And the world comes calling …

I had my biggest haul Yet – 14 postcards yesterday and 3 on Thursday 🙂

I received 4 postcards from Andreas in Germany. We have been swapping postcards for months and he always manages to surprise me with the beautiful postcards he sends me 🙂

       

    

I also received a postcard from Elma in Cambodia. it was sent to India first 🙂

Next up is 5 cards from Ada in Poland – 2 cards are vintage. She lives in a town called Olsztyn.

      

      

She also sent me a beautiful fridge magnet 🙂

The I got an interesting card from Zoey living in China. I mentioned that I love Chinese cuisine. So she sent me a postcard showing a picture of Shredded Pork with Garlic Sauce 🙂

Next was Hellevi from Finland. I love snow pictures 🙂

I also received a new postcard from my penpal Dagmar living in Germany.

Then Elisa living in Hellevoetsluis in the Netherlands sent me a card.

Minli from Guangzhou in China sent me this beautiful card of the Presidential Villa.

Svenja from Germany sent me a homemade card showing their new cityhall – it is only 100 years old 🙂

And then Carrick send me a card from California USA showing a Redwood forest.

And there you have it – the world in 17 postcards 🙂

 

China with presents

well this week finally brought some new postcards – I must admit I hate the waiting. I received some stunning postcards through direct swaps – all from China. And each one had a little surprise 🙂

The first one was from Karen in China. And again I have to say that China has got the most beautiful envelopes…

I told her I liked Chinese theater so she sent me two postcards showing theater characters.

She also sent me a postcard showing the National Center for Performing Arts.

The next postcard shows the Longmen Grottoes.

Her last postcard shows the Square of the Great Harmony Gate. I do love Chinese architecture.

 

And now for my surprise – a mask from Chinese theater – which is now hanging over my bed 🙂

My next set of postcards came from Sindy – also living in China. And again the envelope is beautiful.

 

As a surprise she sent me some sweets from China. And yes I ate them all 🙂

She also sent a postcard showing the ancient Chinese pattern for happiness – which was quite interesting.

The second postcard shows a park In Beijing.

This was a good week postcard-wise – but where is some Postcrossing postcards 😦

I am off for a week so will be spending it looking for more direct swaps 🙂

Italy and Malaysia

Received three Direct Swap cards today 🙂 The first one was from Gian Luca living in Cuneo, Italy. It shows a monument to Giuseppe Barbaroux.

 

I also received two postcards from Zie in Malaysia. She wrote me some Jawi script and she also wrote my name in Jawi – really cool 🙂

 

The first postcard shows an aboriginal village. It looks so peaceful that I can definitely understand living there.

 

The second postcard shows a mosque built in 1907. Malaysia us definitely on my to-visit list 🙂

 

So slowly but surely my postcards are arriving again. Hopefully next week we will be back on track 🙂

Finally – mail !!!!

I was so happy when I got home – postcards 🙂 I received 6 direct swap postcards – the drought is over – the withdrawal symptoms disappeared and the sun came out 🙂 Dramatic I know …

I received the following card from Valentina in India – it shows the people of Rajasthan. The colors are beautiful.

 

I also received two postcards from Alex in Czech Republic. The first one shows St. Barbara’s Cathedral.

 

The second postcard shows the Charles Bridge in Prague. What beautiful buildings!

 

I also received this beautiful card from Jennifer living in Taiwan.

 

I received this beautiful card from Cathy in Luxembourg.

 

And last but definitely not least – Uwe from Germany sent me this card of Dresden.

 

So happy days are here again 🙂

Strikes :(

It is so frustrating – South Africa is in the middle of our ‘strike period’ – which means very little mail – and NO postcards. Needless to say at the moment I am climbing the walls. The only good thing is when they start working again I should receive lots and lots – but until then – grrrrrrrrrrr

Direct swaps from China, Ukraine and Czech Republic

Well tomorrow school starts for the kids but unfortunately we teachers have been busy for two days already. BUT I was very happy when I got home as I received a whole envelope full of postcards from China. The postcrosser – her name is Reeds – swapped 5 postcards with me. And she also added a sixth one just as a surprise.

The envelope was just a beautiful and I had to share it.

The first postcard is a painting from a Japanese artist.

The next one is a religious painting from the Yutin Grottos or caves.

I also received a postcard showcasing a famous Chinese Painter named Wang Shimin.

As I like temples so much she sent me a postcard showing the Tower of Buddhist Incense which is part of the Summer Palace in Beijing.

The next postcard is definitely one of my favorites – it shows a Vintage Calender Picture.

And last but not least my special postcard showing the waterways in South China. I love this shape of bridge 🙂

I also received a direct swap from Nadia living in the Ukraine. The postcard shows the Khotyn Fortress.

My final postcard came from Klara in the Ukraine. It shows tourist attractions from Ostrava – specifically the New Town Hall, a closed coal mine and Ostrava castle.

Postcards seem to have slow down a bit … here is holding thumbs it picks up soon 🙂

I got my son to start using a blog too – so if you want to have a look …

http://moujou123.wordpress.com

Postcards keep falling on my head …

And that is literally whats happening 🙂 I received 5 more postcards today – and when I went to put them with the others all my postcards fell out – and onto my head. I am however still left with a huge smile – receiving postcards is the best feeling EVER !!!

So starting at random – India. My first postcard arrived from India today. India has almost 8 000 members out of a population of 1 billion. I sent a postcard through postcrossing to Archana Mehta – and she was nice enough to send me one back 🙂 The postcard shows to famous temples and it is stunningly beautiful – the intricate designs is breathtaking.

