Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta - Pakistan

This is also a card from a new country, Pakistan, and also a new unesco site, Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta.

A double thank you to Huang from China.

"One of the largest necropolises in the world, with a diameter of approximately 8 kilometers, Makli Hill is supposed to be the burial place of some 125,000 Sufi saints. It is located on the outskirts of Thatta, the capital of lower Sind until the seventeenth century, in what is the southeastern province of present-day Pakistan.

Legends abound about its inception, but it is generally believed that the cemetery grew around the shrine of the fourteenth-century Sufi, Hamad Jamali. The tombs and gravestones spread over the cemetery are material documents marking the social and political history of Sind.

Imperial mausoleums are divided into two major groups, those from the Samma (1352–1520) and Tarkhan (1556–1592) periods. The tomb of the Samma king, Jam Nizamuddin II (reigned 1461–1509), is an impressive square structure built of sandstone and decorated with floral and geometric medallions. Similar to this is the mausoleum of Isa Khan Tarkhan II (d. 1651), a two-story stone building with majestic cupolas and balconies. In contrast to the syncretic architecture of these two monuments, which integrate Hindu and Islamic motifs, are mausoleums that clearly show the Central Asian roots of the later dynasty. An example is the tomb of Jan Beg Tarkhan (d. 1600), a typical octagonal brick structure whose dome is covered in blue and turquoise glazed tiles. Today, Makli Hill is a United Nations World Heritage Site that is visited by both pilgrims and tourists." - in: wikipedia

Maldives

I finally have cards from the Maldives, a new country. I got these thanks to Sumie from Japan.

The 1st card shows the Malé Atoll and the 2nd starting from left top: Vilingili Reef, Mayaafushi, Rasdhoo Atoll, Laviani Atoll, Kuda, Bandos, Nakatchafushi, Ihuru, Baros and Kuredu.

"The Maldives is an island counrtry in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of 26 atolls stretching in a north-south direction off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and Chagos Archipelago. It stands in the Laccadive Sea, about seven hundred kilometres (435 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka.

The atolls of Maldives encompass a territory spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometers, making it one of the most disparate countries in the world. It features 1,192 islets, of which two hundred are inhabited. The Republic of Maldives's capital and largest city is Malé, with a population of 103,693 (2006). It is located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll, in the Kaafu Atoll. It is also one of the Administrative divisions of the Maldives. Traditionally it was the King's Island, from where the ancient Maldive Royal dynasties ruled and where the palace was located.

The Maldives is the smallest Asian country in both population and area. With an average ground level of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, it is the lowest country on the planet. It is also the country with the lowest highest point in the world, at 2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in)." - in: wikipedia

Tahiti - French Polynesia

The Seychelles card wasn't the only card from an exotic place that i've got in the last days.

This is a card from French Polynesia, "a french overseas collectivity in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is made up of several groups of polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory (Papeete)." - in: wikipedia

This amazing card was sent by Magali "mlysao".

"Tahiti is the largest island in the windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of Society Islands. The island has a population of 178,133 according to an August 2007 census. This makes it the most populous island of French Polynesia, accounting for 68.6% of the total population. The capital, Papeete, is located on the northwest coast." - in: wikipedia

PT-117909

It was really funny to receive this oficial from my own country.

I've already received 2 portuguese cards but this one is special because it's a card from my region and it was sent from my city. I believe the sender has family living here because he said he was spending Easter holidays here when he got my address.

This is a card from Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain range in mainland. Serra da Estrela is also a natural park.

The card shows a typical house used to hold sheeps, a shepherd and the Serra da Estrela cheese. The Serra da Estrela cheese has very rigorous rules and its production is limited to some regions.

"It is made of sheep milk, mostly during the months of November to March. Its maturation period has specific norms and must last thirty days at least. According to its maturation it becomes creamy pouring out or thicker. It is a cured cheese from artisan work with half-soft paste, creamy, white or slightly yellow, uniform (without holes or just a few) obtained from slow draining of curdled-milk, after raw sheep milk coagulation, with Cynara cadunculus thistle. The shape is a low cylinder with side camber and a little in the upper face, not having precise tacks. It shows a soft well formed rind, smooth and thin, with a uniform straw-yellow colour." - in: wikipedia

JP-102077

This beautiful card is from Japan.

