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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. |
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| 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. |
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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. |
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| 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. |
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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. |
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| A standard set of Japanese stamps showing flowers. |
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. |
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| 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. |
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Asia-Japan-Hokkaido-Sapporo This is a overshot of the city of Sapporo. |
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| 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. |
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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. |
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| This card is yet again showing the Prefecture stamps for Hokkaido. Interesting postmarks. One in Japanese and one in English. |
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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 |
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| 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. |
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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. |
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| 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. |
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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 |
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| I managed to find a post office near the World Heritage Site in Seongsan and posted this card from there. The Postmark says SEONGSANPO. |
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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. |
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| 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. |
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Asia-Tajikistan-Dushanbe This card is showing the Presidential Palace in Dushanbe. There are many large buildings like this in the city . |
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| 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. |
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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. |
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| 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.. .. |
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Middle East-Kurdistan Region-Iraq-Erbil It was hard to believe I was in Erbil . It is so different then Baghdad and the south. There was no tension and it felt very safe and easy to go around. On the other hand there is not much to see in Erbil except the Citadel which is a World Heritage Site. Still the people were friendly and not bothered by tourists. A visa for most is available on arrival at no cost. |
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| Before I arrived here I did a bit of research and the information said that the Post Office was at the airport. That is correct there is a Post office there. I had planned to visit on my way in from the airport to my hotel. However the driver had an appointment and we went straight to the hotel which was right in the Old town. I had the phone number of the Post office and the manager of the hotel rang the number and talked to someone there. He discovered there was also another Post Office in the city itself. So we went there. I would not have found it but it is not far from the Citadel. It was a full working Post office . I had my Postcards ready and they had a choice of stamps and were most helpful. Even though I am in Iraq and we use Iraq money , the stamps here state " Kurdistan Region-Iraq". All the mail is sent via Jordon . All the stamps were quite large so it was fine as I dont write up my cards until I have put on the stamps. You will find postcards in the Souvenir shops in the Citadel . |
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Asia-Kyrgyzstan-Bishkek This card shows Ala-Too square in Bishkek the capital of Kyrgyzstan. A very orderly city . The city and surrounding mountains were enjoyable. |
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| This Postcard is a little unusual . Reason is that Kyrgyzstan has two official Postal services ! The Government one and this one the private Kyrgyz Express. I have to say the name matches the service. It was my first postcard to arrive from my trip. They were super friendly in the Kyrgyz Express Post office and were very helpful . They had a book with new issues and first day covers and this postcard is from the office. It is in face prepaid if you see to the right of the stamp but I wanted to use Postage stamps. A great service and best of luck to them. |
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Asia-Mongolia-Tuv This is the largest statute of a horse in the world. It is of course the Statue of Chinggis Khann and includes a stairs to climb up to the top and restaurant and shops. |
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| I did not post this in Tuv as was rushing back. There was a post office at the complex which I purchased this postcard and they had a small selection of stamps |
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Asia-Mongolia-Dalanzadgad This is a town in the Gobi Desert were I spend a few nights in a yurt. This is very much the view I seen when there. Quite green and flat in most parts. When most people think of a desert you think of sand. There is sand in certain places but is quite varied. |
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| I think this may be the first time I have used stamps in this formation and style. The stamps take up a lot of space if you dont put them square. But loved the way this turned out with the local postmark which is red like all the other postmarks I got in Mongolia. |
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Asia-Mongolia-Ulaanbaatar Here is another card showing the Naadam games. We were due to see the wrestling but on the second day it was raining heavily and gave it a miss. But still a lot of colour as you can see from the photos in the blog. |
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| I like this stamp. It shows a yurt which I slept in when in the Gobi desert. In the summer it was quite hot and everyone kept the door open at night. |
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Asia-Mongolia-Ulaanbaatar This is the festival of Naadam held in July . This was the main reason for my visit. A very big occasion. It was in fact the first time that the newly elected President was presented after his win in the election. |
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| A red postmark from the main post office in Ulaanbaatar. The Post office itself is quite large right in the centre of town. A full selection of stamps on display. |
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Asia-Mongolia-Ulaanbaatar Here you can see the capital of Mongolia as it really looks. Not one of the worlds most beautiful places. |
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| Send this card from the Main Post office in Ullanbaatar. A great selection of stamps and postcards. As I was here during festival time I was informed that the Post office may not be open, so I purchased these stamps online from the Post office in advance. But no need to , as the office was open the two days I was in the city |
