JORDAN TOURISM 2010

Today I have received some beautiful stamps from Jordan. Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing control of the Dead Sea. Over half of Jordan is covered by the Arabian Desert. However, the western part of Jordan consists of arable land and forests.The capital city is Amman.
My stamps come from Abu Nusair. Yes, there are also railways, as you will see in another post, but I thought to share some other stamps too. The issue consists of 4 variation and a miniature sheet about touristic destinations, more exactly ruins of ancient cities and places. Fascinating.

So let´s see in more detail what we have here:
10 p.stamp shows Ajlun Castle
The marvels of nature and the genius of medieval Arab military architecture have given northern Jordan two of the most important ecological and historical attractions in the Middle East: the sprawling pine forests of the Ajlun-Dibbine area, and the towering Ayyubid castle at Ajlun, which helped defeat the Crusaders eight centuries ago.
Ajlun Castle (Qal'at Ar-Rabad) was built by one of Saladin's generals in 1184 AD to control the iron mines of Ajlun, and to deter the Franks from invading Ajlun. Ajlun Castle dominated the three main routes leading to the Jordan Valley and protected the trade and commercial routes between Jordan and Syria; it became an important link in the defensive chain against the Crusaders, who, unsuccessfully spent decades trying to capture the castle and the nearby village.


20 p.stamp shows Amman
Amman, the modern and ancient capital of Jordan, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the World. The city's modern buildings blend with the remnants of ancient civilizations. The profusion of gleaming white houses, kebab stalls with roasting meat, and tiny cafes where rich Arabian coffee is sipped in the afternoon sunshine, conjure a mood straight from a thousand and one nights.
Recent excavations have uncovered homes and towers believed to have been built during the Stone Age with many references to it in the Bible.
The stamp illustrates some ruins found at the Citadel, I think.

30 p. stamp shows Karak
Karak Castle is a dark maze of stone-vaulted halls and endless passageways. The best preserved are underground and can be reached via a massive door. More imposing than beautiful, the castle is nevertheless an impressive insight into the architectural military genius of the Crusaders.
With some care, you can walk along the crenellated top of the West Front wall and admire the sweeping view. On clear days, you can look across the Dead Sea and see all the way to the Mount of Olives bordering Jerusalem.

40 p. stamps shows Showbak
A lonely reminder of former Crusader glory is Showbak Castle. Once called "Mont Real," Showbak dates from the same turbulent period as Karak. It is perched on the side of a mountain, with a grand sweep of fruit trees below. The castle's exterior is impressive, with a foreboding gate and encircling triple wall. Despite the precautions of its builder, the fortress fell to Saladin only 75 years after it was raised. Inscriptions by his proud successors appear on the castle wall.


50 p. block shows Jerash (Hadrian´s Arch)
Located 48 km north of Amman and nestled in a quiet valley among the mountains of Gilead, is the grandeur of Imperial Rome being one of the largest and most well preserved sites of Roman architecture in the World outside Italy. To this day, its paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theaters, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls pierced by towers and gates remain in exceptional condition. Hadrian's Arch was built in 129 AD to mark Emperor Hadrian's visit, this was intended to become the new southern gate of the city. The Crusaders described Jerash as uninhabited, and it remained abandoned until its rediscovery in 1806, when Ulrich Jasper Seetzen, a German traveler, came across and recognized a small part of the ruins. The ancient city was buried in sand, which accounts for its remarkable preservation. It has been gradually revealed through a series of excavations, which started in 1925, and continue to this day.

 

Title: Tourism Sites
Date of Issue: December 3, 2010
Country: Jordan

Source: http://www.jordanpost.com.jo
Denominations: 10,20,30,40 and 50 piasters

Traditional Festive Food Malaysia

Sunday Stamps #31 - click the link on the right sidebar to see more entries on Viridian´s blog (you can always find out something interesting here)


Malaysia Post released a stamp issue on August 10, 2010. The stamp issue on topic of traditional festive food consists of a block of 10 stamps (80s each stamp) from stamp sheet, a block of 10 stamps (60s each stamp) from stamp booklet and a miniature sheet (RM3). The design of stamps is in a format of mirror image - only for the drawing of food but the wordings are not mirror image.

Thanks to Tze Liang, I now have this wonderful booklet that I thought nice to share with you.

Malaysia is a country, comprising of various ethnic communities.These communities have their own traditional food prepared during festive season. For stamp collectors and gastronomes alike, the stamp collection and FDC feature culinary treasures served during festivities such as Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and festivals celebrated by the Sabah and Sarawak ethnic groups.One interesting thing that I found out on Ian´s blog is the secret code of these "mirror" stamps. It happens that the stamps depicting Malay, Sarawakian and Sabah food can be merged together to form a complete plate! Check this out here.

