Liyu Lake, Taiwan

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“The area of Hualien and Taitung is blessed with majestic mountains and fine waters that provide very pleasant scenery.”

Liyu Lake is located at the foot of Liyu Mountain, in Shoufeng Township's Chinan Village. It is the largest inland lake in Hualien County.

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A postcard from Huehuetenango, Guatemala

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Huehuetenango is a city and a municipality in the highlands of western Guatemala. It is also the capital of the department of Huehuetenango. Santa Cruz Barillas is a municipality in the department of Huehuetenango. It is situated at 1450m above sea level. This waterfall is located near Yulaxac, a village in the jungles of Barillas.

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From a set of two stamps about The Volcano and Lake of Ipala.

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THe Castle of the Moors, Sintra, Portugal

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The Castle of the Moors is a hilltop medieval castle located in the municipality of Sintra. The castle was constructed during the 8th to 9th century, during the period of Arab occupation of the Iberian peninsula, as the central place in an territory that was imminently agricultural, and which was necessary to protect its population.

The Moorish Castle stands in a 1475 feet (450 meters) perimeter and its walls consist of a double waist, internal and external. At the top there are battlements, strengthened by five towers.

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From a set of 5 stamps about Urban Transport in the 1970's and 1980's.

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The Church of St. Pareskevi, Pafos, Cyprus

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The church of St. Paraskevi, built in the form of a basilica with five cupolas placed in the shape of a cross, is one of the most important churches in Cyprus. The church of St. Paraskevi was built in the 9th century A.D. and is preserved almost intact in its initial form apart from the western wall which was demolished in the 19th century in order to build an extension. Its uniqueness lies in the frescos, some of which date back to the 9th century A.D. and are of the oldest in the whole of Cyprus.

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From a set of 8 stamps, Cyprus through the Ages - Pygmy hippopotamus

Thx Steve!

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A village in the Ourika Valley, Morocco

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“When the heat in Marrakesh becomes unbearable, many Moroccans and tourists run to the cool and green Ourika Valley. Located in the High Atlas Mountains, only 45 minutes away from Marrakesh, the valley stretches along a vast area from Souk Tnin Ourika to the Berber village of Setti Fatma. The valley is known for its pine and cedar forests. Don’t be surprised if you see some resident friendly Barbary apes on your way.”

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Solidarity Week 2011

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Joncunu dancers from Belize

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Belize is a country located on the north eastern coast of Central America and it is the only country in the area where English is the official language. Belize is bordered to the north by Mexico, south and west by Guatemala, and to the east by the Caribbean Sea.

Joncunu or John Canoe, is a dance that originated in times of slavery and is performed around Christmas time. The participants will dress up in white masks and venture from house to house in order to receive food and drinks from that household. Some say the dance is meant to mimic white slave owners and their behaviour.

In Belize the Joncunu is part of the Creole and Garifuna cultures. The Creoles are direct descendants of British slaves.

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Postcards from Bujumbura, Burundi

Hotel Club de Vacances

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The Republic of Burundi is a small landlocked country in east central Africa, bordering Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Burundi has a tropical highland climate and is a hilly and mountainous country with a plateau in its eastern part and some plains along the shore of Lake Tanganyika.

Burundi was a kingdom until the late 19th century when it became a German colony. After Germany was defeated in World War I, the control was handed to Belgium and Burundi, together with Rwanda, became a part of the Belgian colonial empire and was known as Ruanda-Urundi. Upon gaining its independence in 1962, the country legally changed its name to Burundi.

Bujumbura is the capital and largest city and main port of Burundi.

Hotel Source du Nil

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(left) from a set of 5 about flaura and fauna(2008): ‘Fleurs d’Erythrine’

(right)  from a set of 8 stamps about birds of prey (2011): the Western Osprey

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A Postcard from Zanzibar: The Old Dispensary

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Zanzibar, an Indian Ocean archipelago located off the eastern coastline of Tanzania, contains three large islands and a number of smaller ones.

Zanzibar Town (or city) is a popular destination for tourists, and its old quarter is a United Nation's "World Heritage Site”. 

The Old Dispensary is a historical building in Stone Town. Stone Town is the old part of Zanzibar City.

A dispensary is an office in a school, hospital or other organization that dispenses medications and medical supplies. In a traditional dispensary set-up a pharmacist dispenses medication as per prescription or order form.

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To commemorate 50 years of independence (since 1961) Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, 1st president of Tanzania.

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A whale cruises off Kaikoura coastline, New Zealand

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The seaside settlement of Kaikoura, situated midway between Christchurch and Picton on the rugged east coast of New Zealand's South Island, is overlooked by majestic mountains, which are snow-capped for many months of the year.

It is a special part of New Zealand, imbued with powerful natural energy. A place where tectonic plates collide, towering peaks fall to the sea and ocean currents converge. Such rare combinations lure an abundance of marine life, the most famous being the Sperm Whale.

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Cyprus. Paphos. The Lighthouse & Roman Theatre

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Located in Paphos Archaeological Park, Odeon is an amphitheatre-like structure, which was unearthed during excavations.

This archaeological monument built in the 2nd century is made entirely out of well-hewn limestone and has approximately 1,200 seats for spectators. Odeon is not only a tourist attraction today; it also hosts many musical and theatrical performances.

Paphos lighthouse is a golden point of the city as it can be seen from any corner of Paphos. It is situated in close proximity of Odeon.

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A matching stamp: Pafos Lighthouse.

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Juneau, Alaska

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Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. Juneau has been the capital of Alaska since 1906. It is named after gold prospector Joe Juneau.

Before Juneau was Juneau, it was Rockwell. Before that, it was Harrisburg. And even before that, it was a settlement for several tribes of native Indians.

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It wasn't until a man named Joseph Juneau and his buddy, Richard Harris, teamed up with a Tlingit native that this plot of land got its big break: gold. The first rush of 40 miners brought a mix of trading posts, saloons, and missionaries to the area. Soon, Juneau became a bonafide town, the first to be settled after Alaska's purchase from Russia in 1867.

more about Juneau

Thx Rod!

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Murumtsevo Manor, Russian Federation

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Abandoned castle estate of Count Hrapovitsky, village Muromtsev, Vladimir Region.

more info and pictures

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Sofukuji Temple in Nagasaki | 長崎

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Nagasaki is the capital of Nagasaki prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan.

This temple dates back to 1629 and was established by several important Chinese Buddhist monks who were escaping persecution by the Ming rulers in China.

They fled to the Chinese community in Nagasaki Japan and established the Obaku school of Zen Buddhism in Nagasaki.

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A Postcard from Cyprus: Old Kakopetria

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Kakopetria is a village in Cyprus located 55 kilometers southwest of the capital, Nicosia, on the north facing foothills of the Troodos Mountains. Kakopetria means 'wicked rock pile' in Greek.

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From a set of four stamps (2009): a rooster.

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Bosnia and Herzegovnia: 14 cities

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Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country in Southeastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Sarajevo. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast.

The 14 cities shown on the postcard are: Sarajevo,, Zenica, Neum, Medugorje, Capljina, Trebinje, Radimlja, Pocitelj, Hihac, Travnik, Zvornik, Banja Luka, Jajce and Mostar.

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La Casa dels Paraigües | The House of Umbrellas, Barcelona

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“La Rambla is an endless box of surprises. A box that opens and allows us to glimpse jewels, including this allegory to Orientalism, the Casa Bruno Cuadros, which used to be an umbrella shop of Barcelona in its time. Its style, similar to modernisme with its use of colour and the delicacy of its decorations, have made the Casa Bruno Cuadros a worthy addition to the photograph albums of many of Barcelona’s visitors.”

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Atento a la conducción!

The National Traffic Department runs regular campaigns to create awareness among drivers.

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The Church of Saint Clement of Ohrid | Соборна црква - Свети Климент Охридски

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The Cathedral St. Kliment of Ohrid located in Skopje, Macedonia is the largest Orthodox temple of the Macedonian Orthodox Church today. The construction started in 1972 and was consecrated on 12 August 1990 on the 1150th anniversary of the birth of the church patron, St. Clement of Ohrid.

The statue is the Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia Dositheus II (1906-1981).

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From a set of two stamps about urban architecture, a house in Skopje and  a house in Resen.

Thx Ana!

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Vanuatu, South Pacific Paradise

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Vanuatu is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. Vanuatu is an island archipelago consisting of approximately 82 relatively small, geologically newer islands of volcanic origin of which 65 are inhabited.

Efate is the main island of Vanuatu, where the capital Port Vila is situated. Port Vila is located around a magnificent natural harbour offering stunning views.

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From a set of 4 stamps about turtles of Vanuatu: the Green Turtle.

Thx Rod!

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A piece of art from Togo

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Togo, officially the Togolese Republic, is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east, and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located.

Togo's population of over 6 million people (2011 est.) is composed of more than 20 ethnic groups. The two major groups are the Ewe in the South and the Kabye in the North.

According to the sender, this postcard was hand painted by a local artist from Atakpamé. Women carrying things on their head is very common there.

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50th anniversary of independence (2010)

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Panteón de los Héroes, Asunción, Paraguay

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Paraguay is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest.

Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.

The Panteon Nacional De Los Heroes is dedicated to the country’s history. It serves as a monument for those who gave their live for the country.

In front of the Pantheon you see the  Guarani vendors. These vendors open their stalls in the early morning only to close theirs at the setting of the sun. Their stalls are full of the Paraguayan traditional items of art like bows and arrows, headdresses, pottery and many others.

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(left) UPAEP issue 2010 from a set of two about children games: bolitas

(right) 50th Anniversary of the Paraguayan German Chamber of Commerce

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A postcard from Aruba: Eagle Beach

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In 1951 Aruba and the other Dutch Antilles became more independent from The Netherlands. In the 70's a movement was formed which wanted Aruba to separate from the other islands.

Aruba was part of the Netherlands Antilles until 1996 when they were the first of the six islands (Leeward: Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao Winward: Sint Maarten, Saba and Sint Eustatius) to have a “Status Aparte” which makes it independent within the kingdom of The Netherlands.

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(left) from a set of three stamps about Art (2006), picturing a painting of Jean Georges Pandellis.

(right) from a set of four stamps about historical museums: the Museum of Antiquities.

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Edinburgh Castle

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Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. It has been a stronghold for over 3000 years.

The site of Edinburgh Castle was occupied as early as 900BC. By the time the Romans made their brief visits to Scotland in AD80 and AD139 it was an important fort

Edinburgh Castle started to develop into a royal fortress during the reign of David I from 1124 to 1153. From the 15th century the castle's residential role declined, and by the 17th century its principal role was as a military base with a large garrison.

Nowadays Edinburgh Castle is one of Scotland's top tourist attractions.

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From a set of stamps about Britain’s best loved comics: The Dandy. Selling more than 2million copies per week in the early 1950s.

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