postcrossing.ilyani.net » Japan

Birthday cards 2009!

ilyani — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:37:58 +0000

I never thought I would still be receiving birthday cards from Postcrossers this year, I mean, after the long hiatus last year and awkward comeback I hardly knew many people anymore in the beginning, but who would have thought, some neat buddies on the forum have been kind enough and instantly become dear friends I wish I had known them much earlier :) (and you know who you are :)) Well, these are some cards, arrived to celebrate my so-called birthday this year. I am happy to say they have really brightened my day and made me so special in a way that there do exist people out there who care enough to write so lovely wishes on pretty cards despite that they’re far away from me! So MY DEARS, READ THIS: I LOVE YOU!! :)

OK this is not from Postcrosser at least. My dearest penpal Sonia whose letters had failed to reach me these past few years, but after over one year, she replied my letter again and with this lovely card recently. In fact, throughout our friendship, she has always remembered my birthday.. although I didnt manage to remember hers this much! :/

From Anagahan. So this is the first birthday card from a Postcrosser arrived this year, and I am glad it came from a dear friend of GTKY. Thanks Ana, if you ever read this, you know you’ve been special to me! :)

From Wilma. HAHAHA I LOVE this card for my birthday!! :D It’s a real surprise from Arja-Liisa, she’s such a sweetie! Hugs to you! See my other cards of Kaj Stenval’s art here.

From Cockie. Though it’s actually a return card of birthday card I had sent to her friend (which I found a really wonderful way to cheer a friend!!), but knowing that I was having my birthday to come, Mieko also wrote this card as a birthday wish to me. Thanks so much for this pretty card!!

From Hadassah. HAHA Essi!! Are these you and me in the picture, perhaps in our 70s, celebrating our birthday together? On a tree! LOL it doesn’t look too bad! :D :D And thanks dear for this lovely wishes that cheered me up! Big hugs!

From Lauraarual. Another sweet friend of GTKY sent me a lovely birthday wish on this colorful card :)) I can’t be happier! And Laura included some lovely gifts and Holland souvenir, thanks so much – you’re so kind!! :) *hugs!*

Oh I love this card of this happening festival! Thank you for the birthday wishes!!

From Vagirl. I gasped in excitement when I opened the envelope and saw this posh-looking card, it’s just AWESOME!! :D I just love every bit of it, and thanks Chrissy for your lovely message and wishes, it really put a big smile on my face! :))

From Carolinechia. AHAHA I’m sorry others, but I have to say this is the coolest birthday card I ever got! :P Well yeah at least for a second I really thought I was smart and popular and good-looking as the card says! :P LOL I didnt know 20th June was a lucky day either :)) but every day is a lucky day when you’re born that day! ;) Thanks Carol for your lovely thoughts! You’re great!

From Ulpa. She included many of inspiring cards along with her letter! Ula thanks for all the cards you have sent me, as well as this super delicious birthday card… you’re the best!! *hugs!!*

Birthday cards 2006 – 2008

ilyani — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:45:17 +0000

I have freaking turned 26 today. I don’t want to talk much about it. But being a Postcrosser, there’s always something to make me smile on my birthday!

No, it’s not the cake!! But cards!! :D Yes, the lovely Postcrossers have always cheered me up regardless I hate the fact that I get older on birthdays! :) In this post I would like to thank a heaven to everyone who spent some time writing and sending me your lovely wishes, you have no idea how much it means to me!! :) BIG BIG HUGS!!! (well yeah, I’m featuring cards from past years first, as this is officially the first birthday post for this blog – which only started this year – and in a few days I’ll be posting the cards which I have got for this year’s birthday :)). And actually, I have put several other birthday cards that had already fit in regular posts before, and they are equally special to me as well!!

Hugs to Anu!

Hugs to Mimma!

Hugs to Syairah06!

Hugs to SilentNight89!

Hugs to Wespe!

Hugs to Rwidiani!

Hugs to Ipuenktchen!

Hugs to Kungli!

Hugs to Seetas!

Hugs to Indirama!

Hugs to Anzuume!

Hugs to Ketupat!

Hugs to Padme_chandra!

Hugs to Wilma!

Hugs to Panarea!

Hugs to empty_mailbox!

Hugs to Newrule!

Hugs to rosnah!

Hugs to Taxingwoman!

Hugs to geeanuar!

Hugs to Swan!

OKAY that was a postcards SPAM -______- but I can’t help it coz I did receive alot of birthday cards in past years!! (and of course, a portion of them are thanks to the fact that I put a “tiny advert” about my birthday on my forum signature once, well, hence those expected surprises :P and a few from Birthday tags and RR as well.. so I did not receive all these merely because I am a total celebrity or anything :D though it’s good if I were one lol). And still my dear friends Postcrossers, you are the best!!

Temples in Japan

ilyani — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:26:14 +0000

I am not sure if it’s kind of surprising, that many of my postcards from Japan do not actually picture its modern city views but rather the old parts of it where the ancient temples have been around since centuries ago. And these temples are located in some kind of beautiful garden with colorful trees and flowers, with small neat paths… they seem to be preserved well to give an atmosphere as if you really come back to the era of historic Japanese Emperors. And it really reminds me the Sohma family in the Fruits Basket anime.. especially the fact that they live in a traditional huge house inside a garden.. and that guy wearing kimono..

Shigure: “Hi! Are you talking about me??”

OK OK.. nevermind. Let’s go back to postcards!!!

From Anzuume. This is the Rokkakudo Temple in Kyoto. Rokkaku mean hexagon, and if you look from above, the roof is hexagonal. This temple is said to be founded in thr 6th century, while the main hall was rebuilt in the 19th century.

From Cockie. Another temple in Kyoto.. this is the Kenniji temple. It was founded in 1202. And these bush are tea plants! I have seen tea farm in Cameron Highlands here, but I didn’t know that they can actually blossom with flowers!

From Little_Flower. The Nikko Toshogu shrine was built in 1617, during the Edo period. And this is its Kara-mon Gate. It was made with various kinds of foreign timbers with exquisite carvings. This shrine is part of the “Shrines and Temples of Nikkō”, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Japan.

Geisha

ilyani — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:46:06 +0000

Uh-oh. Geisha was actually one of the earliest images I learned about Japan ever since I was born, apart of the superheroes and Doraemon (yay). There were some drama I can’t really remember as I wasn’t following (because I was only following superheroes series and Doraemon. Oh yeah all kids in my time were true worshippers of Japanese superheroes!) Okay, so this was a drama from the period time so all women were wearing kimonos and walking (and slow-running) in this certain way. And their hairstyle are almost identical to each other. Though they are not necessarily Geishas (which I learned later) somehow Geishas remind me of that particular drama.

From Umei. This is a true Geisha, who is highly trained professional entertainer with a formal greeting posture. Geishas are usually older than 20 years old. There was a time when they were prostitutes, so the sexual image is strong. But now it’s seen as a profession that inherits traditional arts.

Another from Umei. This is a Maiko (apprentice Geisha). Ever wonder why their faces are that white? It’s because when it was the time before the electricity existed, the white powder helped them to flatter the face under dimmed candlelight, which didn’t work with normal makeups :D So even now thick makeup still remains LOL. So if you want to save electricity but at the same time you want to show yourself in the dark, this method can be useful :)

Fullmetal Alchemist!

ilyani — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 07:39:36 +0000

I received this sticker-postcard from Tomorrowboy in Korea on Tag Within Asia. It’s quite a long time ago I don’t think he’s on the forum anymore. This postcard is pretty funny because it’s actually a sticker and it was a luck that it didn’t tear apart on the way coming to me.

Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the most brilliant Japanese anime ever exist. If you must know what I was doing on the internet before Postcrossing time, it was nothing but downloading manga scanlation and read them hard! :P And it was sad that I have kind of stopped my obsession on Japanese manga and anime since the .. I can’t remember since when, maybe since I got busy with uni workloads, or boyfriend, or Postcrossing, whichever came first. Anyways. I got FMA DVD but still haven’t finished watching, in fact I love reading manga than watching the anime, hmm. Now the question is, I can’t remember where I have kept the DVD. Gotta dig out the old treasure one day. OK back to the postcards, hm that’s what I meant to write about actually here, sigh. So I have received more FMA postcards from Little Flower in Japan. She’s so sweet and in fact both of these cards came as a surprise :)

This is FMA card for my 24th birthday (2006)

And this is simply a RAS card from last year :):) See I am smiling! Thanks Rie! *hugs*