This colorful card from Aileen features Georgetown, the capital of the state of Penang. It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with Malacca, in 2008. The city is known for its “unique architectural and cultural townscape without parallel in East and Southeast Asia.” It was named after the British King George III.
Georgetown, Penang - world Heritage City
Yay, bougainvillea flowers for a stamp! Thanks, Aileen 😉
We all have our own standards of beauty. For some, it is the ‘Barbie’-like concept, all white and glamorous with statistics of 24-36-24. In ancient China, beautiful women were characterized as having small hands and feet. In ancient Philippines, beauty meant having a larger than the normal head.
Interestingly, one of the ethnic groups in Thailand known as the Karen people sees beauty in long necks! According to my friend Aileen, the Karen people begin wearing brass rings around their neck at age 5. More of these rings are being added as the girl grows up, and stops when she gets married or when she reaches adulthood. These Karen people originated from Myanmar.
Long Neck Karen
Aileen thoughtfully sent me a tea sachet (which was really good!) and a cute smiley clip as well ♥ Stamp is a limited edition showing Indian traditional food.
A beautiful view for nature lovers like me. Mount Kinabalu was considered the tallest peak in Southeast Asia… but recently, I’ve read two articles saying Mount Kinabalu is actually the fifth, not the first, tallest peak in SEA. The tallest peak would be Hkakabo Razi (5881m) in Burma, followed by Puncak Jaya (5030m), Trikora (4751m) and Mandala (4701m) — all in Indonesia. And then Mount Kinabalu (4094m). Nevertheless, this UNESCO site boasts “over 4500 species of plants, 326 species of birds, and 100 mammalian species.” (Wikipedia) And I guess it doesn’t matter the height of the mountain, but how the people preserve the natural beauty and ecosystem residing in an ecological region such as Mount Kinabalu.
Many thanks to my friend Aileen for sharing Malaysia’s first World Heritage site. It was proclaimed so in 2000.
Mount Kinabalu
Beautiful stamps of rambutan (a tropical fruit, yay) and Lada hitam:
Two weeks to go and my practicum will come to a halt! OMG, I’ll surely miss the kids, but I’m 101% excited to see what life has in store for me 🙂
This beautiful, beautiful card came from my friend Aileen. She wrote it’s one of her favorite cards as she bought it in Vietnam during one of her trips there. I love the card as well and Aileen wrote a very helpful information about it (saves me a lot of time ;)).
Hoi An was declared a (UNESCO) heritage site in 1999. It was a major trading stop in Vietnam for Japanese, Chinese, Indian and Dutch traders until the 17th century. The bridge was constructed in the 1600s to connect the Japanese community with the Chinese quarter. The builder remains anonymous to this day. It underwent major restoration in 1986. The sign at the entrace was hung in the early 1700s and the name on it changed from ‘Japanese Covered Bridge’ to ‘Bridge for Travellers From Afar’. There are statues on opposite ends of the bridge of dogs and monkeys. Some guides claim construction began in year of dog and was completed in year of monkey. Others say these 2 were chosen to guard the bridge because many Japanese emperors were born in either the dog or monkey year, i.e. sacred significance. There’s a small shrine inside the bridge which is dedicated to Tran Vo Bae De who is a northern deity supposed to control the weather.
Wow, such an interesting place. I remember last February, I was in Manila China Town, took lots of photos, and wrote about the narrow streets, the food and the lucky charms for my Creative Writing class. I told myself I should blog about the places I’ve been to. I wish I’ll have more time to do so.
Bridge Pagoda in Hoi An
The card was thoughtfully sent in a pink envelope. Thanks, Aileen! 🙂 The stamps feature the bunga raya flower (which resembles gumamela a lot) and the Piper nigrum:
Oh God, these past few days had been really exhausting.. physically and emotionally. Physically: Who would have thought ‘real’ classroom teaching could be so energy draining! Actually it’s fun, but the planning ruins everything. I get inadequate sleep and wherever I go, I think of strategies and activities, etc. BUT I’M NOT GIVING UP! This is my calling and I’m gonna live my dream! Aja aja! Emotionally: I’m inlove with someone virtual. And it’s so sad because we’ve been writing to each other for almost a year now but I don’t even know his full name. *hehe* If only he would read between the lines.. Well, I can’t expect anything. So yeah, it’d be better to just forget about him and move on!
So.. moving on, here’s a beautiful card from Aileen. It shows the UNESCO site of Mulu. She has sent me a similar card last time, but this image was taken from the inside of the cave so it gives another perspective. Also, it features the profile/silhouette of Abraham Lincoln at the entrance of the cave and some limestone formation in Wind Cave.
Mulu National Park
Familiar with the legend of the dragons who kidnapped maidens to trap them inside their caves? Hence the phrase ‘damsel in distress’. Yeah, I’m a damsel in distress.. been a victim of my own bow and arrow. Should’ve been more careful. *eroscries*
Thanks Aileen, thanks for the card, the wonderful stamp of the tram that rides up and down Penang Hill, and thank you that this article had been a very useful outlet. Cheers to our friendship!
My 5th card from our neighborhoody, Malaysia, comes from my friend Aileen. It’s a piece of her hometown, Kuching, the capital and most populous city of the East Malaysian State of Sarawak. The photos show building heritage from the White Rajahs (as Malaysia and Borneo were British colonies): the Sarawak Museum, Fort Margherita, and the Istana (Astana).
Kuching: The Brooke Heritage
Stamp shows bunga tiga bulan (hydrangea), a cluster of pink, white, or blue flowers. Many thanks, Aileen! 😉
We have the longest navigable underground river (Subterranean River in Palawan) and Malaysia has the largest known cave chamber (Sarawak Chamber)! My friend Aileen sent me this astounding card of Mulu, a UNESCO site. Malaysia is so near yet so far. I wish I could visit the whole of Asia before I die. *laughs*
Thanks, Aileen! Terima kasih! Maraming salamat!^^
Caves in Mulu National Park
Nice purple flowers:
Postcards Galore! 