Australia

AUSTRALIA.:                                THE TASMANIAN DEVIL

  This is another card in the new release  series by Australia Post of "Native Animals" and this a real favourite of mine The Tasmanian Devil. An unmistakeable character one always thinks of the Walt Disney Character in the cartoons.
 The Tasmanian Devil is a carnivorous marsupial of the ( Dasyuridae) family and is now found only in the wild of The Australian State of Tasmania. The size of a small dog The Tasmanian Devil became the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world following the extinction of the "Thylacine" (The Tasmanian Tiger ) in 1936 .Some say it still survives (The Thylacine ) in the remote wilderness of Tasmania.. The Tasmanian Devil is characterised by its muscular and stocky build with black and white fur, pungent odour and its extremely and disturbing screech, very keen sense of Smell and its ferocity when feeding. The Tasmanian Devils large head and neck allow it to generate amongst the hardest and strongest bite among any per unit body mass of any extant land based predator it hunts prey and scavenges on carrion. despite its rotund appearance the Devil is capable of surprising speed and endurance and can climb trees and swim across rivers.Since the late 1990's (The devils facial tumour disease ) has drastically reduced the Devils population and now threatens the survival of the species.

Thank you to Wikipedia for info.

Australia.

AUSTRALIA.:                                 THE NUMBAT

 This is a  lovely card in a series on "Native Animals" just released by Australia Post a series of "First day release " Maxi cards. Released 13 January 2015 Greenbushes WA.
  This card shows an excelent view of  the lovely Numbat.  The Numbat  ( Genus Myrmecobius ) is the sole member of the family ( Myrmecobiiae ) an Australian marsupial carnivore. Two sub species are recognised but one of these, the (rusty ) Numbat has been extinct since the 1960's.
   The Numbat is a small, colourful creature about 35 to 45 Centimeters long about (14 to 18 inches) long including the tail., with a pointed muzzle and a prominent "bushy tail" the same length as its body.  Numbats are insectivores and eat an exclusive diet of termites., an adult Numbat needs about 20.000 termites every day. The Numbat is the only marsupial completely active during the day and spends his time exclusively looking for termites.it digs them up from loose earth with its claws and captures them with its long sticky tongue. Unfortunately these lovely small marsupials are on the endangered list.

Australia.

Melbourne : VICTORIA.

A recent release  " Maxi card " set by Australia Post. This set of  two ( 2 ) cards Commemorates The State of Victoria's  detail War Patriotic Fund stamp of 1d (penny ) of 1900.  Australian National Philatelic Collection. Released Melbourne 22 January 2015.Melbourne Victoria. 3000 (postcode )

Philippines.

Basco: BATANES IS.

 There is something about islands that I really like.. Thank you for this card Chloe from your recent visit to The Batanes Islands.and this Island "Basco"..Located at the northern part of Batanese, Basco Island is the second largest island among the Batanese group, also known as Santo Domingo de Basco.. thank you for taking time out to send me a card,
 Posted Basco Batanese:15 January 2015:Arrived Sydney 03 JFebruary 2015: Traveled 19 days. Salamat. Chloe..

Russia.

Moscow:  RUSSIA :

 A card from Moscow arrived and thank you Olga. Card says Russian Empire 1907. Card shows a group of Jewish boys with their teacher  ( Samarkand ). This is a picture by Sergeii Mikailovitch  Prokudin- Gorskeii and was the first Photographer in the Russian Empire, and in 1902 Prokudin-Gorskeii  was the first to write about making photographs in colour.  He traveled extensively throughout the Russian Empire in 1909- 1912 he had photographed many points of interest  and The Marinskii Canal System was one
.Thank you for these interesting cards and information. also the lovely envelope and nice stamps..
 Posted Moscow 10 January 2015: Arrived Sydney 02 February 2015: Traveled 23 days.Spasiba Olga.

Norway

Voss:  NORWAY:

Hello Marie....and thank you for this fine card from Nordland in far northern Norway inside the Arctic Circle..When I visited here it was on a road trip from Copenhagen..Quite spectacular for me to need sunglasses at midnight. to view " The Midnight Sun".
I also visited Voss recently, to see some friends and catch up on "old times". I remember it vividly watching  some workmen repairing the roof of a steep spire on the local church in Voss, while I was having a coffee waiting for the bus.  I was also here in Norway to ride "The Flam" Railway.. wonderful and as was the scenery was given a "Norway in a Nutshell " ticket which also was a wonderful ride through the Fjord and with after the so much recent heavy rains the waterfalls were in abundance.
 The card shows "The end of the road" in I think Hammerfest.!!! not sure..it was summertime and very pleasant.Spent quite some time inside the Arctic Circle...lots of  Reindeers and mosquitoes.. Thanks Again Marie... Mange Tak..
Posted Voss.24 January 2015: Arrived Sydney 03 February 2015:Traveled10 days..Tak..

Australia.

 A  FAMOUS LANDMARK IN SYDNEY HARBOUR ..FORT DENISON

THE HARBOUR FERRIES START EARLY THEIR MORNING JOURNEYS

Sydney.: AUSTRALIA.:

It was around 5 AM when the ship passed through the Headlands that are the entrance to this grand harbour. South and North Heads stand majestically on guard as sentinels over this great Harbours entrance, and what a beautiful sight it always is,  to look upon this grand spectacle just as the sun is awakening..Although it was very early the decks were full of the passengers wanting their early morning view of this great Harbour with its many coves ,inlets and islands. The ship slowly makes its way up the Harbour towards the City of Sydney as the sun is just poking his nose over the fence and providing a lovely morning for this homecoming.There are few lights to be seen unlike the large cacophany of lights that light the night time city skyline...most of Sydney was still asleep.
    Many passengers jostling for a good vantage point for the chance for that wanted photo with many  being taken as we pass by the many  attractions that make this such a popular destination with world travelers ,being one of the finest Harbours in the world..we pass Fort Denison ,.The Opera House with its majestic sails..and as the City proper and the busy ferry wharves of Circular Quay are on our left as we slowly glide under the Sydney Harbour Bridge with what appears to be very little clearance for the huge ships funnel and communication and navigational domes.

WE SQUEEZE UNDER THE HARBOUR BRIDGE WITH LITTLE CLEARANCE

 The morning although early, is quite warm, and as the sun rises higher over the horizon it appears that it is going to be a lovely Sydney day .We head for our berth at White bay and we prepare to disembark after what was a very enjoyable two week trip through the South Pacific Islands of New Caledonia and Vanuatu..