Australia MAXICARD - Hornby, Inner South Head, NSW

Thank you Lisa for the great lighthouse maxicard.

"The Hornby Lighthouse at South Head was built by public demand after the tragic shipwrecks of the Dunbar and the Catherine Adamson

The light was opened by Sir William Denison, Governor of New South Wales, in 1858. It was named after the family of Governor Dennison’s wife, whose father became Admiral Sir Phipps Hornby, Commander in Chief of the British Pacific Fleet in the 1860s. However it was known as the Lower Light to distinguish it from the nearby Macquarie Light, New South Wales’ first." Read more interesting history here.

HONG KONG - Avenue of Stars (Tsim Sha Tsui)

Thank you to Derek for the card.

"The Avenue of Stars is a scenic seaside promenade in the east of Tsim Sha Tsui. The Avenue of Stars stretches a total length of 440 meters (1,440 feet) from Hong Kong Museum of Art to New World Centre. It models after the Hollywood Avenue of Stars in Los Angeles. The name and hand prints of the distinguished Hong Kong film stars, like Jackie Chan and Andy Lau, are embedded in special plaques and arranged chronologically on the avenue, in order to commemorate the history of the film industry in Hong Kong. Apart from the handprints, visitors can also enjoy thousands of exhibitions related to films, large-scale arts and cultural shows co-organized with overseas institutions, diverse local music, dance, and theater shows." Source

CROATIA -Spancirfest Varazdin, Street Festival

Spancirfest is a festival held every August in Varazdin.  It is artistic festival where audience also participate.Thanks so so much to Anja for the second card!

"Špancirfest (pronounced [ʃpaŋtsir̩fɛst]) is a street festival that is held every year since 1999 in Varaždin, Croatia, and lasts for 10 days.[1] It begins at the end of August, and ends at the beginning of September. During these days Varazdin regularly hosts over a 100,000 tourists coming from all over Croatia and the surrounding countries. Varazdin's inner ring is turned into an all out entertainment zone. Concert stages, entertainment zones, shopping kiosks and eateries are erected and street performers, musicians, and all kinds of artists line the streets."

AUSTRALIA - Tasmania, Cradle Mountain from Dove Lake

Thanks to Grail for the card.

"Tasmania's world-famous Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is carved up into two distinct sections. In the South, you'll find Lake St Clair at Derwent Bridge. In the north, the stunning Cradle Mountain towers over reflective glacial lakes to create a breathtaking scene. 

There is no road that takes you between the two sections so you'll have to drive to the northern gate to find the beautiful Dove Lake Circuit. This is one of Tasmania's premier nature walks. The Trail circles Dove Lake while taking you beneath the craggy spires of the indomitable Cradle Mountain. This two-hour circuit is boardwalk for much of the way and is suitable for most which makes it a family-friendly adventure." Source

MALAYSIA - The Petronas Twin Tower

Thanks to Allan for the card.

"The Petronas Towers, also known as the Petronas Twin Towers (Malay: Menara Petronas, or Menara Berkembar Petronas), are twin skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH)'s official definition and ranking, they were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004, until they were surpassed by Taipei 101. The Petronas Towers remain the tallest twin towers in the world. The buildings are a landmark of Kuala Lumpur, along with nearby Kuala Lumpur Tower; they remain the tallest buildings in Kuala Lumpur."

PANAMA - Red Frog Beach

Red Frog Beach - approximately 1 1/2 miles long, this beach stretches along the northern coast of Bestimentos Islands.  Thanks to Blanca for the card.

"Located on Isla Bastimentos in the Bocas del Toro archipelago, Red Frog Beach is a wonderfully mellow white-sand beach. Red Frog is backed by portions of thick rainforest which extend in some places all the way to the water, creating secluded alcoves that are perfect for couples or families who would like a bit of privacy. This becomes especially the case during high tide, when the sea creeps high and swallows much of the shoreline." Source

MALAYSIA - Random

Thanks to Sabrina for the card.

TAIWAN - Pingtung. Wanjin Catholic Church

Thanks to Eric

"Wanjin Catholic Church is located in the small town of Wanjin. It was established by a Philippine priest during the Qing Dynasty. Completely restored in 1960, it is Taiwan's oldest church. It has been called the "Holy Cathedral of Mary" by Pope Paul II. An inscription on a stone plaque inside, dating back to the Qing dynasty, implies the church was erected by consent of the Manzhou authorities."

CHINA Maxicard

Thanks to Angela for great card and stamps!

CHINA - Opera Mask

Thanks to sender.

UNITED KINGDOM - the Model village, Bourton-On-The-Water

A card from Alex. His message read; As you can see I buy old postcards and give them the journey they never had. Well said!

