Malaysia - Perak - Pantai Remis

Fisherman mending his fishing nets in a fishing village in Pantai Remis, Perak, Malaysia.

Sent by myself during my trip to Perak on 26th July 2025.

Pantai Remis is a coastal town in Manjung District, Perak, Malaysia. It is situated in between Simpang (near Taiping) and Sitiawan.

The town was founded in the late 1940s. The name is probably derived from a type of sea shell, Remis, which has a greyish shell and is easily crushed. It lies on the estuary of the Bruas River, and it is believed that the once prosperous Hindu Kingdom of Gangga Nagara's port of entry was here. The Bruas tree which is no longer found in Bruas can still be found growing in Pengkalan Baru.

Pantai Remis is a commercial district that serves as the heartland for the surrounding towns as far north as Terong on Highway A101; to the south to Segari on Highway 60; to the south-east to Kampong Baru Sungai Batu, Kampong Batu Dua Belas, Kampong Melayu and Changkat Keruing on Highway A12. Rubber, palm oil, rice, sugar cane and fishing are the major industries in this town (read more).

Malaysia - Kelantan

A wide selection of Kelantanese food on sale at the evening market.

Sent by Sis Erliani and family who made the trip to Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

Kelantan (Malay pronunciation: [kəˈlantan]; Kelantanese Malay: Klate; Pattani Malay pronunciation: [kläˈtɛ]) is a state in Malaysia. The capital, Kota Bharu, includes the royal seat of Kubang Kerian. The honorific name of the state is Darul Naim ("The Blissful Abode"). Kelantan is located in the north-eastern corner of Peninsular Malaysia. Kelantan is an agrarian state with paddy fields, fishing villages and casuarina-lined beaches. Kelantan is home to some of the most ancient archaeological discoveries in Malaysia, including several prehistoric aboriginal settlements.

Due to Kelantan's relative isolation and largely rural lifestyle, Kelantanese culture differs somewhat from Malay culture in the rest of the peninsula; this is reflected in the cuisine, arts and the unique Kelantanese Malay language, which is not readily intelligible with standard Malay.

Kelantan is bordered by Narathiwat province of Thailand to the north, Terengganu to the south-east, Perak to the west and Pahang to the south. To the north-east of Kelantan is the South China Sea. Kelantan has diverse tropical rainforests and an equatorial climate. The state's mountain ranges belong to the Titiwangsa Mountains, which are part of the Tenasserim Hills that span southern Myanmar, southern Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia, with Mount Yong Belar being the state's highest point. (read more)

Malaysia - Terengganu - Masjid Kristal

CRYSTAL MOSQUE

Sitting atop the surface of the Terengganu River, it is the icon of Kuala Terengganu. A grand structure made of steel, glass and crystal, the mosque is located in the Islamic Heritage Park in Wan Man Island.

Sent by Sis Erliani and family who made the trip to Kuala Terengganu.

The Crystal Mosque or Masjid Kristal is a mosque in Wan Man, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia. A grand structure made of steel, glass and crystal, the mosque is located at the Islamic Heritage Park on the island of Wan Man. The mosque was constructed between 2006 and 2008, and was officially inaugurated on 8 February 2008 by the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu. It has the capacity to accommodate over 1,500 worshipers at a time (read more).

Russia - Tver Oblast - The St. Catherine's Monastery

The St. Catherine's Monastery in Tver, Tver Oblast.

Sent by Svetlana from Tver, Tver Oblast, Russia.

St. Catherine's Monastery is an Orthodox female monastery located in Tver in the Zatverechye microdistrict on the left bank of the Volga River, not far from the confluence of the Tvertsa into the Volga.

The decision to transform the courtyard of the Ascension Women's Orshin Monastery at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr into the St. Catherine's Convent was made by Archbishop Viktor of Tver and 

Kashin in 1996, nun Juliania was appointed abbess of the monastery.

In 2001, the bell tower of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine (the main cathedral of the monastery) was restored, the restoration of the attached church of St. Sergius of Radonezh began.

According to the diocese, 25 people live in the monastery (abbess, 3 nuns, 3 nuns, 2 novices, 16 laborers), there is a Sunday school and Orthodox theological courses, where up to 100 people study (read more).

Sweden - Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun

Falu Gruva (Falun Mine) in Falun, Sweden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sent by Maria from Älvhyttan, Sweden.

The Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun is one of the most outstanding industrial monuments in the world. The cultural landscape graphically illustrates the activities of copper production in the Dalarna region of central Sweden since at least the 9th century. Over many centuries, until production ceased in the late 20th century, the region was one of the most significant areas of mining and metals production. This culminated in the 17th century in the dominance of Sweden as the major producer of copper and exerting a strong influence on the technological, economic, social, and political development of Sweden and Europe.

The history of the mining industry can be seen in the abundant industrial and domestic remains characteristic of this industry that still survive in the natural landscape around Falun, which has been moulded and transformed by human ingenuity and resourcefulness. The enormous mining excavation known as the Great Pit (Stora Stöten) at Falun is the most striking feature of this landscape. Associated with the enormous open-cast mine and its galleries, shafts and visitors’ mine are hoisting gear, head frames, wheelhouses, winch houses, pivot and administrative buildings, housing for workers and ancillary facilities (read more).

the matching stamp

France - Occitania - Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne

Carcassonne (Aude)

Medieval city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

Sent by Pascal from Carcassonne, France.

The city of Carcassonne is located in the Occitanie region, in the department of Aude, on a rocky outcrop dominating the course of the Aude and on the historic axis of communication linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. Since the pre-Roman period, fortifications have been erected on the hill where Carcassonne is located today. In its present form, it is an outstanding example of a fortified medieval city with an enormous defensive system developed mainly in the 13th century. This system consists of two enclosures separated by barriers surrounding the houses, the streets and the superb Gothic cathedral, as well as the castle and the main buildings associated with it.

The inner ramparts comprise twenty-six circular towers and largely overlap the clearly visible Roman defenses for two-thirds of their length. The outer ramparts have nineteen round towers, three of which are barbicans. The enclosure is surrounded by moats and the two main entrances to the fortified city, the Porte Narbonnaise and the Porte de l'Aude, are particularly elaborate. The 12th century count's castle and the main buildings associated with it were built on the western part of the Roman ramparts. The basilica dedicated to Saints Nazaire and Celse has no flying buttresses, stability being ensured by the internal vaulted structure (read more).

Russia - Kostroma Oblast - Snow Maiden (Snegurochka)

A woman who appears to be portraying Snehurochka, often translated as "Snow Maiden" or "Snow Princess," a character from Russian folklore.

Sent by Alexey from Kostroma, Russia.

Snegurochka is the granddaughter and assistant of “Ded Moroz” also known as Father Frost, Russia’s version of Santa Claus. While Santa Claus is rumored to have residences in Finland and the North Pole, Ded Moroz is a proud patriot and maintains a home in Veliky Ustyug in the Vologda Region. His estate is a major tourist attraction receiving more than 200,000 guests a year. See Veliky Ustyug: The Russian Santa's Home.

Snegurochka does not have roots in Slavic mythology and only came into being in the late 19th century. However, to many Snegurochka appears to be as eternal as Russia itself (read more)

Russia - Kostroma Oblast - Ipatiev Monastery

Ipatiev Monastery in Kostroma Oblast, Russia. The monastery is a significant historical and religious site in Russia, known for its role in the Romanov dynasty's history.

Sent by Alexey from Kostroma, Russia.

The Ipatiev Monastery (Russian: Ипатьевский монастырь; also Ipatievsky Monastery), sometimes translated into English as Hypatian Monastery, is a male monastery situated on the bank of the Kostroma River just opposite the city of Kostroma.

It was founded around 1330 by a Tatar convert, Prince Chet, whose male-line descendants included Solomonia Saburova and Tsar Boris Godunov, and is dedicated to St. Hypatios of Gangra.

The main theory considers Tatar Murza Chet, baptized as Zachary, to be the founder of the Ipatievsky Monastery. The legend says that he was miraculously cured from a disease by a vision of the Virgin Mary and St. Philip and St. Hypatius, and decided to build the monastery as a sign of gratitude.

Some historians state that the monastery was founded in 1275 by Yaroslavich, but declined together with the Kostroma Principality after his death. In this case, the monastery could be not entirely built but only revived by Murza Chet (read more).

Russia - Ryazan Oblast - Ryazan

Key features and historical significance of Ryazan city.

Sent by Kate from Ryazan, Russia.

Ryazan (Russian: Рязань, IPA: [rʲɪˈzanʲ]; also Riazan) is the largest city and administrative center of Ryazan Oblast, Russia. The city is located on the banks of the Oka River in Central Russia, 196 km (122 mi) southeast of Moscow. As of the 2010 Census, Ryazan had a population of 524,927, making it the 33rd most populated city in Russia, and the fourth most populated in Central Russia after Moscow, Voronezh, and Yaroslavl.

