Burkina Faso

Africa-Burkina Faso-Ouagodougou This is the monument to National Heroes in the Capital city. In fact I never got to see this. I believe it is in a field . But still enjoyed my visit here. The best thing was the houses in the countryside . I will publish photos of those soon. 

For the three days in was in Ouagadougou the Post office was closed. It was a holiday on one of those days but I did not know it was closed two days after this. Either did my guide or hotel I was staying in. So was not too happy with that. I had no stamps but I was able to get a few stamps from a Postcard seller outside and these are the stamps that are used here. I did not get inside and posted them in the mailbox outside. Please they got back here. 

Vermeer Exhibition in Dublin

Europe-Ireland-Dublin It is not often I put postcards up here featuring Paintings. But in June I visited a marvellous  exhibition at the National Gallery of Ireland It featured works by Vermeer the famous Dutch Painter from 1632-1675. This one is one of the most famous "The Love Letter " circa 1669-70.

These stamps feature Royal sites in Ireland. From a time when we had Kings of Ireland. The one of the left "Hill of Tara" , I can even remember from my school days. 

Europe-Ireland-Dublin  Here is another and perhaps my favourite from the Exhibition. " Woman writing a letter with her Maid " circa 1670. You will note that both feature letter writing well before we had postage stamps as we know them.

Some more Royal Sites. The more famous one on the right is the Rock of Cashel which is very impressive . You can visit here on the way to County Cork 

Benidorm Spain

Europe-Spain-Benidorm My first time here for a few days break . Lovely beach and lots of nearby restaurants. Got lucky with great weather for this time of year. 

The Post office only sold stamps in packs . These came in a pack of 5. Limited choice. Single stamps were only available as labels 

Tokyo Japan

Asia-Japan-Tokyo Had a stopover at Narita Airport in Tokyo on my way from Hokkaido. So could not resist sending this card from the airport . Tokyo a city I visited previously and really enjoyed it. 

This card has a Kamata postmark . Love those stamps . In Japan looks like a lot of cards are handstamped which is great to see. 

Kuching Sarawak

Asia-Malaysia-Sarawak State  Here you can see the famous river in Kuching. If you stay in the Hilton Hotel you can just walk outside to hear and hop on a small boat to get to the other side. Kuching is full of charm with loads of old type Chinese stores. 

As you can see this has many stamps from the State of Sarawak. These were the only ones still on sale at the GPO in Kuching. Sending cards from here has been a bit of a rare problem for me. I never received two I had previously sent. So I especially went back to Kuching on my way to KL . I met the head Postmaster and explained that I really needed my postcards to make it home. I posted one in a post box and one I gave personally to the Postmaster. Well the one I put in the post box is the one that arrived home. No sign of the other. The Postal service is very poor . The Postcard took 2 months to make it here. This is the final card in the Malaysian State set. 

World Heritage Site - Erbil Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Middle East-Kurdistan-Erbil This is the main area in Erbil as seen from the Citadel. On the left hand side there are many shops . 

These cards took nearly three months to get here, so I had sort of given up on them. The stamps are all large size and bring me to the point that I never write the address and details until I have attached the stamps. 

Middle East-Kurdistan-Eribl This is a good photo of the Citadel. It is a World Heritage Site. I got these cards printed in India by my good post collector Jinesh. The local selection of cards available were pretty poor. 

Would love to know what the postmark says. Either way a clear date of July 23. I helped stamped many of the cards myself as I had a lot to mail for friends. 

World Heritage Site - Shiretoko

Asia-Japan-Hokkaido-Shiretoko Another view from the sea to the mountains. This is the sort of view I had on the cruise. A nice calm day at the World Heritage Site. 

These are beautiful Japanese stamps and very hard to see here. I bought them in the Central Post Office in Sapporo in Hokkaido. 

Shiretoko World Heritage Site - Hokkaido

Asia-Japan-Hokkaido-Shiretoko This is the World Heritage Site at the top of Hokkaido. This is a view of the sightseeing boat that I took from the cliffs .  It was a very enjoyable easy 4 hour trip .

These again are the prefecture stamps of Hokkaido . Cancelled in the local post office near Shiretoko. In fact it is right beside the hotel I stayed in . This was the Post office that they would not let me take photos when I discovered they in fact had Hokkaido Prefecture stamps on sale. 

Osh-Kyrgyzstan

Asia-Kyrgyzstan-Osh This city is the gateway to the border with Tajikistan and the Pamir highway. It is the second largest city and the oldest in the country. 

As many of you know I usually do not put up cards that are not postmarked. However since this is from a hard to get to place I have listed it. I did give it to the post office itself in Osh. I suspect it might be to do with the stamps. I used ones I had purchased from the philatelic counter in Bishkek. 

Biei Hokkaido

Asia-Japan-Hokkaido-Biei  This is Hills Town in Biei . Famous for it flowers in summer. It was certainly a wonderful sight and I loved the couple of hours I spend here as I travelled around Hokkaido by car.

