0019, 3441, 3449 SINGAPORE (Central Region) - Raffles Place

0019 Raffles Place in Singapore - Merlion, Fullerton Hotel,
and skyscrapers in the business centre (1)

Located in the Downtown Core within the Central Area, Raffles Place is the centre of the Financial District of Singapore and is located south of the mouth of the Singapore River. It was first planned and developed in the 1820s as Commercial Square to serve as the hub of the commercial zone of Singapore in Raffles Town Plan. It was renamed Raffles Place in 1858 and now features some of the tallest buildings and landmarks of the country.

3441 Raffles Place in Singapore by night

The Merlion statue (8.6m hight), made by Lim Nang Seng in 1972, was placed in Merlion Park. Designed by Fraser Brunner in 1964 for the logo of the Singapore Tourism Board, this symbol of Singapore is a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. The body of the statue is made of cement, skin from porcelain plates and eyes from red teacups.

3449 Raffles Place in Singapore - Merlion, Fullerton Hotel,

and skyscrapers in the business centre (2)

The highest six buildings that are visible in the back in the postcard 0019 are, from left to right: Hitachi Tower (179m - completed in 1992), Republic Plaza (280m - completed in 1995), Singapore Land Tower (190m - completed in 1980), One Raffles Place (280m - completed in 1986), Maybank Tower (175m - completed in 2001), and United Overseas Bank Plaza / UOB Plaza (280m - completed in 1995).

0071, 3447 SINGAPORE (Central Region) - Fullerton Hotel and Cavenagh Bridge

3447 Fullerton Hotel in broad daylight

Named after Robert Fullerton, the first Governor of the Straits Settlements (1826–1829), the Fullerton Hotel, whose the northern end covers the site of Fort Fullerton was commissioned in 1919 as part of the Crown colony's centennial celebrations. The building was designed as an office building by Major P.H. Keys, and was opened in 1928. Initially, General Post Office covered the two lower floors (until 1996), and the exclusive Singapore Club rented premises on the upper floors (until 1961).

0071 Fullerton Hotel and Cavenagh Bridge by night

 

In the WWII the building was the one in which General Percival discussed with Sir Shenton the possibility of surrendering Singapore, and subsequently became the headquarters of the Japanese Military Administration. In 1997, Sino Land (Hong Kong) Company Ltd acquired the Fullerton Building and converted it into a five-star luxury hotel, officially opened in 2001. Its architecture follow the principals of 20th-century Beaux-Arts tradition of classicism. Relating to the design, it is largely Monumental and Ornamental.

0008, 1433, 2655, 2793, 2831, 2939, 3081, 3274, 3421 THAILAND (Bangkok) - The Grand Palace in Bangkok

0008 The Grand Palace in Bangkok

Undoubtedly, Bangkok's history is intimately linked to the Chakri dynasty, which leads Siam (named from 1939, with a brief interruption, Thailand) for more than two centuries. Founder of the dynasty, Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I), was the one who moved the capital from Thonburi to Bangkok. Of course, the king had to have a palace and so appeared The Grand Palace (Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang), whose construction began in 1782, after a plan that closely followed that of the old palace in Ayutthaya.

2655 Phra Thinang Chakri Maha Prasat (1)

 

The king, his court and his royal government were based on the palace until 1925. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), resided at Chitralada Royal Villa and his successor Vajiralongkorn at Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall, both in the Dusit Palace, but the Grand Palace is still used for official events. Situated on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, at the heart of the Rattanakosin Island, the palace complex (made up of numerous buildings, halls, pavilions set around open lawns, and gardens) is roughly rectangular. Its asymmetry and eclectic styles are due to its organic development, with additions being made by successive kings.

2939 Phra Thinang Chakri Maha Prasat (2)

It is divided into several quarters: the Temple of the Emerald Buddha; the Outer Court; the Middle Court, including the Phra Maha Monthien Buildings, the Phra Maha Prasat Buildings and the Chakri Maha Prasat Buildings; the Inner Court and the Siwalai Gardens quarter. The Phra Thinang Chakri Maha Prasat buildings are composed of nine major and minor halls, structured in a similar scheme to the Maha Monthien Halls from north to south. The whole of the Chakri Maha Prasat group was the work of King Rama V and foreign architects in the 19th century.

