US-2843346

Lighthouses of West Michigan. 

Photos by John & Sam Pencod

US-2843346, sent by "MissBeerbower".

On the back of the card: Counter-clockwise from top left: White River, South Haven South Pier, St. Joseph North Pier, Little Sable Point, Grand Haven, Muskegon, Holland Harbor and Big Sable Point.  

Historical Parks in Thailand

Thai cards sent by Emerich, both showing historical parks. 

Photography: Jatuporn Rutnin

The old city of Si Satchanalai  is a historical park in Si Satchanalai district, Sukhothai Province, northern Thailand. Together with the associated historic parks in Kamphaengphet and Sukhothai, it was declared a World Heritage site in 1991. 

While it offers similar Sukhothai era temples and monuments, it is much less visited than Sukhothai. 

The old city of Si Satchanalai is considered the sister city of historic Sukhothai, and existed contemporary with Sukhothai. Direct family members of the Kings of Sukhothai usually ruled nearby Si Satchanalai. During the reign of King Li Thai (1347-1368) many temples were built and restored at Si Satchanalai. - in: http://www.thaiwebsites.com/sisatchanalai.asp

Photography: Jatuporn Rutnin

Prasat Phanom Rung is an historical park located in Buriram.

Prasat Phanom Rung is one of the most significant Khmer monuments in Thailand. It was built in the 10th-13th century A.D. Phanom Rung was a Hindu Saivite (Shiva) monastery. Sculptures also present images of Vishnu. A processional way leads through Naga bridges to the main sanctuary. Lintels, pediments depict the Hindu Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, with also scenes of the Ramayana. The most famous lintel (Vishnu Anantasayin) depicts Vishnu reclining on the back of the Naga King Ananta. This lintel disappeared for many years outside the country, but was recently returned.

The setting of Phanom Rung is quite scenic, with views of the countryside all around. The site is probably the most visited Khmer monument in Thailand. - in: http://www.thaitravel.info/Phanomrung/

Return of the Przewalski’s Horse - Mongolia

This is a postcard issued by Prague's Zoo, which has been having an important role on the preservation and reintroduction of the Przewalski’s Horse to their original homeland. The zoo organized several transports of these horses to different areas of Mongolia. 

Partnering with the Czech Army, the zoo transported four horses to Mongolia each year between 2011 and 2013 – 11 mares and one stallion in total. They were taken to the Khomyn Tal reserve and the Gobi B national park, where, following acclimation, they joined the wild herds. The success of the endeavor can be judged by the fact that only a year after their arrival, some of the mares were already raising their own foals. - in: http://www.zoopraha.cz/en/animals/we-help-them-to-survive/projects/7678-return-of-the-przewalski-s-horse-to-mongolia

Foto: Petr Jan Juračka

Przewalski's horse is a rare and endangered subspecies of wild horse (Equus ferus) native to the steppes of central Asia, specifically Mongolia. At one time extinct in the wild (in Mongolia, the last wild Przewalski's horses had been seen in 1966), it has been reintroduced to its native habitat in Mongolia at the Khustain Nuruu National Park, Takhin Tal Nature Reserve, and Khomiin Tal. The taxonomic position is still debated, and some taxonomists treat Przewalski's horse as a species, Equus przewalskii.

The horse is named after the Russian geographer and explorer Nikolai Przhevalsky.

Most "wild" horses today, such as the American Mustang or the Australian Brumby, are actually feral horses descended from domesticated animals that escaped and adapted to life in the wild. In contrast, Przewalski's horse has never been domesticated and remains a truly wild animal today. - in: wikipédia

BY-1314442

An official from Belarus showing the modern Minsk Arena.

BY-1314442, sent by Marina.

Minsk-Arena (Belarusian: Мінск-Арэна, Russian: Минск-Арена) is a multi-use indoor arena in Minsk.

