PINOY POSTCARD: November 2014

Saturday, November 29, 2014

VIETNAM POSTCARD COLLECTION

Hạ Long Bay

Quảng Ninh Province, Vietnam

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Type: Natural Criteria: vii, viii Reference: 672 Inscription: 1994 (18^th Session) Extensions: 2000

Hạ Long Bay (The name Hạ Long is derived from the Sino-Vietnamese, meaning "descending dragon") is a popular travel destination, in Quảng Ninh Province, Vietnam. Administratively, the bay belongs to Hạ Long City, Cam Pha town, and part of Vân Đồn District. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts, which has gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions and environments and isles in various sizes and shapes. Ha Long Bay is a center of a larger zone which includes Bái Tử Long bay to the northeast, and Cát Bà islands to the southwest.

Hạ Long Bay has an area of around 1,553 km², including 1,960–2,000 islets, most of which are limestone. The core of the bay has an area of 334 km² with a high density of 775 islets. The evolution of the karst in this bay has taken 20 million years under the impact of the tropical wet climate. The geo-diversity of the environment in the area has created biodiversity, including a tropical evergreen biosystem, oceanic and sea shore biosystem. Hạ Long Bay is home to 14 endemic floral speciesand 60 endemic faunal species.

Historical research surveys have shown the presence of prehistorical human beings in this area tens of thousands years ago. The successive ancient cultures are the Soi Nhụ culture around 18,000–7000 BC, the Cái Bèo culture 7000–5000 BCand the Hạ Long culture 5,000–3,500 years ago. Hạ Long Bay also marked important events in the history of Vietnam with many artifacts found in Bài Thơ Mount, Đầu Gỗ Cave, Bãi Cháy.

500 years ago, Nguyễn Trãi praised the beauty of Hạ Long Bay in his verse Lộ nhập Vân Đồn, in which he called it "rock wonder in the sky". In 1962, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of North Vietnam listed Hạ Long Bay in the National Relics and Landscapes publication. In 1994, the core zone of Hạ Long Bay was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

In 2012, New 7 Wonders Foundation officially named Halong Bay as one of New Seven Natural Wonders of the world.

Hạ Long Bay is also a member of the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World.

MY PHONECARD COLLECTION

PINAKA CELLCARD (P250 Oange)

Philippine EXTELCOM (Remote Memory) Phonecard

MY PHONECARD COLLECTION

PINAKA CELLCARD (P100 Blue)

Philippine EXTELCOM (Remote Memory) Phonecard

MY PHONECARD COLLECTION

Worldwide collection: Belgium (Chip) Phonecard “Burger”

MY PHONECARD COLLECTION

Worldwide collection: Belgium (Chip) Phonecard “Burger”

MY MAXIMUM CARD COLLECTION

AUSTRALIA

Sydney Harbour Bridge Under Construction c. 1930

MY MAXIMUM CARD COLLECTION

AUSTRALIA

Hooker’s Banksia (Banksia hookerana) Western Australia

Thursday, November 27, 2014

MY PHONECARD COLLECTION

Philippine Mobiline "PhonePal" (Remote Memory) Phonecard

MY PHONECARDS COLLECTION

Philippine Mobiline "PhonePal" (Remote Memory) Phonecard

NEW ZEALAND POSTCARDS COLLECTION

TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK

New Zealand

UNESCO Dual World Heritage

New Zealand's First National Park

Fourth National Park to be created in the World

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.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

MY PHONECARD COLLECTION

Philippine BayanTel (Chip) Phonecard

Tilaok ng Bukangliwayway 09.30.2003 – 010810336565

MY PHONECARD COLLECTION

Philippine BayanTel (Chip) Phonecard

Panginginain sa Bukirin 09.30.2003 – 010810386686

MY PHONECARD COLLECTION

Philippine BayanTel (Chip) Phonecard

Tibay ng Lambat 09.30.2003 – 010810487003

MY PHONECARD COLLECTION

Philippine BayanTel (Chip) Phonecard

Halimuyak ng Hardin 09.30.2003 – 010810437250

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.