Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Thailand - Bangkok - Maha Nakhon Sky Walk (3)


King Power Maha Nakhon Sky Walk, Bangkok.

Sent by myself during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).


Thailand - Bangkok - Maha Nakhon Sky Walk (4)


King Power Maha Nakhon Sky Walk, Bangkok.

Sent by myself to my wife during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

Thailand - Bangkok - Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall


Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall at the Grand Palace in sunny day, Bangkok, Thailand.

Sent by myself during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

The Grand Palace complex is in the heart of Bangkok. The palace was the official residence of the Kings of Siam (and later Thailand) since 1782. The king, his court, and his royal government were based on the grounds of the palace until 1925. The Grand Palace is still used for official events. Several royal ceremonies and state functions are held within the walls of the palace every year. It is one of Bangkok’s busiest tourist spots, so let your guide show you the best way to enjoy your visit to this often-crowded place (read further).

Thailand - Phang Nga - Koh Tapu (James Bond Island)


Koh Tapu (James Bond Island) in Phang Nga, Thailand.

Sent by myself during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

Khao Phing Kan (Thaiเขาพิงกันpronounced [kʰǎw pʰīŋ kān]) or Ko Khao Phing Kan (เกาะเขาพิงกัน[kɔ̀ʔ kʰǎw pʰīŋ kān]), commonly known in English as James Bond Island, is an island in Thailand, in Phang Nga Bay northeast of Phuket. About 40 metres (130 ft) from the shores of Khao Phing Kan lies a 20-metre (66 ft) tall islet called Ko Ta Pu (เกาะตาปู[kɔ̀ʔ tāː pūː]) or Ko Tapu (เกาะตะปู[kɔ̀ʔ tā.pūː])(read further).

Thailand - Krabi - Railay Beach


A rock climber on limestone cave at sunset, Railay Beach in Krabi, Thailand.

Sent by myself during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

Railay (Thaiไร่เลย์pronounced [râj lēː]), also known as Rai Leh, is a small peninsula between the city of Krabi and Ao Nang in Thailand. It is accessible only by boat due to high limestone cliffs cutting off mainland access. These cliffs attract rock climbers from all over the world, but the area is also popular due to its beautiful beaches and quiet relaxing atmosphere. Accommodation ranges from bungalows and medium-priced resorts in East Railay to a collection of luxury resorts focused on West Railay, though one, Royavadee, spans both waterfronts and also has a beachfront restaurant at Ao Phra Nang. The four main areas of Railay consist of Phra Nang, West Railay, East Railay, and Ton Sai. Ton Sai caters to climbers and the backpacker set and is more rustic than the glitz of West Railay and the shops and restaurants of the East Railay boardwalk (read further).

Thailand - Chiang Mai - Mae Taman Elephant Camp


Fun time with elephants at Mae Taman Elephant Camp, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Sent by myself during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

Discover a simple beauty nature of Chiang Mai’s Countryside at Mae Taman Elephant Camp. At the camp, a total of 60 elephants, elephants’ routine and elephants’ abilities will be presented and then, enjoy an elephant ride through the lush green forest with the beautiful scenery of Mae Tang River together with experience on the ox-cart riding to one of the nearby village. The program at the camp will be ended with a traveling along Mae Tang River by the bamboo rafting in the sense of fresh air and sustainable living habitat along both sides of the river (read further).

Thailand - Bangkok - Wat Benchamabophit (The White Marble Temple)


Wat Benchamabophit (The White Marble Temple) in the sunshine, Bangkok, Thailand.

Sent by myself during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

Wat Benchamabophit (the Marble Temple) was designed by Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong. It typifies the impressive and orderly traditional Thai architecture. It is thus accepted as having the best architectural plan. The temple was built from marbles imported from Italy, and that is the reason why the temple is commonly known among foreign tourists as the Marble Temple. Significant Architectures within the Temple Phra Phuttha Chinnarat is a bronze replica of the original statue of the Sukhothai Period (1238-1438) which is still enshrined in Wat Phrasi Rattana Mahathat in Phitsanulok Province (read further). 

Thailand - Bangkok - Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho


The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho in Bangkok, Thailand.

Sent by myself during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

Wat Pho (Thaiวัดโพธิ์pronounced [wát pʰōː]), also spelled Wat Po, is a Buddhist temple complex in the Phra Nakhon DistrictBangkokThailand. It is on Rattanakosin Island, directly south of the Grand Palace. Known also as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, its official name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan. (read further).

Thailand - Loi Krathong Yi Peng Lantern Festival


Releasing lanterns into the sky to celebrate the Lai Krathong Yi Peng Festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Sent by myself during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

Loy Krathong and Yi Peng are Thai festivals that involve releasing lanterns and rafts into water or sky. They are celebrated around the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. 

Thailand - Bangkok - Wat Suthat Thepwararam


The giant swing in front of Wat Suthat Thepwararam, Bangkok.

Sent by myself during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

Wat Suthat Thepwararam, or Wat Suthat in short, is a first-class royal temple of the Ratchaworamahawihan type, one of only a few in Thailand. It is considered the temple of the reign of King Ananda Mahidol. It is a temple located in the inner city area and has a prominent structure, the Giant Swing, in front of the temple (read further).

Thailand - Bangkok - Tuk Tuk


Tuk Tuk - Three wheels opened-air taxi, Bangkok, Thailand.

Sent by myself to my wife during my trip to Bangkok (15th - 18th January 2025).

