8-OceUnv7uDHZxninphm6KZdjZQQtReyLi78iSWBzUVAgGOU2b9ve0CPFnyEPrF-GI4/s1600/Hokkaido_Kitakitsune.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
Ezo red fox is a subspecies found almost exclusively in Hokkaido.<br />
<br />
Partway through the drive, we stopped for some Genghis Khan, or mutton cooked on a convex metal skillet, supposedly the way the Mongols cooked on their helmets back in the day. The dish is popular in Hokkaido.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCnhtzahT5U8G14ltqsPLjuNVbPlDcU8VQL7xyK0Gnqsng9DCxN6B-rtpAgL_NUfMbEQkN0aLl5_NFPEQd1q6yUE_gEfgs7matLVgwnEbJ6r8EFejiCWONV5G-WRXhKcoDzdpQCGLf7o/s1600/Hokkaido_JengisuKanRyouri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCnhtzahT5U8G14ltqsPLjuNVbPlDcU8VQL7xyK0Gnqsng9DCxN6B-rtpAgL_NUfMbEQkN0aLl5_NFPEQd1q6yUE_gEfgs7matLVgwnEbJ6r8EFejiCWONV5G-WRXhKcoDzdpQCGLf7o/s1600/Hokkaido_JengisuKanRyouri.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
This is what ours looked like:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/maynard/101614644" title="#1751 "Genghis Khan" lamb BBQ by Nemo's great uncle, on Flickr"><img alt="#1751 "Genghis Khan" lamb BBQ" height="375" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/31/101614644_ecfc82ee5c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/maynard/">Nemo's Great Uncle</a><br />
<br />
We stayed at Lake Akan, where there is a hot spring resort and "Ainu Kotan," a village ("kotan" means "village" in the Ainu language) with a lot of tourist shops selling Ainu folk art and an Ainu museum. The Ainu are the native people of Hokkaido.<br />
<br />
That brings me to the (possibly) controversial part of this post, because one of the things they sell in the village is bear carvings. Traditionally, bear carvings were reserved for religious items such as prayer sticks and headdresses. When ethnic Japanese took over Hokkaido in the late 1800s, they declared that the Ainu were Japanese subjects, and outlawed Ainu language and customs, including hunting and fishing, so the Ainu had no way to make a living. The Ainu people who worked for Japanese logging companies were viewed as dogs - less than human. Some Ainu turned to wood carving as a way to survive. They took what had been religious items and sold them as tourist souvenirs. Umetaro Matsui, an Ainu bear hunter, became a well-known carver of wooden bears.<br />
<br />
Source: <a href="http://www.oldphotosjapan.com/en/photos/648/ainu-carving-wood#.U-MW_agwJZx" target="_blank">Old Photos of Japan </a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jq_E05WORIqd_DusllYenPYhYFkY-7VEQhRVDsDqNMEsRiVjTc8NF9I8DCiR9D3kPDEQitJPQXB6Y0zBEh1tYAkLv-LBGeffTiZiQsiUz5iqo1DFo11xNTO40NceixpPfHPdQqtv8U0/s1600/Hokkaido_MokuhoriNoKuma.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jq_E05WORIqd_DusllYenPYhYFkY-7VEQhRVDsDqNMEsRiVjTc8NF9I8DCiR9D3kPDEQitJPQXB6Y0zBEh1tYAkLv-LBGeffTiZiQsiUz5iqo1DFo11xNTO40NceixpPfHPdQqtv8U0/s1600/Hokkaido_MokuhoriNoKuma.gif" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Posta Collect, in their description of the bear carving, completely erase the Ainu. According to Posta Collect, the image originated in souvenirs brought to Japan from Europe. They mention Umetaro Matsui, but not that he was Ainu. Shame on you, Posta Collect. This is a stunningly obvious example of the racism faced by the Ainu today.<br />
<br />
No wonder this bear looks like he is crying.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/katzenheim/4596970282" title="20100510 by Sebastian Tauchmann, on Flickr"><img alt="20100510" height="333" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3145/4596970282_e9f918d86a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/katzenheim/" target="_blank">Sebastian Tauchmann</a>Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-71449627680616816212013-08-22T21:38:00.001-07:002013-08-22T21:38:22.022-07:00Gotochi Travel Blog: Hokkaido, Part IThere were many surprises in store for me on this leg of the tour. When I thought of Hokkaido, I always thought of volcanoes, national parks, snow, and the Ainu people. The gotochi for Hokkaido don't show any of those things. But, since I set out on this journey to discover Japan via gotochi, I tried to remain faithful to that. So, even though I thought I would visit Hokkaido in the middle of the summer, I went in May, so I could see the Lilac Festival in Sapporo.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeR9RZuVg7nM0E-jKTLbA8GEI5Xhv1x1qfgqcQ-R12cKZ9waYvJxIymM5-ZpzQYtxBgCJoGSrKMFJ3AiKAvKAIQJ2MD7DB-VPS48ZTtKk1W0WE1g3u8NKo1ADQg9Tez-7sUJ2VTGk4nU/s1600/Hokkaido_Lilac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeR9RZuVg7nM0E-jKTLbA8GEI5Xhv1x1qfgqcQ-R12cKZ9waYvJxIymM5-ZpzQYtxBgCJoGSrKMFJ3AiKAvKAIQJ2MD7DB-VPS48ZTtKk1W0WE1g3u8NKo1ADQg9Tez-7sUJ2VTGk4nU/s320/Hokkaido_Lilac.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Lilacs are actually some of my favorite flowers. At home, they bloom around the end of April, just in time for my birthday. It's a bit colder in Hokkaido so it takes them a little longer. This was the 55th year of the Lilac Festival in Oodoori Park, which spans the middle of downtown. There are at least 3 other festivals at Oodoori park that are more famous than this one. The lilac festival is actually a lot more than just blooming flowers, though. There were a bunch of musical performances, food stalls, tea ceremony, and even a flea market. Unfortunately, this event is so non-famous that even the official website doesn't have any decent pictures to showcase.<br />