Title: Traditional Festive Food
Date of Issue: 10 August 2010
Country: Malaysia
Source:http://www.pos.com.my

Denominations: 10x60sen (booklet), 10x80sen, 3xRM1 (sheet)

TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE

 This post is for Viridian´s Sunday Stamps, Theme: anything you want.

"If bees disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left.” (Albert Einstein)

I thought of writing about these stamps because of my son. He is almost 2 years old, and one of the other days he was looking so fascinated at these small creatures that I was really impressed and looked myself a bit closer. Since immemorial times, bees behaviour has inspired myths, legends, tales, poems and fables. At the same time the bee inspired love and was loved by both gods and human beings.

Bees have a vital role in the pollination (reproduction) of ­thousands of plants species. For 50 million years since they are present on the Earth, bees have contributed to the evolution of the vegetal kingdom, as it exists today.

minisheet of 4 stamps with illustrated attachment and gold foiling

Coming to all philatelists needs, Romfilatelia introduced into circulation the postage stamps issue “Honey Bees” in January 2010.

The European honey bee (Apis mellifera mellifera) is shown on the stamp having a face value of ­RON 0.50. This is a bee with a special resistance to winter’s cold and an increased tendency of defense against enemies. It collects a large volume of pollen and lives longer than other bees. It also has the capacity to fly long distances. This bee lives in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the Great Britain, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, North of Switzerland, North-West of Austria, Belarus, North of Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Russia.

The Italian honey bee (Apis mellifera ligustica) is shown on the stamp having a face value of RON 2.10. This bee spreads through North America, South America and Southern Europe. It is mild and ­produces honey in considerable amounts. It lives in large colonies needing more food resources to survive the winter.

The Slovenian honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica) is shown on the stamp having a face value of RON 3.10. It is a sub-species of the European honey bee ­originating from Slovenia but it may be found in Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Romania.

The Caucasian honey bee (Apis mellifera caucasica) is shown on the stamp having a face value of RON 4.30. It is a larger bee than the average; it is mild and hard working. It is usually found in the Caucasus Mountains. 

Title: Honey bees

Date of Issue: 22 January 2010

Country: Romania

Source: http://www.romfilatelia.ro
Denominations: 50b, 2L10, 3L10, 4L30

Common birds from INDIA 2010

This is one of the MS from Som that I like most. It illustrate common birds, but in a special way. They first arrived on cover :) and traveled about a month, that´s why they look so exhausted.

Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general speaking the terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably. In ornithological practice, there is a tendency for "dove" to be used for smaller species and "pigeon" for larger ones, but this is in no way consistently applied, and historically the common names for these birds involve a great deal of variation between the terms "dove" and "pigeon." This family occurs worldwide, but the greatest variety is in the Indomalaya and Australasia ecozones. Young doves and pigeons are called "squabs".

The Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), or Rock Dove, illustrated on top right, is a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons).In common usage, this bird is often simply referred to as the "pigeon". The species includes the domestic pigeon (including the fancy pigeon), and escaped domestic pigeons have given rise to feral populations around the world.

The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) illustrated in the lower right corner, is a species of passerine bird of thesparrow family Passeridae. It occurs naturally in most of Europe, the Mediterranean region, and much of Asia. It has also been intentionally or accidentally introduced to many parts of the world, making it the most widely distributed wild bird. It is strongly associated with human habitations, but it is not the only sparrow species found near houses. It is a small bird, with feathers mostly different shades of brown and grey.

The maxicards and FDC are also lovely:

Read more about these birds at All about birds.org :
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rock_Pigeon/id
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/house_sparrow/id

Title: COMMON BIRDS
Date of Issue: 9 July 2010
Country: India
Denominations: 2 x 5r
Source: http://www.stampsofindia.com

INDIA - MEXICO 2010

After over a month travel, finally received a letter from Som with nice MS and stamps. Thank you very much. They are all lovely. Here is one of them.
India Post released a set of 2 stamp and a Miniature sheet on 15th December 2010 to commemorate 60 years of India - Mexico diplomatic relations. The stamps  depicts the Kalbelia dance of Rajasthan, India and Jarabe Tapatio, the national dance of Mexico.

India 2010 (have this)

Mexico 2010 (want this)

Kalbelia Dance of Rajasthan is a famous dance in Rajasthan, India. 
Kalbelia dance is of the kalbelia tribe of Rajasthan, the snake charmers. Kalbelia community’s occupation being catching snakes and trading snake venom in Rajasthan. Dancers dress traditional black swirling skirts during this dance. Women and girls dance on the rajasthani folk music during this dance.  This is a unique dance of kalbelias. Two or three women sing traditional rajasthani songs and others play musical instruments.

