Postcards for the weekend 78: Spring

Private swap, sent from Timaru, New Zealand
Sent 15 Oct 2013, Traveled 8,290 km

The label at the back of this postcard says: This lamb is one of the millions of lambs born each spring in New Zealand. According to the sender when he wrote on this postcard, "the daffodils have been blooming, the lamb bleating, the weather changing so it must be springtime!"

Private swap, Sent from Amsterdam
Sent 12 Mar 2012, Traveled 10,385 km

The sender of this postcard also spoke of spring, "Here in Amsterdam, where spring has begun so more and more flowering tulips. Enjoy!"

I've never been in a real field of tulips and I wish I will one day. 

Happy weekend everyone! 

~maria

Postcards for the weekend 49: Retro or Vintage

To be totally honest, I'm no good at discerning whether a piece is retro or vintage (despite reading on the meaning of each word). So here we are, with the retro OR vintage theme for this weekend.

ES-439649, Sent from Spain,
Sent 15 Nov 2016, Traveled 11,265 km in 14 days

Chrysanthemum carinatum is a tri-colored daisy. I was intrigued by the scientific name on the postcard as chrysanthemums for what I know are usually multi-layer and more full bodied blooms as compared with the flowers in this postcard.

I think this postcard is a reproduction as the paper at the back isn't yellowed as it appears in front.

FI-2800936, Sent from Oulu, Finland
Sent 2 Sep 2016, Traveled 9,334 km

I hope I'm correct to categorize this postcard's design as retro, if not vintage.

Direct Swap, sent from Stockbridge, GA
Sent 31 Aug 2015, Traveled 16,034 km

This card is labeled Atlanta, Georgia - Retro Skyline at the back of the postcard. It's nice to see three layers of ascending graphics on this postcard.

Friendship Gift Postcard

I received this ad card from a friend who traveled to Europe. I think there were 4 or 5 of them linked with each other but with easy-to-tear perforation in between. This is my favorite from the set.

I'm posting from Charles de Gaulle Airport at the moment, waiting for my flight back to Singapore. I hope we're all looking forward to a relaxing weekend!

~maria 

Postcards for the weekend 33: Spring, flower buds & blossoms, green foliage

I'm here in Frankfurt Airport, hoping to publish this post before the announcement of the call for boarding to Malta. My Dutch mom was half-shocked half-surprised as to why I'm going to Malta at this time of the year. She mentioned that the landscape will be dry and brown. I guess it should be an interesting change of scenery for me in contrast with Singapore that's always green

But for my blog at least, I'm pretty pleased to share these postcards for this weekend's theme:

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sent from Finland
Sent 15 June 2014, traveled 9,171 km

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sent from Finland
Sent 15 June 2014, traveled 9,171 km

FI-1997790, Sent from Finland
Sent 28 Jan 2014, Traveled 8,938 km in 18 days

NL-3558074, Sent from Netherlands,
Sent 3 Sep 2016, Traveled 10,453 km in 14 days

DE-8778042, Sent from Germany
Sent 2 Dec 2016, Traveled 10,347 km in 14 days

I've mentioned on a previous post that nature always offer me peace & serenity. Work has been extremely overwhelming again (it still is and I've managed to make it to my outbound flight!). Stealing time and searching for these postcards while preparing for this weekend's theme simulated for me in a way that feeling of being surrounded by nature. It gives me the chance to get into that space for introspection and reflection during this season of Lent. 

Wishing a Happy Easter in advance and solemn weekend ahead of us,

~maria

Sunday Stamps: Flowers from India and Romania

These two flower stamps came with one of my most recently received postcards. Part of the Bouquet for Children issue of Chennai Post (India) in 3 September 2013, the sheet of 12 designs aimed to bring children in the cities the flowers that are mostly only seen in the villages and the forests. I really like that these two flowers allows us to see more inside into the flowers' anatomy.