I live far from the sea, i don't get to see lighthouses that often, so it's always nice when i get a lighthouse card.

JP-102077, sent by Satoko.

"Hinomisaki, which is located north of Izumo Shrine, is a port town that faces the Sea of Japan where blue sky and clear sea water are beautiful. It is a part of the Daisen Oki National Park. The Izumo Hinomisaki Lighthouse, which stands on a part of the coast, is 38.8m high, and is the highest of stone-build lighthouse in Asia. Visitors can pay 200-yen admission fee and go up to the upper deck, where a beautiful 360-degree panoramic view of the Sea of Japan, as well as boulders and cliffs of Owashi beach, can be enjoyed. The lighthouse was selected as one of the World's One Hundred Most Historic Lighthouses. Walking trail has been developed around the lighthouse, from where the beauty of the Sea of Japan can be observed. The sun setting on the Sea of Japan is worth a look." - in: http://www.japan-i.jp/explorejapan/chugoku/shimane/matsue-izumo/d8jk7l000002t1xc.html

German official cards

DE-563669, sent by Andre.
This is the Castle of the Counts of Erbach, in Erbach, the district seat of the Odenwaldkreis in Hesse, Germany.

"The castle of the princely Counts of Erbach was built into a residence in the style of the times in the 18th century. Since the noble house did not have the needed materials on hand, only the middle wing of the planned three-winged building was ever built. The façade is to a great extent built out of not sandstone, but rather sheeting or wood coloured to look like it.

The antique collections at the castle have remained almost unchanged since Count Franz I’s time (1754-1823).

In 2005, the state of Hesse bought the castle for €13,000,000.

Within the castle complex is the likewise Late Barroque orangery with the castle garden." - in: wikipedia

DE-559587, sent by Mario.

"The Zugspitze is the highest mountain in Germany, at 2,962 metres above sea level. It is located on the Austrian border beside the town of Grainau in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the federal-state of Bavaria.

There are also two cable cars that go to the peak from the base of the mountain: one ascends from the German side of the mountain at the lake Eibsee, and the other ascends from Austria near Ehrwald. The peak is regularly crowded with tourists.

For those wishing to reach the summit under their own power, various hiking and ski trails can also be followed to the top. Hiking to the top from the base takes between one and two days, or a few hours for the very fit. Food and lodging is available on some trails. In winter the Zugspitze is a popular skiing and snowboarding destination, with several slopes on both sides. The Zugspitzplatt is Germany's highest ski resort, and thus normally has sufficient snow throughout the winter." - in: wikipedia

DE-513548, sent by Karin.

This is an official from Germany but the card is from La Digue, the fourth largest inhabited island of the Seychelles.
"It has a population of about 2,000 people, who mostly live in the west coast villages of La Passe (linked by ferry to Praslin and Mahé) and La Réunion. It has an area of 10 km². La Digue is named after a ship in the fleet of French explorer Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne, who visited the Seychelles in 1768." - in: wikipedia

US-589833 & CN-183545

After 1 week without any updates i'm back with some new cards. In the last few days i've received 9 official cards, these are from USA and China.

US-589833, sent by Josh.

Josh sent me my 1st card from Austin, Texas capital city. The card shows the Austin's Congress Avenue Bridge that crosses Lady Bird Lake in Austin.

The bridge was known as the Congress Avenue Bridge from the construction of the first span across the Colorado River at that location in the late 19th century until November 16, 2006, when the Austin City Council renamed the current bridge in honor of the late Ann W. Richards, the 45th Governor of Texas and Austin resident.
The bridge is currently home to the world's largest urban bat colony, with up to 1.5 million bats emerging nightly between mid-March and early November. The Mexican free tailed bats, which eat 10.000 to 30.000 pounds of insects during the course of their summer evening flights, draw more than 100.000 tourists annualy.

CN-183545, sent by Bo.

"The Yonghe Temple , also known as the "Palace of Peace and Harmony Lama Temple", the "Yonghe Lamasery", or - popularly - the "Lama Temple" is a temple and monastery of the Geluk School of Tibetan Buddhism located in the northeastern part of Beijing, China. It is one of the largest and most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world. The building and the artworks of the temple combine Han Chinese and Tibetan styles." - in: wikipedia