Giants Causeway- World Heritage Site

 Europe-United Kingdom-Northern Ireland This is a unusual view of the Giants Causeway on the Antrim coast. From the air. A nice warm day here packed with tourists. This is the only World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland.  

There is a postbox at the Giants Causeway. But did not drop it there due to the changes of not getting postmarked. So on the coast was in a beautiful village of Cushendun.  The girl in the Post office told me it was her first day and had no stamps ! I had already bought the stamps previously. My only request was the card to be postmarked at the post office  and go in the mail . This also has the machine cancel . 

This is taken on the Giants Causeway. A beautiful day 

Rathlin Island - Northern Ireland

 Europe-United Kingdom-Northern Ireland-Rathlin Island An Island I wanted to visit for some time . This is in the area of the North of Northern Ireland. Took a 30 minute ride on a boat . Stayed about 4 hours on the island and it was very interesting with a  small museum . The Puffins shown here are only there from April to July, so were gone when I arrived. Still a nice location to walk 

Nice to see a local postmark . A small post office on the island and some new stamps . 

Bushmills Distillery - Northern Ireland

 Europe-United Kingdom-Northern Ireland-Bushmills The is the oldest whiskey distillery in the World. Granted a license in 1608. A wonderful tour lasts about 90 mins and very interesting. Something to taste at the end of course.... 

Posted this at a magical Post Office in the village of Bushmills. Very helpful staff and some " Special " stamps as they call them in the UK for sale.

Northern Ireland - United Kingdom

 

Europe-Northern Ireland-United Kingdom I bought this card during my visit to Mount Stewart House and Gardens. . It has a number of heritage sites to visit . Many of these I am not familiar with so this card works well as a future tourist planner. 

I managed to get the postmaster to postmark my cards for this trip . I was tired of UK cards coming back with no postmarks. Featuring new wildlife stamps. 

Oqaatsut- Greenland

 Atlantic Ocean-Greenland-Oqaatsut. This is a very small village about 45 mins by boat from Ilulissat. Enjoyable walk and the sunshine was crystal clear. Had lunch with local fish delicacies . The area reminded me of East Greenland. 

The post office had a sign outside and was part of the one and only shop. It is. hard to see here but a local postmark was applied. 

Greenland - Ilulissat

 Atlantic Ocean-Greenland-Ilulissat Another view of some of the  amazing UNESCO World Heritage site at Ilulissat. It looks exactly like this on the ground . Took a boat tour around this area. 

The recent issue of Europa with the common design and and the other stamp is something to do with local tattoos . Got a good postmark . 

Ilulissat- World Heritage Site - Greenland

 Atlantic Ocean-Greenland- Ilulissat  I have to say this was my favourite part of Greenland . Great scenery , wonderful views and just one of those locations I will never forget. It is the only part of the world excluding Antarctica that you will see the number of Icebergs and flows. Also a World Heritage Site. 

The Post office in this town was a 15 min walk from the centre. But was updated and new with a full ranges of stamps. No postmark unfortunately on this card. 

Nuuk - Greenland

 Atlantic Ocean-Greenland-Nuuk  Certainly not one of the most beautiful capitals in the world. This is the modern part of the city with higher rise homes. I guess it is the "Grey" look that is uninspiring . But one has to be practical and I guess it would look a lot more photogenic when the area is covered in snow. 

The stamp shows a local fishing in a small kayak . I did in fact see a few of these out around the local seas but I suspect it was with tourists. 

Nuuk - Greenland

 Atlantic Ocean-Greenland-Nuuk I have been wanting to visit Nuuk the small capital of Greenland for some time. A flight to from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuak which can land the large Aibus A330neo and then a Dash 8 to Nuuk. This is the main harbour and as you can guess it is mostly fish that is being exported here. The weather was surprising warm . 

Arriving on National day , all government business was closed. However next day off to the Post office and it was all you could want in a Post Office. Modern building with a contemporary   lay out. Best was the real seal skin benches to sit on. A good selection of stamps and friendly staff. The stamp on the left centre shows the national dress, I seen on the National Day. 

Hammershus - Bornholm

 Europe-Denmark-Bornholm Hammershus is the main tourist attraction on the island of Bornholm. Took a local bus which takes about one hour from the main town, as it goes on a slight detour. But good to see some of the island . This medieval fortification is the largest in Northern Europe and dates from the 13th century. It is very interesting and is situated on the coast with a good view over the sea. Enjoyable day trip with a nice cafe and shop nearby . 

No postboxes in this area of the island. I mailed this in the main town later the same day . 

