Macao-Taipa Bridge and Grand Lisboa Casino in Macau, China

Macao - Taipa Bridge

Ponte macau-Taipa e as melodiosas vagas
(Galician: Macau-Taipa Bridge and the melodious waves)

The bridge which has a total length of 2570 meters was completed in 1974 and is the link between the two places.  The rainbow profile rising from the sea is another landmark.

Photography of Wong Wai Hong, 2008

This was postmarked in 2013 with two Macau, China stamps

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Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge, also known as the Macau-Taipa Bridge, is a dual-lane two-way bridge connecting Macau Peninsula near Casino Lisboa and the island of Taipa.

The bridge is meant to take the shape of a dragon, with Casino Lisboa representing the dragon's head, and Taipa Monument on Taipa Pequena the dragon's tail.

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Tallest Building on the right:

Grand Lisboa is a 58-floor, 261-metre-tall (856 ft) hotel in Macau. Its casino and restaurants were opened on February 11, 2007, while the hotel part of the building was opened in December 2008. The casino offers 800 mass gaming tables and 1000 slot machines. The hotel contains 430 hotel rooms and suites. The Grand Lisboa is the tallest building in Macau and the 118th Tallest Building in the World (by architectural structure).

Macau, China stamp 2010

Traditional Costumes 3.50 

Macau, China stamp 2003

Museu Darted (Art Museum) 1.50

Monty Pyton and the Holy Grail - The Armless Black Knight

Monty Pyton and the Holy Grail

unused, from 2001 (the movie was made in 1975)

In this postcard you see Graham Chapman as King Arthur and John Cleese as the Black Knight

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Monty Python and the Holy Grail, (released in the UK on May 25, 1975) is a British comedy film written and performed by the comedy group Monty Python (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin), and directed by Gilliam and Jones.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail loosely follows the legend of King Arthur. Arthur (Chapman) along with his squire, Patsy (Gilliam), recruits his Knights of the Round Table, including Sir Bedevere the Wise (Jones), Sir Lancelot the Brave (Cleese), Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-As-Sir-Lancelot (Idle) and Sir Galahad the Pure (Palin). On the way Arthur battles the Black Knight (Cleese) who, despite having had all his limbs being chopped off, continues to try fighting. They reach Camelot, but Arthur decides not to enter, as it is a "silly place." They are instructed by God (represented by an animated photograph) to seek out the Holy Grail.

some of the quote from this part of the movie:

King Arthur: [after Arthur's cut off both of the Black Knight's arms] Look, You've got no arms left.
Black Knight: Yes I have.
King Arthur: *Look*!
Black Knight: It's just a flesh wound.

Postcard Made out of Duck Tape

I was talking to one of the girls that live in our neighborhood and she was telling me how she makes purses and wallets out of duck tape and sells them at school.  I asked her if I gave her $3.00 and a stamp if she could make me a postcard out of duck tape and mail it to me for my collection - Here is my card!  She surrounded it in mailing tape to keep the marker from smearing. (which also kept the postal stamp off - but that is fine)  I have to say, for me, it was a well spent three dollars  :D  

Thank you Jessica! 

postmarked in 2013 

Here is a scan of the other side of the card....

The Monaco Grand Prix

Grand Prix de Monaco

Photos: P. Poulailler

unused, from 2009

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The Monaco Grand Prix (French: Grand Prix de Monaco) is a Formula One motor race held each year on the Circuit de Monaco. Run since 1929, it is widely considered to be one of the most important and prestigious automobile races in the world, alongside the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The circuit has been called "an exceptional location of glamour and prestige."

The race is held on a narrow course laid out in the streets of Monaco, with many elevation changes and tight corners as well as a tunnel, making it one of the most demanding tracks in Formula One. In spite of the relatively low average speeds, it is a dangerous place to race. It is the only Grand Prix that does not adhere to the FIA's mandated 305 km minimum race distance.

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 one more postcard ....

Monaco 2009
21 - 22 - 23 - 24 Mai (May)
Formula 1

unused

Ocean City, New Jersey: Boardwalk at Music Pier

Boardwalk at Music Pier
Ocean City, New Jersey

The Music Pier is Ocean City's most well known landmark.  It is the site of concerts and meetings.

postmarked in 1990 with a 15 cent Beach stamp

the sender is a young child who writes:
Hi, I'm Having Fun at the beach
Love Tim

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Ocean City is a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States.  As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 11,701.  In summer months, with an influx of tourists and second homeowners, there are estimated to be 115,000 to 130,000 within the city's borders.

Known as a family-oriented seaside resort, Ocean City has prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages within its limits since its founding in 1879.

The Travel Channel rated Ocean City as the Best Family Beach of 2005.

Food Market in Hoi An, Vietnam

Vietnam, Hoi An

postmarked in 2013 with two Vietnam stamps

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Hội An, also Faifo, is a city of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is located in Quang Nam province and is home to approximately 120,000 people.

In 1999, the old town was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as a well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port of the 15th to 19th centuries, with buildings that display a unique blend of local and foreign influences.

My question is this:  What is the lady in the background thinking?

Vietnam stamp 2011

Acanthosaura lepidogaster (Lizard, Dragon) 6000 d

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Vietnam stamp 2011

Artistic Drawing of a Dragon 10500 d

Cher

Cher


the Colosseum
Ceasars Palace
Las Vegas

All three postcards are unused and from 2009.

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Cher (born Cherilyn Sarkisian; May 20, 1946) is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer, and philanthropist.

