Pipa on Hong Kong Postcard

Here's another beautiful postcard from Kun.  It portrays a young lady playing the pipa.  The pipa, also known as the Chinese lute, is a four-stringed traditional Chinese musical instrument.  It has a pear-shaped wooden body and a varying number of frets ranging from 12 to 26.  It belongs to the plucked category of instruments and has been played for almost two thousands years in China.

Kun kindly affixed the $3 stamp from the Museums Collection series, with First Day Cancellation (06 December 2011).  The stamp represents a Green Glazed Barrel for herbal tea, displayed at Dr. & Mrs. Hung Hin Shiu Museum of Chinese Medicine, located in Kowloon.  Thank you very much Kun! =)

Mailing date: 06 December 2011

Delivery date: 24 December 2011

Banjo on Hong Kong Postcard

Kun mailed me this lovely postcard from the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong.  It portrays a lady dressed in traditional Chinese costume, playing what looks like a banjo, with a traditional garden in the background.  Thanks a lot Kun! =)

Kun used the $2.40 stamp from the 'Centenary of the Xinhai Revolution' series, with a newspaper-like layout and released on October 10, 2011.  The 1911 nationwide Xinhai Revolution overthrew China's last  imperial dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, bringing an end to thousands of years of dynastic rule in China.  The Republic of China was thus established.

Kun also affixed two stamps from the 2006 Birds definitive set: 10¢ White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) and 50¢ Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus).

Mailing date: 02 DEC 2011

Delivery date: 13 DEC 2011

Happy Year of the Dragon!

I wish you all a very joyful and prosperous Year of the Dragon! :)

In traditional Chinese culture, the Dragon is an auspicious, mythical creature incarnated as an emperor, representing supreme power and commanding great respect.  It is believed that people born in the Year of the Dragon are confident, courageous and clever.

I seize this occasion to present the Year of the Dragon covers I received:

Chunghwa Post issued on December 1, 2011 (year 100) a set of 2 stamps and a souvenir sheet to commemorate the Lunar New Year.  Thank you James for the interesting FDC above. (=

The NT$3.50 stamp represents a pair of dragons staring into each other’s eyes, thus conveying the idea of “belonging to each other” and symbolizing that “all one’s wishes will come true.” 

In the NT$13.00 stamp, the image of this dragon holding its head up high and ready to spring into action represents “pride” and symbolizes “joy and good health.”

Finally we have this nice FDC which I bought on January 9, 2012 in Hong Kong.  Unfortunately the stamps were to be released only on January 14...  so couldn't affix them on the cover.

Mailing date: December 1, 2011 (Taiwan)
Delivery date: December 12, 2011

Chinese Idioms from Hong Kong

A Chinese idiom (Chengyu, 成语) is a traditional expression, most of which consist of 4 characters.  There are about 5000 Chinese idioms and their meanings usually surpass the sum of the meanings carried by the four characters, as idioms are often intimately linked with the myth, story or historical fact from which they were derived.  As such, Chinese idioms do not follow the usual grammatical structure and syntax of the modern Chinese spoken language, and are instead highly compact and synthetic.

Hongkong Post released on June 28, 2011 a set of 5 stamps on 5 different Chengyu.  It's the $2,40 stamp which Trudy sent to me on this nice FDC with the First day cancellation.  The illustration on that stamp matches perfectly the idiom "Practice makes perfect", with that guy practising hard his calligraphy.

Trudy completed her postage with the White-bellied Sea Eagle and the Scarlet Minivet stamps from the 2006 definitive set.  Thank you! (:

Mailing date: 28 June 2011

Delivery date: 13 July 2011

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.  ;)

Green Living in Hong Kong

In order to promote the concept of 'Green Living', i.e. conserving energy and reducing emission so as to protect our home planet, Hongkong Post issued on April 14, 2011 a set of 4 stamps.  The $3 stamp above calls us to save energy.  In fact, there are numerous ways to save energy: turning on the lights only when needed, switching to energy-saving light bulbs and keeping the doors and windows closed when the air-conditioning is on are some examples.

The $1,40, $2,40 and $5 stamps are about Conserving Water, Cleaning Air and Recycling respectively.  It should be noted that the leaf-shaped design of the $5 stamp sheetlet, the first of its kind to be released by HK Post, echoes with the theme of green living and conveys the message of cherishing the Earth.  Special thanks to Trudy for this inspiring FDC.

10th Anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers in Hong Kong

The United Nations General Assembly declared 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers so as to celebrate volunteerism, a way to build respect, trust, understanding and solidarity between generations.  Hongkong Post has celebrated the 10th anniversary of this International Year of Volunteers with an issue, on March 29, 2011, of a series of four stamps.  Thank you Trudy for sending this cover with the heart-shaped first day of issue cancellation.

Centenary of Powered Flight in Hong Kong

On March 18, 1911, the Belgian flying pioneer Charles Van Der Born launched the first powered flight in hong Kong at Sha Tin, the New Territotries in a Farman biplane, indicating the beginning of Hong Kong's aviation history.  The stamp on the right captures the lift-off of the Farman biplane, witnessed by people watching from tidal flats and the one on the left represents a replica of the Farman biplane on display at the Passenger Terminal of the Hong Kong International Airport.

Special thanks to Trudy for this wonderful FDC!  (=

Year of the Rabbit in Hong Kong

The Lunar New Year is the most important Chinese festivity which follows a 12-year Chinese Zodiac cycle.  In traditional Chinese culture, the Rabbit is a symbol of agility and acuity.  People born in the Year of the Rabbit are said to be gentle, kind and quick-witted.

Thank you Trudy for this FDC featuring the 12th Lunar New Year special stamp issued , on the 22nd of January 2011, in the 3rd series by Hongkong Post.

Centenary of Railway Service in Hong Kong

In 2010, Hong Kong commemorated the centenary of its railway service.  In this context, Hongkong Post issued a set of 6 stamps, each picturing a different model of train, in order to mark this major milestone.  The  $2.50 stamp featured on this envelope depicts what is called 'tube' in London, or underground railway;  it is the most widely used train in Hong Kong.

The 50¢ stamp on the right, which forms part of the 2006 birds definitive issue, portrays a scarlet minivet.

Thanks a lot Trudy for my first cover from HK! (: