SWEDEN POSTCARDS COLLECTION

DROTTNINGHOLM PALACE

Stockholm, SWEDEN

Stockholm's major tourist attractions

Thanks to Merja Deb of Sweden
Received: Aug. 06, 2016

     The Drottningholm Palace is the private residence of the Swedish royal family since 1981. It is located in Drottningholm. Built on the island Lovön, it is one of Sweden's Royal Palaces. It was originally built in the late 16th century. It served as a regular summer residence of the Swedish royal court for most of the 18th century.

     The palace is a UNESCO World heritage Site, mainly because of the Drottningholm Palace Theatre and the Chinese Pavilion.  Since then, the Palace has also been guarded by the Swedish Military in the same fashion as Stockholm Palace.  The palace is a popular tourist attraction.

     The name Drottningholm (literally meaning "Queen's islet") came from the original renaissance building designed by Willem Boy, a stone palace built by John lll of Sweden in 1580 for his queen, Catherine Jagellon.  This palace was preceded by a royal mansion called Torvesund

Official Name: Royal Domain of Drottningholm.......Type: Cultural.......Criteria:  iv

Designated: 1991 (15^th session)…….Reference no.:  559

SWEDEN POSTCARDS COLLECTION

STORTORGET

Stockholm, SWEDEN

Stockholm's major tourist attractions

Oldest Square in Stockholm

Thanks to Merja Deb of Sweden

Received: Aug. 06, 2016

     Stortorget (Swedish. The Big Square) is a small public and most charming square in Gamla Stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden.  It is the oldest square in Stockholm, the historical centre on which the medieval urban conglomeration gradually came into being.

   Ever since the thirteenth century, this square has formed the heart of Gamla Stan. It is bordered by beautiful patrician houses, surrounded by coffee shops and restaurant and the entrance to the Nobel museum. Today the square mostly attracts tourists, many of whom take a break at one of the inviting cafés that border the square.

SWEDEN POSTCARDS COLLECTION

STOCKHOLM CITY HALL

Stockholm, SWEDEN

Stockholm's major tourist attractions

Thanks to Merja Deb of Sweden

Received: July 01, 2016

     Stockholm City Hall is the building of the Municipal Council for the City of Stockholm in Sweden, one of Sweden’s most famous buildings, and one of the capital's most visited tourist attractions. It stands on the eastern tip of Kungsholmen island, next to Riddarfärden’s northern shore and facing the islands of Riddarholmen and Södermalm. It houses offices and conference rooms as well as ceremonial halls and unique art pieces, and the luxury restaurant Stadshuskällaren.  Design and construct by Architect Ragnar Östberg in 1911 and completed in1923.  It is the venue of the Nobel Prize banquet held on 10th of December each year.

GREECE POSTCARDS COLLECTION

ACROPOLIS

Athens, GREECE

UNESCO Site

World Famous Landmark

The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a high rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most famous being the Parthenon.

The word acropolis comes from the Greek words (akron, "edge, extremity") and (polis, "city") The significance of the Acropolis of Athens is such that it is commonly known as "The Acropolis" without qualification.

There is evidence that the hill was inhabited as far back as the fourth millennium BC, it was Pericles (c. 495 – 429 BC) in the fifth century BC who coordinated the construction of the site's most important buildings including the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

LOCATION: Greece   TYPE: Cultural  CRITERIA: i, ii, iii, iv, vi  REFERENCE: 404  INSCRIPTION: 1987 (11^th Session)

Thanks to Mia Ayala – Kim of Philippines

Received: Nov. 14, 2015

GREECE POSTCARDS COLLECTION

ACROPOLIS

Athens, GREECE

UNESCO Site

World Famous Landmark

The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a high rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most famous being the Parthenon.

The word acropolis comes from the Greek words (akron, "edge, extremity") and (polis, "city") The significance of the Acropolis of Athens is such that it is commonly known as "The Acropolis" without qualification.

There is evidence that the hill was inhabited as far back as the fourth millennium BC, it was Pericles (c. 495 – 429 BC) in the fifth century BC who coordinated the construction of the site's most important buildings including the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

LOCATION: Greece   TYPE: Cultural  CRITERIA: i, ii, iii, iv, vi  REFERENCE: 404  INSCRIPTION: 1987 (11^th Session)

Thanks to Mia Ayala – Kim of Philippines

Received: Nov. 14, 2015

JAPAN POSTCARD COLLECTION

HIMEJI CASTLE

Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

Himeji Castle is the Largest and Most Visited Castle in Japan

National Treasure in 1931 and Registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993.

   Himeji Castle's construction dates to 1333, when a fort was constructed on Himeyama hill by Akamatsu Norimura. In 1346, the fort was demolished and built Himeyama Castle in its place.

   In 1545, Kuroda Shigetaka remodeled the castle into Himeji Castle, completing the work in 1561. 

