USA - Zion National Park

Thanks to postcrosser Nels for the card.

"Zion National Park is located in the Southwestern United States, near Springdale, Utah. A prominent feature of the 229-square-mile (590 km2) park is Zion Canyon, which is 15 miles (24 km) long and up to half a mile (800 m) deep, cut through the reddish and tan-colored Navajo Sandstone by the North Fork of the Virgin River."

CHRISTMAS ISLAND - Hughs Dale

Today, only one card arrived in my mailbox and it's from Christmas Island, marked as island at #150. This postcard is from Jahna who works in tourism industry.  Thank you for my first card from the island.

"The Territory of Christmas Island is a territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean, composed of one island. It has a population of 2,072 residents who live in a number of "settlement areas" on the northern tip of the island: Flying Fish Cove (also known as Kampong), Silver City, Poon Saan, and Drumsite. The majority of the population are Chinese Australian. It was named "Christmas Island" because it was discovered on Christmas Day (25 December 1643).

The Dales form a wetland site at the western end of Christmas Island, The site comprises a system of seven watercourses within the Christmas Island National Park, including permanent and perennial streams, permanent springs, the Hugh's Dale waterfall, and most of the surface water on the island. The site is set within tropical rainforest and adjoins the coast. The streams originate from groundwater seepages and flow into the ocean having, over time, worn gullies into the coastal cliffs. It was designated on 21 October 2002 as Ramsar Site 1225, and is the first Australian Ramsar site to contain both surface and subterranean karst features. Area of Ramsar site is about 57 ha. Interesting geological features of the Dales are travertine and rimstone formations of Hugh's Dale."

MONGOLIA - Khar Lake, Zavkhan

Mongolia offer such a fascinating nature and beauty scenery. Thanks Andrew for another glimpse of Mongolia.

"Khar Lake (Mongolian: Хар нуур, lit. "black lake") is located in the Zavkhan aimag (province) in western Mongolia. Khar Lake occupies a dale in the Khangai Mountains to the East from the Great Lakes Depression."

REUNION - Le Cirque de Salazie Trou de Fer

Thanks to Virginie for the wonderful card of Trou de Fer, Salazie.

"The Trou de Fer ("Iron Hole") is a canyon on Reunion Island, off the coast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The primary river flowing through the gorge, which is up to 300 m (1,000 ft) deep, is the Bras de Caverne River, a tributary of the Rivière du Mât. The canyon has two distinct parts: a large crater, which is fed by six prominent waterfalls, and a narrow slot canyon at its outlet, which constitutes most of the canyon's length. The canyon starts at the waterfall of the Bras Mazerine stream and after some 1.4 - 1.8 km from the left side joins the main Bras de Caverne stream. The Bras de Caverne River enters the canyon with a waterfall about 200 m (660 ft) high. This drop is usually dry or has very little water, but between that and the next, 180-metre (590 ft) drop, springs feed the river, which drops over this then drops over a final 300-metre (1,000 ft) undercut cliff into the Trou de Fer in a narrow plume of water."

INDONESIA - Paddy field,Sumedang, West Jawa

I love paddy fields. It was one of my favorite places to visit. My sister built her kampung house in paddy field, it was a peaceful view.  And this card was from Herlina, thank you.

"Sumedang (former official name: Soemedang) is a town in West Java, Indonesia, approximately 46 km northeast of Bandung. It is the capital of Sumedang Regency. The town is just south of the volcanic Mount Tampomas, which is 1,684 m high and is usually climbed from the subdistrict of Cimalaka, 7 km from Sumedang."

NETHERLANDS - The Roos, Delft

Information at the back of the card:
Cornmill/Korenmole De Roos
Originally from 1679, restored 1990
Part of old defensive wall
Working in summer on Saturdays

Thanks to postcrosser Evelien for the card.

"The Roos (Delft)/The Rose is the last remaining mill of the fifteen windmills that ever on the ramparts of Delft stood. The mill served as a corn mill and was still running regularly until the end of 2009."

BRAZIL - Cover

THAILAND - Temple/Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Ayutthaya

Beautiful Ayutthaya card with matching stamp, thanks to postcrosser Jirat.

