Birds in Ngorongoro National Park, Tanzania

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The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is an immense expanse of protected highlands, grass and bush lands. It is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Over 500 bird species have been counted in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Going clockwise:  1 Crow 2 Blacksmith Plover 3 ? 4 Secretary bird (it feeds mainly on snakes, stamping them to death in a comical flailing dance) 5 Heron 6 Saddle-billed Stork.

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(left) 350th death anniversary of Peter Paul Rubens (1577 - 1640)

(right) Wild Animals of Tanzania (2010 issue): Elephants.

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Harissa | حريصا - Téléférique - Lebanon

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Harissa is a mountain village in Lebanon which is located 650 meters above sea level. The village is located 20 km north of Beirut, and accessible from the coastal city of Jounieh either by road or by a nine-minute journey by a gondola lift, known as the "Téléférique".

One of Lebanon’s oldest and most visited tourist attractions, the gondolas of the Téléférique aerial cableway are a trip down memory lane, from a pioneering venture in 1965 to a beautifully preserved modern-day attraction offering breathtaking views of Jounieh and the surrounding city, the Téléférique is an impressive testimony to time gone by, a meter at a time.

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Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village, Taiwan

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Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village is an amusement park located in Taiwan. Featuring aboriginal cultures, combining tourism, culture and educational functions on 62 hectares.

It has five theme parks: the European Gardens, the Aladdin Plaza, the Aboriginal Villages, Amusement Isle and Ti Ka Er Rainforest. Amusement facilities in these five theme parks include joy ride, cultural square, artistic fountain, museums, 3-D theater, aboriginal dance show, etc.

One of the amusement rides are the Air Cable Cars. Overlook the beauty of the mountains and the woods in Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village with the flying birds in the breeze. 

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China's tallest buildings

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The Shanghai World Financial Center was planned to be the tallest building in the world when it was designed in 1997. The 97 Story building would surpass the spires of the Petronas Towers in Malaysia.

When Construction was restarted in 2003, the 508 Meter Taipei 101 in Taiwan was already underway to becoming the World's Tallest Building. Plans where changed but the Tower couldn’t be built any higher than its present height at 492 meters since the already done foundation was meant to support a 460 meter tall building. 

The slightly smaller skyscraper is the 420.5 meters high Jin Mao Tower. "Jin Mao" means "Golden Prosperity" in Chinese.

On the left you see the Oriental Pearl Broadcasting & TV Tower. With 468 meters one of the tallest broadcasting towers in the world.

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The tallest building in the world: Dubai's Burj Khalifa

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Burj Khalifa is a skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the tallest man-made structure in the world, at 829 meters.Burj means Tower in Arabic language. It’s renamed after Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi.

It was officially opened on Jan 4, 2010. Construction began in September 2004.

 

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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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The tallest broadcasting tower in the world: Tokyo Sky Tree

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Tokyo Skytree is a broadcasting, restaurant, and observation tower in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. It is the tallest structure in Japan with a height of 634 metres (2,080 ft) and the second tallest structure in the world after Dubai’s Burj Khalifa (829.8 m).

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A Vietnamese traditional market.

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According to the back of the postcard this is a Hà Tây Country market.  Hà Tây is a former province of Vietnam, in the Red River Delta, now part of Hanoi. 

The traditional market is still the major channel of retail In Vietnam, dating back more than a thousand years since the very first urban areas arose and society went into an organized structure under the rule of dynasties. There are approximately 9000 traditional markets nationwide and up to 80% of all retail sales are conducted through these traditional channels.

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(left) This plant, Plumeria obtusa, is commonly known as Frangipani and is grown for its flowers. In Vietnam the Frangipani is also used for its healing qualities: the bark, mashed in alcohol, prevents skin inflammation, it is also used to treat indigestion and high blood pressure.

(right) Ao Daiis Vietnam's traditional dress, which was first designed over hundred years ago. It finally became Vietnam ladies' current formal dress, usually worn in formal events, festivals and is now a popular uniform for girl students.

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Pedro St. James, Cayman Islands

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The Cayman Islands, with a population of about 55,000, are a British Overseas Territory. The three Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, are located in the western Caribbean near Cuba, Miami Florida, and Jamaica.

At a time in the Cayman Islands when most people lived in tiny houses, a wealthy Englishman, using slave labour from Jamaica, created an astonishing 3-storey building called Pedro St. James “castle”.

Since its construction more than two centuries ago, Pedro St. James has been put to a variety of uses, including a courthouse, jail, and restaurant. In the 1990s, the Government of the Cayman Islands purchased Pedro St. James and restored the Great House to the splendor of its 18th century heritage.

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A set of stamps picturing Cayman Islands scenes, issued in 2007. Children enjoy one of Grand Cayman’s natural wonders – the blowholes along the iron-shore coastline in East End. 

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Greetings from the United Nations - New York

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The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) is the postal agency of the United Nations. It issues postage stamps and postal stationery for the United Nations offices in New York, Geneva and Vienna.

The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.

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Issued 13 February 2013 celebrating the day when UN Radio was launched in 1946.

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Linden - Mining Town, Guyana

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Linden, the second-largest town in Guyana, is a bauxite mining town 112 kilometres south of Georgetown on the west bank of the Demerara River. Linden is a company mining town. The opencast mine is 60-90 metres deep and is said to have the world’s longest boom walking dragline. The town is dominated by a disused alumina plant and scarred by old bauxite pits. Today Linden, is popularly known as the Mining Town.

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In 2012 Guyana issued two sheets of four bird stamps. This one pictures the Anhinga bird, sometimes called Snakebird or Water Turkey. It is a water bird of the warmer parts of the Americas. The word anhinga comes from the Brazilian Tupi language and means devil bird or snake bird.

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Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans, Ukraine

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The complex was the seat of the (arch)bishop of the Bukovinian Orthodox Church, which developed while this region was under Austrian Habsburg rule. It is located in the city of Chernivtsi and is now in use as a University. It was built by Czech architect Josef Hlavka from 1864 to 1882. 

The property also includes a seminary and monastery and is dominated by the domed, cruciform Seminary Church with a garden and park. 

It was included in the Unesco World Heritage list in 2011.

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900th Anniversary of the Charter of Vladimir Monomakh (1053 – 1125)

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How to transport charcoal in Uganda

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Uganda is a landlocked country bordered by South Sudan, Kenya, DR Congo, Tanzania and Rwanda. The country, also known as the pearl of Africa, has great diversity in wildlife, vegetation, landscapes and cultures. Uganda I home to about 31 million people.

On the postcard we see a charcoal truck. They tend to be a burden for Uganda traffic.   

Police in Luweero have impounded 16 heavy trucks for overloading.
Paul Okongo, the officer in charge of traffic in Luweero district oversaw the trucks each loaded with more than 100 bags of charcoal towed to Luwero central police station. The traffic chief said that the charcoal trucks have increasingly become a menace on the highways.

He described it as unacceptable for trucks to load charcoal way beyond the edges of their containers. He said trucks carrying charcoal with some of the sacks bulging out of the trucks obstruct traffic and are likely to cause harm to other road users.

2011-11-08 http://direct.ugandaradionetwork.com/s/

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Mosi-da-Tunya | Victoria Falls, Zambia

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Zambia is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Zambia is natural haven for a great deal of wildlife.

A paradise for animal lovers, the country offers some of the best sanctuaries and natural parks of the world, within its boundaries. There are in total 19 national parks.

Zambia has 17 waterfalls, the largest of which is Victoria Falls. It is the largest waterfall in the world: a 1708 meters wide water curtain. The local people call it "Mosi-oa-Tunya" -- the smoke that thunders!

The falls and the surrounding area have been declared National Parks and a World Heritage Site.

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The Blacksmith Plover, a bird found in southern Africa and eastern Africa. It has a wide range of habitats including shorelines of inland waters, wet pastures and tidal flats in bays and lagoons.

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Leh Palace in Ladakh, India

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Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state under Indian administration. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. One of the three regions in Jammu and Kashmir Ladakh, also known as "Little Tibet".

Leh Palace was built in the 17th century as a royal residence for King Singe Namgyal. The palace overlooks the Ladakhi Himalayan town of Leh, modelled on the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. 

 

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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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Turks and Caicos Islands

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The Turks and Caicos Islands are located 550 miles southeast of Miami, Florida, just below the Bahamas. The islands consist of 40 islands and cays, eight of which are inhabited. The islands are home to 30,000 full time residents, and welcome more than 200,000 tourist annually.

In 1962 the Turks & Caicos became a British Crown colony and still is one today.

The name of the country comes from these earliest inhabitants: Taino and Lucayan Indians. Turks is a reference to the indigenous Turk’s head cactus and Caicos is from the Lucayan term “caya hico” meaning string of islands.

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The Margarita Murex, is a species of sea snail.

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The Phoenician Harbour, Lebanon

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Byblos was the ancient Phoenician port city of Gebal (called Byblos by the Greeks) on the coast of the Mediterranean sea in what is, today, Lebanon. 

The name Byblos is Greek; papyrus received its early Greek name (byblos, byblinos) from its being exported to the Aegean through Byblos. Hence the English word Bible is derived from byblos as "the (papyrus) book".

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Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano, Tanzania

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Oldoinyo Lengai means "Mountain of God" in Massai language. It is a steep around 2900 m high volcano located in the East-African rift valley in northern Tanzania, near the Serengeti National park. It is the only active volcano in the world that erupts natrocarbonatite lava.

The volcano had big explosive eruptions with fatal effects for the Masaii tribe living close to the volcano. Today many Masaii families live around the volcano and most of the younger generation have certainly forgotten that the holy mountain of the Masaii tribe can cause death and distruction. 