I love the different postmarks that you get in Japan. I posted this in a local post box in the town of Biei. I selected flower stamps as that was the key reason I visited this town. 

T38 Building in Sapporo , Hokkaido

Asia-Japan-Hokkaido-Sapporo This Postcard is a view of the T38 Building in Sapporo. The name gives it a clue that you are on the 38th Floor. A selection of Postcards were available showing varies views from the building in day and night light. This postcard I selected as it reflected the view I had on the visit. Loved the neon colours. 

A standard set of Japanese stamps showing flowers. 

Bishkek Kyrgyzstan . Official Government Post Office.

Asia-Kyrgyzstan-Bishkek Here you can see some of the highlights of Bishkek capital of Kyrgyzstan. I enjoyed the couple of days there. Possibly the most progressive of the "Stans" and easiest to visit. 

This card and stamps are from the official Government Post Office in Bishkek. As you will note in a previous posting here that there are two Postal organisations in Kyrgyzstan. Interesting that the other mail took 2 weeks to Ireland This one took 2 months. Well at least it got here !! The stamps I purchased at the Philatelic Counter and there was an addition of vat tax . The view was that these were for collectors and not for postage. You could buy stamps without vat tax but only at the stamp counter. !! Sounds mad but regular readers of this blog will know that this is not the first time this has arisen. The same is the case in Kenya. Still lovely stamps and I love the unusual shape of the Bus stamp on the left. 

Sapporo - Hokkaido

Asia-Japan-Hokkaido-Sapporo This is a overshot of the city of Sapporo. 

These are beautiful Japanese stamps. Well produced with silver embossing. One of the best quality stamps sets I have ever seen. Hard to judge unless you have them in your hand. Part of  a miniature sheet. 

Sapporo Clock Tower - Hokkaido

Asia-Japan-Hokkaido-Sapporo This card is showing the Sapporo Clock Tower and some lilacs. It is one of the oldest buildings in the city and is also now a museum. 

This card is yet again showing the Prefecture stamps for Hokkaido. Interesting postmarks. One in Japanese and one in English.  

Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast - Tajikistan

Asia-Tajikistan-Khorog This is the main town and capital of the Pamirs area in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast which a permit is needed for. This area is full of irrigated villages deep within dramatic rocky valleys with snow capped mountains surrounding the area. Sure makes dramatic scenery . I spend 6 days travelling from the border with Kyrgyzstan to Dunshanbe travelling though this area by road. Tough at times due to the conditions of the road , but certainly spectacular in parts. Stayed in many home Stays as there is very poor tourist infrastructure in this area. This area is also a World Heritage Site 

A very helpful Post lady helped me as best she could with the limited stamps available at the Post Office. The outside still reminded me of a typical Russian Post Office. 

Sapporo - Hokkiado Japan

Asia-Japan-Hokkaido-Sapporo  This is the former Hokkaido Government Office. The surrounding gardens are very nice and inside is a small museum and tourist office. 

These stamps are special Prefecture stamps for Hokkaido. They were not available at the Main Post Office in Sapporo. So I had to find a local stamp dealer and I purchased them  . These were the last issued stamps for Hokkaido in 2015. 

Seongsan Jeju Island

Asia-Jeju-Seonsgan Another view of the World Heritage Site at Seonsgan. I had a wonderful walk around this area and a good view out to sea 

I managed to find a post office near the World Heritage Site in Seongsan and posted this card from there. The Postmark says SEONGSANPO. 

Jeju Island

Asia-Jeju-Jeju City I could not find a postcard of Jeju-Si ( Jeju City) , the main city in Jeju. However this shows the World Heritage Site in Jeju. Jeju is to the South of Korea and is a very popular Island with tourists. 

I got the runaround trying to find a Post Office with a Philatelic Counter. From the main sorting office to the head office. There was very little choice. In the end I got a sheetlet of stamps showing favourite tourist sites in Korea.

Presidential Palace in Dushanbe-Tajikistan

Asia-Tajikistan-Dushanbe This card is showing the Presidential Palace in Dushanbe. There are many large buildings like this in the city . 

 

Due to lack of choice same stamps as my other postcard. The small definitives stamps on the bottom are quite attractive . I believe they were issued in early 2017. 

Dushanbe - Tajikistan

Asia-Tajikistan-Dushanbe One of the things you notice in Dushanbe the capital of Tajikistan is flags . As you can see here is one right in the middle of the postcard. This is a overview of the city. Some very nice older buildings here from the Russian times. 

The main old Post Office is now being rebuilt. I did see the area and there is still quite a lot to do so a few years away. So this was the main post office now. Very small with little facilities. When I asked about philatelic they said the " Lady with the key not in today" . How many times have I heard that one !!. Very little in choice of stamps, or should I say no choice.. ..