Via Airmail

Lake Baikul, Siberia

Lake Baikul, Siberia, Russia

{RU-1094572}

Postcrossing card #100

An Australian Surfer

This very cool card came from Fremantle, Western Australia, which is a port city.  The postcrosser who sent it told me they have thousands of beautiful beaches.  I love the breathtaking view and the solitary figure standing there looking out onto the ocean.  

The photograph was taken by Graeme Edwards, VC and is titled "Wait for a Break".  It is from the Living Australia Photography Competition of 2011.

As the card is prepaid there is no stamp to share this time around.

{AU-210519}

Postcrossing card #71

A Sandy Japanese Beach

The description for this sandy beach is given simply as Churaumi in Uchina.  It arrived from Japan but no further information was given about the location of the beach in Japan.  Is anyone familiar with it?  It looks very picturesque and very empty (so probably a nice place to visit).

The stamps are a perfect match for the picture on the postcard.  I especially love the beach view on the right.  I would love to have  more Japanese stamps as they are always very attractive.

{JP-271359}

Postcrossing card #50

Tioman Island, Malaysia

Another island postcard, this is definitely another 'wish you were' here sort of image, don't you think?  According to the Wikipedia Time Magazine selected Tioman as one of the most beautiful islands.  The little description on the back of the card reads:

"The tropical island paradise that is Tioman in Pahang is set like a jewel in the aquamarine South China Sea off the east coast of Malaysia." 

This is the second postcard that I've received from Malaysia, and I'm yet more intrigued by this part of the world. 

The stamp is one of a series of garden flowers.  In this case, it is Hydrangea macrophylla (Bunga Tiga Bulan).  I've noticed that often postcrossers will note the time and temperature when they sent the card.  It was a warm 32C (89F) when this was mailed.

{MY-99984}

Postcrossing card #37 

Durdle Door Beach

Many thanks to John (aka Scriptor Senex) for sending along this lovely postcard of Durdle Door Beach on the Dorset/East Devon Coast of England.  I love beaches, though sadly I live about as far from any real beach or large body of water as is possible since I am in the middle of the US.  According to John this part of the coastline is called the Jurassic Coast.  He tells me there is a remarkable range of geology and fossils as well as rock formations here.  The wikipedia tells me that "Durdle" is  "derived from an Old English word 'thirl' meaning bore or drill."  That would be the "door" cutting through the rock formation I'm guessing.

Very soon I'm going to be reading Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier with a few friends, and I know the setting is Lyme Regis--not sure how far or close that is to this location, but I will now have an image in mind as I'm reading. 

On the back is Daisy of Thomas the Tank Engine fame.  The books were written by the Reverand Wilbert Awdry.  This is one of six stamps to commemorate his birth--2011 was his centenary year.  I've seen the books but am not familiar with the TV series.  The stamps are quite colorful.  I love the panoramic (for a stamp that is) size of them.

Although my list is long, the southern coast of England is on my list of places I'd like to visit someday.