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(left) 350th death anniversary of Peter Paul Rubens (1577 - 1640)

(right) Princess Diana

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Kourion Archaeological Site, Cyprus

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Cyprus, the third largest island of the Mediterranean, and standing on the border of the Eastern and Western worlds has always captured the interests and attentions of more powerful outside forces. Over the centuries, the island has been ruled by the Assyrians, Phoenicians, Persians, Greeks, Egyptians, Romans and Byzantines from the ancient world.

Kourion is one of the most spectacular archaeological sites on the island. Noted particularly for its magnificent Greco - Roman Theatre, Kourion is also proud home to stately villas with exquisite mosaic floors and an early Christian Basilica among other treasures.

           

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2012 issue about London Olympics.

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Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Australia’s Gold Coast is an endless playground of entertainment and adventure, because fun comes in all types and styles. It is a promise of big smiles and warm memories in a spectacle of golden beaches, legendary theme parks, iconic rainforests, and lively entertainment.

The Gold Coast is a coastal city located in the South East of Queensland, Australia. The Gold Coast region grew significantly after the establishment of the Surfers Paradise hotel in the late 1920s. The Gold Coast is today still a major tourist destination with its sunny subtropical climate, surfing beaches, its high-rise dominated skyline and nightlife.

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From a set of five stamps about Australia’s most popular native baby animals. The Dingo is Australia’s native dog. But unlike other dogs it does not bark.

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Città del Vaticano | Vatican City

 

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Vatican City is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome. 

Joseph Ratzinger, born April 1927, was elected to the papacy on April 19, 2005, upon the death of Pope John Paul II.  In February 2013, at age 85, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he would be resigning on February 28, 2013—becoming the first pope in 600 years to step down from his post.

 

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Vatican City State has issued four stamps with the image of an angel raising the pavilion (“umbraculum”) of the Apostolic Camera, the work of Italian artist Daniela Longo. The use of these stamps as postage is only available during the Sede Vacante, ending with the election of the new Pope.

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A Postcard from Liberia

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Liberia is located on the west coast of Africa. Liberia means "land of the free" and refers to the nation's origin as a colony of free blacks repatriated to Africa from the United States in the early nineteenth century.

Thousands of freed American slaves arrived during this period. Leading to the declaration of independence of the Republic of Liberia in 1847. 

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Samuel Kanyon Doe (1951–1990) was the 21st President of Liberia. A civil war began in December 1989. Doe's forces were defeated, and in September 1990 he was captured and executed.

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Milky Waterfall | Abkhazia

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Abkhazia is a disputed territory, located in the western part of the Caucasus, on the Black Sea coast. Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia.

This status is recognized by only a few countries:  Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. According to most countries it is part of Georgia.

Abkhazia has beautiful and serene landscapes. This waterfall is called “Milky” because the water is white like milk. This postcard was sent from Russia.

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In 2012 Russian Federation issued a series of 6 stamps about Russian contemporary art. This stamp pictures a painting by Alexey Sukhovetsky.

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Floating Market in South Kalimantan, Indonesia

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A floating market is a market where goods are sold from boats. The Kuin River in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, is an age old river that functions as a market for traders.

The traders deal with each other while on top of their vessels, which are known as ‘jukung’. The market starts getting busy just before sunrise.

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Two stamps out of a set of 8 stamps. A joint issue with Malaysia, issued in 2011.

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A postcard from Kiribati

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Kiribati is an island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, somewhere in the middle between the islands of Hawaii and French Polynesia.

The Republic consists of thirty three atolls and islands, spread across approximately a third of a million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean, of which 21 islands are inhabited. Kiribati’s Fanning Island and Kiritimati (Christmas Island) are perfect spots for surfing.  

Kiribati is believed to be one of the first nations to get lost because of rising sea levels due to climate change. Therefore the leaders of Kiribati are considering an unusual backup plan: moving the population to Fiji.

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One out of a set of 12 bird stamps, issued 2008:  the Black-tailed Godwit.

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Koh Phi Phi beach Thailand

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Koh Phi Phi Leh is an island of the Phi Phi archipelago, in the Andaman Sea. It belongs to the Krabi province of Thailand.

The island consists of a ring of steep limestone hills surrounding 2 shallow bays, the Maya Bay and Loh Samah. Maya Bay is a popular diving spot. It has become the main tourist attraction since The Beach was filmed here in 1999, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

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A matching stamp. From a set of 10 stamps about tourist spots: Ao Maya (Maya Bay).

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El Salvador: La Ruta de las Flores

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Ruta de las Flores, or the ‘Flower Route’.

The name of this 40km stretch of western El Salvador comes from the plentiful wildflowers that grow along the road.

The route essentially covers a handful of small, attractive colonial towns along around 40km of winding, relatively quiet road. One is the town of Juayúa. On the left you see the Santa Lucia Church. On the right Juayua Waterfalls.

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Two 2006 issues. International year of desertification (left) and 75 years of TACA Airlines.

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