Rwanda - Rwandan Boys

Our first postcard from Rwanda. It features Rwandan boys.

Sent by Linda from Rwanda. Terima kasih.

United Kingdom - England - Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites (2)

Stonehenge interior
Photographer : Not known
Taken : 1977

Sent by Dan, my best pal from Cheshire, England.

Bicycles (8)

Sent by JJ, a postcrosser from Netherlands.

Germany - Red Wine Hiking Trail

Rotweinwanderweg or Red Wine Hiking Trail.

Sent by Sabine, a WiP partner from Germany.

"The red wine hiking trail is definitely an experience, as you can walk along the paths of wine, appellation for appellation, variety for variety, through a wonderful scenery. High above the Ahr Valley the red wine hiking trail connects the famous winegrower’s villages in the “Valley of the Red Grape”. On a length of 35 kilometres the trail winds from Altenahr to Bad Bodendorf through the steep vineyard terraces.
A special tip: From Ahrweiler on, a winegrowing training path with 31 notice boards leads via the red wine hiking trail to Walporzheim."(Source)

Philippines - Singkil Dance (2)

SINGKIL - A royal Muslim dance performed with quick steps through four crisscrossed bamboo poles to the rhythm of brass gongs.

Sent by Jenell, a postcrosser from Philippines.

Bicycles (7)

Sent by Nadya, a postcrosser from Ukraine.

United Kingdom - England - Nottingham - Robin Hood Statue

England - Nottingham - Robin Hood Statue

Sent by Vish, a postcrosser from England.

This is from Wikipedia : Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes. The origin of the legend is claimed by some to have stemmed from actual outlaws, or from ballads or tales of outlaws.

Robin Hood became a popular folk figure in the medieval period continuing through to modern literature, films and television. In the earliest sources, Robin Hood is a yeoman, but he was often later portrayed as an aristocrat wrongfully dispossessed of his lands and made into an outlaw by an unscrupulous sheriff.

Sequoyah

Sequoyah was born between 1760 1nd 1770 in Taskigi, Tennessee and is best known as the inventor of the Cherokee alphabet. He developed the 85-character syllabary over a 12-year period enabling the Cherokees to communicate during the difficult years of their removal to the west. Sequoyah is one of the best known and most respected members of the Cherokee Nation and his contributions will be carried forward from generation to generation.

Sent by oklahaomaplatypus, a postrosser from Oklahoma, USA.

Indonesia - South Kalimantan

Bamboo rafting in South Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Sent by Maya from Banjarmasin in Kalimantan, Indonesia.

This is from Wikipedia : South Kalimantan/South Borneo (Indonesian: Kalimantan Selatan often abbreviated to Kalsel) is one of the thirty-three Provinces of Indonesia and one of four Indonesian provinces in the Indonesian part of Borneo. The provincial capital is Banjarmasin. The province boundaries are with Makassar Strait in the east, Central Kalimantan in the west and north, the Java Sea in the south and a small part of East Kalimantan in the north.

The population of South Kalimantan was recorded at just over 3.625 million people at the 2010 Census. In 2008 the number of visitors to the province was 339,000 of which 21,000 were international visitors, mostly from China, Philippines and India.

USA - Alaska - State Flower

Forget-Me-Nots
Mountain Forget-me-nots are found throughout Alaska. Forget-me-nots are the Alaska state flower.

Sent by Sarah, a WiP partner from Alaska, USA.

"Alaska's state flower is the alpine forget-me-not. It was chosen in 1949. The alpine forget-me-not is a perennial that grows 5 to 12 inches high in alpine meadows. The flowers have five connected salviform petals, colored sky blue, that are a quarter to a third of an inch wide. They have a white inner ring and a yellow center. The best time to see the alpine forget-me-not is midsummer, from late June to late July. In addition to finding the Myosotis alpestris, botanists in Denali National Park might also come across the mountain forget-me-not (Eritrichium aretiodes) and the splendid forget-me-not (Eritrichium splendens)."(Source)

Martta Wendelin (19)

Martta Wendelin.

