Macau: Macau Tower

The Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Center, also known as Macau Tower, is a tower located in Sé, Macau. The tower measures 338 m in height from ground level to the highest point. Its observation deck features views, restaurants, theaters, shopping malls and the Skywalk X, a walking tour around the outer rim.

 Thanks to Ambarish who was visiting Macau.

Macau: Senado Square

The Senado Square, or Senate Square, is a paved town square in Sé, Macau, China, and part of the UNESCO Historic Centre of Macau World Heritage Site. It is an elongated triangular shaped square and connects Largo do São Domingos at one end and Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro on the other. It covers an area of 3,700 square meters.

Thanks to Mr Ambarish who was visiting Macau.
 

Thailand: The Grand Palace, Bangkok

The Grand Palace 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. 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. 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. 

 

Thanks to my brother in law who was visiting Bangkok. He has used a 2018,15 Bhat definitive honoring  H.M. King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun (King Rama X). He is the crown prince of Thailand.

Japan: Mount Fuiji

Japan’s Mt. Fuji is an active volcano about 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. Commonly called “Fuji-san,” it’s the country’s tallest peak, at 3,776 meters. A pilgrimage site for centuries, it’s considered one of Japan’s 3 sacred mountains, and summit hikes remain a popular activity. Its iconic profile is the subject of numerous works of art, notably Edo Period prints by Hokusai and Hiroshige.

Postcard 1

Thanks to Dr Kiran Acharya. He used a 84 sen stamp from 2019 featuring a flower from Flora and Fauna series. Japan post increased the  international rates from 82 sen to 84 sen from 1st Oct 2019.

Postcard 2

Thanks to Amar and Neetu. This was posted from the post office at the summit. 

Postcard 3

Thanks to my uncle K.Diwakar Pai who was visiting Japan. Nice Cancellations used.

Japan: Shuri Castle

Shuri Castle is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Shuri, Okinawa. Between 1429 and 1879, it was the palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom. the castle was re-purposed as a university campus. Beginning in 1992, the central citadel and walls were largely reconstructed on the original site based on historical records, photographs, and memory. 

Thanks to Ms Neetu and Amar. They have used 1 of 3, 2014, 82 yen definitive, showing Japanese apricot. This stamp was designed by Kaifuchi Junko.

Japan: Tochigi

Tochigi Prefecture is a prefecture located in the Kantō region of Japan. The capital is the city of Utsunomiya. Nikkō, with its ancient Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other famous parts of Tochigi include a region called Nasu known for onsen and local sake and ski resorts. The Imperial Family has a villa in Nasu. Nasu-Shiobara is a major Shinkansen station.

Thanks to Ms Neetu and Mr Amar. They have used 1 of 3, 2014, 82 yen definitive, showing Japanese apricot. This stamp was designed by Kaifuchi Junko.

UAE: Dubai

Dubai  is the largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai. Located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf, Dubai is a global city and the business hub of the Middle East. It is also a major global transport hub for passengers and cargo. A centre for regional and international trade since the early 20th century, Dubai's economy relies on revenues from trade, tourism, aviation, real estate, and financial services. Dubai has attracted the attention of the world through large construction projects, opulent hotels and hosting major sports tournaments.

Postcard 1

Thanks to Radhika and Laxman. They used 2013 definitive featuring a Falcon. This stamp is from set of  5.

Postcard 2

My first card from Dubai. Location: Al Burj 5 star Hotle and a Landmark of Dubai. Posted on 24.07.09 arrived on 1.08.09 . Thanks to: Aisha. She has used 2007 definitive stamp from set of 5, depicting a Falcon.

Austria: Vienna

Vienna  is the federal capital, largest city and one of nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primate city, with a population of about 1.9 million. In 2001, the city centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In July 2017 it was moved to the list of World Heritage in Danger. It is the world's most liveable cities.

Thanks to Radhika and Laky who were visiting Austria. They have used 2019 stamp on Zauner cafe's. This is a 200 year old coffee and pastry shop in Austria. Austria post  honored the establishment, issuing this stamp under 'catering with tradition' series.

New Zealand: Lake Taupo

Lake Taupo is a lake in the North Island of New Zealand. It is in the caldera of the Taupo Volcano. With a surface area of 616 square kilometres (238 sq mi), it is the largest lake by surface area in New Zealand, and the second largest freshwater lake by surface area in geopolitical Oceania after Lake Murray in Papua New Guinea.