Here is a kind of documentary movie about this dance.

Jarabe Tapatio, The National Dance of Mexico

The Jarabe Tapatío, known in English as the Mexican Hat Dance, is the title of the musical piece and the dance that accompanies known as the “national dance of Mexico”. The musical piece, a medley of Mexican folk music, was composed in the 19th century by a professor of music in Guadalajara, Jesús González Rubio.

It serves as a symbol of the national pride and honor of the Mexican people. I did not find yet a good quality video for it, but it´s nice: 

The dance tells the story of love and courtship. It can be performed either by a couple or a group of couples. A charro, dressed in the traditional charro suit, a three-piece suit composed of a vest, jacket, and pants bearing silver buttons down the seam, makes initial courtship gestures to la china (wearing the traditional China Poblana outfit). They flirt throughout the beginning of the dance, during which time the man attempts to woo the woman with his zapateado (stamping and tapping) and his machismo.

Just as he has impressed the woman, he becomes drunk with glory, and is shooed away as a borracho (an inebriate), but ultimately, he succeeds in conquering the china, throwing his hat to the ground and kicking his leg over his partner’s head as she bends down to pick it up. The two do a triumphant march to a military tune called a diana, and the dance ends with a romantic turn or the couple hiding their faces behind the man’s sombrero in a feigned kiss.

Title: INDIA-MEXICO: JOINT ISSUE 2010
Date of Issue: 15 December 2010
Country: India
Denominations: 2000p, 500p

Source: http://www.stampsofindia.com

Country: Mexico
Denominations: $ 7.00 x 2

CYPRUS RAILWAY 2010

Thanks to Nasia I now have a nice MS from Cyprus, on cover. 

Cyprus issued on 4th June 2010 two stamps and a MS that portray a narrow gauge railway, that originally ran from Nicosia to Famagusta and was eventually extended to Kalo Chorio and Morphou, 1905-1951.

The Cyprus Government Railway was a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge railway network that operated in Cyprus from October 1905 to December 1951. With a total length of 76 miles (122 km), there were 39 stations, stops and halts, the most prominent of which served Famagusta, Prastio Mesaoria, Angastina, Trachoni, Nicosia,Kokkinotrimithia, Morphou, Kalo Chorio and Evrychou. The CGR was closed down due to financial reasons. An extension of the railway which was built to serve the Cyprus Mines Corporationoperated until 1974.

The Cyprus Government Railway was used in a number of ways and served both the colonial authorities and the local population. Principle operations were as follows:

• It served the port of Famagusta, as a freight transfer system.
• It transferred timber from the Troodos Mountains to towns and cities across Cyprus.
• It carried freight, ore and minerals on behalf of the Cyprus Mines Corporation.
• The local railway stations functioned as a place of exchange of goods and services, while some also operated as telephone centres, telegram offices and/or postal offices.
• CGR trains carried mail, which arrived in Famagusta via the Khedivial Mail Line (1912–1939).

There were 12 locomotives operating on this line: 1x 0-6-0T Class Hunslet Engine Company 2x 4-4-0 Class Nasmyth Wilson and Company 3x 2-6-0 Class Nasmyth Wilson and Company2x 2-6-2T Class Nasmyth Wilson and Company 4x 4-8-4T Class Kitson and Company and 9 rail-car units: 6x D Wickham & Co 3xDrewry Car Co

The existence of a railway in Cyprus brought many benefits to the population of Cyprus. However, during the first years of its operation, many viewed the Railway more like a spectacle, instead of a means of transportation, which is why they crowded under the bridges to admire it. Overall, the CGR carried 3,199,934 tons of commercial goods and freight and 7,348,643 passengers.


Images from the last operating Cypriot Railway here.

Title: CYPRUS RAILWAY 2010
Date of Issue: 4 June 2010
Country: Cyprus
Denominations: 2 X 0,43 and 0,85 euro

Source: http://www.mcw.gov.cy

THE RED BOOK OF LITHUANIA

This set of stamps arrived as a birthday present from Som and Donata, together with a nice card and a cover with birds (will post it later). Thank you for this lovely surprise.

