Indonesia - Jakarta

Cultural and iconic elements of Jakarta; MONAS (National Monument, also known as Monumen Nasional), Tari Yapong (a traditional dance from Jakarta), Ondel-ondel (Betawi folk performance figures, an icon of Jakarta), Soto Betawi (a traditional soup from the Betawi people), and Istana Merdeka (the offical residence of the President of the Republic of Indonesia).

Sent by Restu from East Jakarta, Indonesia

Bicycle (74)

Children on bicycles in a traditional Chinese hutong, a type of narrow alley. The words in Chinese at the top are translated as "light big alley".

Sent by Judy from Taipei, Taiwan.

Bicycle (73)

Vibrant, pop-art style, abstract illustration of bicycles with the word "Amsterdam" on the left side.

Sent by Susanne from Lelystad, Netherlands.

Australia - New South Wales - Blue Mountains (2)

Sunset at Blue Mountains, New South Wales.

Sent by Maria from Australia.

The Blue Mountains (Gundungurra/Dharug: Colomatta or Gulumada) are a mountainous region and a mountain range located in New South Wales, Australia. The region is considered to be part of the western outskirts of the Greater Sydney area. The region borders on Sydney's main metropolitan area, its foothills starting about 50 kilometres (31 mi) west of centre of the state capital, close to Penrith. The public's understanding of the extent of the Blue Mountains is varied, as it forms only part of an extensive mountainous area associated with the Great Dividing Range. As defined in 1970, the Blue Mountains region is bounded by the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers in the east, the Coxs River and Lake Burragorang to the west and south, and the Wolgan and Colo rivers to the north. Geologically, it is situated in the central parts of the Sydney Basin.

The Blue Mountains Range comprises a range of mountains, plateau escarpments extending off the Great Dividing Range about 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) northwest of Wolgan Gap in a generally southeasterly direction for about 96 kilometres (60 mi), terminating at Emu Plains. For about two-thirds of its length it is traversed by the Great Western Highway, the Main Western railway line and the proposed Blue Mountains tunnel. Several established towns are situated on its heights, including Katoomba, Blackheath, Mount Victoria, and Springwood. The range forms the watershed between Coxs River to the south and the Grose and Wolgan rivers to the north. The range contains the Explorer Range and the Bell Range (read more).

Australia - New South Wales - Sydney Opera House (3)

NEW SOUTH WALES

Sydney Opera House at sunset.

Sent by Maria from Australia.

My other two postcards of Sydney Opera House are here, and here.

Australia - Western Australia - Bungle Bungle Range

Bungle Bungle Range, Western Australia.

The range remained largely unknown except by local Aboriginal people and stockmen until 1982 when film-makers arrived and produced a documentary about the Kimberley. The area was gazetted as a National Park in 1987 and was also inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Purnululu National Park in 2003.

Sent by Krystiina from NSW, Australia.

The Bungle Bungle Range is a major landform and the main feature of the Purnululu National Park, situated in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

The distinctive beehive-shaped towers are made up of sandstones and conglomerates (rocks composed mainly of pebbles and boulders and cemented together by finer material). These sedimentary formations were deposited into the Red Basin 275 to 250 million years ago, when active faults altered the landscape. The combined effects of wind from the Tanami Desert and rainfall over millions of years shaped the domes.

The range is found on the plains fringing the eastern Kimberley region. The ranges consist of stacks of ancient seabeds with layers of dolomite contained throughout them. A 7-kilometre (4.3 mi) diameter circular topographic feature is clearly visible on satellite images of the Bungle Bungle Range. It is believed that this feature is the eroded remnant of a very ancient meteorite impact crater and is known as the Piccaninny crater (read more).

Australia - Northern Territory - Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (2)

Uluru.

Sent by Ros from Tasmania, Australia.

Uluru (/ˌuːləˈruː/; Pitjantjatjara: Uluṟu [ˈʊlʊɻʊ]), also known as Ayers Rock (/ˈɛərz/ AIRS) and officially gazetted as Uluru / Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone monolith. It crops out near the centre of Australia in the southern part of the Northern Territory, 335 km (208 mi) south-west of Alice Springs.

Uluru is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara, the Aboriginal people of the area, known as the Aṉangu. The area around the formation is home to an abundance of springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings. Uluru is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Uluru and Kata Tjuta (also known as the Olgas) are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park.