3274 The Temple of the Emerald Buddha (1)

 

The first phase of construction began in 1868, then again in 1876, and the final phase between 1882 and 1887. The throne hall forms the front or the façade of the entire building group. The throne hall is constructed in an eclectic style, a blend of Thai and European (more specifically Renaissance or Italianate) styles. The lower part of the structure is European, while the upper part is in Thai-styled green and orange tiled roofs and gilded spires or prasats.

3081 The Temple of the Emerald Buddha (2)

 

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), formally known as Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram that means "the residence of the Holy Jewel Buddha", is actually a royal chapel, completed in 1784. Wat Phra Kaew has undergone a number of renovations, restoration and additions in its history, particularly during the reign of King Rama III and Rama IV. The architectural style is named as Rattanakosin style (old Bangkok-style). The main temple of the Emerald Buddha is decorated and similar to the temple in ancient capital of Ayutthaya. 

2831 The Temple of the Emerald Buddha (3)

It is surrounded on four sides by a series of walled cloisters, with seven gates. Like the royal temples of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya, the complex is separated from the living quarters of the kings. Within these walls are buildings and structures for diverse purposes and of different styles, but most of them adheres strictly to classical Thai architecture. It is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple (wat) in Thailand.

1433 A kinnara in front of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha

The main building is the central phra ubosot, which houses the statue of the Emerald Buddha. In the postcard 1433 is a golden statue of a kinnara, a half-bird, half-woman creatures at Southeast Asian Buddhist mythology, one of the many creatures that inhabit the mythical Himavanta. Kinnaris have the head, torso, and arms of a woman and the wings, tail and feet of a swan. She is renowned for her dance, song and poetry, and is a traditional symbol of feminine beauty, grace and accomplishment.

2793 The Temple of the Emerald Buddha
with a Thotsakhirithon guarding an exit

The Gate No. 2 (Na Wua Gate) of the complex is guarded by the statues of two demons (yaksha), Thotsakhirithon and Thotsakhiriwan, which appear in Ramakien (Glory of Rama), Thailand's national epic, derived from the Hindu epic Ramayana. They are the sons of Thotsakan (One with ten necks), a king of demons and their mother is a female elephant, that why they have trunks like an elephant. They are mostly depicted with a characteristic face, having big round bulging eyes and protruding fangs, as well as a green complexion.

3421 The Dusit Maha Prasat throne hall in 1870s

 

The Dusit Maha Prasat throne hall, built by Rama I in 1790, dominates the Maha Prasat group. The throne hall was built on a symmetrical cruciform plan, the roof is topped with a tall gilded spire. The hall is considered an ideal archetype of Thai traditional architecture. Every aspect of the exterior decoration of the throne hall is imbuded with symbolism. The hall is built in the shape of a tall mountain to represent Mount Meru, the mythological centre of the universe. The north face has a porch with a type of throne known as a busabok used by the king when gave public audiences.

3402 HAITI - National Palace

The National Palace was the official residence of the President of Haiti, located in Port-au-Prince, facing Place L'Ouverture near the Champs de Mars. Designed in 1912 by the Haitian architect Georges Baussan (1874-1958), it was severely damaged during a devastating earthquake in 2010, the ruins being demolished in 2012. In 2017 President Jovenel Moise announced that they will be commencing the rehabilitation of the national palace. Moise stated that the palace's exterior will look the same, but the interior will be modernized to fit the needs of a head of state in the coming years.

3393 SPAIN (Castile and León) - The Millenium Dome in Valladolid

The Millennium Dome is a space in Valladolid next to the river Pisuerga, with multiple options in regard to the activities that can be held in its interior, such as concerts, conferences, exhibitions, shows and advertising and sports events. It was built by the Barcelona-based architect  Enric Ruiz Geli for Expo Zaragoza 2008, and subsequently acquired by the city of Valladolid as a multipurpose building. This dome covers the pavilion with a surface of almost 1,700 m² and has underground parking for 402 vehicles, a cycle lane and a restaurant.

3361 SINGAPORE (Central Region) - Clarke Quay

Clarke Quay is a historical riverside quay in Singapore, located within the Singapore River Planning Area, upstream from the mouth of the Singapore River and Boat Quay. It was named after Sir Andrew Clarke, Singapore's second Governor and Governor of the Straits Settlements from 1873 to 1875, who played a key role in positioning Singapore as the main port for the Malay states of Perak, Selangor and Sungei Ujong. Clarke Quay is also the name of a road along the quay, part of which has since been converted into a pedestrian mall.

