1361 RUSSIA (Primorsky Krai) - Steam Locomotive YeL 629 in Ussuriysk

When Russian Empire entered WWI in 1914, it was dependent mainly on 0-8-0 and 2-8-0 locomotives. What was needed were locomotives with high adhesive weight (and thus tractive effort), which could only be provided by a locomotive with 10 drive wheels, but the only one being built, the class E 0-10-0, was in short supply, with only 100 produced thus far. As a result, it was proposed ordering 400 2-10-0 locomotives from the United States and Canada. Although the production was to be American, the locomotive was designed by Russian engineers. This called for 10 drive wheels, a low axle loading, a large firebox to burn low-grade coal, and an overall similar design to the class E 0-10-0.

1360 GERMANY (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) - Ludwigslust Palace

Located  at 40km south of Schwerin, Ludwigslust is a former royal residential town, known for its rich heritage, especially the famed Ludwigslust Palace, that is also called Versailles of the North. It was built as a hunting lodge in 1724 by  Prince Christian Ludwig, the son of the Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, rebuilt as a luxurious retreat from the ducal capital, Schwerin, then became for a time (1765-1837) the center of government. Even after the prince became duke in his turn in 1747, he passed most of his time at this residence, which he called Ludwigslust (Ludwig's joy).

1358 UNITED STATES (Michigan) - Grand Haven South Pierhead Inner Light

 

Located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Grand River, for which it is named, Grand Haven is a little town with only about 10,000 inhabitants, founded by French in the 18th century as a fur trading outpost. Given the importance of shipping and water trade to the city, a lighthouse was built in 1839 on the south pier, to mark the most navigable channel into the river, but it was severely damaged by a storm in 1852. In 1855 a stone lighthouse and keeper's dwelling were built on a high bluff on the south side of the river mouth. A breakwall was built in 1857 to protect the river mouth from silting. A fog signal building was built on the end of the pier in 1875 and as the pier was extended through the years the building was continually moved to each new end, finally reaching its present location in 1893, 330m from shore (outer light). A 18m conical light tower was built on the pier in 1881 and replaced by a 15m steel tower in 1905 (inner - in the postcard) that used the light from the old lighthouse on the bluff. They are connected by a lighted catwalk, which runs along the pier to the shore.

1357 ITALY (Lazio) - Via della Luce in Rome

Via della Luce (the Way of Light) is a street in the Trastevere neighborhood in Rome, which took its name from the church of Santa Maria della Luce (Saint Mary of the Light). It was previously named Via delle Rimesse (the Way of Remittances), and also Via dei Morticelli. It received the current name following a miraculous event which took place in the year 1730. Legend has it that in a house located in the nearby alley Due Mole, which had on a outer wall an image of Madonna and Child, a blind man cried out for help because he heard noises like falling masonry. Suddenly the man "saw" on the wall the image of the Virgin surrounded by light and went out crying, mad with joy, "Light, light!" The image became the object of great devotion, and ultimately was detached from the wall of the house and transported in the church of St. Salvatore (Holy Saviour), which was rebuilt and dedicated to St. Mary of the Light.

1356, 2066 RUSSIA (Pskov Oblast) - Churches of the Pskov School of Architecture (UNESCO WHS)

2066 Pokrovskaya (Intercession) Tower of Pskov Kremlin and
Trinity Cathedral

Located on the Velikaya River, about 20km east from the Estonian border, Pskov is one of the oldest cities in Russia, its earliest mention coming from 903, when  Igor of Kiev married a local lady, St. Olga. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the town adhered politically to the Novgorod Republic. In 1241 it was taken by the Teutonic Knights, but Alexander Nevsky recaptured it several months later. In order to secure their independence from the knights, in 1266 the Pskovians elected a Lithuanian prince, Daumantas (known in Russia as Dovmont), as military leader and prince.

1356 Pskov Kremlin and Trinity Cathedral

Having fortified the town (the core of the citadel, erected by him, still bears his name), Daumantas routed the Teutonic Knights at Rakvere and overran much of Estonia. By the 14th century, the town functioned as the capital of a de facto sovereign republic, mainly due to the merchants who brought it into the Hanseatic League. For Russia, it was a bridge towards Europe; and for Europe a western outpost of Russia. Importance of the city made it a subject of numerous sieges throughout its history (26 in the 15th century alone).