Uluru is one of Australia's most recognisable natural landmarks and has been a popular destination for tourists since the late 1930s. It is also one of the most important indigenous sites in Australia (read more).

Navajo Textiles / Weaving

NAVAJO TEXTILES 

Ganado, Hubbell Revival Style Tapestry, 1970.

Sent by Ken from South Carolina, USA.

Navajo weaving (Navajo: diyogí) are textiles produced by Navajo people, who are based near the Four Corners area of the United States. Navajo textiles are highly regarded and have been sought after as trade items for more than 150 years. Commercial production of handwoven blankets and rugs has been an important element of the Navajo economy. As one art historian wrote, "Classic Navajo serapes at their finest equal the delicacy and sophistication of any pre-mechanical loom-woven textile in the world."

Navajo textiles were originally utilitarian weavings, including cloaks, dresses, saddle blankets, and similar items. By the mid-19th century, Navajo wearing blankets were trade items prized by Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains and neighboring tribes. Toward the end of the 19th century, Navajo weavers began to make rugs for non-Native tourists and for export.

Earlier Navajo textiles have strong geometric patterns. They are a flat tapestry-woven textile produced in a fashion similar to kilims of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, but with some notable differences. In Navajo weaving, the slit weave technique common in kilims is not used, and the warp is one continuous length of yarn, not extending beyond the weaving as fringe. Traders from the late 19th and early 20th century encouraged adoption of some kilim motifs into Navajo designs. Textiles with representational imagery are called pictorial. Today, Navajo weavers work in a wide range of styles from geometric abstraction and representationalism to biomorphic abstraction and use a range of natural undyed sheep wool, natural dyes, and commercial dyes (read more).

India - Uttar Pradesh - 2025 Prayag Maha Kumbh Mela

Aerial view of Triveni Sangam on Makar Sakranti 2025 (14th January 2025). In every 12 years as per the orbital movement of Jupiter kumbh is organised wherein Hindus from all over the world reach prayagraj and take a dip in the sangam of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati Mata confluence or sangam.

Sent by Neeraj from India.

Kumbh Mela (the festival of the sacred Pitcher) is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth, during which participants bathe or take a dip in a sacred river. Devotees believe that by bathing in the Ganges one is freed from sins liberating her/him from the cycle of birth and death. Millions of people reach the place without any invitation. The congregation includes ascetics, saints, sadhus, aspirants-kalpavasis and visitors. The festival is held at Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik every four years by rotation and is attended by millions of people irrespective of caste, creed or gender. Its primary bearers, however, belong to akhadas and ashrams, religious organizations, or are individuals living on alms. Kumbh Mela plays a central spiritual role in the country, exerting a mesmeric influence on ordinary Indians. The event encapsulates the science of astronomy, astrology, spirituality, ritualistic traditions, and social and cultural customs and practices, making it extremely rich in knowledge. As it is held in four different cities in India, it involves different social and cultural activities, making this a culturally diverse festival. Knowledge and skills related to the tradition are transmitted through ancient religious manuscripts, oral traditions, historical travelogues and texts produced by eminent historians. However, the teacher-student relationship of the sadhus in the ashrams and akhadas remains the most important method of imparting and safeguarding knowledge and skills relating to Kumbh Mela (read more).

South Korea - Gyeongbokgung Palace

Gwanghwamun, the main and largest gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, South Korea.

Sent by Brian from Goyang City, South Korea.

Built in 1395 under the reign of King Taejo, the first king of the Joseon dynasty, Gwanghwamun Gate is the southern gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is also the main gate of the palace, therefore larger and fancier in comparison to the other gates. Gwanghwamun Gate consists of three arched gates; the center gate was used by the king, while the other two were used by the crown prince and royal officials. The tall granite walls of the gate serve as a platform for the wooden gate tower that watches over the city. The gate has a sign with its name written at the top center of the gate tower.

Gwanghwamun Gate went through several damages and restorations over the course of history. It was first severely damaged during the Imjin War (1592-1598) and was not restored until the reconstruction of Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1864. Under the Japanese administration, the gate was demolished and relocated to the north of the palace's eastern gate, followed by series of damages during the Korean War (1950-1953). In 1968, Gwanghwamun Gate was relocated back to the south of the palace and was rebuilt using concrete; however, the gate’s position was shifted a few meters away from its original location. In 2006, a major reconstruction project took place to restore Gwanghwamun Gate to its original state and location, disassembling the structure completely and replacing concrete with granite and wood. After three years and eight months of construction, Gwanghwamun Gate was fully restored to its original form and was open to the public on August 15, 2010 (read more).