   In 1580, Kuroda Yoshitaka presented the castle to Toyotomi Hideyoshi and in 1581 significantly remodeled the castle, building a three-story castle.  Ikeda demolished the three-story keep that had been created by Hideyoshi, and completely rebuilt and expanded the castle from 1601 to 1609, adding three moats and transforming it into the castle complex that is seen today.  

   Several buildings were later added to the castle complex by Honda Tadamasa from 1617 to 1618. For over 400 years, Himeji Castle has remained intact, even throughout the extensive bombing of Himeji in World War II, and natural disasters such as the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake. 

   Along with Matsumoto Castle and Kumamoto Castle, Himeji Castle is considered one of Japan's three premier castles.  It is the most visited castle in Japan, receiving over 820,000 visitors annually.

MALAYSIA POSTCARD COLLECTION

GUNUNG MULU NATIONAL PARK 

Sarawak, Malaysia 

UNESCO World Heritage Site 

Largest Sarawak National Park 

Major Tourist Attraction

Type:  Natural          Criteria:  vii, viii, ix, x          Reference:  1013          Inscription:  2000 (24^th Session)

  

Gunung Mulu National Park near Miri, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that encompasses caves and karst formations in a mountainous equatorial rainforest setting. The park is famous for its caves and the expeditions that have been mounted to explore them and their surrounding rainforest, most notably the Royal Geographical Society Expedition of 1977–1978, which saw over 100 scientists in the field for 15 months. This initiated a series of over 20 expeditions now drawn together as the Mulu Caves Project.  The national park is named after Mount Mulu, the second highest mountain in Sarawak.

Gunung Mulu National Park is one of Nature’s most spectacular achievements and the ‘Jewels in the Crown’ of Sarawak’s expanding network of national park. It is also the largest national park covering 544 sq km of primary rainforest contain significant natural habitat for in-situ conservation of biological diversity and the protection of threatened flora and fauna species. Mulu’s greatest attractions lie deep below the surface, one of the largest limestone cave system in the world.

The National Park is renowned for its caves that have amazing record in the world. They are the (Sarawak Chamber), which is the world’s largest (natural) cave chamber in the world. Sarawak Chamber, found in Gua Nasib Bagus. It has been said that the chamber is so big that it could accommodate about 40 Boeing 747s, without overlapping their wings.  (Clearwater Cave), which is the longest cave in the South East Asia is believed to be the largest interconnected cave system in the world by volume and the 8th longest cave in the world at 207 km (May 2014), and also (Deer Cave), the world’s largest cave passage.

BRUNEI POSTCARD COLLECTION

JAME ASR HASSANIL BOLKIAH MOSQUE

Bandar Seri Begawan , Brunei Darussalam

Largest Mosque in Brunei

   Jame Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque named after  Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzadin Waddaulah the 29th Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, built in 1988 and officially launched in 1994 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of His Majesty the Sultan's reign. This is the largest and the most magnificent mosque in Brunei Darussalam. This mosque has a distinct edge over the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in the heart of Capital Bandar Seri Begawan both in style and grandeur. The four main minarets and two golden domes of the structure are a fantastic sight when illuminated in the evening. Known locally as the Kiarong Mosque as it is situated in Kampong Kiarong, a few kilometres from the capital.

   The mosques has total of 29 golden domes which symbolizes 29th Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah.

   The mosque has been noted as an architectural masterpiece. It took its form from Turkish mosques.  The stunning edifice with its artfully landscaped gardens and fountains that add to the serene ambience, is a memorable place to visit and certainly a must for visitors.

BRUNEI POSTCARD COLLECTION

SULTAN OMAR ALI SAIFUDDIEN MOSQUE

Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

Major Landmark and a Tourist Attraction

     The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of the Sultanate of Brunei, is considered one of the most beautiful mosques in Asia Pacific. Named after Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei, is who also initiated its construction. The mosque serves as a symbol of the Islamic faith in Brunei and dominates the skyline of Bandar Seri Begawan. It is a major landmark and a tourist attraction of Brunei.

     The mosque unites Mughal architecture and Italian styles. The plans were done by Booty and Edwards Chartered Architects according to designs by the Italian architect Cavaliere Rudolfo Nolli, who had already for decades been working at the gulf of Siam.The construction costs were very modest between $7.7 and $9.2 million." The mosque's most recognizable feature - the main dome, is covered in pure gold. The mosque stands 52 m (171 ft) high and can be seen from virtually anywhere in Bandar Seri Begawan. The main minaret is the tallest feature. It has an elevator to the top, where a visitor can enjoy a panoramic view of the city.  The building was completed in 1958 and is an example of modern Islamic architecture.

PHILIPPINE POSTCARDS COLLECTION

Dr. JOSE RIZAL MONUMENT

Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines

is located at the center of the Luneta Park (formerly Bagumbayan Park).  The monument’s location is where exactly Dr. Jose Rizal was executed.  It is the main attraction in the park with it’s 24 hour on duty guards.