These two stamps from Romania make me curious with the clocks featured alongside each. It made sense to me when I read that these two are part of a Flower's Clock. The time on the clock's face reveals the hour that the flower blooms. For sunflower is 9 AM and the viper's grass is 7 AM. Both of the clocks on these two stamps were manufactured in France in the 19th century -- a P. Bonnet and P. Pottier portico clock and a table clock, respectively. The rest of the stamps on this  25 January 2013 issue can be found here. 

For more flowers featured on stamps from around the world, check out the linky party @ See it on a postcard.

~maria

Stamps: Orange and/or yellow

For the Sunday Stamps of orange and/or yellow theme this week, I collected from the stamps from the envelopes of letters sent by my Finnish pen pal.

I rarely receive stamps with uneven perforation outlining the design and these two sunflower stamps are among them. The stamp on the lower left is an artwok of the realist Helena Schjerfbeck. It's 1 of 4 stamps issued to commemorate her 150th birthday. 

All stamps were from 2012.

Postcards for the weekend 3: Flowers

FI-1797307, Sender: Nina
Sent 2 Jul 2013, Traveled 8,827 km in 10 days

It all seems fitting for me to share a lotus while writing this post from my hotel that's on the Chao Phraya river bank. Thai people are mostly Buddhists. As most of us know well, lotus is one of the main symbols of Buddhism. A pink lotus is associated with the Great Buddha's history and legend. It also represents from being a bud into a full bloom flower, one's journey towards nirvana or ultimate state of enlightenment.

DE-2553328, Sender: Sylvia
Sent 12 Oct 2013, Traveled 10,319 km in 10 days

Please don't judge me based on what I'm going to say next -- I'm on both sides of the spectrum now: on the reverse of that calmness from the lotus, I'm imagining I could go for a scenic hike on flowery fields this weekend. But alas, I have to work!

Our theme next week is "fall colors". For the guidelines of the linky, please click here. See you all again next week. I wish you all a relaxing weekend.

Cheers,

~maria

Say it with flowers

My penpal, Tuija from Finland is ever so sweet. She loves sending me matching stamps and envelopes since we started writing to each other back in 2011.

This envelope was received in 09 Sep 2011. The Lilac stamp on it was issued back in 1 March 2006. Lilac is a common garden plant; well-loved due to its attractive and fragrant flowers.

The flower featured on this envelope received in 22 June 2011 on the other hand is a rare plant. Mountain everlasting or pussytoes belongs to the sunflower family but thrives in cooler temperature. 

For more flowers seen on stamps, hover your mouse & click here.

~maria

Campuhan Ridge Hike

Postcard to be sent to Finland

Greeting all of you a sunny great week from the supposedly rainy Bali! 

I'm really happy and thrilled to share with all of you that it's Monday morning, but I'm here sitting by the pool and working on this blog entry from Ubud - the cultural center of Bali, Indonesia. I'm not supposed to start with my new job until Monday next week so the beau and I agreed that we should go for an extended vacation. We decided to come here to Bali despite the forecast of rainy days. Looking online for travel recommendations, there's so much to see and it's perfect that we have several days for this visit. Also it's low season so we are hoping for a budge trip.

We arrived Saturday night. Yesterday, Sunday was our first full day here. Motivated by the surprisingly blue skies, we agreed it's best to start with the rice terraces. We did the Campuhan Ridge hike to see the rice paddies. We started a bit late so the sun was scorching hot. It was really nice though while on top of Campuhan valley, the first part of the hike. Because it's elevated, we're able to enjoy cool breeze. Campuhan is a sacred place. It is where two rivers, Sungai Wos and Sungai Agung meet. During the hike, we went past quiet villages, traditional looking hotels and spas, and many little art galleries by the road. 

The rice terraces were nice but not as grand as that on the postcard. It was really nice to do the hike nonetheless. It made us energized and set the pace for our visit here.

During the hike, I made sure I snapped a few photos for Sally's Blue Monday. I hope Blue Monday blog hoppers will find them pretty, as well as the blue sky on this snap from the valley.

I better keep going now ... there are still a lot to discover and explore!

~ maria

A Surprise Card!

Surprise Postcard, Sender: Terry Lovell
Sent: 13 Aug 2012 from Sherwood, AR
Received: 31 Aug 2012, Traveled 13,552 km in 19 days

In moments of doubt, I turn into kind words. One example is the message at the back of this surprise card from Terry:

You are a special person -- I know that to be true about you!