<br />
But! One of the things they sold at the food stalls was Hokkaido sweet corn. Naturally.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRgrJSBVVXqJNzfpKfm-vqOtXyzp4Bl2PN1GwaXD25PQ8UdxoTUsZtwSaXDENt2wp-veV_u8yMiWTRhq7NrVPSQ9vzTRBJEZ6PDakTsxcwrhm4uTcX_L7wuAZ3aRkEjThLhleTXBP-NE/s1600/Hokkaido_Toukibi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fatguyinalittlecoat/9340131034/" title="famous Hokkaido corn by jczart, on Flickr"><img alt="famous Hokkaido corn" height="500" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3690/9340131034_7dfa21e833.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
Photo by Justin Cozart<br />
<br />
Hokkaido sweet corn is called "toukibi." It's roasted and covered in butter and soy sauce.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRgrJSBVVXqJNzfpKfm-vqOtXyzp4Bl2PN1GwaXD25PQ8UdxoTUsZtwSaXDENt2wp-veV_u8yMiWTRhq7NrVPSQ9vzTRBJEZ6PDakTsxcwrhm4uTcX_L7wuAZ3aRkEjThLhleTXBP-NE/s1600/Hokkaido_Toukibi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRgrJSBVVXqJNzfpKfm-vqOtXyzp4Bl2PN1GwaXD25PQ8UdxoTUsZtwSaXDENt2wp-veV_u8yMiWTRhq7NrVPSQ9vzTRBJEZ6PDakTsxcwrhm4uTcX_L7wuAZ3aRkEjThLhleTXBP-NE/s320/Hokkaido_Toukibi.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
There was one place in Sapporo I still needed to see: the clock tower.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_hrUE7ndb4H-wIcYpt8yeRll73BAt-aclxeZuS5WbdIboN7y2Bg_tQn3zf4liLwIB3tDK-W_wWKsR0pt5iDcilEvJk6UAiEm_XzrRle1Wqx9LCznFE7zTwwW6OC-BvyEcZYxaseAS0U/s1600/Hokkaido_Tokeidai.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_hrUE7ndb4H-wIcYpt8yeRll73BAt-aclxeZuS5WbdIboN7y2Bg_tQn3zf4liLwIB3tDK-W_wWKsR0pt5iDcilEvJk6UAiEm_XzrRle1Wqx9LCznFE7zTwwW6OC-BvyEcZYxaseAS0U/s320/Hokkaido_Tokeidai.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
The American-made clock tower is one of the oldest buildings in Sapporo and one of the few remaining western-style buildings there. Built in 1878, it was part of the drill hall of Sapporo Agricultural College. The clock still keeps the time and chimes every hour.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/autanex/496173823/" title="札幌時計台 Sapporo Clock Tower by autan, on Flickr"><img alt="札幌時計台 Sapporo Clock Tower" height="359" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/200/496173823_576eaec87e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Photo by Autan<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for a bit more controversy (maybe) in the next Hokkaido post. Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-4721223470581959182013-08-16T20:17:00.000-07:002013-08-16T20:17:12.390-07:00Gotochi Travel Blog: Nagano, Part IIFrom Matsumoto we went to Kamikochi, which is inside Chubu Sangaku National Park. No private cars are allowed inside the park and we had to take a bus from Matsumoto Station. The bus station had a food stall selling some yummy snacks I had never tasted before - oyaki.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWei7cy_vPv2r91-oxNJdqiJKSdZ_l8L8fl7cN6IlYL1NaEsOV7rqGN8J2pF4vm22n3jIXRQFu-3ueYBl9EF3-i0syqXXiKf2b61jZ9QxvuvpyQOEvYqXT5pAmSHCzvTc8wyj2qWsf_JU/s1600/Nagano_Oyaki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWei7cy_vPv2r91-oxNJdqiJKSdZ_l8L8fl7cN6IlYL1NaEsOV7rqGN8J2pF4vm22n3jIXRQFu-3ueYBl9EF3-i0syqXXiKf2b61jZ9QxvuvpyQOEvYqXT5pAmSHCzvTc8wyj2qWsf_JU/s320/Nagano_Oyaki.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Oyaki are kind of like Chinese baozi, but the dough is made with buckwheat flour and they are stuffed with all kinds of goodies. My favorite is kabocha squash!<br /><br />
Kamikochi is high in the Japanese Alps, surrounded by Nishihotakadake (2909 m), Okuhotakadake (3190 m), Maehotakadake (3090 m) and the active volcano Yakedake (2455 m).<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joi/411392/" title="Misty Morning in Kamikochi by Joi, on Flickr"><img alt="Misty Morning in Kamikochi" height="280" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/1/411392_2411fbfc3e.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />
Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joi/" target="_blank">Joi</a> <br />
<br />
A short walk from the bus terminal is Kappabashi, a suspension bridge over the Azusa River. A kappa is an imaginary creature said to be human-like but in reptilian skin. It lives in water and lures unsuspecting visitors in so it can eat their livers. We didn't see any kappa there, though. We mostly saw trees - deep forests of Keshou Yanagi (a kind of willow, Chosenia arbutifolia) and Japanese larch trees surround the bridge.