Sent by Tuula, a postcrosser from Finland.

Martta Wendelin (18)

Martta Wendelin.

Sent by Hannele, a postcrosser from Finland.

Oman (1)

My first written and stamped postcard from Oman.

Sent by Mohd from Muscat, Oman.

Bicycles (6)

As if the time would keep standing.

Sent by Petra, a postcrosser from Austria.

China - Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area

Ley Waterfall, part of Jiuzhaigou landscape.

Sent by Winnie, a postcrosser from Shanghai, China.

This is from UNESCO : The valley lies in the southern part of the Min Shan Range, approximately 330 km from the provincial capital of Chengdu and includes the catchment areas of the Shizheng, Rize and Zechawa gullies, which join Jiuzhaigou Valley.

Lying on the edge of the diverging belt between the Qinghai-Tibet Plate and the Yangtze Plate, there are major fault lines running through the site: earthquakes are not uncommon and have been a major influence on the geological landscape. Of greater geological interest, are the high-altitude karst landforms that have been strongly influenced by glacial, hydrological and tectonic activity.

The best known features are the large number of lakes in the area: many are classic ribbon lakes, at the base of glacially formed valleys, which have been dammed naturally, for example behind rock falls from avalanches. Processes of carbonate deposition are responsible for the cementation and stabilization of these dams. A number of the lakes are bounded on the upstream and downstream sides by calcareous tufa dykes and shoals. In two places, there are a stepped series of lakes, like terraces separated by these tufa dykes. These sites, Shuzheng Lakes and Nuorilang Lakes, with 19 and 18 lakes respectively, can be compared with the travertine pools of Huanglong Scenic Area to the south. They are less well-developed geologically but are much larger in size.

Also of note are a number of large and spectacular waterfalls, including Xionguashai (Panda Lake) Fall and the Zhengzhutan (Pearl Shoal) Fall. This latter fall lies at the downstream end of the Zhengshutan, which is the larger of two calcareous tufa shoals in the site.

The hydrology of the site is dominated by three valleys, Rize and Zechawa gullies flowing from the south and meeting at the centre of the site where they form the Shuzheng Gully.

Over most of the site the soils express their limestone parent rock, to a greater or lesser degree, while there is some variance in colour and texture. They are all neutral to slightly alkali. On the higher mountain slopes, the soils are poorly developed.

The rich flora and wide altitudinal range undoubtedly contribute to a highly diverse and important range of fauna. There are no records of detailed surveys or inventories, but 10 mammal's species are listed including notable species such as giant panda, golden snub-nosed monkey, lesser panda, Szechwan takin, mainland serow, common goral and Thorold's deer.

There have been 141 species of bird recorded from the site. Some 13 of these are listed including Chinese monal, snowy-cheeked laughing thrush and a subspecies of Tengmalm's owl, which is endemic to the region.

USA - Virginia - Wildflowers of the Blue Ridge

Wildflowers of the Blue Ridge
Black-eyed Susan, Fire Pink, Phlox
Bull Thistle, Turk's Cap Lily, Columbine
Great Mullein, Butterfly Weed, Flame Azalea
Small Red Morning Glory, Chicory, Trumpet Vine

Sent by Ash from Virginia, USA.

Romania - Bucharest - The Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral

Romania - Bucharest - The Patriarchy.

Sent by Raluca, a WiP partner from Romania.

This is from Wikipedia : The Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral is located near the palace of the Patriarchate of the Romanian Orthodox Church, on Dealul Mitropoliei, in Bucharest, Romania.

American Samoa - National Park of American Samoa

National Park of American Samoa
Pola Island, in the National Park of American Samoa, is on the north coast of Tutuila Island and is an important nesting area for sea birds, such as the booby.

Sent by Samuel, a Park Ranger in the National Park of American Samoa.