0028, 0568, 3346 MALAYSIA (Kuala Lumpur) - Petronas Twin Towers

0028 Night image of the Petronas Towers

Posted on 06.11.2011, 22.03.2013, 10.01.2020

Petronas Twin Towers from Kuala Lumpur, erected between 1995 and 1998, were the tallest world’s building from 1998 to 2004 until surpassed by Taipei 101 and has remained until today the tallest twin buildings. The towers have 88 floors each, of which 78 served by elevators, a maximum height of 452 m (up to the roof top antenna), and the top floor height is 375 m. Taken together, the two buildings have office area of 1 million square meters, 93,000 square meters are for those 270 stores, cinemas and fast-foods, and in addition was arranged a concert hall with 840 seats and an art gallery.

0568 Petronas Towers, with Kuala Lumpur Tower and Vista Tower

As regards the costs, I found several amounts, from 0.5 billion to 1.6 billion USD. The initiators of the project were a consortium of private investors in association with the Malaysian government and Petronas, the national oil company. The main problem met by the Argentine architect Cesar Pelli and his team was unstable ground (not rightly in Malay Kuala Lumpur literally means "muddy confluence"), so towers are also the building with the deepest foundation from the world, which dealt Bachy Soletanche, a large geotechnical company from England. Somewhat strangely, the two towers were built by two different companies, both from South Korea, creating a competition between them.

3346 Petronas Towers at Titiwangsa Lake Garden

Petronas Towers were designed to symbolize strength and grace and principles are based on typical Islamic architecture, first the cross section based on a Rub el Hizb - a star with eight arms, but also steel and glass facade that imitate the Malay traditional motifs with curved arches reminding of temple towers. The towers can be visited up to floor 41, where is the Sky Bridge that links it, and the curious can cross the bridge, but can’t linger on it longer than 10 minutes. The famous French urban climber Alain "Spiderman" Robert wasn’t satisfied with an ordinary visit and escalated the towers in 2009, using only his bare hands and feet, after two other failed attempts due to police intervention in 1997 and 2007 .

0731, 3324 JAPAN (Kantō) - Kaminarimon, the outer gate of Sensō-ji, in Tokyo

3324

Posted on 10.07.2013, 01.01.2020
The Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) is the outer of the two large entrance gates that leads to the Sensō-ji, an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa, Taitō, Tokyo, actually Tokyo's oldest temple. It was first built in 941, near to Komagata, but it was reconstructed in its current location in 1635. The gate has been destroyed many times, in 1639, 1757, and 1865, each time being, of course, reconstructed. Its current structure dates from 1960.

0731

On the front of the gate are displayed  the statues of the Shinto gods Fūjin (the god of wind) on the east side, and Raijin (the god of thunder), on the west side. On the reverse of the gate are the Buddhist god Tenryū, and the goddess Kinryū. In the center of the Kaminarimon, under the gate, hangs a giant red chōchin that is 4m tall, 3.4m in circumference and weighs 670kg.

3266 GERMANY (Saxony) - Dresden Frauenkirche

The Dresden Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) is a Lutheran church in Dresden, the capital of the German state of Saxony. An earlier church, building in the 11th century in a Romanesque style, was Catholic until it became Protestant during the Reformation. The original Baroque church was built between 1726 and 1743, and was designed by Dresden's city architect, George Bähr. Bähr's distinctive design captured the new spirit of the Protestant liturgy by placing the altar, pulpit, and baptismal font directly centre in view of the entire congregation.

3248 ITALY (Lazio) - Second Postcrossing Meetup in Rome, 2 January 2018 - Colosseum

The italian postcrossers wanted to be the first ones this year, so they organized on 2 January the first meetup of this year. They met in Rome, at the Subway Station Piramide (Line B), and after that they went to Caffe Letterario, in Via Ostiense 95, to write and sign postcards. The postcard issued to mark this event depicted Colosseum to the transition between years (named by Italians La Festa di San Silvestro), with fireworks in the background. A nice, well-chosen photography.

3247 GERMANY (Saarland) - St. Johanner Market Square in Saarbrücken

The heart of Saarbrücken (and its nightlife hub) historic Saint Johanner Market Square (Sankt Johanner Markt) is a long, narrow public square anchored by an ornate fountain designed and built in 1759-1760 by Friedrich Joachim Stengel and flanked by some of the town's oldest buildings. As its name implies, it used to belong to the once independent municipality of St. Johann, which merged with Saarbrücken in 1909, along with Malstatt-Burbach.