Mt. Kinabalu Summit Trail

If beach is not your thing, climbing the Mt. Kinabalu might be an option to enjoy your stay in Malaysia. Juts keep in mind that a permit is required to climb the Mountain and a guide is compulsory.

Lyan recently did part of the trail and send me this card.

The Farmers' Brand

Mt Kinabalu (4095m) is the tallest mountain in South-East Asia and is situated in the Kinabalu National Park in the province of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo. Thousands of tourists visit Kinabalu National Park each year and most come with the intention of climbing Mt Kinabalu.

Fortunately, Mt Kinabalu is one of the easiest peaks in the world to conquer. It takes just two days and climbers don't need any previous experience at mountain climbing. At sunrise, the views from the Mt Kinabalu's summit at Low's Peak are spectacular, making all the effort worthwhile.

Most climbers take two days to ascend and descend Mt Kinabalu. The eight-kilometre climb generally starts from the the Timpohon Gate near park headquarters (1800m), with an overnight stay at one of the guest houses at Laban Rata (3273m), before pushing on to the summit early next morning. Mt Kinabalu's summit is usually reached in time to view the sunrise, before returning to Laban Rata for breakfast. Climbers then descend the mountain, generally reaching the park headquarters by mid-afternoon. - in: http://www.climbmtkinabalu.com/

Hole 12

A few weeks ago i was complaining about the lack of rain in Portugal and Iris asked my address 'cause she wanted to send me some rain.

She didn't find a rainy card but she sent me some water. I didn't realize immediately what was one the card but apparently this is a sprinkler watering a golf course lawn in the Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club in Hong Kong. It really makes a nice effect.

Today has been rainning and we might have snow for the weekend :D

CN-554162

A beautiful winter snowy view of a small village in south China.

CN-554162, sent by "nickel".

TW-502936

My last officials from Taiwan weren't that good and i didn't even consider them to be part of my collection. This one i like. It shows the Fo Guang Shan Monastery, the headquarters of the Chinese Mahayana Buddhist monastic order.

TW-502936, sent by Wilson.
Located in Ta Shu of Kaohsiung City, Fo Guan Shan Monastery is the biggest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan, with the name literally means “Buddha’s Light Mountain”. Fo Guang Shan Monastery is founded in 1967 by Venerable Master in promoting Humanistic Buddhism, covering an area more than 30 hectares comprised of university buildings, shrines, and a cemetery in the first place. Later in 1975 and 1981, a 36-meter tall state of Amitabha Buddha and the Great Hero Hall were established. During these times, over 200 Fo Guang Shan branch temples were built outside the order’s mother monastery.

Fo Guang Shan was once closed to the general public in May 1997 until the end of year 2000 to providing the monastic the cloistered atmosphere for their Buddhist practice. Covering a large area over 30 hectares, Fo Guang Shan Monastery is covered by green forests and the monastery is set on the top of the mountain with great views overlooking the surroundings. There are more than 100,000 statues around the monastery that create solemn atmosphere. - in: http://sinotour.com/tourguide/kaohsiung/fo-guang-shan-monastery.html

Darfur - Sudan

This my very 1st card from Sudan. Like the Mt. Athos card, this one was also sent by Emerich.

Darfur is a region in western Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. The region is divided into five federal states: Central Darfur, East Darfur, North Darfur, South Darfur and West Darfur. Because of the war in Darfur between Sudanese government forces and the non-Arab indigenous population, the region has been in a state of humanitarian emergency from 2003 to 2009/2010. - in: wikipedia

Favorites from Bulgaria

I love these 2 cards sent by Lilia "childish". Both were in my favorites album and i'm really happy to have them now.

Shipka is a town in central Bulgaria, part of Kazanlak municipality, Stara Zagora Province. Local sights include the Russian-style Shipka Memorial Church also known as The Memorial Temple of the Birth of Christ or Shipka Monastery.
This is a Bulgarian Orthodox church built between 1885 and 1902 to Antoniy Tomishko's design in the seventeenth-century Muscovite style, under the direction of architect Alexander Pomerantsev. It is, together with the other parts of the Shipka Monument complex, dedicated to the Russian, Ukrainian and Bulgarian soldiers that died for the liberation of Bulgaria in the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78.
The temple was officially opened on 28 September 1902 in the presence of Russian Army generals and many honourable guests. The opening and consecration of the Shipka Memorial Church coincided with the 25-year anniversary of the Battles of Shipka Pass. In 1970, the temple was proclaimed a national monument of culture.
The church's bell tower reaches a height of 53 m and its bells, the heaviest of which weighs 12 tons, were cast from the cartridges that were collected after the battles. In the temple itself, the names of the Russian regiments and Bulgarian volunteers are inscribed on 34 marble plates. The remains of the perished are laid in 17 stone sarcophagi in the church's crypt. - in: wikipedia

Photo by Boyko Kalev

The Dyavolski most, "Devil's Bridge", is an arch bridge over the Arda River situated in a narrow gorge. It is located 10 km (6.2 mi) from the Bulgarian town of Ardino in the Rhodope Mountains and is part of the ancient road connecting the lowlands of Thrace with the north Aegean Sea coast.
It is not certain when the Dyavolski most was built, with various sources stating from the 14th to the early 17th century. The bridge, the largest and best known of its kind in the Rhodopes, is 56 m (183.7 ft) long and has three arches, but also features holes with small semicircular arches to read water level. The Dyavolski most has a width of 3.5 m (11.5 ft) and its main arch is 11.50 m (37.7 ft) high. A stone parapet, 12 cm (4.7 in) in height, is preserved on the sides, and breakwaters are placed opposite the stream. - in: wikipedia

Hilandar Monastery - Greece

Hilandar Monastery is a Serbian Orthodox monastery on Mount Athos in Greece.

Mount Athos is a mountain and peninsula in Macedonia, Greece, classified as a World Heritage Site since 1988.

An Orthodox spiritual centre since 1054, Mount Athos has enjoyed an autonomous statute since Byzantine times. The 'Holy Mountain', which is forbidden to women and children, is also a recognized artistic site. The layout of the monasteries (about 20 of which are presently inhabited by some 1,400 monks) had an influence as far afield as Russia, and its school of painting influenced the history of Orthodox art. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/454

Copyright © 1998 IP Studio Strugar

Hilandar Monastery was founded in 1198 by the first Serbian Archbishop Saint Sava and his father, Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja (who later became a monk there, taking the monastic name of "Simeon") of the medieval Serbian principality of Raška (Rascia). The Mother of God through her Icon of Three Hands (Trojeručica), is considered the abbess. - in: wikipedia