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQ0aJDhdrIEJCOml9w_1VJpe11MjFH-Z4915K6obk-IGM-bum5SRwtPIIaRf2r2Fngss7xJ8CuTk0drmWlzYV6UTnDSYJdUAUZMPGp2s6m9i7HwmvIoog_lLzb7W76fZwr_tWPrPGdG4/s1600/Nagano_Kamikouchi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQ0aJDhdrIEJCOml9w_1VJpe11MjFH-Z4915K6obk-IGM-bum5SRwtPIIaRf2r2Fngss7xJ8CuTk0drmWlzYV6UTnDSYJdUAUZMPGp2s6m9i7HwmvIoog_lLzb7W76fZwr_tWPrPGdG4/s400/Nagano_Kamikouchi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We hiked further in, to the tranquil Myojin Pond. We stayed overnight at a little lodge called Kamonjigoya and spent the whole next day hiking.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lestaylorphoto/9389869001/" title="Kamikochi On A Cloudy Day by lestaylorphoto, on Flickr"><img alt="Kamikochi On A Cloudy Day" height="331" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3731/9389869001_f70d760121.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Photo by Les Taylor<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skyseeker/212534629/" title="Kamikochi. by skyseeker, on Flickr"><img alt="Kamikochi." height="375" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/49/212534629_58971f8685.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
Photo by Kazuhiko Teramoto<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ans_maiko/9331736037/" title="Vein of the Leaves by Maiko Aizawa, on Flickr"><img alt="Vein of the Leaves" height="339" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3690/9331736037_b3fb5021b1.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Photo by Maiko Aizawa<br />
<br />
I was hoping to see a wild kamoshika, because the website for Kamikochi has a picture of one, and it's on one of the Nagano gotochi.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkXt7muUBLxpwBIWPiLCEJyqF3B4Ge-XAF9i1Q0myjdfitPTqo5Ihuk4rt987h_w2GPA9ka9wb_M6HQPZT5VUnMvqslJFM7VGfEtx0PpksKNFOakY0X582hVUkuhJvTRO3Qs6WTRICjY/s1600/Nagano_Kamoshika.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkXt7muUBLxpwBIWPiLCEJyqF3B4Ge-XAF9i1Q0myjdfitPTqo5Ihuk4rt987h_w2GPA9ka9wb_M6HQPZT5VUnMvqslJFM7VGfEtx0PpksKNFOakY0X582hVUkuhJvTRO3Qs6WTRICjY/s320/Nagano_Kamoshika.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
But we didn't. The English name for kamoshika is Japanese serow (<i>Capricornis crispus</i>). They look kind of like a cross between a goat and an antelope. Maybe next time I'll see one...<br />
<br />
Speaking of next time, leave me a comment and tell me which prefecture you think I should visit in my next fake travel blog!Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-8214456282950311242013-08-10T14:26:00.000-07:002013-08-10T23:37:11.552-07:00Gotochi Travel Blog: Nagano, Part IMy tour of all 47 prefectures of Japan via ご当地フォルムカード (regional shaped cards) begins in Nagano. First, we visited Matsumoto castle in the city of Matsumoto.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0vV6Fx3wVXVa6EXTQsr1T31Px9x6wpbPucKJvCsE0-mik4dImfen78IhVixqYmeK38lYzXFh4vf2x2OhWBsJQ2aVdk9deD48MeSfCwvIVzfJAmbl4VMxy4P0lWQ2REeLpiuaDuaaZOY/s1600/Nagano_MatsumotoJou.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0vV6Fx3wVXVa6EXTQsr1T31Px9x6wpbPucKJvCsE0-mik4dImfen78IhVixqYmeK38lYzXFh4vf2x2OhWBsJQ2aVdk9deD48MeSfCwvIVzfJAmbl4VMxy4P0lWQ2REeLpiuaDuaaZOY/s320/Nagano_MatsumotoJou.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">国宝松本城</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Matsumoto Castle is also called Karasu-Jou or "Crow Castle" because of its black exterior. Along with Himeji Castle, Inuyama Castle, and Hikone Castle, Mastumoto Castle is designated a National Treasure of Japan. It dates from the 16th century, and the keep still has its original wooden interior and stone exterior. Inside the castle is a gun museum.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HT31qB1bZzto2HLqr-MMFMFjF5Dzi8uHJivQEt6Ij9IvDkMB5Nz7aOhB9ICx0rwdSh-ZowaDro4BVEVvcgTXsA8BPLmZZNDB-waO7VWmpuA5aG01MJGxskohtpRwzuSGIljpZkJww44/s1600/%EF%BC%92%EF%BC%90%EF%BC%91%EF%BC%93%E6%9D%BE%E6%9C%AC+049.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HT31qB1bZzto2HLqr-MMFMFjF5Dzi8uHJivQEt6Ij9IvDkMB5Nz7aOhB9ICx0rwdSh-ZowaDro4BVEVvcgTXsA8BPLmZZNDB-waO7VWmpuA5aG01MJGxskohtpRwzuSGIljpZkJww44/s320/%EF%BC%92%EF%BC%90%EF%BC%91%EF%BC%93%E6%9D%BE%E6%9C%AC+049.JPG" /></a><br />
Photo by Haru<br />
<br />
During the Meiji period, the keep started to lean to one side. People said it was because of the curse of Tada Kasuke. Tada and a group of other farmers met at Kumano shrine in 1686 about an exorbitant tax increase. They brought their letter of appeal Matsumoto Castle expecting to turn it in peacefully to the magistrate, but when the peasants heard about his plan, they revolted, robbing stores and attacking the merchants. The executives of the domain agreed to lower the taxes, but a few weeks later Tada and the other farmers were arrested and executed without trial. (The keep was actually structurally deficient at the time, but the story is more interesting. Good thing the keep has since been restored, because we climbed all the way to the top!)<br />
