TW-3681523 & TW-3706087

 It makes sense to post sunset cards at this time of the day. 

TW-3681523, sent by Ruby.

Sanxiantai is an area containing a beach and several islands located on the coast of Chenggong Township, Taitung County, Taiwan. 

A popular tourist attraction for its rocky coastal views, the area is well known for its long footbridge in the shape of a sea dragon. - in: wikipedia

 In 1987, the government completed the eight cross-sea arch bridge that crosses over to the island. It was designed in the shape of waves, like a prostrate sea dragon and connects Sanxiantai with Taiwan Island. It has become the most famous landmark on the East Coast. - in: https://www.eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw

 

TW-3706087, sent by Esther.

Fangliao Fishing Harbor is one of the nicer fishing harbors around Taiwan. It's easy to reach from the railways station and you can catch nice sunsets there from the bridge over the harbor. 

Jiufen - Taiwan

Founded during the Qing Dynasty, this small town was a relatively isolated village until the discovery of gold during the Japanese occupation in 1893, quickly developing the town due to a gold rush. Many buildings in the town remain unchanged to this day, reflecting the Japanese influence on both architecture and culture on the island.

 

Photo by: yuyen

JP-1994687, sent by Yoko.

During World War II, the town housed a Japanese prisoner of war camp where captured Allied Force soldiers (mainly British) were forced to work in the gold mines. After the war, gold mining activities declined, and the town today exists mainly as a tourist destination remembering and celebrating Taiwanese history and culture.

TW-2932929, sent by Maruko Wei.

From the beginning of the 1990s, Jiufen experienced a tourist boom that has shaped the town into an attraction easily accessible from Taipei City as a nice day trip (around 2 hours away roundtrip by public transit). Today, the town is filled with both retro Chinese and Japanese style cafés, tea houses, and souvenir shops, as well as fantastic views of the ocean. - in: https://guidetotaipei.com

TW-3549195

Lukang is one of the important historic towns in Taiwan. It is the town for well-preserved historic sites, old houses, old temples and folk arts.

TW-3549195, sent by Alex.

Lukang Longshan Temple is the largest temple in Lukang, whose founding year is unavailable, but most of the structures were completed by 1831. It is also believed to be Taiwan’s most well-preserved Fujianese style architecture from the Qing dynasty. Owing to its architectural, artistic and historical significance, Lukang Longshan Temple has been named a national historic site and one of the most beautiful temples in Taiwan. - in: https://www.rtaiwanr.com

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * July 22

Last year I've joined this monthly RR 10 times. I always skip December and I forgot to register one of the months. Of those 10 months, only 2 remained incomplete, meaning that I didn't get all the cards I was supposed to get. I always join with 4 cards but in April I've only received 2 and in July 3.

The three missing cards were resent and all have been received now.

 

 Mt. Aso in Aso-Kuju National Park, central Kyushu, is Japan's most active volcano and it's huge caldera is one of the world's largest calderas, which stretches 18km east-west, 25km north-south. Even though the crater is accessible to tourists, the area is often partially and sometimes completely closed off to visitors due to poisonous volcanic gases, bad weather or the risk of volcanic activity. 

This card was sent by Tomoko.

The Presidential Office Building in Taipei was built during Japanese colonization period. It was the governor's mansion at that time. During the ending period of World War II, the building was seriously damaged due to bombing. After Taiwan was reclaimed by R.O.C., the building was re-constructed in 1946. The building was re-named as "Jieshou Building" in celebration of the 60th birthday of former president Mr. Chiang Kai-shek. The building has been used as the presidential mansion after the central government of R.O.C. was re-instated in Taiwan. - in: https://eng.taiwan.net.tw

Card sent by Angel.

 

Pavilion of Prince Teng, aka Tengwang Pavilion is located on the shore of the Kan, in Nanchang City, in the Chinese Province of Jiangxi. The building is one of the three most notable pavilions on south side of the Yangtze River. 

The original three storied, thirty meters high building dates back the Tang Dynasty (618-907). During  its 1,300 year long history, the building was reconstructed a few times as a consequence of unfortunate events. However, probably the worst tragedy occurred in 1926, when it was destroyed by fire during the conflicts between the Northern Warlords. The current building is the result of rebuilding that was carried out between 1983 and 1989. 

This last card was sent by Cyan. 

Foto: G. Van Rafelghem

After months of waiting, I've received this card from Kortrijk, resent by Lara.

The Belfry of Kortrijk is a medieval bell tower in the historical centre of Kortrijk, Belgium. One of the city's most prominent symbols, the belfry formerly housed a treasury and the municipal archives, and served as an observation post for spotting fires and other danger.
 In 1999, the belfry was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Belfries of Belgium and France site, in recognition of the civil, not religious, importance and architecture of the belfries in the region.
The belfry was added to the main market square around 1307, when Courtray was prospering as an important centre of the Flemish cloth industry. The oldest part (the base) of the tower still dates back to this date. The tower, which nowadays is a free-standing tower in the middle of the Grote Mark (Main Market Square), used to be the main tower of the ‘‘Cloth hall’’, built in 1410.
During the Second World War, the Belfry was only partly damaged, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that the bell tower was properly restored to its original glory. - in: wikipedia

TW-3487484

Did you know that mountains have an international day? The United Nations General Assembly has designated 11 December, from 2003 onwards, as International Mountain Day. The day aims to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build partnerships that will bring positive change to the world’s mountains and highlands. - in: https://www.internationaldays.org

Last year, on that day, postcrossers in Taiwan had a meeting.

 

Photo by RyanMa

TW-3487484, sent by Wing Fei.

With a 3742 meter peak, Mt.Nanhu is the fifth highest mountain in Taiwan and the highest peak in Taroko National Park. Historically, the mountain range is part of the traditional territory for Atayal tribe, one of the Taiwanese aboriginal tribes. Due to its height and glacier cirque, Mt.Nanhu is dubbed as the most majestic mountain in Taiwan. - in: https://medium.com

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * November 22

The last card of November was one of the 1st to arrive this year. That one, from Taiwan, was sent by Yeh and the others by Edith, Marei and Tracey.

 

Photo by Peter Horree

Windmill card, windmill stamp, windmill sticker and even a windmill in the washi tape. 

Edith noticed that all my Dutch windmills are from the western part of Netherlands, so she sent me this one from Deventer, in the eastern part of the country.

Built in 1863, Bolwerksmolen is a saw mill just across the river outside Deventer’s city centre, close to the Wilhelmina Bridge.  It is a fully working mill.

In 2018 I visited 5 of the 7 UNESCO sites in Bavaria. Wies Pilgrimage Church was one of the two I didn't get to visit. 

This oval Rococo church was designed in the late 1740s by brothers J. B. and Dominikus Zimmermann. It is located at the foot of the Alps, in the municipality of Steingaden in the Weilheim-Schongau district, Bavaria. Due to its remarkable Rococo architecture, the Wieskirche was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983.

 

Erkan Historical Village is a unique place in Taiwan that preserves nearly 300 years of Southern Min culture. Isolated and cut off from the rest of Taiwan for quite some time on Siyu island of Penghu County, the village is a living museum for visitors. Every home is built in traditional red brick Southern Min style (...). - in:https://www.foreignersintaiwan.com

The round things are baskets filled with incense sticks being dried in the sun. Burning the incense, serves to drive away mosquitoes and, as local lore has it, bad spirits.  

 

Ansel Adams

Denali, also known as Mount McKinley, its former official name, is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet (6,190 m) above sea level.

Located in the Alaska Range in the interior of the U.S. state of Alaska, Denali is the centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve.

Alishan Railway - Taiwan

For quite some time it was not possible to send and received mail from Taiwan. Now, after more than 2 years, I started to received officials from there again. These, both from the Alishan Railway, are two of the nicest I've ever received with TW id. I kinda like cards with old trains.

Alishan Forest Railway is one of the most iconic, best preserved and most beautiful historical mountain railways in the world. Starting at the center of Chiayi City, it passes through tropical forests, subtropical hills, and rising into the temperate forests in the mountains, originally ending up at Alishan. It is definitely something you should experience while you are in Taiwan.

The railway attracts visitors from all over the world and is one of the most popular attractions in Taiwan.

 

TW-3313730, sent by Shengjie.

The Alishan forest railway was opened in 1912 during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan. Originally it was built to transport lumber from mountain areas in Chiayi County, especially cypress and Taiwania wood. The railway consists of narrow gauge track, and has 50 tunnels and70 wooden bridges.

 

 TW-3411510, sent by Vasya.

After the Alishan highway was completed in 1982 and logging in Taiwan was banned, passengers along the railway dropped considerably. However, the railway has become popular again in recent years due to its unique and historic preservation. - in: https://www.foreignersintaiwan.com

TW-3360203

Thanks a lot Jenny for checking my favs and sending this FOTW. new to my collection.

© concept by Postcardsmarket.com

TW-3360203, sent by Jenny.