"The Model Village is a one-ninth scale replica of the heart of the beautiful Cotswold village of Bourton-on-the-Water, containing all the buildings from the Old Water Mill (now the Car Museum) down to the Old New Inn and the ford, all built in Cotswold stone. 

In the Model Village you become a giant as you tower above the miniature stone houses. Walk alongside the river Windrush and cross its miniature bridges. Enjoy the miniature gardens complete with flowers and miniature trees. Listen to the choirs singing in the churches, investigate the local shops, and find the model of the Model Village!

The village was created by a previous landlord of the Old New Inn, taking local craftsmen five years to build, and it was officially opened on the Coronation Day of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the late Queen Mother) in 1937."

CHINA - Wanrong, last empress of Qing Dynasty

The woman in the photo named Wanrong. She was the last empress of Qing Dynasty. In 1922, at the age of 16, she married Puyi.
Thanks to Lan for the great card.!

"Empress Wan-Rong (13 November 1906 - 20 June 1946), was the last Empress Consort of the Qing Dynasty in China, and later Empress of Manchukuo (also known as the Manchurian Empire). Tortured by opium, she died in the Prison of Yanji alone." Read more here.

Wanrong, in front of Xishang Pavilion in the Imperial Garden.

CHINA - The Yongzheng Emperor

18th-century Chinese painting of the Yongzheng Emperor wearing a European wig and dress, preparing to strike a tiger with a trident.

Thanks to Anna.

"The Yongzheng Emperor (13 December 1678 – 8 October 1735), born Yinzhen, was the fifth Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the third Qing emperor to rule over China proper, reigned from 1722 to 1735. A hard-working ruler, the Yongzheng Emperor's main goal was to create an effective government at minimal expense. Like his father, the Kangxi Emperor, the Yongzheng Emperor used military force to preserve the dynasty's position. His reign was known for being despotic, efficient, and vigorous."

INDIA - Holi Spring Festival

Thanks to Annja.

"Holi is a Hindu festival that marks the start of spring. Celebrated across India, it's an ancient festival with the first mentions of it dating all the way back to a 4th century poem. It was even described in detail in a 7th century Sanskrit play called "Ratnavali," written by the Indian emperor Harsha. "Witness the beauty of the great cupid festival which excites curiosity as the townsfolk are dancing at the touch of brownish water thrown ... Everything is colored yellowish red and rendered dusty by the heaps of scented powder blown all over,"

MACAU - Little Traveller

Macau is just a tiny dot on the world map with lots of people living here, gambling and tourism are the two main industries in Macau.  Thank you sender.

CHINA - Traditional Wheaten Food

Thanks to Shen.

"China serves some of the best flour-based foods in the world; and Shanxi ranks first in China in preparing “flour foods”. Shanxi Province has a recorded history dating back more than 2,000 years of making wheat-flour food, due to bumper wheat harvests resulting partly from rich experience in cultivation."

INDIA - Mumbai

Mumbai. Face of Today’s India. Thanks to sender.

"Mumbai (formerly called Bombay) is a densely populated city on India’s west coast. A financial center, it's India's largest city. On the Mumbai Harbour waterfront stands the iconic Gateway of India stone arch, built by the British Raj in 1924. Offshore, nearby Elephanta Island holds ancient cave temples dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The city's also famous as the heart of the Bollywood film industry."

BRAZIL - Amazon Jungle; meeting of the rivers

The encounter of the waters is a natural phenomenon easily seen in many rivers of the Amazon.  The factors for this occur in the region vary from geological, climate, thermal issues or even the size or acidity of rivers.  Thanks to Luiz for the card.

The Meeting of Waters  is the confluence between the dark (blackwater) Rio Negro and the pale sandy-colored (whitewater) Amazon River, referred to as the Solimões River in Brazil upriver of this confluence. For 6 km the two rivers' waters run side by side without mixing. It is one of the main tourist attractions of Manaus, Brazil. This phenomenon is due to the differences in temperature, speed and water density of the two rivers. The Rio Negro flows at near 2 km/h at a temperature of 28 °C (82 °F), while the Rio Solimões flows between 4 and 6 km/h at a temperature of 22 °C."

CANADA - Yeah Buoy!

Thanks to Cindy for the card.

Royal Family of Liechtenstein

Thanks to Ruedi for the royal family card.

Reigning Prince Hans-Adam II and his wife Princess Marie (centre) surrounded by their four children. Clockwise from left: Prince Constantin, Princess Tatjana, Prince Maximilian and Prince Alois

"The name Liechtenstein was first mentioned in about 1136. Hugo von Liechtenstein probably took his name from Liechtenstein Castle, south of Vienna. The uninterrupted family line began with Heinrich I von Liechtenstein (who died in 1265/66)." Source