South Korea - Culture of Jeju Haenyeo (women divers)

Haenyeo (also spelled haenyo) (Korean: 해녀; lit. sea women), are female divers in the South Korean province of Jeju, whose livelihood consists of harvesting a variety of mollusks, seaweed, and other sea life from the ocean. Known for their independent spirit, iron will and determination, haenyeo are representative of the semi-matriarchal family structure of Jeju.

Sent by Younjeong(윤정/允貞) from Cheonan, South Korea.

In Jeju Island, there is a community of women, some aged in their 80s, which goes diving 10m under the sea to gather shellfish, such as abalone or sea urchins for a living without the help of oxygen masks. With knowledge of the sea and marine life, the Jeju haenyeo (female divers) harvest for up to seven hours a day, 90 days of the year holding their breath for just one minute for every dive and making a unique verbal sound when resurfacing. Divers are categorised into three groups according to level of experience: hagun, junggun and sanggun with the sanggun offering guidance to the others. Before a dive, prayers are said to the Jamsugut, goddess of the sea, to ask for safety and an abundant catch. Knowledge is passed down to younger generations in families, schools, local fishery cooperatives which have the area’s fishing rights, haenyeo associations, The Haenyeo School and Haenyeo Museum. Designated by the provincial government as representating the island’s character and people’s spirit, the culture of Jeju haenyeo has also contributed to the advancement of women’s status in the community and promoted environmental sustainability with its eco-friendly methods and community involvement in management of fishing practices (read more).

China/Japan/Hong Kong - Paper Crafting Technique

Paper Crafting Technique.

Paper crafting as Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) involves traditional skills to create ceremonial objects, art, and daily items, seen in UNESCO-recognized crafts like Xuan paper making (China) and Japanese gold leaf (kinpaku), and in Hong Kong's folk paper crafts (lanterns, fa pau). These techniques use natural materials (bamboo, mulberry, rice straw) and complex steps (steeping, beating, mounting, painting) to preserve cultural identity, spiritual practices, and artistic expression, though facing challenges from modernization. 

Sent by Liu from Shanghai, China.

Mercedes-Benz W123 200 Sedan

The W123 200 Sedan.

Sent by Thomas from Haltern am See, Germany.

The Mercedes-Benz W123 is a range of executive cars produced by German manufacturer Mercedes-Benz from November 1975 to January 1986. The W123 models surpassed their predecessor, the Mercedes-Benz W114, as the most successful Mercedes-Benz, selling 2.7 million units before production ended in the autumn of 1985 for the saloon/sedan versions and January 1986 for coupés and estates/station wagons.

Following a slow production build-up during the first year, customers who placed their orders faced a lengthy waiting period of nine to twelve months. A black market emerged for the customers who were willing to pay more for immediate delivery. The slightly used W123 commanded about 5,000 Deutsche Mark premium over its original sale price (read more).

Harp Seal Pup

Harp seal pup also known as a "whitecoat". Newborn hap seals have a thick, fluffy white coat that helps them trap heat from the sunlight in their cold Arctic environment.

Sent by Michaela from Wegberg, Germany.

The harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus), also known as the saddleback seal or Greenland seal, is a species of earless seal, or true seal, native to the northernmost Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Ocean. Originally in the genus Phoca with a number of other species, it was reclassified into the monotypic genus Pagophilus in 1844. In Greek, its scientific name translates to "Greenlandic ice-lover", and its taxonomic synonym, Phoca groenlandica translates to "Greenlandic seal". This is the only species in the genus Pagophilus.

The mature harp seal has pure black eyes. It has a silver-grey fur covering its body, with black harp- or wishbone-shaped markings dorsally, accounting for its common name. Adult harp seals grow to be 1.7 to 2.0 m (5 ft 7 in to 6 ft 7 in) long and weigh from 115 to 140 kg (254 to 309 lb). The harp seal pup has a white coat for the first 2–3 weeks until the first moult, when it is replaced by a black-dotted silver to grey coat. Pups acquire their characteristic pattern once they near sexual maturity. In males, the transition to the harp-pattern tends to be abrupt, while in females it may be gradual and span years. Some females may never lose all their spots or not fully develop the harp-pattern. Harp seals show little sexual dimorphism in size, with males being slightly larger (read more).