Taiwan has an area of 36.193 km², a population of 23.519.518 and its capital is Taipei.
Unique:
* Taipei 101 - landmark of Taiwan. Skycrapper of 508 meters height, was the world highest building between 2004-2009;  
* Taroko Gorge - an extraordinary sub-tropical landscape of mountains, towering walls of marble and limestone, waterfalls, rocky cliffs riddled with tunnels and spanned by hanging bridges;  
Famous:  
* Ang Lee - Taiwanese born film director. Won a myriad oj major international awards, including 3 Academy Awards, 4 BAFTA Awards and 3 Gonden Globe Awards;

* Ilha Formosa - Beautiful island, name given by the Portuguese when they saw the island of Taiwan back in the 16th century;
History:  

* 3000 BC - arrival of the ancestors of today's Taiwanese aborigenes. Today the indiginous Taiwanese aborigenes are about 533.600 and divided into 16 recognized groups;

* 1683 - the island comes under administration of China's Qing dynasty;

* 1947 - Constitution of the Republic of China;

* 1949 - Republic of China relocated to Taiwan.

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * March 22

I usually join this RR with 4 cards, which means I'll send and receive 4 cards. However in March, the host gave me 5 addresses and that wasn't an issue at all. I've got these great cards from Taiwan, Belgium, Germany, Finland and Japan.

www.papersisters.de

 

Bubble tea, blue and white slippers, Dajia Mazu pilgrimage, night markets, Taipei 101, Yehliu geopark, are all famous things and places in Taiwan. By the way, did you know that bubble tea was invented in Taiwan? 

New card in the HP from collection. Thank you Angel.

 

www.papersisters.de

 

I was already happy with the new HP from Taiwan card but Lara made be happier with this Belgium card. 

Small but a very interresting country. My trip to Belgium in 2011 was one of my best trips ever. 

© Schöning Verlag

Sabine sent me this beautiful lighthouse card, from my favs, and used a matching stamp.

Schleimünde Lighthouse, in state of Schleswig-Holstein, at Western coast of the Baltic Sea, was built in 1871. 

 Photo: Taneli Eskola 2019

 

In Liesjärvi National Park you've a chance to try your hand at traditional farm work at the Korteniemi Heritage Farm. You can also meet livestock and experience how people lived 100 years ago. The farm is a real park ranger’s estate from the 1910s, and several indigenous species of livestock, including cows, sheep, chickens and a rooster, are still kept there in the summer. Old Finnish crops are grown in the fields and vegetable gardens using traditional methods. Rye is still cut with scythes, dried in stooks and threshed with flails. - in: https://www.discoveringfinland.com 

Card sent by Flora and also signed by 5 other postcrossers who attended a meeting in Mikkeli. 

 

Sakurajima (桜島) is one of Japan's most active volcanoes and the symbol of Kagoshima. The volcano smokes constantly, and minor eruptions often take place multiple times per day. Located in the middle of Kagoshima Bay, Sakurajima is the area's most prominent geographic feature, having an elevation of 1117 meters and a circumference of about 50 kilometers. 

Before a powerful eruption in 1914, Sakurajima used to be an island in the bay, but the massive lava flow from that eruption created the volcano's current land connection to the Osumi Peninsula in the east. - in: https://www.japan-guide.com

Card sent by Tomoko.

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR - January 20

I didn't join this RR in December, way too much mail to send that month, but last month I joined again. January's cards arrived from Austria, Philippines, Taiwan and Belarus. 

www.papersisters.de

Yay, Marienne sent me a new card to my still small Happy Postcrossing from collection. Thank you so much.

On the card stand out two famous Austrians, Mozart and Freud. When it comes to food, some of the most famous specialities are Kaiserschmarrn, a sweet dessert, Sacher Torte and Wiener schnitzel. 

Other things worth to mention are the Clock Tower of Graz, Hohensalzburg Fortress in Salzburg, Lake Neusiedl and Lipizzaner horses.

The Philippines is an archipelago of over 7,000 islands. Guyam Island is one of the three islands located in the Surfing Capital of the Philippines, Siargao.

It is an islet that has a small stretch of powdery-white sand and dotted with coconut trees. It also has interesting coral rock formations that are perfect for snorkeling. The rest of the island (facing the Pacific) is battered with rocks. A few meters away from the island, tourists can enjoy surfing and swimming. - in: https://www.vigattintourism.com

The card was sent by Aiden. 

Surrounded by sea on four sides, Taiwan has a total of 36 lighthouses in different shapes. Keelung Lighthouse is located on the top of a hill near the Port of Keelung in northern Taiwan. 

Card sent by Chi. 

Tanya sent me my erd card of the the Corpus Christi Church in Nesvizh. It is part of the Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh, an Unesco World Heritage Site.