This is from Wikipedia : The National Park of American Samoa is a national park on the American territory of American Samoa, distributed across three separate islands: Tutuila, Ofu-Olosega, and Ta‘ū. The park includes coral reefs and rain forest and is popular for hiking, snorkeling, and scuba diving, although the primary purpose of the park is that of preservation of Samoa's unique natural resources. Of the park's 10,500 acres (4,200 ha), 7,970 acres (3,230 ha) is land and 2,550 acres (1,030 ha) is water. It is the only American national park south of the equator (read further).

Northern Ireland - Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast (2)

Giant's Causeway, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Sent by Claudia, a WiP partner from Ireland.

China - Nanyang - Wuhou Memorial Temple

Wuhou Memorial Temple at Nanyang, China.

Sent by Aaron, a postcrosser from Yunnan, China.

Austria - National Flower - Edelweiss (Leonopodium alpinum)

EDELWEISS (leontopodium alpinum). This flower is the national flower of Austria.

Sent by Claudia, a postcrosser from Austria.

This is from Wikipedia : Edelweiss i/ˈeɪdəlvaɪs/, Leontopodium alpinum, is a well-known European mountain flower, belonging to the sunflower family.

The common name comes from German edel, meaning "noble", and weiß (also spelled weiss) "white", thus signifying "noble whiteness".

The scientific name Leontopodium is a Latin adaptation of Greek leontopódion (λεοντοπόδιον) "lion's paw", from léōn "lion" and pódion "foot" (diminutive of poús, podós "foot").

The Romanian name, floarea reginei, means "Queen's flower". Also, another common name is floare de colţ which means "mountain flower".

The Persian name is gol-e-yax, which translates as "ice flower"

Leaves and flowers are covered with white hairs and appear woolly (tomentose). Flowering stalks of Edelweiss can grow to a size of 3–20 cm (in cultivation, up to 40 cm). Each bloom consisting of five to six small yellow flower heads (5 mm) surrounded by bracts in star formation. The flowers are in bloom between July and September.

Australia - Great Barrier Reef (2)

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, it is home to over 1500 species of fish and 400 types of coral.

Sent by Barbara, a postcrosser from Australia.

This is from UNESCO : The Great Barrier Reef is a site of remarkable variety and beauty on the north-east coast of Australia. It the world's most extensive stretch of coral reef and is probably the richest area in terms of faunal diversity in the world. Its great diversity reflects the maturity of an ecosystem which has evolved over millions of years on the north-east continental shelf of Australia. The site contains a huge diversity of species including over 1,500 species of fish, about 360 species of hard coral, 5,000 species of mollusc, and more than 175 species of bird, plus a great diversity of sponges, anemones, marine worms and crustaceans, among others.

The reef system, extending to Papua New Guinea, the reef comprises some 2900 individual reefs of all sizes and shapes covering more than 20,000 km2, including 760 fringing reefs, which range in size from under 1ha to over 10,000 ha and vary in shape to provide the most spectacular marine scenery on Earth. There are approximately 600 continental islands including many with towering forests and freshwater streams, and some 300 coral cays and unvegetated sand cays. A rich variety of landscapes and seascapes, including rugged mountains with dense and diverse vegetation and adjacent fringing reefs, provide spectacular scenery.

The form and structure of the individual reefs show great variety. Two main classes may be defined: platform or patch reefs, resulting from radial growth; and wall reefs, resulting from elongated growth, often in areas of strong water currents. There are also many fringing reefs where the reef growth is established on subtidal rock of the mainland coast or continental islands.

The site includes major feeding grounds for the endangered dugong and nesting grounds of world significance for two endangered species of marine turtle, the green and the loggerhead, as well as habitat for four other species of marine turtle; given the severe pressures being placed on these species elsewhere, the Great Barrier Reef may be their last secure stronghold. It is also an important breeding area for humpback and other whale species.

A wide range of fleshy algae occurs, many of which are small and inconspicuous but which are highly productive and are heavily grazed by turtles, fish, molluscs and sea urchins. In addition, algae are an important component of reef building processes. 15 species of seagrass grow throughout the reef area forming over 3,000 km2 of seagrass meadows and providing an important food source for grazing animals, such as dugongs.