<br />
We went to the castle by bicycle from the train station, so I was quite hungry by the time we got back to town. The area is famous for two foodstuffs: basashi (raw horse meat) and wasabi (home to the world's largest wasabi farm). I passed on both and got a big bowl of soba (buckwheat) noodles instead, my fave. For dessert we picked up some delicious Nagano apples from the shopping arcade.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESFWYNdW6q7bA2xz-TySbcVcZhieXAu9-1jt1GX-_QD1ZcnViS2BwYZgD3dZ7v7o2ZtP396soxFaP9XpZmdhxb5XIgac_paosW_YwbeJtHwCPG78Js_zsDAN_otXknL1fcsTk5_IhDVM/s1600/Nagano_Ringo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESFWYNdW6q7bA2xz-TySbcVcZhieXAu9-1jt1GX-_QD1ZcnViS2BwYZgD3dZ7v7o2ZtP396soxFaP9XpZmdhxb5XIgac_paosW_YwbeJtHwCPG78Js_zsDAN_otXknL1fcsTk5_IhDVM/s320/Nagano_Ringo.gif" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">りんご</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Apple cultivation in Nagano dates from 1874, when the Ministry of the Interior delivered three apple seedlings to Nagano. Mmmm.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpellgen/4206091217/" title="Shinshu Ringo by jpellgen, on Flickr"><img alt="Shinshu Ringo" height="333" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2792/4206091217_3c1077446e.jpg" width="500" /></a>
<br />
Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpellgen/" target="_blank">jpellgen</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Next stop: Kamikouchi.Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-53117903269031979712013-05-26T13:16:00.000-07:002013-05-26T13:16:56.066-07:00Alkmaar, Netherlands<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/8396205905/" title="Alkmaar cheese market by shizuku_san, on Flickr"><img alt="Alkmaar cheese market" height="351" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8047/8396205905_82699e8b58.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
This one was sent in an envelope. :(<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/8397291188/" title="Alkmaar cheese market by shizuku_san, on Flickr"><img alt="Alkmaar cheese market" height="351" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8235/8397291188_5af1589ded.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
NL-1550153<br />
<br />
Alkmaar is located in the province of North Holland. Edam cheese is made here, and every Friday morning from April to September they have a cheese market, which is mainly a show for tourists. In fact, you can't even buy cheese at the cheese market - it is just a demonstration of how the market used to work in the old days. Alkmaar also has a cheese museum.<br />
<br />
I've been postcrossing for about 4 years and these are the only two cards I've ever received from Alkmaar. I got them within 2 weeks of each other.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYF43Tg3tnATWYmNCpSySYtnzk_jiKPwNyKiGhKNdBbGUBH1sVYIIPIFluPTt1FLwO_ECkqxkFido6-OpiZzLeOTAlx5rDgEOm0x61AMBSwe3yMtgZ6LcOJnSyY1btUAaO6pbC5-q9OSg/s1600/IMG_8424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYF43Tg3tnATWYmNCpSySYtnzk_jiKPwNyKiGhKNdBbGUBH1sVYIIPIFluPTt1FLwO_ECkqxkFido6-OpiZzLeOTAlx5rDgEOm0x61AMBSwe3yMtgZ6LcOJnSyY1btUAaO6pbC5-q9OSg/s320/IMG_8424.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Stamps from 2003 (left), 2002 (middle) and 2010 (right).Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-46703588272667536052013-05-25T12:43:00.001-07:002013-05-25T12:43:10.480-07:00Glen Canyon, Utah<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/6800044531/" title="Slot Canyon, Utah by shizuku_san, on Flickr"><img alt="Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6800044531_2fba47ddb4.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
Slot Canyon, Utah<br />
<br />
From mmtnsage for the vacation RR.<br />
<br />
Slot canyons are very narrow canyons that are taller than they are wide, formed when rivers carve a path into the rock over time. They can be found across the American Southwest as well as in other countries. For example, the Siq, a slot canyon in Petra, Jordan was a location for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Slot canyons can be dangerous to hike in because of the danger of drowning in flash floods.<br />
<br />The 2011 definitive for the domestic postcard rate, showing sage (<i>Salvia officinalis</i>).