Bornholm - Denmark

 Europe-Denmark-Bornholm-Ronne This is the main town on the Danish island of Bornholm. It is situated in the Baltic sea and off the south coast of Sweden. Spend a day here and travelled by bus . 

Stamps in Denmark are expensive. The local supermarket sold post office supplies and stamps. You get what you are given. The postmark is from the central sorting office in Denmark . 

Copenhagen - Denmark

 

Europe-Denmark-Copenhagen It is quite some time since I have been back in the city of the Mermaid . I retraced some of my steps with stops in places and locations I had remembered . This area is known as Nyhavn and is very picturesque with colourful buildings. Most now bars and restaurants 

Denmark is one of those countries that have no Post offices any longer. I know that The Netherlands is the same. I did manage to visit the head office but they only take in pre paid parcels and dont sell stamps ! I was directed to a small untidy sweet shop that sold stamps . At least the stamps they sold me were quite nice showing cycle travel which is very popular in Denmark. I guess it helps that it is quite flat. 

East Grinstead - England

Europe-United Kingdom-England-East Grinstead. The High Street contains one of the longest continuous runs of 14th-century-timber-framed buildings in England. It was a joy to be here on the day the village turns out for the May fair. The village is beautiful and very east to walk around. Some of my family live nearby and even though I have travelled wide and far , the welcome here is just amazing. 

At least this card did get a postmark , however it hard to see. Posted in the local postbox . More flowers from the Kings first special issue.    

London - England - United Kingdom . King's first special stamps

 Europe-United Kingdom-England-London Just love this postcard. Great memories of that number 15 bus that I went on from Marble Arch , The red post box and the underground sign that is so iconic. Come to think of it I don't know if I ever used a phone box in London? 

The first special issue stamps from the United Kingdom showing the King's Head . Facing right , The Queen's head faced left. No postmark . 

King Charles III London - United Kingdom

 

Europe-United Kingdom-England-London Today is the day of King Charles Coronation. I was in London last week and it was not easy finding a card of the King. I guess more will appear soon. 

Another first here . This being the first time I have used a definitive stamp of the King. It was all change as on this trip visited the new Philatelic office at Broadway . Unfortunately as is the usual now this stamp received no postmark. 

Vientiane- Laos - Photos

 

A photo to celebrate my last Country and Territory . This is the Patuxay Monument in the centre of Vientiane . I had this T shirt printed to note the last countries showing 193 UN and 330 TCC . 

Outside one of the Post Offices in the City . It was my trip to the second Post office before I found t he main one with the Philatelic Office. 

The Customer service at this counter was top class. A full selection of all Laos stamps available. This lady new the stamp issues and more to the point was interested and helpful. Smiles all around . 

One of the Gold stamp Issues that I used on my final postcards. 

Vientiane is sort of laid back . Not a star tourist attraction . But lots of memories for me. 

Luang Prabang - Laos including the Post Office

 

Travellers Century Club Award - Visiting Every Country and Territory

 

I often forget that this blog is more then about postcards and includes Travel. So more and more you will see photos here from the previous trips since I now have the full set of postcards more or less. Of course there is always more interesting places to visit and that will continue 

Above is a presentation I made at the Travellers Century Club meeting in Los Angeles in December 2022. It detailed some of my travels and stories including Post Offices and Postcards. This one shows a Posrcard from Aitutaki in the Cook Islands. 

Here receiving an award from the Travellers Century Club for visiting all 330 "Countries and Regions " .

Finally here is a closer photo of the Globe award. It is very nice indeed and the base is inscribed " World Traveller - David Langan - Laos Nov 2022 " . This was my last Country on the list to visit. The Globe sits proudly near a window at home and slowly spins by itself when in the sunlight . 

London - United Kingdom

 Europe-United Kingdom-England-London Was here for a weekend visit . Being winter it was dark early so this postcard gives a feel for London at night. I had been here a few months before for the Queen's funeral . I could not find a postcard of The Queen anywhere . Enjoyed London as always. 

Very pleased to see that this postcard did get a postcard. Rare on my last UK postcards. I in fact posted at Gatwick Airport . Perhaps that was the trick . 

Luang Prabang - World Heritage Site

 Asia-Laos-Luang Prabang  This is the Wat Xiengthong Buddhist temple . One of many temples here. I think I visited about 4 or so. The shape of the temples are very special and unique. 

This was my last card posted from my last country to visit. To celebrate this I have used gold foil stamps. The postmark at Luang Prabang was not in good condition and in fact they cant amend the datestamp. If you look you can see it says 2021 when in fact it was November 2022.