Tuesday, 29 November 2022

Hoi An - Vietnam


 Asia-Vietnam-Hoi An. A well preserved example of a South East Asian port from the 15th to 19th century. The vibe is amazing and my favourite location that I visited in this country. A melting pot of senses and views. 


Not very exciting stamps. Thats what you get when you start your visit to Vietnam in a central city . I love the red though .. Very Vietnamese colour. 

Monday, 28 November 2022

Siem Reap-Cambodia .


 Asia-Cambodia-Siem Reap My first time to Cambodia and a pure pleasure to be here. The main reason to be in this region is of course Angkor Wat. The largest religious monument in the world . It is amazing to visit the different areas of this vast complex. I love this postcard because it is made of wood and made in Cambodia. A wonderful souvenir from this country. 


I had purchased these stamps from the counter at the main post office in Phnom Penh. Very helpful staff and clear postmark.10/10.

Thursday, 24 November 2022

Bagan- Myanmar - World Heritage Site.


 Asia-Myanmar-Bagan
Showing the Shwezegone Pagoda . Bagan has so many temples and pagodas. It is breathtaking and was amazed how good condition they were all in. Bagan is a World Heritage Site. 


As per the rest of Myanmar this is postmarked and handed back to me. In fact the post office here did not know that there was a limited postal service to international countries. So I did mail a postcard back to Ireland. I dont expect to get it though .. Lets see. 

Wednesday, 23 November 2022

Mandalay - Myanmar


 Asia-Myanmar-Mandalay
Showing statures at a temple -Mandalay Hill. The city itself was not interesting but had many temples and worth visiting . 


Due to lack of international services I had to get this card stamped at the post office . It did not go in the mail. 

Monday, 21 November 2022

Yangon - Myanmar


 Asia-Myanmar-Yangon
It is very rare here to have a postcard from a new country . In fact this is my last set of postcards from new countries and they are all in Asia . Organising a trip to Myanmar was not easy with special insurance and waiting on covid rules to be relaxed to visit. However that being said it was well worth it. The Shwedagon Pagoda is amazing . Photos do not do this justice . A unique pagoda for sure. 


The Post office in Yangon was a bit of a disaster to say the least. The Post office from the early 1900s has seen better days. The stamp counter was just at the entrance and they had a few stamps as above that was it. No philatelic counter. To make matters worse there is currently only postal service to 5 surrounding countries in Asia. Apparently there is an ongoing issue with the airlines contacts since covid. So this card joins Guatemala, South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia  and Somaliland that was handed back to me. I did send a card via Malaysia and fingers crossed lets see if that gets through. 

Saturday, 19 November 2022

Photos from Hoi An - Vietnam


 Hoi An with plenty of lanterns 

Japanese Bridge 



Main Post Office Hoi An 

Hoi An - Vietnam


 Asia-Vietnam-Hoi An My second time in Vietnam and my first time in Hoi An. This World Heritage Site town is amazing . I was aghast how beautiful it was. Day or night . The town is full of Lanterns and took many photos of such. A great vibe and a must visit in Vietnam. 

 

I normally start in the capital city if touring a country . The main reason is to stock up on special stamps at the main post office, However on this Asian trip I made an exception . The Post office in Hoi An had no selection of stamps and in fact it was mostly the case in Vietnam . More on that later. The Bridge on the definitive stamp is in face here in Hoi An. Crossed it a couple of times. An old Japanese Bridge from the 18th century . 

Tuesday, 11 October 2022

Gallery of Royal Saint Hubert - Brussels


 Europe-Belgium-Brussels
This is the Gallery of Royal St.Hubert. One of the earliest shopping centres in the world when opened. This card is very attractive and is hand drawn . Most famous for the chocolate shops. There was many more people there on the day I was here. Of course I went home with a box of chocolates. 


Posted nearby with no postmark. Part of the set from the miniature sheet. 

Monday, 10 October 2022

The European Parliament - Brussels


 Europe-Belgium-Brussels This is The European Parliament building . In spite of the fact that as an Irish citizen I vote for parliamentarians this is my first time to visit inside or out. There is a visitor centre nearby which is sort of interesting  . 


A definitive stamp showing King Philippe of Belgium . Posted the card in a standard postbox. 

Saturday, 8 October 2022

Royal Museum for Central Africa - Brussels


 Europe-Belguim-Brussels
This card is from the Royal Central African museum in Brussels. It was really the main reason for my visit here. I had been a number of years back. It was reopened in December 2018 after renovation. It is really interesting with very well written up information on this area. A large number of items will in time , go back to the new museum in Kinshasa DRC when that is opened. I normally buy a card showing the building. But this card just caught my eye. 1958 a receptionist in Leopoldville now Kinshasa . 


Loved this stamps. It is so well designed and clear . Part of a miniature sheet. 

Thursday, 6 October 2022

Brussels- Belgium


 Europe-Belgium-Brussels
Great to be back in Brussels. To me it was a business city and never go to see to many tourist sights here. This time I did . Lots to see and a great weekend. break. This is the Mont des Arts Gardens. On this occasion I past it late in the evening and did not see all these beautiful flowers.
 