An older city, now known as Old Ryazan (Russian: Старая Рязань, romanized: Staraya Ryazan), was located 50 kilometres (31 mi) east of modern-day Ryazan during the late Middle Ages, and served as capital of the Principality of Ryazan up until the Mongol invasion in 1237. During the Siege of Ryazan, it became one of the first cities in Russia to be besieged and completely razed to the ground. The capital was subsequently moved to Pereyaslavl-Ryazansky (Russian: Переяславль-Рязанский), and later renamed to Ryazan by order of Catherine the Great in 1778.

The city is known for the Ryazan Kremlin, a historic museum; the Pozhalostin Museum, one of the oldest art museums in Russia; the Memorial Museum-Estate of Academician I.P. Pavlov; and the Ryazan Museum of Long-Range Aviation.

In 2022, the Ministry of Construction published an updated rating of the new urban digitalization index. Ryazan entered the top three cities with a population of 250 thousand to a million people (read more).

Russia - Irkutsk Oblast - Shaman Rock

Snow-covered Shaman Rock in Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal, Russia.

Sent by Valerija from Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Shaman Rock, Cape Burhan, or Shamanka is a rock, on Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal, Russia. It is in Pribaikalsky National Park, and is near Khuzhir, the largest city on Olkhon Island.The rock connects to Olkhon Island, though depending on perspective, can appear an island.

The rock is considered one of the "Nine Holy Sites of Asia".

The height of the part of the rock closest to the shore is 30 metres (98 ft), and the height of the far part is 42 metres (138 ft).

In the near-bank part of the rock is the Shaman Cave, which formed via weathering and erosion. The length of the cave is about 12 metres (39 ft), and the width is from 3 metres (9.8 ft) to 4.5 metres (15 ft). The height of the cave is from 1 metre (3.3 ft) to 6.5 metres (21 ft).

On the western side of the surface of the back of the rock there is a natural brown rock formation resembling a dragon (read more).

Russia - Karelia Republic - Kizhi Pogost (4)

Kizhi. Church of the Transfiguration.

Sent by Stanislav from Saint Petersburg, Russia.

This is my fourth Kizhi Pogost postcard. My other three are here, here, and here.

My Russia - #3 - Gorokhovets

View of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, in the courtyards of Gorokhovets, Vladimir oblast.

Sent by Alina from Tobolsk in Tyuemen oblast, Russia.

Gorokhovets (Russian: Горохове́ц) is a town and the administrative center of Gorokhovetsky District in Vladimir Oblast, Russia, located on the highway from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod. It also serves as a river port on the Klyazma River.

Population: 12,666 (2021 Census) 14,016 (2010 Census); 14,524 (2002 Census);15,783 (1989 Soviet census).

The name of the town originates from the Russian word "горох" (gorokh, "peas").

Gorokhovets was first mentioned in a 1239 chronicle, when it was sacked by the Mongols. It is believed that a minor fortress had existed there for several preceding decades.

In 1539, the Tatars of Kazan were about to burn it but retreated upon allegedly seeing a ghost in a shape of a gigantic knight with a sword. After that, the mount where the apparition was seen came to be known as Puzhalovo ("frightening one") (read more).

USA - Hawaii - Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park

KALOKO-HONOKŌHAU NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK

The hālau wa’a (canoe shed) called the people to gather at the ‘Ai’opio fish trap in earlier centuries. This area was at the heart of daily activities as men launched canoes from the shore while women, with children at their sides, collected limu (edible seaweeds) and shellfish.

Sent by Michele from Hilo in Hawaii, USA.

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park located in the Kona District on Hawaiʻi Island in the U.S. state of Hawaiʻi. It includes the National Historic Landmarked archaeological site known as the Honokōhau Settlement. The park was established on November 10, 1978, for the preservation, protection and interpretation of traditional native Hawaiian activities and culture.

Kaloko and Honokōhau are the names of two of the four different ahupuaʻa, or traditional mountain-to-sea land divisions encompassed by the park. Although in ancient times this arid area of lava rock was called kekaha ʻaʻole wai (lands without water), the abundant sea life attracted settlement for hundreds of years.

Kaloko (meaning "the pond" in the Hawaiian language) is a site of fishponds used in ancient Hawaiʻi is on the north end of the park. The first reference to the pond comes from the story of Kamalalawalu, about 300 years ago. The kuapā (seawall) is over 30 feet (9.1 m) wide and 6 feet (1.8 m) high, stretching for 750 feet (230 m). Constructed by hand without mortar, the angle and gaps between the stones deflected the surf better than many modern concrete seawalls (read more).

USA - Oregon -Three Sisters

THREE SISTERS WILDERNESS

Cascade Mountains, Oregon

Reflections of a beautiful moonrise are cast in Scott Lake.

Sent by Shelby from Beaverton in Oregon, USA.

The Three Sisters are closely spaced volcanic peaks in the U.S. state of Oregon. They are part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc, a segment of the Cascade Range in western North America extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. Each over 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) in elevation, they are the third-, fourth- and fifth-highest peaks in Oregon. Located in the Three Sisters Wilderness at the boundary of Lane and Deschutes counties and the Willamette and Deschutes national forests, they are about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of the nearest town, Sisters. Diverse species of flora and fauna inhabit the area, which is subject to frequent snowfall, occasional rain, and extreme temperature variation between seasons. The mountains, particularly South Sister, are popular destinations for climbing and scrambling.

Although they are often grouped together as one unit, the three mountains have their own individual geology and eruptive history. Neither North Sister nor Middle Sister have erupted in the last 14,000 years, and it is considered unlikely that either will ever erupt again. South Sister last erupted about 2,000 years ago and could erupt in the future, threatening life within the region. After satellite imagery detected ground inflation near South Sister in 2001, the United States Geological Survey improved monitoring in the immediate area (read more).

USA - Wisconsin - State Flower (Wood Violet) & State Bird (American Robin)

WISCONSIN

State Flower (Wood Violet) & State Bird (American Robin).

Sent by Angeliz from Wisconsin, USA.

Viola odorata is a species of flowering plant in the family Violaceae native to Eurasia. The small hardy herbaceous perennial is commonly known as wood violet, sweet violet, English violet, common violet, florist's violet, or garden violet (read more).

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The American robin (Turdus migratorius) is a migratory bird of the true thrush genus and Turdidae, the wider thrush family. It is named after the European robin because of its reddish-orange breast, though the two species are not closely related, with the European robin belonging to the Old World flycatcher family. The American robin is widely distributed throughout North America, wintering from southern Canada to central Mexico and along the Pacific coast (read more).

USA - Ohio - Put-in-Bay

Put-in-Bay is a delightful resort community located on South Bass Island in western Lake Erie near Port Clinton, Ohio.

Sent by CJ from Ohio, USA.

Put-in-Bay is a resort village located on South Bass Island in Put-in-Bay Township, Ottawa County, Ohio, United States, 85 miles (137 km) west of Cleveland and 35 miles (56 km) east of Toledo. The population was 154 at the 2020 census.

The village is a popular summer resort and recreational destination. Ferry and airline services connect the community with Catawba Island, Kelleys Island, Port Clinton, and Sandusky, Ohio.

The bay played a significant role in the War of 1812 as the location of the squadron of U.S. naval commander Oliver Hazard Perry, who sailed from the port on September 10, 1813, to engage a British squadron just north of the island in the Battle of Lake Erie (read more).

USA - Nebraska - Nebraska Buffalo

NEBRASKA BUFFALO

North American Bison once roamed the plains of central and western Nebraska in large herds. Now only a few herds remain, among them one at the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, northeast of Valentine, Nebraska.

Sent by Debbie from Omaha in Nebraska, USA.

The change in the Nebraska landscape was dramatic. In just a few short years, cattle replaced the American bison as the leading, cloven-hoofed, grass-eating mammal on the Great Plains. In 1850, millions of bison ranged the grasslands and were the main natural resource for the region’s American Indians.

In 1868, the steel rails of the transcontinental railroad created a barrier that bison did not like to cross. That divided the great herd into northern and southern herds (read more).

Germany - Hamburg - Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus District with Chilehaus (2)

Hamburg.

Speicherstadt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sent by Ulrike from Syke, Germany.

This is my second postcard of Speicherstadt. My other one is here.

Germany - Bavaria - Pilgrimage Church Maria Gern

Snow-covered Pilgrimage Church of Maria Gern, Berchtesgadener Land, Bavaria.

Sent by Eric from Freiberg, Germany.

Most famous pilgrimage churches in the Berchtesgadener Land: Maria Gern. Built in 1710, the church, with the imposing Watzmann mountain in the background, is one of the most popular photo motifs in the entire region (read more).