Autumn mood from Kyoto. Hello October!

Autumn greetings from Japan!

I loooove this postcard from Kumamoto, Japan.

Kumamon (kuma means "bear") is a mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture.

He was born in 2010 & he is a real star in Japan.

Amazing gift from my Japanese pen friend Keiko. Arigatou!

Old stories from Japan: 

The Old Man who Made Cherry Blossoms

Urashima Taro

One Inch Boy

The Crane Lady

The Bamboo Lady

Devonshire or Cornish Cream Tea: scones & clotted cream & jam. Yummy!

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and  Spring

I like this ethnographic postcard "Belarus folk holidays and celebration".

My favourite maxicard in the world and the cutest Koala ever! :)

Actually, I bought this card from Australian Bush Babies series 2011 on eBay. Because it's already a collector's item, which is very hard to receive from Australia poscrossing members. 

Photo by Erik K Veland © 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikveland/423038931/

P.S. But, I have a good news to tell you! Australian Bush Babies II - maxicards & stamps & coins - were released by Australia Post on 2 April 2013. And this time my favourite baby animal is Wombat. :) 

http://www.shop.auspost.com.au/collectables/stamps-issues/australian-bush-babies-ii

Lovely illustrations by Elise Martinson   

http://www.elisemartinson.com/

Today is the 1st day of Spring. And today I've received an amazing Gotochi card - my favourite one. ^^

Nara Yoshino cherry blossom 2012.

I must confess that I'm obsessed with sakura in bloom.

Mt. Yoshino is famous for its many thousand of sakura trees.

Breathtaking!!!

http://kenshi247.net

P.S. Arigatou, Kaori!

Snusmumriken (Snufkin) is my favourite character from the Moomin books.

I like his philosophy.

"I own everything I see and everything that please me. I own the entire world".

"Today we must do something very special, for it will be a glorious day". 

STAMP: Snufkin

I like this postcard from China. I have two identical cards from different persons. But I'm glad about it because this illustration is so beautiful.

The great classical Chinese novel "A Dream of the Red Chamber".

http://cfensi.wordpress.com/2009/05/13/the-other-dream-of-the-red-chamber/

Season's Greetings from Japan. =^.^= 

I love all these little Santas at the Nagoya Castle. What a perfect combination of the different cultures!

Sakura in bloom and Christmas spirit. Like a dream! I'm in love with this unique card.

Arigatou! Keiko! ♥ 

I adore Scandinavian Christmas illustrations.

by Jan Bergerlind 

(Swedish artist & illustrator)

STAMP:

Europa 1997 - Tales and Legends

"Trolls and Princess Tuvstarr"

Illustration by John Bauer

P.S. Thank you Katya! Spasiboooo! :)

My little dream - enjoying French breakfast in Paris or Lyon or Bordeaux. Anyway somewhere in France :)

STAMP:

The legendary French singer Edith Piaf

P.S. Dear David, merci bien! :)

What a lovely postcard! Many thanks to Aileen from Malaysia.

Ibans at Skrang River longhouse. The biggest ethnic group of Sarawak, East Malaysia.

STAMP:

Traditional costume of the Bajau & the Malaysian Chinese

I received this amazing maxicard from Australia. My favourite one from the set. Thank you Lena.

Griffin is a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.

Illustrations by Aaron Pocock. Fantastic artworks.

https://aaronpocock.wordpress.com/

Uemura Shoen was the first woman in the history of Japan to win the Order of Culture for her contribution to nihonga (Japanese painting). Portraits of elegant Japanese women were her favourite theme.

"Snowflakes", 1944

Uemura Shoen's artworks have been selected as the subject of commemorative postage stamps twice

(1965 and 1980)

Jo-no-mai (dance performed in a Noh play), 1936

 

"Mother and Child", 1934

P.S. Arigatou Ai and Megumi! ^^

Cafe "Na bambetli" (On the bench bed) in Lviv, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

NB! German: Bankbettel - bench bed

Lviv is a city of coffee & chocolate. Welcome!

This comfy cafe is located in former Andriolli passage where the first candy store in Lviv was opened.

Early morning light at the Sungai Palas Tea Plantation, Cameron Highlands.

STAMP:

Dancers wearing saris 

Carrier pigeon :) aka Spotted Dove - a resident of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia

Most wanted postcard. The best present for my birthday from Lyra. Thank you so much!

The most impressive stamp I have ever received. Thank you Radim!

A famous medieval bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague - The Charles Bridge