Marine Life and Christmas from the Philippines

Here's another cover from the Philippines with marine life definitive stamps affixed on it.  The P1, P3, P5 and P7 stamps illustrate the Manta Ray (Manta birostris), the Striped Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus), the Sacoglossan Sea Slug (Cyerce nigricans) and the Lionfish (Pterois volitans) respectively.

The three P7 stamps, on the left and on the right of the envelope,  are on Christmas (Pasko in Filipino).  The first one depicts the Magi, also referred to as the (Three) Wise Men who were a group of distinguished foreigners who are said to have visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Teh second stamp represents the commonest scene of the Nativity: newly-born Jesus surrounded by Virgin mary and Joseph.

Kiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915 and having a current membership of 240 000 members (known as Kiwanians) in 7700 clubs in 80 nations.  The name "Kiwanis" was coined from an Otchipew American Indian expression, "Nunc Kee-wanis," which was originally translated as "We Build" which became the original motto of Kiwanis.  The current motto is "Serving the children of the world".  PhilPost issued this P7 in 2011 in honour of the Kiwanis Club of Manila. Thank you very much Ralph! -_-

Orangutan and Tigers from Malaysia

Orangutans are native to Indonesia and Malaysia and are currently found only in rainforests on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra.  The word orangutan means "man of the forest" in Malay.  They are among the most intelligent primates and use a variety of sophisticated tools, also making sleeping nests each night from branches and foliage.  Their hair is typically reddish-brown, instead of the brown or black hair typical of other great apes.  Habitat destruction due to logging, mining, forest fires and oil palm cultivation and illegal pet trade have caused these apes to become endangered.

SL franked his postcard with 2 superb stamps issued jointly by Malaysia and Korea on February 23, 2010.  The Malayan Tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) is an endangered species of tiger found in the southern and central parts of the Malay Peninsula.  The Korean Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) is also an endangered subspecies and is most commonly known as the Siberian Tiger.  Its population is scattered all over South East Russia, China and South Korea.  Thank you very much SL. 

African Fauna from the UK

I received this cover right from the UK on June 13, 2011, franked with a couple of WWF stamps.  They portray the renowned African Elephant and the critically endangered Mountain Gorilla.  Thx Nigel! :)

Cover from Marvejols, France

Marvejols is a commune in the Lozère department in Southern France.  This charming cover sent on May 28 last features a special heart-shaped postmark which reads: Languedoc-Roussillon comme j'aime (Languedoc-Roussillon how I like).  The customised stamp on the far right represents the Citadelle de Mont-Louis (Citadel of Mont-Louis) which is situated in the Pyrénées-Orientales department and the Languedoc-Roussillon region.

Festivals and Traditions of Our Regions - Blessing of the Sea

Soubeyran, the south gate

Skyscrapers of Dubai

Dubai is one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates and is world-famous for its towering buildings and is viewed as a global city and a business hub.  This woderful postcard shows several views of Dubai:

- Jumeirah Beach Hotel (left, up)

- Dubai skyline (left, down)

- Burj Khalifa (tallest building in the world since 2010/ 828 m/ middle)

- Dubai Marina (left, up & down)

Thx a lot Danny! :)  It's my first mail from the U.A.E.

150th Anniversary of Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce

The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (香港總商會) was founded in 1861.  It is a self-funding, non-profit organisation whose mission is to represent, safeguard trade, service and industry in Hong Kong.  It is the most international local business organisation, the largest and the most influential chamber of commerce in Hong Kong, with about 4.000 members including multi-national corporations, local companies and mainland companies. 

In this context, Hongkong Post issued a set of 4 stamps on May 26 last to commemorate this milestone.  In 1978, the first delegation of the HKGCC visited Mainland China to tap into its business opportunities, paving the way for Hong Kong's economic take-off.  The $5 stamp affixed on this envelope recounts the arrival of the delegation in Mainland China by train.  Thanks Trudy!  It's always a pleasure to receive your mails.  ;)

Yuyuan Garden in China

Yuyuan Garden (豫园) is located in the centre of the Old City in Shanghai and is considered one of the finest Chinese gardens in the region.  It is an excellent model of classical Chinese gardening architecture under state conservation.  It was built during the reign of Ming Emperor Jiajing (嘉靖 - 1559) as the private garden of Pan Yunduan, an administration commissioner of Sichuan Province.  With an area of over 2 hectares, the Garden is famous for a number of architectural marvels.

This postcard sent on May 15, 2011 portrays a tracery wall in front of the Yule Pavilion over a stream.  Thanks Danny...

History of Locomotives from Austria

Karl Gölsdorf (1861-1916) was an Austrian engineer and locomotive designer.  He invented numerous team locomotives, among which his Class 310 locomotive of 1911, a six-coupled express locomotive with a four-cylinder, superheated compound engine, which was one of the most elegant of its day and, since the reactivation of no 310.23 in 1986, currently the most well-known product of the Austrian design engineer.  Österreichische Post issued the stamp on the far right of this cover to commemorate the centenary of Gölsdorf's Class 310.
 

In 1885, was created the frontier railway. The € 0.65 stamp,  issued in 2010, has an impressive way to mark its 125 years.  Designed by Ernst Sladek, it shows both a historic steam locomotive of the past and a modern trains powered by today and reflects the history and development of the South Styrian frontier, southeast Austria, railway in an original visual language.
 

Thank you Florian!  :)

Cover from Turkey

Another mail from Turkey, but this time it's from Vural.  Thx a lot! :)  The 65 kurus stamp represents a single handle pitcher made of bronze while the 110 kurus stamp portrays a Saltanat Kayigi (barge in English).  This traditional Turkish barge forms part of the collection of the Istanbul Naval Museum.