China: Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area

"Situated in the north-west of Sichaun Province, the Huanglong valley is made up of snow-capped peaks and the easternmost of all the Chinese glaciers. In addition to its mountain landscape, diverse forest ecosystems can be found, as well as spectacular limestone formations, waterfalls and hot springs. The area also has a population of endangered animals, including the giant panda and the Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey."
Source: UNESCO World Heritage List

Postcard # 1:
This Chinese Postcard from "Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area" is a beautiful one. It is really a marvel of the nature. The back of the card says "Golden Sand Beach" and it is from Jinshatan.

Of greatest geologically interest is the extensive calcite deposition that has taken place, notably along the 3.6 km Huanglonggou (Yellow Dragon Gully) where there are several extensive areas of travertine pools. Algae and bacteria proliferate in a number of these pools, giving a wide range of colours from orange and yellow to green and blue. Other karst features include long limestone shoals, notably Liujinshan (Glazed Golden Fan) and Jinshatan (Golden Sand Beach), in Huanglonggou. These are extensive slopes of active limestone deposition, covered entirely by a thin layer of flowing water.
The postcard was sent to me by Edward from China inside an envelope, alongwith 4 other postcards. Thank you so much Edward!

Russia: Historic Center of the City of Yaroslavl

"Situated at the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl Rivers some 250 km north-east of Moscow, the historic city of Yaroslavl developed into a major commercial centre from the 11th century. It is renowned for its numerous 17th-century churches and is an outstanding example of the urban planning reform Empress Catherine the Great ordered for the whole of Russia in 1763. While keeping some of its significant historic structures, the town was renovated in the neoclassical style on a radial urban master plan. It has also kept elements from the 16th century in the Spassky Monastery, one of the oldest in the Upper Volga region, built on the site of a pagan temple in the late 12th century but reconstructed over time."
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Site List

I received this marvelous postcard from Natalia in Russian Federation. It is a lovely small-sized postcard with very beautiful scenery of Church of St. Nicholas Makry and Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the mother of God, in the historical center of the city of Yaroslavl, which dates back to 17th century.

The two different church stamps are a part of a set of 12 stamps issued as Kremlin Definitives in 2009, while the animal stamp on top-left shows a beautiful fox. This stamp is one of the 15 different stamps issued in 2008 as a set of Russian Animals definitives. The stamp is of 50 kopeks or 0.5 Robels denomination.
Thank you Natalia for such a beautiful postcard and nice stamps!

Oman: Arabian Oryx Sanctuary - Delisted 2007

"The World Heritage Committee deleted the property because of Oman's decision to reduce the size of the protected area by 90%, in contravention of the Operational Guidelines of the Convention. This was seen by the Committee as destroying the outstanding universal value of the site which was inscribed in 1994.

In 1996, the population of the Arabian Oryx in the site, was at 450 but it has since dwindled to 65 with only about four breeding pairs making its future viability uncertain. This decline is due to poaching and habitat degradation.

After extensive consultation with the State Party, the Committee felt that the unilateral reduction in the size of the Sanctuary and plans to proceed with hydrocarbon prospection would destroy the value and integrity of the property, which is also home to other endangered species including, the Arabian Gazelle and houbara bustard.

The Arabian Oryx Sanctuary is an area within the Central Desert and Coastal Hills biogeographical regions of Oman. Seasonal fogs and dews support a unique desert ecosystem whose diverse flora includes several endemic plants. Its rare fauna includes the first free-ranging herd of Arabian oryx since the global extinction of the species in the wild in 1972 and its reintroduction here in 1982. The only wild breeding sites in Arabia of the endangered houbara bustard, a species of wader, are also to be found, as well as Nubian ibex, Arabian wolves, honey badgers, caracals and the largest wild population of Arabian gazelle."
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Postcard # 1
Here is a magnificent Omani postcard from a de-listed site - Arabian Oryx Sanctuary. It is one of the only two de-listed sites in the UNESCO list. It was de-listed in 2007.

It is an interesting experience to receive an Omani postcard with Australian postage stamps on the back. The card was sent to me by Laurent from Postcard Interactive Company of Sydney.

The Australian postage stamps used on the postcard are also very nice. The $1 stamp on the left shows beautiful roses for a loved one and was issued in 2005. The stamp on right features "Pincushion/ Hakea" and was printed in 2006. It is also of $1 denomination. Thank you so much Laurent!

Pakistan: Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol

"The Buddhist monastic complex of Takht-i-Bahi (Throne of Origins) was founded in the early 1st century. Owing to its location on the crest of a high hill, it escaped successive invasions and is still exceptionally well preserved. Nearby are the ruins of Sahr-i-Bahlol, a small fortified city dating from the same period."
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Site List

Postcard # 1
What a site it is!!!

This magnificent UNESCO postcard was sent to me by Mr Imran from Lahore. The site is awesome and is quite well-preserved despite of the fact that it was founded in early 1st Century. You can imagine how old it could be. In 1857, there were a number of discoveries from these sites connecting them to the Buddhist civilization. There are a number of statues and other sculptures.

The name Takht-i-Bhai derives from the spring on the hilltop and is literally translated as 'Spring Throne'.

The complex, the most impressive and complete Buddhist Monastery in Pakistan, consists of four main groups:

• The Court of Stupas with a cluster of stupas beside the main stupa in the middle courtyard, embellished with a series of tall niches to enshrine Buddhist statues;
• The early monastic complex with residential cells around an open court, assembly hall and refectory;
• The temple complex with a main stupa in the middle of a courtyard adorned with statues niches similar to the earlier stupa court;
• The tantric monastic complex with an open courtyard in front of a series of dark cells with low openings for mystical meditation, in keeping with tantric practice.

The stamp used on the postcard was issued in 2011 to laud Pakistan Telecom Authority in order to commemorate "100 Million Cellular Subscribers" Celebrations. It is a Rs 8 postage stamp which is way over the required Rs 2 postage required on postcards sent within the country. Thank you Imran!