Thank you very much Terry! You make me smile every time with the postcards you send me and the lovely messages. Reading kind words from friendships I've made with people I haven't even met yet is very refreshing. For me, it reflects purity of human spirit. Despite what we see and what we believe to be an enormous damage in the human morale fiber, there is still the great potential for genuine kindness and good will even among strangers.

Reading Terry's message and looking at this card once again has cheered me up!

I'm off to bed tonight with a smile, renewed spirit, and excitement for the weekend!

But before that, I'm heading over at Beth's Postcard Friendship Friday to check for more nice postcards that will surely make me smile even more.

Sleep well everyone and have a great weekend ahead!

~maria

Wild Flowers

FI-1911627, Sender: Sokal
Sent: 30 Oct 2013 from Kuoio, Finland
Received: 7 Nov 2013, Traveled 8,736 km in 8 days

Not that I want to classify this pink flower as wild flower, but this pink flower that I can't identify very much describes my recent found love of wild flowers -- which I also can't identify!

On Thursday, I was junior tour guide to our foreign guests. As mentioned in my previous post, where I also have a photo in the entrance of one place we visited. They were here for an International Atomic Energy Meeting, hosted by the Philippines. Some guests left Thursday and Friday, some left only today. And earlier, prior to their flight, I was once again, a tour guide. Wow! I think I should probably consider changing profession.

On these tours, I believe I literally "stopped and smelled the roses". Where in this case, are not roses but wild flowers. Here are two snap shots I got:

My thoughts wandered on those places damaged by the typhoon. I know rehabilitation will be an extremely long process, but I wish it won't take too long for flowers to bloom in those lands once again!

Lovely weekend to everyone!

~maria

PS. I'm linking with Beverly's Pink Saturday. Perhaps a blog hopper can help me identify what these flowers are ;-)

A Red Rose

AU-317018, Sender: Tristia
Sent: 27 Oct 2013 from Wollongong, Australia
Received: 7 Nov 2013, Traveled 6,285 km in 11 days

I feel special receiving this maxicard today. Tristia, the sender, wrote: I have been keeping it for someone who collects flower postcards. I'm lucky she didn't send it before to someone else! This is my second maxicard flower postcard. And two beautiful coincidences:

1)  The first maxicard flower postcard I have is also from Australia. I posted that one in this entry, Thou has brought me many flowers. Third postcard in that row of five.

2) The petals of the red rose is charmingly forming one heart inside the other. Perfect for Guest Heart Thursday! How lovely!

For more hearts, hop on to Clytie's Random Hearts page, just a click of your mouse on here.

~maria

Inspiration from bluebells

FI-1858485, Sender: Paula
Sent: 10 Sep 2013 from Vaasa, Finland
Received: 20 Sep 2013, Traveled 9,032 km in 10 days

Life again is moving in a quicker pace than usual. In a more precise way of saying it -- I returned from an out-of-town work late in the evening of Saturday and in a few hours I'll be in the airport again for another assignment. Time check, 01:05 AM on a Monday. So far, I'm happy to have slept 5 hours since I was back. As to why I wasn't able to get more rest than I wish I could, well... there's tidying up of my stuff, laundry, and urgent documents for my clinical residency that needed much of my remaining energy and attention (not to mention the noisy neighbor).

I can really feel my body leaning down at its own already, like those bluebells on the postcard. I picked this card to gain inspiration. I really hope, like those bluebells hanging on their stems, I can still manage to be strong/not to fall down, to be able to do everything that has to be done, despite fatigue and this persistent flu. Yes I'm extremely tired (and sick) right now, in much need of more sleep and rest but I want to post this entry first for Blue Monday, with the thought that no matter how pressing the situation is, there's always a brighter way of looking at things and from there, positive energy pours in and you're able to carry on. Happy Blue Monday everyone!

~maria

Learn the nature.