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pA32moqO1agV8AueoUhu2MJ5cETEfXDaRsuPhQ6KA9Pz21yd3nBi2y9fWqxiI-42G5ly8O0cFuPDdyICV6FmX_ZslO13iWsAiJRXxBw6uJAjQY4hibCinkHNJLr8P4-HcXJveFEgcME/s1600/IMG_8419.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pA32moqO1agV8AueoUhu2MJ5cETEfXDaRsuPhQ6KA9Pz21yd3nBi2y9fWqxiI-42G5ly8O0cFuPDdyICV6FmX_ZslO13iWsAiJRXxBw6uJAjQY4hibCinkHNJLr8P4-HcXJveFEgcME/s320/IMG_8419.JPG" /></a>Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-65147273423583836382013-05-25T11:57:00.001-07:002013-05-25T11:57:26.307-07:00Love Horses, Ukraine<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/6063009036/" title="Crimea by shizuku_san, on Flickr"><img alt="Crimea" height="333" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6081/6063009036_0825335faa.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
UA-126488<br />
<br />
Sender Ksenia writes that this is scenery from eastern Crimea. Crimea is an autonomous parliamentary republic within Ukraine.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1JjQneJG772ACZPSuKK4SQBXZq6-h_uGfphIFip2LL7Av4m-WGaYYwUdAEvBmTJYhk4cBv7zZThnmpVELhy0mi7en2UKxSx2eMhG_jkVrk9PcNJ86ifdi9z2kmu3L3jWK2i_gYYICgc/s1600/IMG_8417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1JjQneJG772ACZPSuKK4SQBXZq6-h_uGfphIFip2LL7Av4m-WGaYYwUdAEvBmTJYhk4cBv7zZThnmpVELhy0mi7en2UKxSx2eMhG_jkVrk9PcNJ86ifdi9z2kmu3L3jWK2i_gYYICgc/s320/IMG_8417.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
These are from the 2010 Europa issue on children's books. The blue one with the horse is "mare's head" and the golden one with the people is "gold shoe."Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-33194851090032501282013-02-21T20:55:00.002-08:002013-02-21T20:56:15.287-08:00Happy Lunar New Year - Year of the Snake<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/8397266766/" title="IMG_7968 by shizuku_san, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_7968" height="332" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8499/8397266766_6831cd6dde.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
A Japanese new year card featuring this year's zodiac animal, the snake.<br />
<br />
I know I am a bit late, but I figure it's still okay to wish everyone a happy Lunar New Year 2013 - Heisei 25.<br />
Thanks Lara. ♥<br />
<br />
Two definitive stamps.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJhwiyJaqCjLU1gtFdgmsnWNwAqu5yZrpdTH5pnOxdgoc6o_lInTKFYawBXqSjOm-AGHZ8cmNiXNawuy-A7oAExq1zZxQd6YeXv_b6ejjCMm7XUUupEBXcDF0Qi8c3eDeIYS22b4E-Eo/s1600/IMG_8065.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJhwiyJaqCjLU1gtFdgmsnWNwAqu5yZrpdTH5pnOxdgoc6o_lInTKFYawBXqSjOm-AGHZ8cmNiXNawuy-A7oAExq1zZxQd6YeXv_b6ejjCMm7XUUupEBXcDF0Qi8c3eDeIYS22b4E-Eo/s320/IMG_8065.JPG" /></a><!--3-->Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-49829009116461588162013-02-08T09:14:00.000-08:002013-02-08T09:14:08.571-08:00Lääne-Virumaa, Estonia<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/5325273965/" title="Lääne-Virumaa by shizuku_san, on Flickr"><img alt="Lääne-Virumaa" height="349" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5284/5325273965_6d603af231.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Lääne-Virumaa<br />
<br />
Lääne-Virumaa is one of the 15 counties of Estonia. It was settled in prehistoric times by the Vironians, a Finnic tribe. Twelve landscape preserves and 3 state nature reserves are located at least partially in the county.<br />
<br />
According to the county's English website:<br />
<br />
"<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">The development of the
Estonian culture and population has been directed and influenced
by the sea. According to the common law, every kind of profit
gained from the sea is lawful and so the profession of coast
watchers is well-known since ancient times: he was a man, who
kept watch on a high shore, lit signal fires, informed about ship
accidents and the arrival of the enemy, observed the movements of
fish shoals. The villages were situated away from the coastline
then, because of the lack of farmland near the sea and also to
avoid the frequent looting raids from the ships. Fish was mainly
caught from inland waters, coastal fishing took place only during
the spring and autumn seasons."</span><br />
<br />
I got this card from Eellaa for the favorites tag. Looks like a lovely place to visit... picnic in the poppy fields, go out on the water in the little boat in the foreground...<br />
<br />
The stamp on the right is a Christmas stamp from 2002. The stamp on the left is from 1996.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUK-XRbHz64FyCvJnfZY0GfPcpZc0zadEOJ8yXBLgD_kUyNZctqpcULGLW6zkLK6yIWhMtbhyazl8I0dI6nehYEnQpKpJQyCaQVFX0Xv7ddw4jb8gtGpRV1Yqh1sQi1Zh0K22dMDe4gI/s1600/IMG_8056.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUK-XRbHz64FyCvJnfZY0GfPcpZc0zadEOJ8yXBLgD_kUyNZctqpcULGLW6zkLK6yIWhMtbhyazl8I0dI6nehYEnQpKpJQyCaQVFX0Xv7ddw4jb8gtGpRV1Yqh1sQi1Zh0K22dMDe4gI/s320/IMG_8056.JPG" width="320" /></a>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-39536252581536766002013-02-08T08:49:00.002-08:002013-02-08T08:49:59.506-08:00Welsh Countryside<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/6063051280/" title="Wales by shizuku_san, on Flickr"><img alt="Wales" height="356" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6085/6063051280_faf7e67d12.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Getting well immersed in the countryside...<br />
<br />
I got this card from my brother when he was on a bike trip in the U.K. He wrote that this was him one night wild camping in a Welsh forest. <br />
<br />