"Wat Chaiwatthanaram (Thai: วัดไชยวัฒนาราม) is a Buddhist temple in the city of Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand, on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, outside Ayutthaya island. It is one of Ayutthaya's best known temples and a major tourist attraction.

The temple was constructed in 1630 by the king Prasat Thong as the first temple of his reign, as a memorial of his mother's residence in that area. The temple's name literally means the Temple of long reign and glorious era. It was designed in Khmer style, which was popular in that time."

JAPAN

Thanks to postcrosser Yaya from China for a card from her vacation in Japan.

CHINA

Thanks to postcrosser Yinying for the card.

TAIWAN - Kenting

Thanks to postcrosser Chia for the card.

"The Kenting National Park (sometimes Kending) is a national park located in the Hengchun Peninsula of Pingtung County, Taiwan, covering Hengchun, Checheng, and Manzhou Townships. Established on January 1, 1984, it is Taiwan's oldest and southernmost national park, covering the southernmost area of the Taiwan island along Bashi Channel. Administered by the Executive Yuan's Ministry of the Interior, this national park is well known for its tropical climate and sunshine, scenic mountain and beach, the Spring Scream rock-band festival held in every March, and has long been one of the most favorite resort places in Taiwan."

SLOVENIA - castle of Ljubljana

Thanks to postcrosser Anita for the card.

"Ljubljana Castle is a castle complex standing on Castle Hill above the downtown of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. It is a key element of the Ljubljana skyline. Originally a Medieval fortress, probably built in the 11th century and rebuilt in the 12th century, it acquired its present outline with an almost complete overhaul in the 15th century, whereas the majority of the buildings date to the 16th and 17th centuries. At first a defense structure and since the first half of the 14th century the seat of the lords of Carniola, it was since the early 19th century used as a penitentiary, then in the first half of the 20th century as a residential complex and in the latest times as a tourist attraction and a major cultural venue."

SLOVENIA - Cover

USA - Ferris Wheel

Thanks to postcrosser Tanya for the card.

FINLAND - Water colour by Toivo Salervo

Kuusela Farm at Evijarvi decorated for Midsummer.

Water color by Toivo Salervo 1918.

Thanks to postcrosser Eeva for the card.

NORTH KOREA - Be good at land management

Heyy... look at what I found in my mailbox today!.  My first written card from North Korea (..smile... a long smirky smile...)  From uritours, I remember giving my address last year when they offer North Korea's postcard for a limited time.  By the time I submit my address they informed that the country is closed for tourism but once it re-opens in the new year they will send again.  And I think, my chances are slim.  But hey, who would know the future, right!

The card was mail on April 25, 2015, travelling for almost 5 months! And I'm just glad it finally arrived.  North Korea make to the list as country #149.

The caption reads, "Let's convert our whole country into green Mountains and fields! To Do that, let's be good at land management."

"North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK; Chosŏn'gŭl: 조선민주주의인민공화국; hancha: 朝鮮民主主義人民共和國), is a country in East Asia, in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. The name Korea is derived from the Kingdom of Goryeo, also spelled as Koryŏ. The capital and largest city is Pyongyang. North Korea shares a land border with China to the north and north-west, along the Amnok (Yalu) and Tumen rivers, and a small section of the Tumen River also forms a border with Russia to the north-east. The Korean Demilitarized Zone marks the de facto boundary between North Korea and South Korea. The legitimacy of this border is not accepted by either side, as both states claim to be the legitimate government of the entire peninsula. 

The Empire of Japan annexed Korea in 1910. After the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II in 1945, Korea was divided into two zones by the United States and the Soviet Union, with the north occupied by the Soviets and the south by the Americans. Negotiations on reunification failed, and in 1948 two separate governments were formed: the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north, and the Republic of Korea in the south. These conflicting claims of sovereignty led to the Korean War (1950–53). Although the Korean Armistice Agreement brought about a ceasefire, no official peace treaty was ever signed. Both states were accepted into the United Nations in 1991."

I love this stamp, the color is so lovely.  Issued in 2006 in a set of 8 stamps featuring Mountain Kumgang Scenery MNH VERY BEAUTIFUL.

