A for Afghanistan 2009

Asia-Afghanistan  I have decided to show photos from my travels in Alphabetical order. More fun that way. So as you can see I am on A. These were taken in 2009 when I visited Kabul and Herat. Looking back I had a great time and loved the place. This photo is from Herat, a wonderful Mosque there. 

I came into Afghanistan via Pakistan on the Kyber pass.. 

Many abandoned tanks around especially in the countryside. 

Here I am outside the Main Post Office in Kabul. The security people looking after me were not happy that I wanted to go to a Government building , as they were do not taking anyone there, just in case. I was there for about 10 quick minutes , buying stamps and having a chat with the postmaster. Very friendly and helpful. 

All the shops are manned by men, even ones selling underclothes for ladies. One has to have a rest from time to time ! 

A typical shop in Afghanistan 

3 Wise men...... 

The Police in Herat were very good and professional. This is a city in the west of Afghanistan near the border with Iran. 

When in Herat , it helped that some of the time I dressed like locals. Well the head gear is right at this stage.. 

Clonakilty - Ireland

Europe-Ireland-Clonakilty Just spent my Irish holidays in this southern part of the country. Very peaceful and cam , or that how is normally is. It rained non stop for the few days there, but still had the comfort of a spa hotel to relax. Well known area for good food . 

I thought it was interesting to show a stamp just issued featuring Irish Beef , since in this area. Not that you can see it on this card, but a first as we have just got Post codes in Ireland. However it is a bit of a mess right now.. No one is using them and the post office cant find your address if you just send a letter with a postcode on. My post code is K36 Y653.

This is the Post office in Clonakilty. A former Church . Note we have green post boxes in Ireland. 

Ross Dependency - Antarctica

Antarctica-Ross Dependency-Scott Base  Here are some photos from the trip I did in 2008. This is the New Zealand part of Antarctica and I reached here starting in Bluff in New Zealand and ending up in Hobart , Tasmania. It was a great trip 4 weeks. Very lucky to land here as the same Russian Ship could not land on the previous trip only 4 weeks before this. Here you see some photos from the New Zealand base which was very homy in style compared to the nearby American Base which had all mod cons.  To land we had the use of a helicopter on board which was needed.
Also you will see some photos from the shop at the base that sells stamps and has a letter box. There is no official Post office here now, the mail is sent to Christchurch. But still delighted to be at the Ross Sea and Scott Base.
It was great to see the original Huts from the early 1900s and all the same stores and goods are still there to this day as you can see. 

New York and United Nations

North America-United States of America-New  York   Have not been here for a few years. On t his trip did visit the new One World Observatory which only opened a few weeks before I arrived. Here is a photo from the fold out Postcard I purchased in the gift shop. 

This is a photo I took of a view from the viewing area. This is all inside. 

Went into the Post office in Lexintgton Avenue, very near to were I was staying. Delighted to see a selection of stamps in a case I could choose from. I had to pick these Batman stamps. Reminded me of the first series I used to watch on the TV in the 1960s. 

North America-United Nations New York  Visited here again on this trip. I did not take the tour as did the last time. 

Was a first day of issue for these UNESCO stamps on the left , so got them . The Post office was less then helpful and you needed to be sure what you wanted.

The United Nations Post office  

Karbala - Iraq

Middle East-Iraq-Karbala   I had given up on this card , It took 8 months to get here. Here is showing the Holy City of Karbala. An Amazing Mosque to visit and got special treatment here. You will see some of those photos on my other Iraq pages. 

Getting to mail this card was a very difficult task. I had to get a security official and the tour leader to walk me to the Post office . Went though a few security checkpoints and at last found the Post office. If was heavily guarded but unfortunately was closed. This was during a "Normal working day" according to my guide. However I found a police man who said he would look after my cards and leave them into the Post office when it opened. So 8 months later here it is. I am especially glad for the many people I sent cards from here . That was because I had to leave the Post office in Baghdad in a hurry due to a power failure and could only write my own card out in the dark. 

Gran Canaria and London - Penny Black

Atlantic Ocean-Canary Islands-Gran Canary-Las Palmas   Just back from my real holidays..lol.. Where I just relax with friends and no major sightseeing. This is a hologram card. 

Loads of Postboxes on the Island. This is a special €5 stamp featuring the new King. It has a special signal /code that on the stamp. I have downloaded a app on my phone. When I place the app near the stamp a video of the stamps issues by Spain featuring the King is played . All in Spanish but interesting nevertheless. Ireland itself has just issued a set with this same special code and I play to send a postcard with them so I can see what they have in-bedded. 

Europe-United Kingdom-London   The Post office near Trafalgar square is excellent. I was very impressed with the selection of stamp they could offer me. This card features the printing press for the Penny Black issued 175 years ago this month. 

Here are the two first class stamps issued by United Kingdom . I bought them in a Miniature sheet and they were also available in a booklet. Same size and look great. I did have a Penny Black used in Ireland one on cover and one off cover. They are not an expensive stamp. Sold it a few years ago. 

Cameron and Central African Republic Post Offices

Africa-Cameron  Here is the Main Post office in Douala .  

Africa-Central African Republic  This is the very nice lady who assisted me with the stamps in Bangui. Loads of stamps as they had a philatelic office... The stamps were not in great condition, but she was delighted to see me . 

This is outside the Post office in Bangui. 

As I was walking around Bangui, just had to take this photo. You see quite a bit of this in Africa. Local artists painting for advertising. 

Equatorial Guinea ( Rio Muni) and Annobon Island

Africa-Equatorial Guinea (Rio Muni)-Bata  Not very easy to find a card in Bata but here is one. I had been to Bata airport only on the way to Annobon Island flying from Malabo the capital of Equatorial Guinea. This was in 2007. 

This card as you can see is unusual in my collection. It was posted in Bata in March 2015 in Bata. As I said I had been there briefly and had in fact given a airport worker some postcards with stamps to post and extra dollars as a gift. Needless to say the postcards never arrived. So when a good friend of mine was visiting there early this year I asked for a postcard and here it is. In fact he told me the Post office in Bata had no stamps or postcards. He got the Postcard in a stationary shop and a office near the Post office had some stamps  in a drawer and so I was  extra lucky to get any postcard let alone one with a stamp that arrived back in Ireland. 

Here I am at Bata Airport with Christine a great fellow traveller from New York. This was the last time I seen my Bata Postcards !!!

Here is a statue of the President of Equatorial Guinea. I later found out on the way home that you can be arrested for taking photos of this statue....

Here is the Island of Annobon. At the time not easy to get too. But a very interesting Island to visit. No Post office here at that time. 

These are some photos from Annobon Island. Spend the day here and had lunch with the Pilots on the flight. The hotel was owned by the President and a few years later where was some sort of bad weather and the hotel "Fell into the Sea" Glad I was not having lunch then lol.. The last photo is Christine and me at Annobon airport - as you can see it is just a check in desk and a chair near the runway.
Some other info on Equatorial Guinea. One of the hardest visa's to get from my point of view. Tourism was not encouraged due to the many coups that were always about to happen. It was very poor despite the fact that it has oil and a booming increase in GDP. I hear since this trip in 2007 it has changed a lot.