Sweden - Uppsala

An aerial view of Uppsala, a city in Sweden, with prominent view of Uppsala Cathedral.

Sent by Gerd from Roackanje, Netherlands.

Uppsala (/ʌpˈsɑːlə/ up-SAH-lə; Swedish: [ˈɵ̂pːˌsɑːla]; archaically spelled Upsala) is the capital of Uppsala County and the fourth-largest city in Sweden, after Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö. It had 177,074 inhabitants in 2019.

Located 71 km (44 mi) north of the capital Stockholm, it is also the seat of Uppsala Municipality. Since 1164, Uppsala has been the ecclesiastical centre of Sweden, being the seat of the Archbishop of the Church of Sweden. Uppsala is home to Scandinavia's largest cathedral – Uppsala Cathedral, which was the frequent site of the coronation of the Swedish monarch until the late 19th century (read more).

Taiwan - Taipei - Making Dumplings / Dim Sum at Night Market

Night Market, Taipei.

With his full attention, the chef of Dim sum is the beat leadung actor in the market.

Sent by Patricia Wu from Taiwan.

Dim sum (traditional Chinese: 點心; simplified Chinese: 点心; pinyin: diǎn xīn; Jyutping: dim2 sam1) is a large range of small Chinese dishes that are traditionally enjoyed in restaurants for brunch. Most modern dim sum dishes are commonly associated with Cantonese cuisine, although dim sum dishes also exist in other Chinese cuisines. In the tenth century, when the city of Canton (Guangzhou) began to experience an increase in commercial travel, many frequented teahouses for small-portion meals with tea called "yum cha" (brunch). "Yum cha" includes two related concepts. The first is "jat zung loeng gin" (Chinese: 一盅兩件), which translates literally as "one cup, two pieces". This refers to the custom of serving teahouse customers two delicately made food items, savory or sweet, to complement their tea. The second is dim sum, which translates literally to "touch the heart", the term used to designate the small food items that accompanied the tea (read more).

Gorch Fock (1933)

Gorch Fock

Sent by Iris from Eutin, Germany.

Gorch Fock I (ex Tovarishch, ex Gorch Fock) is a German three-mast barque, the first of a series built as school ships for the German Reichsmarine in 1933.

After World War II she was taken as war reparations by the Soviet Union and renamed Tovarishch. In the 1990s she spent a short period under the Ukrainian flag and a prolonged stay in British ports due to lack of funds for necessary repairs.

After being acquired by sponsors, she sailed to her original home port of Stralsund where her original name of Gorch Fock was restored on 29 November 2003. She now serves as a museum ship, and extensive repairs were carried out in 2008.

In 1958 the Federal German government built a replacement training ship which is still in service, also named Gorch Fock (read more).

Slovenia - Ljubljana (4)

A scenic view of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovania. It is situated on a natural crossroad from Central Europe to the Mediterranean and the Balkan Peninsula. The city is known for its green areas, the Ljubljana River, and its historic castle perched atop a hill.

Sent by Nuša from Grosuplje, Slovenia.

My other Ljubljana postcards are here, here, and here.

Slovenia - Piran (3)

An aerial view of the coastal town of Piran, Slovenia. Piran is a picturesque town located on the Adriatic Sea coast. It is known for its Venetian-style architecture, rich history, and narrow street. The town flourished through salt trade and is a popular tourist destination.

Sent by Neset who lives near Piran, Slovenia.

My other postcards of Piran are here and here.

Cross Country Class 221 Voyager Train

Cross Country Class 221 Voyager Train.

Sent by Liesbeth from Groningen Netherlands.

The British Rail Class 221 Super Voyager is a class of tilting diesel-electric multiple unit express passenger trains built in Bruges, Belgium and Wakefield, by Bombardier Transportation in 2001–02.

The class is similar to the Class 220 Voyager, but was built with a tilting mechanism enabling up to six degrees of tilt to allow higher speeds on curved tracks. Additionally, most have five coaches, and they have a different bogie design. They have a maximum speed of 125 mph (200 km/h).

The trains are divided between two operators, CrossCountry (25 sets) and Grand Central (two sets). CrossCountry sets had their tilt function disabled in 2008 to improve reliability and reduce maintenance costs, and Grand Central sets do not use theirs, although they remain in place. There are also a number of additional sets in storage, having been stood down from Avanti West Coast in December 2024 (read more).