Along the Silk Route on a camel | China

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The Silk Road was a network of trade routes between China and the Mediterranean. China silk comprised a large proportion of the trade along this ancient road, hence the name.

 

A 5,000 km section of the network is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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This set of stamps is titled “ The Silk Road”, it was issued in 2012.

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Dromedary Camels from UAE

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The UAE is historically known for its attachment to camels which are of social and economic value in the region. There are two types of camels. The dromedary, an Arabian camel, is a large even-toed ungulate with has one hump while the Asian camel has two humps.

Historically, camels in the UAE were a dependable source of not only transport but also food and milk. Camel skin is used locally to make shoes, bags and water containers. Its wool, which is commonly considered of high quality, was commonly used in the Arab world for tent and rug-making, besides being fashioned into clothes.

Nowadays the camel is essentially used for racing that is held annually during the winter months.

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Falconry is an integral part of desert life which has been practiced in the UAE for centuries. Originally, falcons were used for hunting, to supplement the Bedouin diet with some meat

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Jaisalmer Desert Festival, Rajastan

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The Jaisalmer desert festival is a three-day long extravaganza of dances, music, handicraft fairs and interesting competitions- including really unusual ones like a 'Mr Desert' pageant and a 'best moustache' contest. It's a fantastic showcase of all things Rajasthani.

Besides the food, the music and the cultural performances, there are camel rides, processions, camel polo, and even a camel tug-of-war.

Rajasthan is the largest state of the Republic of India. And it is one of the most popular tourist destination in India for its historical forts, palaces, art and culture.

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(left) Indira Gandhi (1917 – 1984) was the third Prime Minister of India and a central figure in Indian politics during the second half of the 20th century.

(right) Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, (1888 – 1970) was an Indian physicist and Nobel Prize winner (1930).

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The pearl of the Syrian | سوريا desert: Palmyra

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Palmyra (or Tadmor in Arabic) lies in the heart of Syrian Desert. The city of palm trees was located along the Silk Route. Syria was a Roman (Byzantine) province from 64 BC to 636 AD. After the Romans conquered Syria, Palmyra flourished and became known as the city of palm-trees.

Syria is a country of 21 million people. It gained independence in April 1946. Damascus is the capital city of Syria and the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. 

The wave of Arab unrest that began with the Tunisian revolution reached Syria on March 15, 2011, when residents of a small southern city took to the streets to protest the torture of students who had put up anti-government graffiti. The government responded with heavy-handed force, and demonstrations quickly spread across much of the country.

By the start of 2013, more than 60,000 people, mostly civilians, were thought to have died and tens of thousands of others had been arrested. More than 400,000 Syrian refugees had registered in neighboring countries. In addition millions of Syrians are in need of aid or are displaced domestically.

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Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The family of President Bashar al-Assad has been in power since his father, Hafez, took over in a coup in 1970. The country underwent some liberalisation after Bashar became president in 2000, but the pace of change soon slowed, if not reversed. 

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The Sphinx and Great Pyramid of Khufu, Egypt

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The Pyramids of Giza are the most famous monuments of ancient Egypt. These massive stone structures were built around 4500 years ago on a rocky desert plateau close to the Nile.

The people of ancient Egypt believed that death on Earth was the start of a journey to the next world.  

 

The embalmed body of the king was entombed underneath or within the pyramid to protect it and allow his transformation and ascension to the afterlife, and a place among the gods.

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Issued 2011.

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Camels in the Chuya Steppe, Russian Federation

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The Chuya Steppe in the Siberian Altai mountains is the most arid part of Altai, as it gets the most sunshine in the region. The name 'Chuya Steppe' comes from the large river which runs through the steppe, the Chuya River.

The region is mostly covered with drought-resistant plants. It is the only place in Russia where camels are bred in the wild.

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Sixth Definitives series  - Russian Kremlins:

- Pskov Kremlin

- Astrakhan Kremlin

- Moscow Kremlin

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Mongolian nomads

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

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

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

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Dunes de Merzouga, Morocco | Maroc

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

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

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Dancing Camels from Pakistan

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National Horse & Cattle Show Lahore. Held at Fortress Stadium, Lahore. Many derive pleasure by watching other activities such as display parade of animals, dances by horses and camels, polo matches and tent pegging.

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(flower) Jasmine, National year of environment 2009

(fish) Striped Gourami and Neon Tetra

(50th anniversary) Golden jubilee celebrations Zarai Taraqiati Bank Ltd.

(Binding the nation together) Celebrating 150 years of railways in Pakistan (1861-2011)

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Gypsies from Pakistan

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“ A travelling caravan of Gypsies in Punjab,  Pakistan.”

Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 56% of the country's total population. Lahore has traditionally been the capital of Punjab for a thousand years; it is Punjab's main cultural, historical, administrative and economic center.

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Left: Muhammad Ali Jinnah. (December 25, 1876 – September 11, 1948) was a 20th century lawyer, politician, statesman and the founder of Pakistan.

Middle: 30 years of Allama Iqbal Open University (or AIOU), founded in 1974, is a university in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is one of the world's largest universities.

On the right, dresses of Pakistan, SINDH.  Sindh is one of the five provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people.

Look at the cancellation: Philatelic Bureau Karachi.

Thx for sending Malik!

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