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

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

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

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! ^^

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

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

Colorful minisheet from KAZAKHSTAN

A gift from my beloved JAPAN

What's inside?

Aaaaaa, so many lovely things. Arigatou Hama!

My first Gotochi card - Nagasaki Kunchi Festival

I looove Koala

STAMP:

2011 Australian Bush Babies - Koala 

Privet! from RUSSIA. Artist: M.V. Ananyin

STAMPS: 

The unique Lighthouse Сhurch on the Solovetsky Islands, White sea

The most famous painting by I.N. Kramskoy "The Unknown Woman", 1883