The first stamp shows a Stock Pigeon (Columba oenas) member of the family of Columbidae, doves and pigeons. 
The Stock Pigeon constantly inhabits the Curonian Spit and Kazlų Rūda forests in Lithuania. Larger colonies of these birds are distributed in the southern and eastern regions of the country – Dainava, Rūdninkai, Lavoriškės, Labanoras forests where pine trees dominate. 
The Stock Pigeon generally inhabit mature pine forests and mixed forests. It nests in a naturally rotten hole in a tree. The eggs (usually 2) are laid in late April/early May. The Stock Pigeon is capable of raising 2–3 broods per season. Most of its food is vegetable. 
Cutting down hollow dry trees and mature forests and abundance of pine martens pose the greatest threat to the Stock Pigeon. Since 1970, this species is listed in the Red Data Book of Lithuania, as well as the Berne Convention, Annex III.

The second stamp, Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) is a dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae.
It is found in Ignalina, Lazdijai, Molėtai, Prienai, Trakai, Ukmergė, Varėna, and Vilkaviškis districts in Lithuania. The Lesser Emperor usually inhabits the surrounding areas of forest lakes and ponds. 
The female of the species insert their eggs into water plants’ stems. Larval development depends on water temperature and usually takes 1–2 years. The Lesser Emperor is most commonly seen from May to August. It feeds on insects. 
Water pollution and recreational activities in its natural habitats are major threats to the Lesser Emperor. Since 1989, this species is under protection in Lithuania.


Title: The Red Book of Lithuania 
Date of Issue: 11 September 2010
Country: Lithuania
Denominations: 2 x 1,35 Lt

Source: http://www.post.lt

RHAETIAN RAILWAY

Issue of a stamp in the Italian Artistic and Cultural Heritage regular series, dedicated to the Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Landscapes, on the centenary of its completion. 

The line across Albula and Bernina is regarded as a true masterpiece of the railway engineer's art. Designed from the start to exist in perfect harmony with its surrounding countryside, the line stands as a proud monument to the pioneering days of railway-building, a tradition that continues to this very day.

Since July 2008, the Albula and Bernina lines have been on the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites. The stamp features a section of the Rhaetian Railway with the characteristic red train that connects Tirano (Italy) and Thusis (canton of Graubünden, Switzerland) via St. Moritz and crosses through the Swiss Alps with their many passages, tunnels, bridges, and viaducts.

Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes, brings together two historic railway lines that cross the Swiss Alps through two passes. Opened in 1904, the Albula line in the north western part of the property is 67 km long. It features an impressive set of structures including 42 tunnels and covered galleries and 144 viaducts and bridges. The 61 km Bernina pass line features 13 tunnels and galleries and 52 viaducts and bridges. The property is exemplary of the use of the railway to overcome the isolation of settlements in the Central Alps early in the 20th century, with a major and lasting socio-economic impact on life in the mountains.

Landscape and railway blend into one, in a series of wide expanses and imposing man-made structures along the winding route through abruptly-sloping Alpine valleys. The line’s designers and builders were careful to harmonise it with the area’s natural attractions. Monumental landmarks and photo opportunities along the way include the Landwasser Viaduct, the series of winding tunnels between Bergün and Preda and the Circular Viaduct at Brusio. Man cannot live by the railway alone, but he can use it to make his way to all that’s worth seeing in three of the Alpine region’s different cultures.

The Rhaetian Railway offers a wide diversity of technical solutions for the establishment of the railway in often severe mountain conditions. It is a well designed construction that has been realised with a high degree of quality and it has remarkable stylistic and architectural homogeneity.

Title: Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Landscapes

Date of Issue: 6 May 2010

Country: Italy

Denominations: 0,65 EUR

Source: www.post.it, www.rhb.ch

LINEA FERROVIARIA TORINO-SALERNO

Well, I don´t have the stamp yet, but it is on it´s way :)

The mini-sheet shows the Frecciarossa High Speed train standing out against a background of green and red shades. The name Frecciarossa (meaning Red Arrow) represents the new brand name for trains with top speeds in the 300-350 km/h range. ETR 500 trains have a million passengers a month, run on the high speed line connecting Turin to Salerno, Northern to Southern Italy in 4h13´. The train stop in Milano Porta Garibaldi e Rogoredo, Bologna Centrale and  Firenze Campo Marte.

The words “LINEA FERROVIARIA ALTA VELOCITÀ TORINO-SALERNO” (Turin-Salerno High Speed Rail Line), “ITALIA”, and the denomination “€ 0,60” complete the stamp.

The stamp is printed in a perforated rectangle in the centre of the sheet, featuring the same colours as the stamp. The outline of the train on the design of the stamp continues outside the rectangle; on the left, at the top and bottom respectively, are the logos of Ferrovie dello Stato (the Italian State Railways) and Poste Italiane.

Title: LINEA FERROVIARIA ALTA VELOCITÀ TORINO-SALERNO
Date of Issue: 2 October 2010
Country: Italy
Denominations: 0,60 EUR

Source: www.post.it, www.trenitalia.com