The Minsk-Arena Complex is unique in its complexity and functionality not only in Belarus but also in Europe. It includes a multi-sports and entertainment arena for 15,000 spectators (making it the largest full-time arena in use by a Kontinental Hockey League team), a skating stadium for up to 3,000 spectators and a velodrome at 2,000 spectators. - in: wikipedia

Mir Castle - Belarus

Mir Castle is the most famous castle in Belarus and one of the country's UNESCO WHS. Castles and UNESCO sites are 2 of my favorite kind of cards, so is no surprise that I already got a few Mir Castle cards, some of them twice. 

BY-16035, sent by Olga.

I think most of the postcrossers are familar with the beautiful Mir Castle as it looks nowadays but a few years ago it didn't look that beautiful. This is how the castle looked in 1979 before the modern restoration.

The construction of this castle began at the end of the 15th century, in Gothic style. It was subsequently extended and reconstructed, first in the Renaissance and then in the Baroque style. After being abandoned for nearly a century and suffering severe damage during the Napoleonic period, the castle was restored at the end of the 19th century, with the addition of a number of other elements and the landscaping of the surrounding area as a park. Its present form is graphic testimony to its often turbulent history. 

BY-1314441, sent by Marina. This card was also sent by Natalia. 

Mir Castle is an exceptional example of a central European castle, reflecting in its design and layout successive cultural influences (Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance) that blend harmoniously to create an impressive monument to the history of this region.

The region in which Mir Castle stands has a long history of political and cultural confrontation and coalescence, which is graphically represented in the form and appearance of the ensemble. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/625

Lena and "MaryBy" have both sent me this card. 

St. George Church, Drohobych - Ukraine

St. George Church is one of the eight ukrainian wooden tserkvas inscribed last year on the UNESCO WHS list. This was the last ukrainian sites I was still missing. 

I must say that I love wooden churches and this one is so beautiful. Thank you so much Knesiya for sending me this amazing card. 

The church was built sometime in the late XVI century in the village of Nadiyiv. In 1657 the church was purchased for a barrel of salt, taken apart, transported and erected in Drohobych on the site of an earlier church which was destroyed by tartars in 1499. The bell tower was built in 1670. The church is officially labelled as a "three-room log constructed church with three levels".

The church was repaired and improved during the period of 1820-1830 and then again in 1974-5. The church has been labelled as an architectural monument for a long time and has been used as a museum during the Soviet period. - in: http://www.infoukes.com/culture/architecture/st_george/

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska - Poland

The 38th session of the World Heritage Committee ended yesterday. 26 new sites and 4 extensions have been inscribed on the World Heritage List. The UNESCO postcards collections can start now looking for cards of the new sites. I don't have any of the new sites but two of them are already on my way. 

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is already on the World Heritage List since 1999. 

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is a breathtaking cultural landscape of great spiritual significance. Its natural setting – in which a series of symbolic places of worship relating to the Passion of Jesus Christ and the life of the Virgin Mary was laid out at the beginning of the 17th century – has remained virtually unchanged. It is still today a place of pilgrimage. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/905

The Sanctuary in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska in Poland was one of Pope John Paul II´s favourite places of pilgrimage. Situated in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains 33km from Krakow, it was established in 1600 as Poland´s first Calvary sanctuary to offer Christian pilgrims an alternative to Jerusalem that had been acquired by Muslim Turks.

It´s humble origins began as quaint chapel dedicated to the Crucifixion of Christ, followed by a chalk model of the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. Over the next two centuries the sanctuary would become the largest pilgrimage site in Europe and today receives over a million visitors a year, making it one of the most visited places in Poland.

Recognized as one of the most fascinating architectural projects in Europe, this vast complex features 42 churches and chapels including the domineering 17^th century baroque Basilica dedicated to the Angelic Mother of God in the centre and the adjoining Franciscan monastery. - in: http://www.krakow-poland.com/krakow-tourist-information/krakow-and-surrounding-areas/sanctuary-in-kalwaria-zebrzydowska