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Auli
Sent: 11 June 2012 from Romainville, France
Received: 27 June 2012, Traveled ~10,936 km in 16 days

It was utopia for me, traveling to Bukidnon for most of my assignments for work for the past 8 months. That place in the middle of Mindanao, south of the country is a natural paradise. With my seemingly final travel there this year happening a week ago, I can't help but feel sad.

Being in Bukidnon was enjoying warmth of nature's embrace. It was the most comforting place I've ever been; verdant mountain ranges, cool breeze, fresh inexpensive food, and good-natured people. The name of the place means mountain dweller. And if only I am very free to choose, I'd like to be a highlander and spend a year or two in that place, if not live there. It's the food basket of Mindanao and I just want to experience the joy of planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops.

I'm smiling to find these postcards in my collection that really reflects my feelings right now about Bukidnon. The French phrase on the card above means, "Learn the nature."

On the card below, the German phrase means, "Nothing happens in living nature that is not connected with the whole."

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Angela
Sent: 26 March 2012 from Nordheim, Germany
Received: 10 April 2012, Traveled ~10,685.9 km in 14 days

I'm keeping my fingers crossed my next visit in Bukidnon is in the not so far future :)

Hop on to Beth's Postcard Friendship Friday meme for more beautiful cards to view as the week winds down into a relaxing phase (hopefully) for all of us.

~maria

Sunny heart

CH-149695, Sender: Vre
Sent: 22 May 2013, Sent from Lucerne, Switzerland
Received: 5 June 2013, Traveled 10,458 km in 14 days

This is one of my most 'spirit-uplifting; smile-inducing' heart cards, officially received from postcrossing.com. I believe I mentioned in one of my previous posts that when it's summer in the other part of the globe, it's rainy and typhoon season for us. Hence, the choice of a sunflower heart card for today ... I miss the sun ... I miss my sunshine ... and eating sunflower seeds.

I'll keep this short, I got a terrible headache. It's a holiday tomorrow so I'm really drawn into my bed right now, thinking of a long sleep ahead.

Blessed and joyful celebrations of Eid Mubarak!

I'm sharing this post with Clytie's Guest Heart Thursday. Check out her page for more heart photos ;-) I'm honored that she featured on her page today the heart card I posted last week, I'm even more honored with the kind words she has for me. Thank you so much!! 

~maria

June, the month of roses.

Whence comes this mist of sweet perfume of fragrant blooming roses

That fills the air at early dawn and after daylight closes,

When through the day the song bird sings and in the night reposes?

Tis June, the fairest month of all, bright June, the month of roses.

- Elva May Root

It's a new month, not just a new day. 

If that does not make sense, kindly refer to my previous post. May I warn you though that it is a melancholic post, so read with caution...

I am very grateful to the comments I received on that post. The comments gave me hope and inspiration. Like the roses with their pretty red blooms in June, as mentioned in the verses, I feel like the fire in me is starting to have a warmer and bigger glow. And I write this post with a smile.

I am sharing this rose with Viridian's Sunday Stamps and I'm happy that the theme today is anything you wish. It's perfect timing, I can post anything I want -- which is this rose for the start of June, the month of roses.

And since she's asking for suggestions for future themes, I would like to suggest Disney characters, UNESCO WHS, universities, and musical instruments. Pardon me though Viridian, if one or more of these themes I cam up with has/have been rolled out before.

~maria

By any other name, would still be as sweet.

 BY-866360, Sender: Anya
Sent: 24 April 2013, Sent from Mogilev, Belarus
Received: 23 May 2013, Traveled 8,747 km in 29 days

What's in a name? That which we call a rose?

By any other name would still smell as sweet.

Romeo & Juliet (2.2.45-47)

In these lines from Romeo and Juliet, Juliet argues that the name of things do not matter, only what things "are".* 

I am on a crossroads. Or perhaps, it's better to characterize these confused feelings and mixed emotions that I'm having lately as symptoms of the ever-famous phenomenon, that so called quarter-life crisis. I find myself staring blankly in space. At the same time, there are so many things running in my head. I cannot focus and I'm having difficulty in making decisions.