Thanks to Ms Parini and Dhiraj who were visiting New Zealand.

Indonesia: Pura Ulun Bratan Temple, Bali

Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, or Pura Bratan, is a major Shaivite water temple on Bali,Indonesia. The temple complex is located on the shores of Lake Bratan in the mountains near Bedugul. Built in 1633, this temple is used for offerings ceremony to the Balinese water, lake and river goddess Dewi Danu, due to the importance of Lake Bratan as a main source of irrigation in central Bali. The 11-storey pelinggih meru in the complex is dedicated to Shiva and his consort Parvathi. Buddha's statue is also enshrined in this temple. This temple is also called as Bali temple on the lake because it looks like it is floating when the Bratan river water rises.

Thanks to Mr Tejasvi and Manjunath Bhandarkar for posting it from Bali.

Indonesia: Rice Fields, Bali

Bali is home to beautiful rice terraces. There are 8 famous rice cultivating areas which includes Jatiluwih, Tegallalang, Sideman, Rendang, Perevenan, Papuan, Muduk and Soka. These fields adopt Subuk irrigation system which is UNESCO world heritage site.

Thanks to Mr Manjunath and Tejasvi Bhandarkar who were visiting Indonesia.

India: Sri Aurobindo Ashram

The Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a spiritual community (ashram) located in Pondicherry, in the Indian territory of Puducherry. The ashram grew out of a small community of disciples who had gathered around Sri Aurobindo after he retired from politics and settled in Pondicherry in 1910.

 Postcard 1: Samadhi of Aurobindo

 Postcard 2: Multiview of Ashram

Thanks to Mr Vallabh and Family. Mr Geetanand Bhandarkar and Veena Bhandarkar.

Iceland: Aurora Borealis

The Aurora is an incredible light show caused by collisions between electrically charged particles released from the sun that enter the earth's atmosphere and collide with gases such as oxygen and nitrogen. The lights are seen around the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres.

Thanks to Mr Laky and Radhika for sending it from Iceland.

Thanks to Ms Mircea.

Japan: Nikko Tosho-gu Shrine

Tōshō-gū is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. It was initially built in 1617, during the Edo period, while Ieyasu's son Hidetada was shōgun. Together with Futarasan Shrine and Rinnō-ji, it forms the Shrines and Temples of Nikkō UNESCO World Heritage Site. The original five-storey pagoda was donated by a daimyō in 1650, but it was burned down during a fire, and was rebuilt in 1818. Each storey represents an element–earth, water, fire, wind and aether (or void)–in ascending order. Inside the pagoda, a central shinbashira pillar hangs from chains to minimize damage from earthquakes.

Thanks to Ms Neetu and Amar.

Thailand: Karbi

Krabi is the main town in the province of Krabi on the west coast of southern Thailand at the mouth of the Krabi River where it empties in Phang Nga Bay.

Thanks to Tejaswi and Manjunath who were visiting Thailand.

Thailand: Phi Phi Island.

The Phi Phi Islands are an island group in Thailand, between the large island of Phuket and the west Strait of Malacca coast of the mainland. The islands are administratively part of Krabi province.

Thanks to Tejasvi and Manjunath who were visited these islands.

Japan: Fushimi Inari-taisha

Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of the god Inari, located in Fushimi Ward in Kyoto, Japan. The shrine sits at the base of a mountain also named Inari which is 233 metres (764 ft) above sea level, and includes trails up the mountain to many smaller shrines which span 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) and take approximately 2 hours to walk up. The highlight of the shrine is the rows of torii gates this is called Senbon torii. The custom to donate a torii started to spread since the Edo period (1603 – 1868) to get a wish to become true or to thank for a wish that became true.

Thanks to Amar, Neetu and Kashyap. The card shows Torii gates.

Japan: Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower is a communications and observation tower in the Shiba-koen district of Minato, Tokyo, Japan. At 332.9 metres (1,092 ft), it is the second-tallest structure in Japan.

Postcard 1

Thanks to Ms Mikiko

Postcard 2

Thanks to Ms Neetu who was visiting Japan.

Thailand: Phuket

Phuket is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. It consists of the island of Phuket, the country's largest island, and another 32 smaller islands off its coast. It lies off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea.

Thanks to my cousin Laky and his wife Radhika fro sending this from Phuket.