When thinking about Thailand, one of the first images that often comes to mind is the vibrant aside from the beautiful beaches are the bustling streets filled with the sounds and sights of tuk tuks weaving through traffic. These three-wheeled vehicles are more than just a mode of transportation; they are a symbol of Thai culture similar to their magnificent temples and other cultural attractions and are also considered as an iconic part of the country’s urban landscape. With their distinct design and the unique “tuk-tuk-tuk” sound of their engines, tuk tuks offer a quintessential Thai experience that combines practicality, tradition, and a touch of adventure (read further).


Monday, February 10, 2025

United Arab Emirates - Burj Khalifa (2)


Burj Khalifa, Cubai, United Arab Emirates.

Sent by Narj from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

My first postcard of Burj Khalifa is here.

United Arab Emirates - Racing Camels


Racing Camels.
Sent by Narj from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

If there’s one sporting event that surely sparks visitors’ curiosity and binds together the local people of UAE across all emirates, it is the traditional sport of camel racing.

There isn’t anything quite like watching trained race camels mounted with robotic jockeys race at speeds of around 65km an hour along the desert tracks (read further).


Laos - Town of Luang Prabang (2)


Buddha images at Vat Vixoun, Luang Prabang, LAO P.D.R.

Sent by myself. This postcard was written and stamped in Vientiane, but was postmarked in Luang Prabang. I met Edith, a German lady in Vientiane and she assisted me in mailing the postcard from Luang Prabang. Thanks Edith for the postmark of Luang Prabang.

My first postcard of  Town of Luang Prabang is here.

Laos - Town of Luang Prabang (1)


Vat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang - Laos.

Sent by myself to my wife. This postcard was written and stamped in Vientiane, but was postmarked in Luang Prabang. I met Edith, a German lady in Vientiane and she assisted me in mailing the postcard from Luang Prabang. Thanks Edith for the postmark of Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang is an outstanding example of the fusion of traditional architecture and Lao urban structures with those built by the European colonial authorities in the 19th and 20th centuries. Its unique, remarkably well-preserved townscape illustrates a key stage in the blending of these two distinct cultural traditions (read further).

Laos - National Flower - Frangipani


Dok Champa 1 (Frangipani Flower) - Lao's National Flower.

Sent by myself during my trip to Vientiane (12th - 15th January 2025). While the rest of the postcards were postmarked by at the counter of Vientiane Main Post Office, this one was dropped off at the street's mailbox in Vientiane. 

Dok Champa Flower can be seen almost in all wats and monasteries in Laos. You might not notice along with all the way traveling in Laos. This flower has become a Laotian national flower. Let’s find out what makes this flower more special than the other (read further).

Laos - Mapcard


LAOS MAP (main best site).

Sent by myself during my trip to Vientiane (12th - 15th January 2025). While the rest of the postcards were postmarked by at the counter of Vientiane Main Post Office, this one was dropped off at the street's mailbox in Vientiane. 

Brunei Darussalam - Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque


The largest and most magnificent mosque in Brunei, it was built to commemorate the 25th anniversary of His Majesty's reign. Its gold-topped domes tower over artfully landscaped gardens and fountains.

Sent by Valor Lim, from Kuala Belait, Brunei.

The Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque (MalayMasjid Omar Ali Saifuddien) or unofficially Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque (SOAS Mosque), is a mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of BruneiOmar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei, is credited with building the mosque, thus its name. It is one of the two state mosques (masjid negara), the other Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque. One of the biggest and most striking mosques in the Far East, it was completed in 1958 at a cost of $5 million USD. The Mughal architecture of India had a significant effect on the design (read further).


USA - Utah - Zion National Park (3)


RED ARCH MOUNTAIN
ZION NATIONAL PARK, UTAH
Gigantic red sandstone monument known as the Red Arch Mountain, towers above the meandering Virgin River.

Sent by CAJW from Texas, USA.

My other two Zion National Park postcards are here and here.


India - Tamil Nadu - Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram


VARAHA PANEL
MAHABALIPURAM

Sent by Sashreek from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

This group of sanctuaries, founded by the Pallava kings, was carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast in the 7th and 8th centuries. It is known especially for its rathas (temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries), giant open-air reliefs such as the famous 'Descent of the Ganges', and the temple of Rivage, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva (read further).

Canada - Alberta - Fort Chipewyan


Blueberry picking,
Fort Chipewyan, Alberta.

Sent by Mykalah from Alberta, Canada.

Fort Chipewyan /ˈɪpəwən, -pw-, ˈɪpəwən/, commonly referred to as Fort Chip, is an unincorporated hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada, within the Regional Municipality (RM) of Wood Buffalo (read further).

Maldives - Oblu-Helengeli


MALDIVES

Sent by myself during my trip to Maldives (8th - 11th December 2024). Reached my mailbox on 10th February 2025 (about 2 months). Apparently, other recipients of my postcards from Maldives receive theirs about a month ago. For the past two weeks, I have had heated arguments with Pos Malaysia about bad deliveres in my area.


James Dickson Innes's "Pembroke Coast"


JAMES DICKSON INNES (1887 - 1914)
"Pembroke Coast", Öl auf Holz, National Museum Wales.

Sent by Lili, a postcrosser from Münster, Germany.

This landscape of about 1911 depicts the cliffs at Stackpole Quay looking towards Caldey Island in South Pembrokeshire. It reveals Innes's landscape style at its closest to that of Augustus John, at the time when the two artists often painted together (source).

Bathing Beauty


Bathing Beauty.

Sent by Silvia, a postcrosser from Jüchen, Germany.

Bathing Beauty is a 1944 American musical romantic comedy film directed by George Sidney, and starring Red Skelton and Esther Williams (read further).

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Vatican City - Saint Peter's Basilica (2)


Saint Peter's Basilica.

This is my second postcard of Saint Peter's Basilica. My first is here.

Sent by Roberto, from Italy.