The stamp is from a 2011 set of ten and features Daisy from the children's cartoon Thomas the Tank Engine.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOf_KBgx4n5O6ItSYT26bwzSlV8Mr3h5wTuHGy1CUv5Y-icc5WO1xA2UG47k7RUuhHtbY9G8-invz8aVo2THWjrkhy9YDOl_wXPbPiT5SIYmZFd4H50M-mCEb_modQsYA2-wApbZYRIA/s1600/IMG_8055.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOf_KBgx4n5O6ItSYT26bwzSlV8Mr3h5wTuHGy1CUv5Y-icc5WO1xA2UG47k7RUuhHtbY9G8-invz8aVo2THWjrkhy9YDOl_wXPbPiT5SIYmZFd4H50M-mCEb_modQsYA2-wApbZYRIA/s320/IMG_8055.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is a post for Postcard Friendship Friday, hosted by Beth. Click on the icon to visit her blog and join in.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thebestheartsarecrunchy.blogspot.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_z-Y2VwQY8PU/TK9WBvedSKI/AAAAAAAAFJU/NDT5nsOnMLY/s1600/Post+card+friday+pffhtml.jpg" /></a></div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-86789606379174104782013-02-03T21:39:00.002-08:002013-02-03T21:39:51.911-08:00Siem Reap, Cambodia<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/6800113743/" title="North Gate of Angkor Thom by shizuku_san, on Flickr"><img alt="North Gate of Angkor Thom" height="343" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6800113743_d36e5f2793.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
North Gate of Angkor Thom
<br />
<br />
I bought this card on my trip to Cambodia in January 2012. Angkor Thom is one of the temples of the Angkor complex, surrounded by four gates, one facing each of the cardinal directions. Each one is crowned by four faces of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.<br />
<br />
I have been having a very hard time lately and tonight is no exception. So, I decided to post a few cards that remind me of happy things, and this is one of them. <br />
<br />
Here is my favorite photo of one of the gates of Angkor Thom. That's my tuktuk driver and tour guide, Pheng, in the picture. He took good care of me and I know I would not have had as good a time without him.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqVnFW-taJQS5vEVOM_2UJQm0dBIypet3W7YMHD2Ihfd6DYjt6Q37a6fI-oPqFxrZjE2imL1qGo7OtlthT1lXsB-oqyjczcX3wwnnAJ_Aj2xKDAVcvBoxBe-_CFmAXJMcz25tSaOiptY/s1600/IMG_5509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqVnFW-taJQS5vEVOM_2UJQm0dBIypet3W7YMHD2Ihfd6DYjt6Q37a6fI-oPqFxrZjE2imL1qGo7OtlthT1lXsB-oqyjczcX3wwnnAJ_Aj2xKDAVcvBoxBe-_CFmAXJMcz25tSaOiptY/s320/IMG_5509.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-48525710246729524772013-01-26T10:49:00.001-08:002013-01-26T10:49:58.940-08:00Gomel, Belarus<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/8238897027/" title="IMG_7755 by shizuku_san, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_7755" height="249" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8337/8238897027_45380d622e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Gomel<br />
<br />
Blurry photo of an ugly building. Quite honestly, I don't know why someone would even produce a card like this, let alone purchase it. One of the things I have on my wishlist is the sender's favorite place in their country, and the sender of this card states that they chose this one because they like Gomel very much. I am sure they do, but I am still mystified why they would choose this ugly card to represent a place that has a number of <a href="http://www.panoramio.com/photo/72004892">nice</a> <a href="http://mynativebelarus.blogspot.com/2012/12/gomel-in-december.html">places</a>.<br />
<br />
However, the sender did write me a nice message and used lots of stamps. :)<br />
<br />
The green ones are a 2012 definitive from the series on architectural monuments, this particular one being Niasvizh Castle, a UNESCO site in the city of Niasvizh. The purple one in the middle is from the same set, this one showing the Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle in the city of Kamianets-Podilskyi. The flower on the right is a lily from a 2008 set on garden flowers. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiTGg5hmM-e8PZ7-GknU-uwq87renhUevmCQKbevf3z8E4gqdyWo46TlAD5vA1UpHeDBAGJBSOj7JBeVACEdzEsoQGEf5LoQwMfJbRKFWa9j0dWgQ1Zd8cW7fCoFaS9b7tjFpVeFGUfY/s1600/IMG_8041.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiTGg5hmM-e8PZ7-GknU-uwq87renhUevmCQKbevf3z8E4gqdyWo46TlAD5vA1UpHeDBAGJBSOj7JBeVACEdzEsoQGEf5LoQwMfJbRKFWa9j0dWgQ1Zd8cW7fCoFaS9b7tjFpVeFGUfY/s320/IMG_8041.JPG" width="320" /></a>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-51771595401770519142013-01-26T10:11:00.000-08:002013-01-26T10:11:06.808-08:00Dutch horse<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/8397292636/" title="IMG_8018 by shizuku_san, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_8018" height="345" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8052/8397292636_7592471a4c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
NL-1628912<br />
<br />
The sender of this card says "On the front a wild horse in a Dutch setting." Surprisingly, t<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konik" target="_blank">here are wild (well, feral) horses in the Netherlands</a>, but the horse on this card does not really fit the phenotype. Nevertheless, a really nice card. :) Thanks Yoyce for checking my wishlist.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAjCS3p9TQIK1by3dcakrdVD3aXNaoiiFzmUq5yxPqzA6XorcxmPc_C_oCEqtrDPzpni32SHitJ8wmQArqBZPiUPymFiLbQpHkdZcXSeNAZ9VJLo-KWMt2f3TlAqzJVoMsnQ9Ob0ExDw/s1600/IMG_8039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAjCS3p9TQIK1by3dcakrdVD3aXNaoiiFzmUq5yxPqzA6XorcxmPc_C_oCEqtrDPzpni32SHitJ8wmQArqBZPiUPymFiLbQpHkdZcXSeNAZ9VJLo-KWMt2f3TlAqzJVoMsnQ9Ob0ExDw/s320/IMG_8039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The stamp is from 2011, a definitive on "environmentally conscious life."