I am not happy with my profession, yet I'm still excited by it. Maybe it's unhappiness with my job, and not really the profession? Maybe a new work place will renew my enthusiasm? Perhaps I'm not really born to be a medical physicist? But I refuse to accept the idea of 'nature', I lean more into 'nurture' -- that you can be what you work your damn best to be. Still, I question myself whether I have the real talent for the profession. Then, what talents do I really have? A friend told me I am a 'people person'. Yet here I am, trying to fit in a profession that requires a bigger percentage for talent in the technical department.

Should I try to find my happiness in a different career? But isn't it a bit too late now? Is this unhappiness a transient thing? Perhaps I'm just lacking motivation right now? Perhaps it's just all in my head. Perhaps I'm just allowing myself to dwell on negativity? I actually find it humiliating and ironic, that many friends and acquaintances have come to me for advice; many considered me successful in this profession. Their compliments often surprise me as I think of the internal and external struggles. Some say I am very hard with myself. Perhaps I am...

Or, perhaps the profession doesn't really matter. That it is what lies in your core as a person which counts the most. That wherever you find yourself in, whatever profession you take, whichever road you thread, it is your motivation and determination to be happy and find real success whatever the circumstances are which counts the most. Like what Juliet said, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would still smell as sweet."

I haven't found the final resolution for my thoughts on this matter. But I know I should get some sleep now. Tomorrow is another day, and I pray that it is a better day.

~maria

p.s. Pardon this melancholic post. I really need an outlet for the random thoughts in my head. My thoughts are really crazy right now. I don't know which way to go. Your comments are very welcome. If you disagree with what I've written, I'd greatly appreciate if you tell me why.

*Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_rose_by_any_other_name_would_smell_as_sweet

Horikiri Iris Garden

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Inga
Sent: 15 April 2013, Sent from Niederaichbach, Germany
Received: 19 April 2013, Traveled 10,106.9 km in 4 days

Here is another reproduction from the 'One Hundred Famous Views of Edo' series by the woodblock print artist Ando Hiroshige. This view is no. 56 in the series. The garden is in a little village north of Tokyo. It is one of Tokyo's oldest gardens.

This artwork dates back to the Edo Period, Ansei Era, Japan. The artwork shows iris blooms in the foreground and visitors, who are for sure caught in awe by the beautiful garden, in the background. The irises in the garden started with three specimens, and now has 200. Iris is a genus of 260-300 specimens, so the Horikiri Garden surely has a lot on it already. Iris means rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors across its specimens.

~maria

Hope

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Skopry
Sent: 21 November 2012, Sent from Geisengen, Germany
Received: 20 December 2012, Traveled 10,386 km in 29 days 

Hope --

It is not easy to see the beautiful things of life in the time of sorrow,

but you should never ever stop to believe in the good.

Happy weekend,

~maria

White tulips

UA-511259, Sender: smymmr
Sent: 26 February 2013, Sent from Kramatorsk, Ukraine
Received: 4 April 2013, Traveled 8,319 km in 41 days

White tulips : symbol of purity, forgiveness, and remembrance.

Hope all of us are having a relaxing weekend!

Linking up with Tina and Mona for the weekend floral love affair project.

~maria

Hortensiekrans

FI-1704552, Sender: dotdotPC
Sent on 16 March 2013, Sent from Helsinki, Finland
Received on 1 April 2013, Traveled 8,938 km in 16 days

Here's a hydrangea wreath to celebrate the melting of snow, the peeking sun...it's spring time! We don't have spring here in the Philippines but I share this silky and beautiful wreath to everyone celebrating the spring season. 

Hydrangea wreath is hortensiekrans in Swedish. I had my Finnish friend / pen pal Tuija translate it for me. (I learned from her too that Swedish is one of the first languages of Finland.) Earlier today, I received a letter from her in the mail. Her letter spoke of winter draining her energy. Since the wreath symbolizes life and strength, I wish you all of my co-bloggers and readers a flow of renewed energy, life, and strength with the spring season!

I believe this wreath comes with an extra special love cause it's not the usual circular but it is heart-shaped instead ;-)

Linking up with Clytie for Guest Heart Thursday.

~maria