My first time go visit the new philatelic shop in Brussels. It is only open 3 days per week. A very impressive shop with a friendly and knowledgeable  staff member. Many years stamps on sale and here is the hand stamp that was processed there and then went through the mail. 

Tuesday, 13 September 2022

Bergen - Norway


 Europe-Norway-Bergen Wanted to visit here for a long time. This is the oldest part of Bergen right beside the fishing harbour and known as Bryggen . Arrived here by boat and was great coming into the harbour. The main area is quite small and very easy to walk around. This area is a World Heritage Site. 


The stamp is showing a badger. Posted in Bergen at a postbox . No postmark. 

Saturday, 10 September 2022

Balestrand-Norway

 

Europe-Norway-Balestrand Arrive here by boat from Flam . This Stunning village on the Fjord was very impressive. Stayed overnight at the 18th Century Kvines hotel on the waterfront .. The weather was great and felt just like I wanted a traditional village to look like. 


Ronald Amundsen is again on this stamp. The Post office was part of the main supermarket in the village. Posted this in the post box outside . No cancellation !!. 

Monday, 5 September 2022

Flam - Norway


 Europe-Norway-Flam  This was the special train I took from Myrdal to Flam . Had started off in Oslo on the regular train that continues on to Bergen . The key reason for taking this train is the scenery. It was amazing and started at the Myrdal station which is in the mountains to Flam which is a sea level. One of the great train journeys of the world. 


This card was posted in the postbox at Myrdal train station. The stamps were purchased at the philatelic bureau in Oslo. 

Saturday, 3 September 2022

The Fram Museum-Oslo


 Europe-Norway-Oslo
I got this card in the Fram museum in Oslo. It is certainly for me one of the best museums I have ever visited. It is packed with information on exploration to both poles North and South. I have never visited the North or South Pole but I have been to the Antarctic many times including the areas that the early explorers set up and the early buildings are still there. The Artic area I have visited   is Svalbard  including Jan Mayen and Bear Island. This museum tells and shows the stories of early exploration very well. . The ship The Fram is here and was used on many trips most famously the one to the South Pole in 1914.

Loved this connection with the stamp and the card. The recently issued stamp shows and expedition to Antarctica and matches the card. 



Friday, 2 September 2022

The Scream - Oslo


 Europe-Norway-Oslo This is the very famous painting by Edvard Munch "The Scream". I was delighted to visit the newly opened National Museum and Gallery in Oslo. A fantastic building and so much to see. One of the highlights is to see this painting which is famous the world over. I discovered there are 4 versions of this . This is the one I seen and the most famous one 


Kiing Haakon VII is regarded by many as one of the greatest Norwegian leaders of the pre-war period, managing to hold his young and fragile country together in unstable political conditions. This is the stamp shown here. 

Friday, 19 August 2022

Vigeland Sculpture Park - Oslo


 Europe-Norway-Oslo This is the Vigeland Sculpture Park . A must see in Oslo. Had been on my first trip and never forgot it. All about the circle of Life. Amazing. 


I love these two stamps. The far right is Jan Mayen Island. I was lucky to visit many years ago and even posted a card from the Post office there. The stamp on the left is one of the oldest set of Definitive stamps in existence.  . 

Wednesday, 17 August 2022

Oslo Norway


 Europe-Norway-Oslo My second visit here and I have to say this city is very impressive. Lots to see including the new National Museum . Got a Oslo pass card a great value way for transport and visitor sites. 


Went to the Philatelic Office which is not quite downtown Oslo. They keep 2 years supplies of stamps. This stamp showing Roald Amundsen the most famous Norwegian explorer of the Polar Regions.

Saturday, 23 July 2022

Ephesus - Turkiye


 Asia-Turkiye-Ephesus  Was a couple of  hours bus ride from Marmaris. It was amazing here. I have been to lots of these type of sites and this one was impressive. Well worth the visit and a World Heritage Site. 


I think this is my first card here with no Postage Stamp !! There is a story behind this card. It was a Sunday and I had forgotten to buy extra stamps at the Post office in Marmaris. After the visit to Ephesus we had a one hour stop on Selcuk to look around and a coffee break . I also took the opportunity to visit the Post office which being a Sunday was closed. I had stuck 200 Turkish Lira to the back of the card and had intended to put this in the postbox. However, I had noted even though I was right beside the Post office there was no Post box and not even a slit in the door to put this card into the office. So as I was having coffee beside the PO , I asked the owned if he would mail the card when the office opened on Monday. No problem . I had forgotten to explain that it must have a actual stamp on the card and not a meter mark. Still it is something to remember and recall . 

Thursday, 21 July 2022

Rhodes - Dodecaese Islands.


 Europe-Dodecanese Islands-Rhodes-Rhodes Town  On a short one day visit here from Marmaris Turkiye. Spend the day walking around the old town . Very enjoyable to visit. 


With only being a short time here had not got the time to visit the Post Office. But I did with a bit of a struggle find a shop selling stamps. There is a very faint postmark here on the stamp.