American Lighthouses

 I've said a few days ago that last month I've received a few official cards from the USA but half of them were actually from other countries. The other half were from different American states, Maine, Texas and Mississippi but, coincidentally, all lighthouses.

 

PR Hornby Photographic Trust

US-11759737, sent by Olivia. 

York County lighthouses, in South Coast Region of Maine.

Whaleback Light - built in 1872. The lighthouse is accessible only by boat and is closed to the public;

Boon Island Lighthouse - the tallest lighthouse in Maine. Its first granite tower was built in 1811, however it was destroyed in a storm in 1832. The current version was built in 1855 and features a dome-covered beacon. As one of the state’s most remote lighthouses, it’s susceptible to fierce Atlantic storms. Boon Island Light remains an active navigational aid, though it’s not open to the public and is privately owned. - in: https://www.visit-maine.com

Cape Neddick ("Nubble") Light - built in 1879. The lighthouse and grounds are not open to the public;

Goat Island Light - built in1859. The island is accessible by boat only. The island and lighthouse are not open to the public except by special arrangement. Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation;

Wood Island Lighthouse - built in 1858. Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation. Wood Island can be reached only by boat. The island and lighthouse are open to the public only during tours offered in July and August. - in: https://www.visit-maine.com

 

 US-11759740, sent by Kelsi.

The lighthouse was built in 1852 due to the great number of shipwrecks that had occurred off Brazos Island in the Gulf of Mexico. By 1905, the lighthouse was decommissioned due to a downturn in maritime traffic caused by changes to the Rio Grande and the growth of railways. Present day, a reconstructed lighthouse keeper’s cottage sits in the shadow of Port Isabel’s 72-foot lighthouse and serves as a visitor center and museum. In 2022, after 117 years without a light, a 3rd Order Fresnel Lens was fitted in the lantern room. This addition brought the lighthouse back to the glory days it had not seen since 1905. Climb 75 winding stairs, three short ladders, and take in the coastal sights of the South Padre Island beaches at the last Texas lighthouse open to the public. - in: https://thc.texas.gov

 

Photo by Grant

US-11759745, sent by Grant.

Built in 1848, the Biloxi Lighthouse was one of the first lighthouses in the South made of cast iron. The most notable lightkeepers were Maria and Miranda Younghans, a mother-daughter duo who tended the light for 63 years.
In 1939, the United States Coast Guard took ownership of the Lighthouse until 1969, when it was handed over to the City of Biloxi. Soon after, it was opened for public tours. It was eventually added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and was declared an official Mississippi Landmark in 1987.
The 64-foot-tall lighthouse took a beating from multiple weather events over the years. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina made a big impact after much of the structure was damaged by the winds, which toppled many bricks that lined the interior of the cast iron tower. The storm’s winds also broke many of the windows in the light cupola and destroyed the electrical system. The lighthouse reopened in March 2010 as a symbol of the area’s resilience during the post-Katrina era. - in: https://msgulfcoastheritage.ms.gov

Lord Howe Island - Australia

 Lord Howe Island, island dependency of New South Wales, Australia. It is situated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean some 700 km northeast of Sydney. Lord Howe Island is UNESCO World Heritage paradise where lush rainforests meet crystal-clear waters. With only 400 visitors allowed at a time, this secluded haven offers world-class snorkelling, hiking, and unforgettable encounters with rare marine life and rare birds.

 

Photograph: Jon Cornforth Images

AU-1035780, sent by Peter.

The Lord Howe Island Group is an outstanding example of oceanic islands of volcanic origin containing a unique biota of plants and animals, as well as the world’s most southerly true coral reef. It is an area of spectacular and scenic landscapes encapsulated within a small land area, and provides important breeding grounds for colonies of seabirds as well as significant natural habitat for the conservation of threatened species.

 

Photo: John Buttler 

 Iconic species include endemics such as the flightless Lord Howe Woodhen (Gallirallis sylvestris), once regarded as one of the rarest birds in the world, and the Lord Howe Island Phasmid (Dryococelus australis), the world’s largest stick insect that was feared extinct until its rediscovery on Balls Pyramid. - in: https://whc.unesco.org

Royal Exhibition Building - Australia

The Royal Exhibition Building is located in Carlton Gardens, in the northeast of Melbourne's financial district. It was the first building in Australia to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in 2004.

Photograph: Round Glass

AU-1033193, sent by Neil

The Royal Exhibition Building and its surrounding Carlton Gardens were designed for the great international exhibitions of 1880 and 1888 in Melbourne and later hosted the opening of the first Parliament of Australia in 1901. Throughout the 20th century smaller sections and wings of the building were subject to demolition and fire, however the main building, known as the Great Hall, survived.. The building and grounds were designed by Joseph Reed.

The property is one of the last remaining 19th-century exhibition buildings in the world and most complete surviving site from the International Exhibition movement 1851–1914, which saw over 50 exhibitions staged between 1851 and 1915 in venues including Paris, New York, Vienna, Calcutta, Kingston (Jamaica) and Santiago (Chile).

Gardens by the Bay - Singapore

For those who appreciate modern and innovative architecture, Singapore is one of those countries to add to a must visit list. I confess that it doesn't attract me that much, but who knows, I might be surprised.

 

Gardens by the Bay is a nature park spanning 101 hectares (250 acres) of reclaimed land in central Singapore, adjacent to the Marina Reservoir. The park consists of three waterfront gardens: Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden and Bay Central Garden. The largest of the gardens is Bay South Garden at 54 hectares (130 acres).

