MALAYSIA - Kek Lok Si Temples

Georgetown's Kek Lok Si temples. Thanks to Jakob for the card.

THAILAND - Royal Grand Palace, Bangkok

Thanks so much to Lia for the card from her travel.

The Grand Palace (Thai: พระบรมมหาราชวัง,) is a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. The palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam (and later Thailand) since 1782. The king, his court and his royal government were based on the grounds of the palace until 1925. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), resided at the Chitralada Royal Villa and his successor King Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) at the Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall, both in the Dusit Palace, but the Grand Palace is still used for official events. Several royal ceremonies and state functions are held within the walls of the palace every year. 

The palace is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Thailand. Construction of the palace began on 6 May 1782, at the order of King Phutthayotfa Chulalok (Rama I), the founder of the Chakri Dynasty, when he moved the capital city from Thonburi to Bangkok. Throughout successive reigns, many new buildings and structures were added, especially during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). By 1925, the king, the Royal Family and the government were no longer permanently settled at the palace, and had moved to other residences. After the abolition of absolute monarchy in 1932, all government agencies completely moved out of the palace. 

In shape, the palace complex is roughly rectangular and has a combined area of 218,400 square metres (2,351,000 sq ft), surrounded by four walls. It is situated on the banks of the Chao Phraya River at the heart of the Rattanakosin Island, today in the Phra Nakhon District. The Grand Palace is bordered by Sanam Luang and Na Phra Lan Road to the north, Maharaj Road to the west, Sanam Chai Road to the east and Thai Wang Road to the south. 

Rather than being a single structure, the Grand Palace is made up of numerous buildings, halls, pavilions set around open lawns, gardens and courtyards. Its asymmetry and eclectic styles are due to its organic development, with additions and rebuilding being made by successive reigning kings over 200 years of history. It is divided into several quarters: the Temple of the Emerald Buddha; the Outer Court, with many public buildings; the Middle Court, including the Phra Maha Monthien Buildings, the Phra Maha Prasat Buildings and the Chakri Maha Prasat Buildings; the Inner Court and the Siwalai Gardens quarter. The Grand Palace is currently partially open to the public as a museum, but it remains a working palace, with several royal offices still situated inside.

INDONESIA Meet-up Card

Thanks again to Lia for the meetup card.

INDIA - Jantar Mantar, Jaipur

Thanks to Bn for the  card.

"The Jantar Mantar monument in Jaipur, Rajasthan is a collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh II, and completed in 1734. It features the world's largest stone sundial, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.  It is located near City Palace and Hawa Mahal. The instruments allow the observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye. The monument expresses architectural innovations, as well as the coming together of ideas from different religious and social beliefs in 18th-century India. The observatory is an example of the Ptolemaic positional astronomy which was shared by many civilizations."

INDIA - The Chapel of St. Catherine

The Chapel of St. Catherine: This small Chapel stands out as a historical monment erected in 1510 o the site where formerly stood the gate through which the Portuguese first entered the city of (Old) Goa after conquering it. The Chapel seems to have been subsequently rebuilt. 

Thanks to Shruti for the card.

MALAYSIA - Selamat Hari Raya

Thanks Alan for the Raya card.

HONG KONG Maxicard - Bamboo

Thanks so much for the maxicard, Claire!

MALAYSIA - Meetup Card

Thanks to Ashley for the meet up card.

USA - Green Heron

Uncommon along edges of marshy or wooded streams and ponds, where it crouches in shadows waiting for fish to swim by.  Thanks to Ashley for the card.

GERMANY - Bremen

"The City Municipality of Bremen (German: Stadtgemeinde Bremen, German pronunciation: [ˈbʁeːmən] ( listen)) is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the River Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen/Oldenburg Metropolitan Region (2.4 million people). Bremen is the third most populous city in Northern Germany and tenth in Germany."

SLOVENIA - Zate

Thanks so much Iztok for the FDC of Urska Zolnir, who earned Gold medal on London Olympic Games.  And a couples of Slovenia stamps!