KAZAKHSTAN - Almaty Cathedral

A Russian Orthodox cathedral in Almaty, thanks to Adil for the card.

"The Ascension Cathedral (also known as Zenkov Cathedral) is a Russian Orthodox cathedral located in Panfilov Park in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Completed in 1907, the cathedral is made out of wood but without nails. Its height is 56 meters tall, and it's claimed to be the second tallest wooden building in the world"

KAZAKHSTAN - Old City View

This old (1982) postcard shows a view during Soviet Union times.  Great picture indeed.  Thanks to Curly for the card.

KAZAKHSTAN - Silk Way Shopping Centre

Happy mailbox today,
This card from Kazakhstan cames from Nadia, thank you.

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."

ARMENIA - S Zorats Cathedral

Many thanks to Katy of Georgia for sending me such a wonderful postcard and stamp from her trip in Armenia.

"S. Zorats cathedral or S. Stepanos, is considered a fine relic of medieval Armenia. was built in 1303 on a green hill east of the Yegheuis village.This church has no hall. It consists only of a central altar with a sacristy on each side. The faithful thus attended divine services in the open air.  The church has been extensively restored. Its name comes allegedly from the custom of consecrating arms and horses there before battle."

TURKMENISTAN - Modern Ashgabat

Yippee..my first card from Turkmenistan, country #145.  Kjersti wrote  in her card that Turkmenistan is one of the least visited countries in the world, but there is a lot of great things to see and do here.

Thanks a lot Kjersti for sending this card from your vacation. It sure looks like a nice place to visit.

"Ashgabat (Turkmen: Aşgabat,; Persian: اشک آباد‎; Russian: Ашхаба́д, tr. Ashkhabad]) between 1919 and 1927, is the capital and the largest city of Turkmenistan in Central Asia, situated between the Karakum Desert and the Kopet Dag mountain range. The 2001 census estimated a population of 695,300, while the 2009 census estimated a population of 1 million, primarily Turkmen people, with ethnic minorities of Russians, Armenians, and Azerbaijanis."

This card from Turkmenistan now completes the Central Asia part of my world collection!

KAZAKHSTAN

UZBEKISTAN - Khiva View

"Khiva (Uzbek: Xiva / Хива; Persian: خیوه / Khiveh‎; Russian: Хива; alternative or historical names include Khorasam, Khoresm, Khwarezm, Khwarizm, Khwarazm,Chorezm, and Persian: خوارزم‎) is a city of approximately 50,000 people located in Xorazm Province, Uzbekistan. According to archaeological data, the city was established in the beginning of the current era.[1] It is the former capital of Khwarezmia and the Khanate of Khiva. Itchan Kala in Khiva was the first site in Uzbekistan to be inscribed in the World Heritage List (1991)."

UZBEKISTAN - Traditional Steel Making

I could not find any information about the card.  My guess is, this is some kind of traditional steel making. Here are some information about Uzbekistan:

"Uzbekistan, officially the Republic of Uzbekistan, is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia. It is a unitary, constitutional, presidential republic, comprising 12 provinces, 1 autonomous republic, and 1 independent city. Uzbekistan is bordered by five countries: Kazakhstan and the Aral Sea to the north; Tajikistan to the southeast; Kyrgyzstan to the northeast; Afghanistan to the south; and Turkmenistan to the southwest."

ARMENIA - Tavush Marz, Haghartsin Monestery Complex

"Tavush (Armenian: Տավուշ) is a province (marz) of Armenia. The marz of Tavush is located in the north of Armenia and borders on Georgia and Azerbaijan. It is well known for its mountains. The most part of its territory is situated 800-1,000 m above sea level. Tavush is also famous for the abundance of rivers and other water resources. 

Haghartsin Monastery is located in a dense oak forest, on a mountainside in the upper reaches of the Agstev river. Three main buildings of the Haghardzin church complex ares till standing . St. Astvatsatsin Church (1281)is the biggest of the three."

UZBEKISTAN - Samarkand

Thanks to postcrosser Igor for the card.

TAJIKISTAN - The national flags of Republic Tajikistan and The Independence Square, Tashkent

"Independence Square is located in the center of Tashkent city. It is a favorite resting place for the Tashkent residents. The fact that the most beautiful fountains of the city are located in the square contributed considerably to it.

Independence Square as many other places in Tashkent has its own history. Before 1865, not far from this place there was a palace of Kokand khan. In 1865 the Kokand khanate was liquidated and by order of the Russian administration and the construction of a residence for a Turkestan Governor-General began next to it. Later, this residence with a vast garden was named the White House. In the colonial period a wappenshaw was held on its ground before the General-Governor’s residence.

In the Soviet time the square was re-named for Lenin Square. A monument to Lenin was erected in the center of it. And construction of fountains and development of the square itself began at this period.

Upon declaration of independence in 1991 Lenin Square was re-named to Independence Square (Mustakillik Maydoni) (1992). The monument to Lenin was dismantled and an Independence Monument in a form of a globe with Uzbekistan’s borders outlined on it was installed instead.

Today the Independence Square is a place to hold solemn events on festive days, such as Uzbekistan Independence Day (1 September) and New Year (1 January). All the Tashkent residents visit Independence Square on festive days, since this is the place to hold performances of musicians, clowns and rope-dancers. By New Year a President New Year tree is installed there."

and the National flags or Republic of Tajikistan

KYRGYZSTAN - The saleswoman in national clothing and pumpkin seller

"Kyrgyzstan, officially the Kyrgyz Republic formerly known as Kirghizia, is a country located in Central Asia. Landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north,Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east. Its capital and largest city is Bishkek."

KAZAKHSTAN - City view of Astana

"Kazakhstan lies in the north of the central Asian republics and is bounded by Russia in the north, China in the east, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in the south, and the Caspian Sea and part of Turkmenistan in the west. Kazakhstan is the world's largest landlocked country by land area and the ninth largest country in the world; The territory is mostly steppe land with hilly plains and plateaus."

AFGANISTAN - Ariel view of a village in Afganistan's Parwan Province

This card was sent to me by the US Military officer based in Afghanistan, an postcrosser.  He used US stamps for this card with an Army postmarking.

"Parwan (Persian/Pashto: پروان), also spelled Parvān, is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It has a population of about 631,600,^[1] which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society. The province is divided into ten districts. The town of Charikar serves as the provincial capital.

Located north of Kabul Province and south of Baghlan Province, it was once, the name of an ancient town in the Hindu Kush mountains."