The Great Barrier Reef, and in particular the northern sector, is important in the historic and contemporary culture of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups of the coastal areas of north-east Australia. This contemporary use of and association with the Marine Park plays an important role in the maintenance of their cultures and there is a strong spiritual connection with the ocean and its inhabitants.

Easter Island (2)

RAPA NUI - ISLA DE PASCUA - CHILE
Caleta Hanga Hotuiti, Ahu Tongariki al amanecer.

Sent by my friend Hernán from Easter Island :)

This is from UNESCO : Rapa Nui contains one of the most remarkable cultural phenomena in the world. An artistic and architectural tradition of great power and imagination was developed by a society completely isolated from external cultural influences of any kind for over a millennium. The substantial remains of this culture blend with their natural surroundings to create an unparalleled cultural landscape.

The island was settled around AD 300 by Polynesians, probably from the Marquesas, who brought with them a wholly Stone Age society. All the cultural elements in Rapa Nui before the arrival of Europeans indicate that there were no other incoming groups. Between the 10th and 16th centuries the island community expanded steadily, settlements being set up along practically the entire coastline. The high cultural level of this society is best known from its monumental stone figures (moai ) and ceremonial shrines (ahu ); it is also noteworthy for a form of pictographic writing (rongo rongo ), so far undeciphered.

However, there was an economic and social crisis in the community in the 16th century, attributable to over-population and environmental deterioration. This resulted in the population being divided into two separate groups of clans who were constantly involved in warfare. The warrior class that evolved from this situation gave rise to the so-called Birdman cult, based on the small islands offshore of Orongo, which superseded the statue-building religion and threw down most and slighted most of the moai and ahu.

On Easter Sunday 1722 Jacob Roggveen of the Dutch East India Company chanced upon the island and gave it its European name. It was annexed to Chile in 1888.

The most famous archaeological features of Rapa Nui are the moai, which are believed to represent sacred ancestors who watch over the villages and ceremonial areas. They range in height from 2 m to 20 m and are for the most part carved from the scoria, using simple picks (toli ) made from hard basalt and then lowered down the slopes into previously dug holes.

A number of moai are still in an uncompleted condition in the quarries, providing valuable information about the method of manufacture. Some have large cylindrical pieces of red stone known as pukao, extracted from the small volcano Punapao, as headdresses: these are believed to denote special ritual status. There is a clear stylistic evolution in the form and size of the moai, from the earlier small, round-headed and round-eyed figures to the best-known large, elongated figures with carefully carved fingers, nostrils, long ears, and other features.

The shrines (ahu) vary considerably in size and form. There are certain constant features, notably a raised rectangular platform of large worked stones filled with rubble, a ramp often paved with rounded beach pebbles, and levelled area in front of the platform. Some have moai on them, and there are tombs in a number of them in which skeletal remains have been discovered. The ahu are generally located on the coast and oriented parallel to it.

The Orongo ceremonial village, which was probably the centre of a complex of religious practices related to the Birdman cult, consists of over fifty semi-subterranean stone-houses built in contiguous groups, located on the rim of the Ran Kay crater below a towering cliff. There are abundant remains of the stone houses (hare) built by the earlier inhabitants of the island. The houses were raised on basalt foundation and form the nucleus for associated structures such as ovens or hearths, farm buildings and stone chicken houses. House groups sited near the coast are sometimes associated with round stone towers.

The nature of the geology of the island in such that are many caves (ana ) around the coast of the island, and these were used in the past by the islanders as temporary of permanent dwellings, being converted by the erection of stone walls at their mouths. A number of these contain wall paintings of deities, birds and fertility symbols.

Russia - Belgorod - Church of Georgiy Victorious and the Church of Belief

Church of Georgiy Victorious and the Church of Belief in Belgorod, Russia.

Sent by Dasha, a postcrosser from Belgorod, Russia.