She began her career as a backup singer and came to prominence in 1965 as one-half of the pop rock duo Sonny & Cher with the success of their song "I Got You Babe". She subsequently established herself as a solo recording artist and became a television star in 1971 with The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, a variety show for which she won a Golden Globe. A well-received performance in the film Silkwood earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress of 1983. In the following years, she starred in a string of hit films including Mask, The Witches of Eastwick, and Moonstruck, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress of 1987.

Ice Cube Curling Center for 2014 Olympics in Russia

Ice Cube Curling Center

After the Games: The building might be moved to another region.

postmarked in 2013 with a Russia 'bear' stamp

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The Ice Cube Curling Center is a 3,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Sochi, Russia that is currently under construction.

After it is completed, it will host all the curling events at the 2014 Winter Olympics and the wheelchair curling events at the 2014 Winter Paralympics. It will cost $14.0 million to build the venue, including the temporary works for the Olympics and Paralympics.  After the 2014 games, it will remain a sports arena but it may be re-located.

White-bellied Sea Eagle from Langkawi Island, Malaysia

Langkawi Island: Malaysia

A White-bellied Sea Eagle swoops to catch a small fish.

This was postmarked in 2013 with a Malaysia Katak Tanduk (Asian Horned Frog) stamp.

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The White-bellied Sea Eagle is an opportunistic carnivore and consumes a wide variety of animal prey, including carrion.  It often catches a fish by flying low over the water and grasping it in its talons. It prepares for the strike by holding its feet far forward (almost under its chin) and then strikes backwards while simultaneously beating its wings to lift upwards. It may also dive at a 45 degree angle from its perch and briefly submerge to catch fish near the water surface.  While hunting over water on sunny days, it often flies directly into the sun or at right angles to it, seemingly to avoid casting shadows over the water and hence alerting potential prey.  And with a wingspan that ranges from 1.78 to 2.2 m (5.8 to 7.2 ft), that is a big bird to not cast a shadow!

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Langkawi is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. 

Malaysia stamp 2007, 

Frog, Katak Tanduk (Asian Horned Frog) 50 sen

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This strange looking frog has pointy skin that sticks out over its eyes and snout.  This looks like horns, but they are just skin.  They can grow 2 to 5 inches long.  This frog lives in the rain forests of southern Asia.  It is speckled in different shades of brown which help it hide in dead leaves.

Star Trek Movie, 2009

05-08-09
Star Trek Movie

unused

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Star Trek is a 2009 American science fiction film directed by J. J. Abrams, (brilliantly) written by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is the eleventh film based on the Star Trek franchise and features the main characters of the original Star Trek television series, portrayed by a new cast. The film follows James T. Kirk and Spock aboard the USS Enterprise as they combat Nero (Eric Bana), a Romulan from their future who threatens the United Federation of Planets.

The story takes place in an alternate reality due to time travel by both Nero and the original Spock (Leonard Nimoy). The alternate timeline was created in an effort to free the film and the franchise from established continuity constraints while simultaneously preserving original story elements.

Simon Pegg as Montgomery "Scotty" Scott
Karl Urban as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy
Zoe Saldana as Nyota Uhura
Chris Pine as James T. Kirk
Zachary Quinto as Spock
John Cho as Hikaru Sulu
Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov

Angkor Thom Gate in Cambodia

 Angkor Thom Gate

On the road to the Preah Khan Temple

postmarked in 2013 with a matching Cambodia temple stamp

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Angkor Thom (literally: "Great City"), located in present day Cambodia, was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. It was established in the late twelfth century by king Jayavarman VII. It covers an area of 9 km², within which are located several monuments from earlier eras as well as those established by Jayavarman and his successors.

The movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider features several characters visiting Angkor Thom during their trip to Cambodia to recover the first piece of the Triangle of Light.

Cambodia stamp 2012

Tourism

Apsara 

Banteay Srei 3000 R

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Banteay Srei or Banteay Srey is a 10th century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Located in the area of Angkor in Cambodia.

Aerial View of the Belize Barrier Reef and the Blue Hole

Belize

Photo: Huber

postmarked in 2013 with a Belize map stamp

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The Belize Barrier Reef is a series of coral reefs straddling the coast of Belize. It is 300 kilometers (190 mi) long, making it one of the largest coral reef systems in the world after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the New Caledonia Barrier Reef. 

It is Belize's top tourist destination, popular for scuba diving and snorkeling and attracting almost half of its 260,000 visitors.

Here is one more view ...

Belize, land of adventure...

A unique environment for us to preserve.  The Blue Hole at Lighthouse Reef.

Photograph by Tony Rath Photography

Star Wars Cast of Characters A to Z Drawn Like Anime

The Back of this postcard only reads Star Wars, but I found out it is a list of characters drawn from A to Z by Joe Wight. (It took me a while, but I figured them all out)....

A. - Admiral Ackbar
B. - Boba Fett
C. - Chewbacca
D.  - Darth Vader
E. - Emperor Palpatine
F. - 4-LOM Droid
G. - Greedo
H. - Han Solo
I. - IG-88
J. - Jabba The Hutt
K. - Klaatu
L. - Luke Skywalker
M. - Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin
N. - Nien Nunb
O. - Obi-Wan Kenobi
P. - Princess Leia
Q. - Quarren
R. - R2-D2
S. - Stormtrooper
T. - C-3PO (ThreePO)
U. - Ugnaught
V. - General Maximilian Veers
W. - Wicket W. Warrick (Ewok)
X.  - X-Wing Starfighter Pilot Biggs Darklighter
Y. - Yoda
Z. - Zuckuss

This unused postcard was bought in 2012.

Star Wars was created by George Walton Lucas, Jr. (born May 14, 1944).