1355 UNITED STATES (Ohio) - Ohio map and flag

Located between Lake Erie and Ohio River, and having as neighbors Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ontario (Canada), Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia, Ohio links the Northeast of the United States to the Midwest, and is known for its status as both a swing state and a bellwether in national elections. The name originated from Iroquois word ohi-yo’, meaning "great river" or "large creek". Much of the state features glaciated plains, with an exceptionally flat area in the northwest being known as the Great Black Swamp, but the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau features rugged hills and forests.

1354 INDIA (National Capital Territory of Delhi) - Humayun's Tomb (UNESCO WHS)

This tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent, and inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal, a century later.. Located in Nizamuddin East, close to the Dina-panah citadel, it was commissioned by Humayun's first wife Bega Begum in 1569-1570, and designed by the Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas. Besides the main tomb, several smaller monuments dot the pathway leading up to it, from the main entrance in the West, including one that even pre-dates the main tomb itself, by twenty years; it is the tomb complex of Isa Khan Niyazi, an Afghan noble in Sher Shah Suri's court of the Suri dynasty, who fought against the Mughals, constructed in 1547.

1353 SOUTH KOREA (Seoul) - Jongmyo Shrine (UNESCO WHS) and Royal ancestral ritual in the Jongmyo Shrine and its music (UNESCO ICH)

Jongmyo is a Confucian shrine dedicated to the perpetuation of memorial services for the deceased kings and queens of the Korean Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), a symbolic structure that conveys the legitimacy of the royal family. Such shrines existed during the Three Kingdoms of Korea period (57-668), but few survived, Jongmyo being the oldest one. It is adjacent to Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung, all three being connected in the Joseon period, but were separated with a road by Japanese colonialists. When was built in 1394 by King Taejo, first king of the dinasty, who moved the capital to Seoul, it was one of the longest buildings in Asia.

1352 INDIA (National Capital Territory of Delhi) - Qutb Minar and its Monuments (UNESCO WHS)

Located in the middle of the eastern part of Lalkot, the first of the seven cities of Delhi, established in 1060, the tower of Qutb Minar is 72.5m high, tapering from 2.75m in diameter at its peak to 14.32m at its base, and alternating angular and rounded flutings, covered with intricate carvings and verses from the Qur'an. Construction was started in 1192 by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, was carried on by his successor, Iltutmish (1211-1236), being enlarged by Alauld-Din Khalji (1296-1316). In 1368, Firoz Shah Tughlaq constructed the fifth and the last storey. Numerous inscriptions in Parso-Arabic and Nagari characters in different sections reveal the history of its construction. The minar has been damaged by earthquakes and lightning strikes on several occasions but has been repaired and renovated by various rulers. The surrounding archaeological area contains funerary buildings, notably the magnificent Alai-Darwaza Gate, the masterpiece of Indo-Muslim art (built in 1311), and two mosques, including the Quwwatu'l-Islam (at the foot of the tower), the oldest in India, built of materials reused from some 20 Brahman temples.

1347 INDONESIA (Lesser Sunda) - Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy (UNESCO WHS)

Subak is the name of water management (irrigation) system for paddy fields on Bali island, which was developed more than 1,000 years ago. For Balinese, irrigation isn't simply providing water for the plant's roots, but water is used to construct a complex, pulsed artificial ecosystem. Paddy fields in Bali were built around water temples and the allocation of water is made by a priest. Included in the landscape is the 18th-century Royal Water Temple of Pura Taman Ayun, the largest and most impressive architectural edifice of its type on the island. The subak reflects the philosophical concept of Tri Hita Karana, which brings together the realms of the spirit, the human world and nature. This philosophy was born of the cultural exchange between Bali and India over the past 2,000 years and has shaped the landscape of Bali.

1345 BAHAMAS - Nassau beaches

1345 Nassau beaches

I wrote a few words about Nassau here, but besides the old town, the capital of Bahamas offers many beautiful hotels and resorts, all surrounded by tropical paradise and endless sunshine. It has a hotel district, named Cable Beach, recognizable by five enormous hotels - two of which are all-inclusive - located on this strip. The area is also known for its dining, the Crystal Palace Casino, and the golden sands of Cable Beach.

0759, 2364 SINGAPORE (Central Region) - Marina Bay

2364 Marina Bay seen from The Promontory,
with Marina Bay Sands on the right

Marina Bay is located in the Central Area of Singapore surrounded by the perimeter of four other planning areas, the Downtown Core, Marina East, Marina South and Straits View. The area surrounding the bay itself, also called Marina Bay, is an extension to the adjacent Central Business District. It is also the new downtown of Singapore built on reclaimed land. Famous landmark iconic buildings include the Marina Bay Sands, Marina Bay Financial Centre, Asia Square, The Sail@Marina Bay and Marina One integrated mixed-use developments.

0759 The north shore of Marina Bay, with Esplanade-Theatres
on the Bay, Marina Centre and Singapore Flyer

On the north shore of Marina Bay, in which flows Singapore River, is Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, built to be the centre for performing arts for Singapore and completed in 2002. The unique architectural design has been said to have an appearance similar to either a durian or the eyes of a fly. Hence, the building is colloquially known to locals as "the durians". Between the Esplanade and the Singapore Flyer is spanning Marina Centre, a zone of reclaimed land which contains Suntec City, Marina Square, Millenia Walk, and Millenia Tower (218m - completed in 1996), with the roof in the form of a truncated cone.

1344 VANUATU (Tanna Island) - Yasur Volcano

"Opened in May 2005, the postal outlet on Tanna Island's Mt Yasur is recognised as the only post box in the world on a live volcano. Known as Volcano Post, this follows the famous Underwater Post Office in the second of Vanuatu Post's Xtreme series of unique and innovative postal facilities where official mail is collected, specially postmarked and sent throughout the world. The incredible postal locations enable visitors to mail home memories of Vanuatu's breathtaking sights and adventures. [...] All mail receives a unique Volcano Post cancellation, which will become sought-after items amongst the world's stamp collectors. [...] Imagine showing your friends a postcard from  the Volcano Post Box, which was sent to you just a lava rock's throw from molten lava with temperatures over 1000°C!" Between you and me, if they strove to open a post office on a volcano, they could apply the postmarks in a correct way, not randomly and incomplete.

1343 BOTSWANA - Moths

This postcard depicts a shaped miniature sheet comprising a series of stamps issued on July 19, 2000, Moths of Botswana:

Mopane moth / Gonimbrasia belina (35t) - is a moth of the Saturniidae family, which is found in much of Southern Africa. Its large edible caterpillar, the mopani or mopane worm (found on the mopane tree, Colophospermum mopane), is an important source of protein for millions of indigenous Southern Africans. Its wingspan is about 120mm. It is fawn through shades of green and brown to red, with two black and white bands isolating eye spots. Orange eyespot on each hind wing. Males have feathery antennae.

1342 JAPAN (Kyūshū) - Mount Aso

Mount Aso, located in Aso Kujū National Park, is the largest active volcano in Japan, and is among the largest in the world, with one of the largest calderas (25km north-south and 18km east-west), which contains the city of of Aso as well as Aso Takamori-cho and South Aso-mura. The central cone group consists of five peaks: Mt. Neko, Mt. Taka (the highest, with 1592m), Mt. Naka (also called Nakadake or Naka-Dake), Mt. Eboshi, and Mt. Kishima. Only the northernmost crater has been active for the last 70 years, last time in 2011. Viewpoints from the somma overlooking the caldera are perched upon lava formed before the volcanic activity which created the present caldera. Ejecta from the huge caldera eruption 90,800 years ago covers more than 600 km³ and roughly equals the volume of Mt. Fuji; it is presumed that the pyroclastic flow plateau covered half of the island of Kyūshū.

1340 AUSTRALIA (Tasmania) - West Coast Wilderness Railway

1340 West Coast Wilderness Railway in Tasmania

The West Coast Wilderness Railway is a reconstruction of the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company railway between Queenstown and Regatta Point, Strahan, in Tasmania, now operating as a tourist experience with a focus on sharing the history of the Tasmania's West Coast. Following track rehabilitation work, the railway was re-opened between Queenstown and Dubbil Barril on 6 January 2014, while rehabilitation of the section through to Strahan continues. This railway is significant because of its Abt system to conquer the mountainous terrain through rainforest, with original locomotives still operating on the railway today.

1339 THAILAND (Loei) - Wat Si Khun Mueang temple in Chiang Khan

Chiang Khan, the capital of the district with the same name in Loei Province, is a small city located at 580km north of Bangkok. It's hard to get many facts about Chiang Khan, other than it has a handful of fine, old Buddhist temples. Chiang Khan has boomed in the past four years, and even more so in the last two. It has well and truly been ‘discovered’ by urban Thais, many of them drawn to a nostalgic past that they never had: Buddhist monks at dawn receiving alms and sticky rice, rambling family homes made of ancient teak on streets of almost no vehicles, and local specialities like hand-sewn quilts and maphrao kaew (sugar-coated dried coconut) snacks.

1337, 1338 ROMANIA (Bucharest) - Stavropoleos Church

Stavropoleos Monastery, also known as Stavropoleos Church during the last century, when the monastery was dissolved, is an Eastern Orthodox monastery for nuns in central Bucharest. The name is a Romanian rendition of a Greek Stauropolis (The city of the Cross), and the patrons are St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel. It was built in 1724 in Brâncovenesc style, during the reign of Nicolae Mavrocordat (Prince of Wallachia between 1719 and 1730), by archimandrite Ioanichie Stratonikeas, came in from Epirus. Within the precinct of his inn, Ioanichie built the church, and a monastery which was economically sustained with the incomes from the inn (a relatively common situation in those times). The inn and the monastery's annexes were demolished at the end of 19th century. Over time the church suffered from earthquakes, which caused the dome to fall. The dome's paintings were restored at the beginning of the 20th century.

All that remained from the original monastery is the church, alongside a building from the beginning of the 20th century (constructed following the plans of architect Ion Mincu) which shelters a library, a conference room and a collection of old icons and ecclesiastical objects, and parts of wall paintings recovered from churches demolished during the communist regime. The library has over 10,000 Romanian, Greek, and Church Slavonic books of theology, byzantine music, arts and history, more than 80 manuscripts and 400 printed works. The Byzantine music books collection is the largest in Romania, and consists mostly of the donations of two Romanian byzantologists, Sebastian Barbu-Bucur, and Titus Moisescu. The community living here, besides routine worship, is engaged in renovating old books, icons and sacerdotal clothes. The music sung during the offices is neo-Byzantine, based on the works of 19th century Romanian psalmodists, Greek chants translated into Romanian, or modern compositions.

1336 TURKEY - A belly dancer

Belly dance is a translation of the French term "danse du ventre", applied to the dance in the Victorian era, and originally referred to the Ouled Nail dancers of Algeria, whose dance used more abdominal movements than the dances described today as "belly dance". Actually is a misnomer, because every part of the body is involved in the dance; the most featured body part is usually the hips. Belly dance takes many different forms depending on the country and region, both in costume and dance style, and new styles have evolved in the West as its popularity has spread globally.

1125, 1272, 1332 UNITED STATES (Utah) - Utah map and flag

Posted on 04.07.2014, 08.10.2014, and 13.11.2014
Bordered by Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Arizona and Nevada (and touching a corner of New Mexico), Utah, one of the Four Corners states, is well known as the most religiously homogeneous state in the Union (its nickname is Beehive State), approximately 62% of Utahns being members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or LDS (Mormons), which greatly influences the state's culture and daily life. The world headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is located in the state capital, Salt Lake City, founded in 1847 in proximity to the Great Salt Lake. It is a geographically diverse state, located at the convergence of three distinct geological regions: the Rocky Mountains, the Great Basin, and the Colorado Plateau. Utah is known for its natural diversity and is home to features ranging from arid deserts with sand dunes to thriving pine forests in mountain valleys.

 

Thousands of years before the arrival of European explorers, the Anasazi/Ancestral Pueblo and the Fremont tribes lived in what is now Utah. Around the 18th century, the Navajo settled in the region, and then other Uto-Aztecan tribes, including the Goshute, the Paiute, the Shoshone, and the Ute people (who gave the name of the state). Spaniards explored the region in the 16th century, but weren't interested in colonizing. In 1821 it became part of Mexico (Alta California), and in 1824 Jim Bridger became the first white person to sight the Great Salt Lake. In 1847 Brigham Young and the first band of Mormon pioneers came to the Salt Lake Valley, and over the next 22 years, more than 70,000 pioneers crossed the plains and settled in Utah.

The Mormons wanted to establish a State of Deseret, but many of the members of the U.S. government opposed their polygamous practices. Between May 1857 and July 1858 held an armed confrontation between Mormon settlers and the armed forces of the US government (the Utah War), and beginning in 1865 Utah's Black Hawk War developed into the deadliest conflict in the territory's history. In the 1890 Manifesto, the LDS Church banned polygamy, so when Utah applied for statehood again, it was accepted, it becoming the 45th state admitted to the Union on January 4, 1896.