NORFOLK ISLAND - There's More to Norfolk Island

After a week of empty mailbox, today my mailbox is all smiles with 10 cards and 2 envelopes. This is my 3rd card from Norfolk Island, thanks to Kristie who works in tourism industry.

UZBEKISTAN - Nature of Uzbekistan

Such a beautiful view of Uzbekistan, thanks to Ana for the swap.

UZBEKISTAN - Khiva

Another card from Uzbekistan, thanks to Mike for this wonderful view of Itchan Kala in Khiva.

"Itchan Kala (Persian: ایچان قلعه‎) is the walled inner town of the city of Khiva, Uzbekistan. Since 1990, it has been protected as a World Heritage Site. The old town retains more than 50 historic monuments and 250 old houses, dating primarily from the eighteenth or nineteenth centuries. Djuma Mosque, for instance, was established in the tenth century and rebuilt from 1788 to 1789, although its celebrated hypostyle hall still retains 112 columns taken from ancient structures.

The most spectacular features of Itchan Kala are its crenellated brick walls and four gates, one at each side of the rectangular fortress. Although the foundations are believed to have been laid in the tenth century, present-day 10-meters-high walls were erected mostly in the late seventeenth century and later repaired."

TEXAS - Austin

Thanks to postcrosser Karen for the card.

"Austin is the capital of the US state of Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas, Austin is the 11th-most populous city in the United States and the fourth-most populous city in Texas and in the American South. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in the nation from 2000 to 2006. Austin is also the second largest state capital in the United States, after Phoenix, Arizona. As of July 1, 2014, Austin had a population of 912,791.  Residents of Austin are known as Austinites. "

SLOVAKIA - Bratislava

Castle and St Martin's Cathedral towering 85m above the Old Town of Bratislava.  Thanks to Gala for the nice card and stamps.

"Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia, and with a population of about 500,000, the country's largest city. While its metropolitan area is home to more than 650,000 people. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia, occupying both banks of the River Danube and the left bank of the River Morava. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries."

ENGLAND - Watts Chapel in Compton.

This postcard shows Watts Chapel in Compton, a tiny village 35 miles from London. Thanks to postcrosser Mei.

Watts Chapel - Created by Mary Watts

(1849 - 1938) between 1894 - 1904.  

"The Watts Mortuary Chapel (locally known as Watts Cemetery Chapel) is a Gothic Revival chapel and mortuary located in the village of Compton in Surrey. It is a Grade I listed building.

When Compton Parish Council created a new cemetery, local resident artist Mary Fraser-Tytler, the wife of Victorian era painter and sculptor George Frederic Watts, offered to design and build a new mortuary chapel. Tytler was a follower of the Home Arts and Industries Association, set up by Earl Brownlow in 1885 to encourage handicrafts among the lower classes, and the chapel was the Watts's contribution to this characteristically Victorian preoccupation with social improvement through creative enlightenment."

TAIWAN - Neiwan Theater, Hsinchu Country

Thanks to postcrosser Ya-chi for the card.

"Neiwan Theater is the only two- story movies theater, made of wood completely in Taiwan. It has been rebuilt since abandoned many years ago. Now it is a multiple restaurant where people can enjoy Hakka gourmandize and appreciate old movies. Neiwan Theater.

Neiwan is a good land with simple and hospitable people, delicious Hakka food and wonderful scenery, just like a paradise where we can get relief from reality and enjoy ourselves in the wonderful landscape."

NETHERLANDS - Groningen Big Market (Central Market Square)

The card shows an old photo of Groningen square before the second world war (after the final battle, the right side was destroyed).  Thanks to postcrosser Tamara for the great information and card.

"Groningen is the main municipality as well as the capital city of the eponymous province in the Netherlands. With a population of 197,823 (in 2014), it is the largest city in the north of the Netherlands. An old city, Groningen was the regional power of the northern Netherlands, a semi-independent city-state and member of the German Hanseatic League. Groningen is a university city: it houses the University of Groningen (about 28,000 students) and the Hanze University of Applied Sciences (about 25,000 students)."

NETHERLANDS - Vintage card

Thanks to postcrosser Mirre for the card.

USA - Mailbox Day

Thanks to postcrosser David for the card.