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-33777754816774063522013-01-15T22:13:00.003-08:002013-01-15T22:13:49.767-08:00Vancouver, Canada<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/6063048284/" title="Stanley Park, Vancouver by shizuku_san, on Flickr"><img alt="Stanley Park, Vancouver" height="348" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6193/6063048284_bc68823834.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Stanley Park
<br />
<br />
Stanley Park in Vancouver, BC, more than 10% larger than New York's Central Park, is ranked 6th best park in North America (and 16th best in the world!)*. Historically, the area of the park was the territory of the Squamish First Nations tribe. The British took it for a military installation in the 1860s, but agreed to let the Vancouver city council turn it into a park in 1888. It was named for Governor General of Canada Lord Stanley, who visited the park to dedicate it "to the use and enjoyment of peoples of all colours, creeds, and customs, for all time," notwithstanding the First Nations people who were still living there.
<br />
<br />
These totem poles now stand at Brockton Point, a site of a former First Nations settlement.
<br />
<br />
<br />
*Read the list of the world's best and worst parks <a href="http://www.pps.org/reference/september2004bestworst/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2R_-Cg_VMG8In7UBWT8xUncPCDE8r6SUH7fBQu-sF4eswlnp1VWW7_wN51SkZfBk_TXK4a3Mty6emhI3NrjnoRoHFlytgZPaIF42DAYXJVci2sHIKtKkCGylz53Xpxjp1JJEgH7gj0P8/s1600/IMG_7948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2R_-Cg_VMG8In7UBWT8xUncPCDE8r6SUH7fBQu-sF4eswlnp1VWW7_wN51SkZfBk_TXK4a3Mty6emhI3NrjnoRoHFlytgZPaIF42DAYXJVci2sHIKtKkCGylz53Xpxjp1JJEgH7gj0P8/s320/IMG_7948.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I sent this card to myself when I was in Vancouver in 2011 for the folk festival, so I made sure to get some nice stamps. :)<br />
<br />
These are both commemoratives from 2011. The left one features the Year of the Rabbit, and the right one is on Canadian national parks.Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-3904619861462745142013-01-15T21:26:00.001-08:002013-01-15T21:26:41.696-08:00Talk Like A South African<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/6336647236/" title="Talk like a South African by shizuku_san, on Flickr"><img alt="Talk like a South African" height="351" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6034/6336647236_9e4925b1f6.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Private swap with Lori.
<br />
<br />
Lori reports that at least 4 languages are represented here: English, Afrikaans, Zulu, and Xhosa. South Africa has a total of eleven official languages. (The others are Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, and Venda.)
<br />
<br />
As some of you know, I am studying speech-language pathology and yesterday I had my first session as a primary clinician. It took me 3.5 hours to write up the results in my SOAP note. It was not a good night.