 

SG-463123, sent by Peggy.

Gardens by the Bay is part of a strategy by the Singapore government to transform Singapore from a "Garden City" to a "City in a Garden". The stated aim is to raise the quality of life by enhancing greenery and flora in the city.

Besides the Gardens by the Bay, this card also depicts the Marina Bay Sands Resort Hotel & Casino.

SG-234286, sent by Yen.

Supertrees are tree-like structures that dominate the Gardens' landscape with heights that range between 25 metres (82 ft) and 50 metres (160 ft). They are vertical gardens that perform a multitude of functions, which include planting, shading and working as environmental engines for the gardens.

The Supertrees are home to enclaves of unique and exotic ferns, vines, orchids and also a vast collection of bromeliads such as Tillandsia, amongst other plants. 

There is an elevated walkway, the OCBC Skyway, between two of the larger Supertrees for visitors to enjoy a panoramic aerial view of the Gardens. A food and beverage outlet is planned atop the 50-metre (160 ft) Supertree. At night, the Supertrees come alive with a light and music show called the OCBC Garden Rhapsody. - in: wikipedia

JP-2311540

 "Onsen" is a Japanese word for a hot spring and the bathing facilities built around it, which are highly popular and part of the country's culture. Every region of the country has its share of hot springs and resort towns that come with them.

 

Kusatsu Onsen (草津温泉) is one of Japan's most famous hot spring resorts and is blessed with large volumes of high quality hot spring water said to cure every illness but lovesickness.
Well known as a hot spring resort for many centuries, Kusatsu's fame was further boasted by German doctor Erwin von Baelz, who served at the imperial court in the late 1800s and recommended Kusatsu for its water's health benefits.

 

JP-2311540, sent by Kumiko.

The Yubatake (湯畑, lit. "hot water field") is the symbol of Kusatsu and one of the resort's main sources of hot spring water. In fact, with an output of 5000 liters per minute, the Yubatake ranks among Japan's single most productive hot spring sources.
After bubbling to the surface at a temperature of more than 70 degrees Celsius and with a pleasant sulfur odor, the hot spring water is cooled down in the Yubatake's wooden conduits by a few degrees before it gets distributed to the various ryokan and public baths. In addition, sulfuric sediment (yunohana, lit. "hot water flowers") that collects in the wooden conduits over time is periodically harvested and sold as a type of "bath salt" at local shops.
Many ryokan and shops are clustered around the Yubatake and there is a steady stream of visitors, many of whom wear yukata and geta (traditional sandals) in the evening when the Yubatake is lit up. There is also a foot bath (ashiyu), that can be used for free. - in: https://www.japan-guide.com

Vietnam's Traditional Hat

 How lovely is this card?! Diana has been to Vietnam a few months ago and brought me this card for my old people collection. Love it!!

The cute old lady is making a Non La, a cone-shaped hat made mainly from palm leaves, latanier leaves, or bamboo leaves. Its frame is crafted from thin bamboo or rattan, creating a light and durable structure. Each hat includes around 16 to 20 bamboo rings, all hand-stitched with great care and precision.

 

It usually takes 4 - 8 hours to complete one Non La, depending on the detail and craftsmanship. For farmers, the Non La is an essential tool used daily to shield them from the sun and rain. It is also used by women when going to the market, or as a hand fan to create a breeze during rest breaks in the fields. When worn with the graceful ao dai, it highlights the gentle and modest charm of Vietnamese women. You can see the Non La everywhere, from countryside fields to city streets, and even at cultural festivals and fashion shows.

Its simple and rustic beauty reflects the soul of the Vietnamese people.
Beyond its daily use, the Non La is a meaningful souvenir. Many visitors buy it as a special gift for loved ones or as a keepsake from Vietnam. It also holds deep meaning, appearing in poetry, music, and art, and living on through generations as a symbol of Vietnamese identity. - in: https://www.vietnamairlines.com

US-11759741

 This month I've received a few official cards from the USA but half of them were actually from other countries. This one here is from China. 

He Garden, or Heyuan Garden, located in Xuningmen Street in Jiangsu Yangzhou City, is known as "the first garden in late Qing Dynasty". The once private garden has now become a national 4A-rated tourist site, and attracted many ancient architecture lovers.

 

US-11759741, sent by Helen.

The garden was the private residential yard of the He Family, a notable family and great clan in Yangzhou. It was built by He Zhidao, an official of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty. He resigned in 1883 and set up business in Yangzhou. He then bought the ancient site of Wu’s Sliced Stone Mountain Villa, and enlarged it into a big garden for his family. Construction lasted 13 years. - in: https://www.travelchinaguide.com

The He Garden is the representative work of Yangzhou gardens in the late Qing Dynasty, and is the embodiment of Yangzhou's garden characteristics. It makes full use of the gallery building function and charm; the 1500 meters complex road corridors here is unique wonderful landscapein China's gardens.
The scale of this garden is huge, covering an area of more than 14000 square meters; and the building area has reached more than 7000 square meters, accounting for more than 50% of the total area; reflecting the late Qing Dynasty garden architecture characteristics. The whole garden is divided into the east garden, west garden, garden countyard, slice of stone and hills room, with two layer series floor and compound corridor connecting with the house. - in: https://www.topchinatravel.com