Next up I received an envelope through postcrossing from Finland – and what a surprise when I opened it – it contained an old postcard depicting a scene from a movie – it just became one of my favorites for being so freaky 🙂

Niduska – my new favorite postcrosser 🙂 –  also sent two recipes  – when I have translated it I will tell you what it is for :).  And a saying that I just have to share with you: “No matter how good you are to a goat it will still eat your yams” I thought that was so fumy and so true 🙂

From Russia I received a card through postcrossing from Anastasiya showing a night view of the city Moscow. This card also made it onto my favorites list 🙂

From China (Shangai again :)) and through postcrossing I received a xmas card from postcrosser Eqing. This was an interesting card as it is from UK Now but was sent from China – I like it 🙂

Lastly we are back on Germany and I had a direct swap with a lady named Dagmar. The postcard shows a frozen tree and the pure image will be one of my favorites for ever …

With a start like this things can only get better 🙂 I can not wait for my cards to arrive so I can send more and get more back ! It is January the 6th and I have had 7 postcards – NICE!

2014 starts of with Macau and Germany

It is the 4th of January and I got my first postcards for 2014 – and my first one from Macau. According to postcrossing Macau has 489 postcrossing members out of a population of 450 000. Dianna sent me this very beautiful postcard showing the Macau harbor with the fishing boats. (Macau is also spelled Macao – so I am using the same spelling as what Dianna used.)

 

The second postcard is from Germany. I never realised how many beautiful places there are in Germany. Some people complain when they receive many postcards from the same country – I love the fact that there is so much to see in one country 🙂 Friederika sent me a postcard that shows the town of Meersburg in the south of Germany. It looks like such a lovely town.

 

So 2014 kicks off with a bang. I sent out 14 direct swap postcards yesterday so can not wait to get my replies 🙂 And I have 8 postcards travelling – taking a bit longer because of the holiday season. Hold on people – they are on their way:)

Final 2013 surprise

And I thought I was finished for 2013 and I have been sulking because I won’t get cards for a while – and look what I got today … FIVE postcards 🙂 Happy new Year to me!

I received 2 cards from Germany through a direct swap. Andreas  sent me these 2 cards – one showing the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and the other one shows Germany’s seat of parliament – Reichstag.

I also received a postcard through postcrossing from Petra – also from Germany. I love Christmas cards – they just make me feel happy 🙂

I also received a postcard through postcrossing from Croatia !!! Croatia has 516 members out of a population of 4.4 million.  The postcard came from Ana who lives in Selce and it shows the view onto the ocean. Hmmmmm – Croatia is now on my ‘Countries to visit’ – list 🙂

The last postcard was a direct swap from Evalie in the Ukraine. It shows the Odessa Opera House where her son has performed ballet. I think it would be amazing to dance in a opera house like that.

So now we really finished for 2013 🙂 Due to requests from some of my followers i will be starting a separate blog to showcase the stamps that I receive on my postcards – but that will probably only start up next year … which is tomorrow !!!! Yeah – this year is finished 🙂 I wish all a happy and prosperous New Year !

Last postcards for 2013 and we are caught up

We are almost caught up with my postcards I received before starting this blog 🙂 We covered my Japan postcards in my blog ‘My xmas present. So next up … Malaysia 🙂

There are over 3 000 postcrossing members out of a population of 28 million. I received one card from Malaysia from Jessie. The postcard is a view of Kuala Lumpur and there is some interesting buildings. Note the blue-roofed building in the foreground. Malaysia is definitely on my ‘Countries to visit’ – list.

 

Next is the Netherlands. The Netherlands have over 30 000 users out of a population of 16 million! That is 10 times more members than Malaysia out of a population half the size. That is impressive. I also received this postcard through postcrossing and it was sent by Marijn. It shows a field of tulips – I thought it was beautiful and it went on my favorites list 🙂

 

Now we move on to Russia. Russia has 53 000 members out of a population of 140 million. They are also the country with the most postcrossing members. The latest postcard is on my blog ‘USA and Russia’. I have received two other through postcrossing. One shows a Siberian tiger and a little baby one – too cute for words 🙂 I received this postcard from Elena who lives in Nahodka.

 

The next postcard came from Yuriy who is living in Perm. It shows an old church as well as some other tourist attractions. Check out the small bottom picture – it is an ice sculpture 🙂

 

Next country is Spain. They have 4 000 members out of a population of 46 million. This postcard was a direct swap from Juan. He uses postcards to teach his children where countries are om a map. I thought that was a brilliant idea 🙂 The postcard shows a castle called Castillo De La Aljaferia. It is one of my favorite postcards 🙂

 

Second last country – Turkey. They have 5 000 users out of a population of 77 million. I received this postcard through postcrossing and it is from Sezin who lives in Istanbul. The postcard shows the coastal town of Alanya – and it looks idyllic 🙂

 

 

My postcard from the Ukraine is on my blog ‘My xmas present’.

And last – the USA. My latest card from the USA is on my blog ‘USA and Russia’. I also received a postcard from Jan through postcrossing. She and her husband love to visit Leavenworth and she sent me a postcard from there. and here is where my education begins regarding the USA – I only knew about the military prison and I never thought that it was also a very beautiful town.

 

And so – as we count down to the end of 2013 we have also caught up on all my postcards received so far 🙂 Now I have to wait for the postman to get back from holiday … I am not a patient person …

My New Year’s resolution is to start at the A’s and collect at least one postcard from every country currently a member of postcrossing. And if I can get more than one – yippee 🙂 So if anyone wants to do a direct swap or find me on postcrossing – my username is firedragonza.

If you are interested in the countries that are part of postcrossing check out this link:  http://www.postcrossing.com/explore/countries

 

So goodbye 2013 – hello 2014 – and may you bring many many postcards 🙂