<br />
<br />
Today I am better. It only took me 1 hour to write my lesson plan for the next session tomorrow. So I can relax and think about postcards for a little bit. Even language-related ones.Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-24963422258415471412013-01-10T21:45:00.001-08:002013-01-10T21:45:06.007-08:00Mowgli and Baloo<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/6062497901/" title="Mowgli and Baloo by shizuku_san, on Flickr"><img alt="Mowgli and Baloo" height="500" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6080/6062497901_4acbc8db07.jpg" width="344" /></a><br />
Mowgli and Baloo<br />
<br />
<i>Who could imagine a jungle as jazzy as in The Jungle Book -- or a more free-wheeling, upbeat buddy than Baloo? His lighthearted relationship with Mowgli reminds us that friendship and laughter really are among the "bare necessities of life."</i> (from the back of the card)<br />
<br />
I haven't watched The Jungle Book in a very long time. I remember being very frightened of Shere Khan, and bewildered by the orangutans. I love this card. I could use a hug like that. <br />
<br />
This is a USPS-issued stamped card from the 2008 issue of The Art of Disney: Friendship. Can I just say, that 2008 was a fabulous year for USPS stamps? Of course I started postcrossing in 2009, when the stamps were NOT as nice.<br />
<br />
From VAgirl for the USPS card tag. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOwUHjgnc7TzhuwSuhg2hx_rMtfo9RnA8KJ0OfLeOLQ_-hnsH-0mpL8aX6Z_ULnVxfa3OFVgwLWgmwHPZ9gPN3Y0XX6vq6iUTJMKWgFXdNQ_FJZ4mH-YIJWzy_j7e7h_X-MzhnJXGbDk/s1600/IMG_7941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOwUHjgnc7TzhuwSuhg2hx_rMtfo9RnA8KJ0OfLeOLQ_-hnsH-0mpL8aX6Z_ULnVxfa3OFVgwLWgmwHPZ9gPN3Y0XX6vq6iUTJMKWgFXdNQ_FJZ4mH-YIJWzy_j7e7h_X-MzhnJXGbDk/s320/IMG_7941.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The 27-cent is preprinted on the card. The 2-cent definitive was added to make up the additional postage since the card was mailed in 2011.
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-13100430548946420512013-01-10T21:23:00.001-08:002013-01-10T21:23:10.099-08:00St. Petersburg, Russia<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/5503319959/" title="St. Petersburg Hallway by shizuku_san, on Flickr"><img alt="St. Petersburg Hallway" height="361" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5295/5503319959_2264d59fd8.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
"St. Petersburg hallway"<br />
<br />
From daarhan for the June 2010 RR.<br />
<br />
The stamps on the left are definitives. On the right is a 2007 stamp of Sergey Korolev, from a set of 3 on "50th anniversary of the space epoque of Mankind."<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5VHVpKk2rVOwmKwTXm1juLMHkNSGPx_igOqMgT__bdAHnO3K7iDFAVqxiK5ahpVLtAklp2JvBphyT1XDgIEAj3SFpr4dg0-N2OP9wiZ2niyXLKDbHrtSw8co6RwgMguDBmRc74xHJqk/s1600/IMG_7940.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5VHVpKk2rVOwmKwTXm1juLMHkNSGPx_igOqMgT__bdAHnO3K7iDFAVqxiK5ahpVLtAklp2JvBphyT1XDgIEAj3SFpr4dg0-N2OP9wiZ2niyXLKDbHrtSw8co6RwgMguDBmRc74xHJqk/s320/IMG_7940.JPG" width="320" /></a>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-19418644509799937572013-01-06T12:39:00.003-08:002013-01-06T12:39:44.104-08:00Black Forest, Germany<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/8238924013/" title="costume of Black Forest by shizuku_san, on Flickr"><img alt="costume of Black Forest" height="352" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8238924013_cd8a220f51.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
DE-1676400 from Panagiota<br />
<br />
This woman is sporting the traditional clothing of the Black Forest region of Germany. The Black Forest is located in the state of Baden-Württemburg in southwestern Germany. The moniker "Black Forest" is said to refer to the dense conifers which block out most sunlight from above. According to the sender, the pompom hat is called a bollenhut. Red pompoms are for unmarried women, and black ones for married women. These hats are very valuable because they are made by an ever-decreasing number of skilled seamstresses and milliners, and they are considered a symbol of the Black Forest. Such costumes are still worn for some cultural events in the Black Forest.<br />
<br />
Thanks very much Panagiota for this great card!<br />
<br />
No new stamp. Part of the postmark has also made it onto the front of the postcard, but since it doesn't obscure the picture I actually kind of like it. You can tell this card travelled and had some adventures on its way to me. :)Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1493790269692906423.post-15648067482447607872013-01-06T12:22:00.001-08:002013-01-06T12:22:40.644-08:00For a hot night<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8514713@N02/6063028360/" title="For a Hot Night... by shizuku_san, on Flickr"><img alt="For a Hot Night..." height="356" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6078/6063028360_efb4293b22.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
From nezzukka for the "will you send me..." tag. This is a card in a series of "Sheepworld," which is originally German, although I've also gotten ones in Finnish and Polish. I saw these cards when I was in Germany in August but unfortunately couldn't afford to buy very many of them, although I did spring for a Sheepworld calendar that I can enjoy for 12 more months.
<br />
<br />
A gift certificate for a hot night!<br />
Candles: very hot<br />
Chocolate: very hot<br />
Me: extremely hot<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIVvj9KLYEK3psMdZSxE0da2_vBcZzT_v_-GmdWd5Rs2ImjqQBwYt4JEw9hC1T0m8It7oBMbxGWQkM9dz6_k9WBiqWOiJhqkqs2BPk4Jze6MYurJSXKExcxrDVDUID5XIhukbFrJf7Qo/s1600/IMG_7931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIVvj9KLYEK3psMdZSxE0da2_vBcZzT_v_-GmdWd5Rs2ImjqQBwYt4JEw9hC1T0m8It7oBMbxGWQkM9dz6_k9WBiqWOiJhqkqs2BPk4Jze6MYurJSXKExcxrDVDUID5XIhukbFrJf7Qo/s320/IMG_7931.JPG" width="229" /></a>
From a 2011 set of five stamps celebrating the centenary of Finnish designer Kaj Franck.Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936766515979376371noreply@blogger.com0