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.

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

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.

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

unused, bought in 2012

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

City Hall in Belfast, Ireland

City Hall, Belfast

In 1888 Queen Victoria gave the town of Belfast the status of City.  In response the citizens built the magnificent City Hall which today dominates the heart of Belfast.  Work started in 1898 and the building was completed in 1906.  The building covers an area of about one acre and a half and is set in gardens which are open to the public.  It was built in the Classical Renaissance style in Portland stone and is rectangular in shape, enclosing a quadrangular courtyard.  A Porte-Cachere marks the Grand Entrance.

Photo Esler Crawford

Unused John Hinde postcard, from 2012

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Porte-cochère: a roofed structure extending from the entrance of a building that is over part of a driveway to shelter those getting in or out of vehicles.

Seminole Nation in The Everglades Celebrates Mothers Day

"Seminole Nation" holds "Mother's Day", Florida

The only "Indian Nation," that has not signed a Peace Treaty with the U. S. A. still carries on in primitive fashion, the tribal lure of its ancestors in the Everglades, Florida.

unused

Xel-Ha, (Xelha) in Mexico

Xel-Ha, Mexico

postmarked in 2013 with a Mexico stamp

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Xelha is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization, located on the eastern coastline of the Yucatán Peninsula, in the present-day state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. 

The etymology of the site's name comes from Yukatek Maya, combining the roots xel ("spring") and ha' ("water").

from their website:

Xel-Ha, one of the amazing attractions in Cancun, Riviera Maya, Mexico, a natural aquarium park considered the largest aquarium in the world, the perfect place to perform activities in Riviera Maya. If you love nature, there is no better place than Xel-Ha to practice snorkeling and water activities like swimming with dolphins, Snuba (combination of snorkeling and diving) or Sea Trek (walking under water).

Wise Old Owl - National Postcard Week

National Postcard Week, May 6-12, 2012

A wise old owl
Lived in an Oak

The more he saw
The less he spoke

The less he spoke
The more he heard.

Why can't we all
Be like that wise old bird?

Nursery Rhyme Series 1
from Joyce in Texas

limited edition #87 of 100

unused

National Postcard Week - 2013, Go Geochaching!

Explore New Worlds
Go Geocaching!

Happy National Postcard Week
May 5-11, 2013
from Kelly Glazner

In 2010 my husband and I decided to try a new hobby.  We downloaded the coordinates into an iPhone and set out to find one geochache. Little did we know finding that old toolbox under a bush in the desert would lead to exploring places we didn't even know existed close to home, then across the southwest US.  We have climbed mountains, forded rivers, followed our GPS underneath a mall, and explored mine tunnels in persuit of these little containers.  Want to know more? Learn more at geocaching.com.  All you need is a GPS or smart phone to get started. But it helps to remember a pen.

Limited edition #11 of 100

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A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook where the geocacher enters the date they found it and signs it with their established code name. After signing into the log, the cache must be placed back exactly where the person found it. Larger containers such as plastic storage containers (Tupperware or similar) or ammunition boxes can also contain items for trading, usually toys or trinkets of little value.

Celebrate 30 Years of National Postcard Week

Celebrate 30 Years
NCPW (NPCW) 30 May 5-13 (should read 11th) ,2013

Coupon (This is raised from the actual postcard!)
You are entitled to:
Stress Free Hours!
from Jackie

the following is from http://NationalPostcardWeek.com (be sure to go to this site and read more!)

NPCW began as a way for sellers and collectors to promote the hobby of postcard collecting.

Some of those Pioneers were DeeDee Parker of Western Reserve Post Card Society, John McClintock, Roy Cox and Richard Novick. An excerpt from the IFPD Newsletter of March 1, 1983 written by John McClintock. " For the past year we have been working on a Postcard Day, Week or Month to help promote the hobby/business. DeeDee Parker graciously accepted the task of correlating the thoughts of the postcard collectors/dealers in the matter. It seems the majority wishes to have a Postcard Week and that it be held the First full week of May. This will be a lot of fun and insure perpetuation of the hobby in the future.

Matrix Reloaded Movie and Keanu Reeves

Matrix Reloaded
This is a 3D postcard that when you tilt it makes it look like the code is running down the card.

postmarked in 2012 from Croatia with a 4.60 Posavina stamp

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The Matrix Reloaded is a 2003 American science fiction action film and the second installment in The Matrix trilogy, written and directed by The Wachowskis. It premiered on May 7, 2003, in Westwood, Los Angeles, California.

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Harold Perrineau, Randall Duk Kim and Jada Pinkett Smith

The film earned an estimated $5 million during Wednesday night previews in North America. Then grossed $37,508,303 on its Thursday opening day in North America. Ultimately, the film grossed $281.5 million in the US, and $742.1 million worldwide.

main plot (of many plots) in one sentence:
Neo and the rebel leaders estimate that they have 72 hours until 250,000 probes discover Zion and destroy it and its inhabitants.
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Croatia - Stamp 2010

Posavina 4.60
from the 'Croatian Ethnographic Heritage' series

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Posavina is a Slavic name for the region of the Sava river basin in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia that is adjacent or near the Sava river itself.
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Here is a postcard of the main star in the movie series....

Keanu Reeves

unused

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Keanu Charles Reeves (born September 2, 1964) is a Canadian film actor. Reeves is perhaps best known for his role in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure as well as Speed, Point Break and the science fiction-action trilogy The Matrix.

In addition to his film roles, Reeves has also performed in theatre. His performance in the title role in a Manitoba Theatre Centre production of Hamlet was praised by Roger Lewis, the Sunday Times, who declared Reeves " … one of the top three Hamlets I have seen, for a simple reason: he is Hamlet."

On January 31, 2005, Reeves received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The New Hindenburg from Germany with Nazi Flags (1936)

(Notice the name 'Hindenburg' is not yet printed on the side of the zeppelin)

Das neue deutsche Zeppelin-Luftschiff, "Hindenburg" L.Z. 129
Das groBte Luftschiff der Welt.

Lange 248 m.  Hohe 44,7 m, groBter Durchmesser 41,2.
Vortriebsmaschinen: 4 Mercedes-Benz Dieselmotore von je 1100 PS Geschwindigkeit von etwa 130 Stdkm.

Foto Scherl

Translation:
The new German Zeppelin airship "Hindenburg" LZ 129
The biggest airship in the world.

Length m 248th Height 44.7 m, maximum diameter 41.2.
Boring Machines: 4 Mercedes-Benz diesel engines of 1,100 hp speed of about 130 Stdkm.

Photo Scherl

unused, from 1936

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LZ 129 Hindenburg (Luftschiff Zeppelin #129; Registration: D-LZ 129) was a large German commercial passenger-carrying rigid airship, the lead ship of the Hindenburg class.

The airship flew from March 1936 until destroyed by fire 14 months later on May 6, 1937, at the end of the first North American transatlantic journey of its second season of service. Thirty-six people died in the accident, which occurred while landing at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in Manchester Township, New Jersey, United States.

Hindenburg was named after the late Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg (1847–1934), President of Germany (1925–1934).

Orange You Glad it is National Postcard Week!

Orange you glad it's National Postcard Week?
May 5-11, 2013

9teen87sPostcards.blogspot.com

the back reads:
Q. Why was the girl staring at the carton of orange juice?
A. Because it said concentrate.

limited edition of 100