Oman

By ilyani | Published 25 May, 2009

This is the only postcard of Oman I have, dates from late 2005 when Flerdle was staying there.. and since she went back to Australia the next year and now it’s been 3 years I don’t seem to find any other Oman Postcrosser on the forum.. so I guess it’s not very likely for me to receive another Oman card for the time being. Well, one is much better than none :)

From Flerdle. This is the Rustaq Fort, its structure was built in the 11th century with three levels, containing separate houses, an armoury, a mosque and four towers. Rustaq was once the capital of Oman, during the era of Imam Nasir bin Murshid al Ya’arubi. There are many watchtowers and forts in Oman.. some are simple lookouts, and others were once major fortifications or even palaces. Most of them have been careflly restored.

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Historic bridges in Bosnia-Herzegovina

By ilyani | Published 25 May, 2009

Another new country… at least for this blog. I was meaning to feature Sarajevo postcards for my first entry for Bosnia-Herzegovina, but hmm I had so many things in my mind about Sarajevo I don’t even know where to start. So let’s keep them aside first and have a look at these significant historical bridges in this country, and apparently they’re both listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites of BiH.

From Jasmina. I just love this bridge and and its glory with the old house buildings.. they look really beautiful at night! The Stari Most (“Old bridge”) was built in the 16th century when Mostar became the chief administrative city for the Ottoman Empire in the Herzegovina region. The bridge stood for 427 years, until it was destroyed in 1993 during the Bosnian civil war. Then the bridge was reconstructed to its current from in 2001-2004.

This is the Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad across the Drina River. It was built by by an Ottoman grand vizier, Mehmed Paša Sokolović in 1571 (hence the name). It was severely damaged during both World Wars and got temporary repairs and reconstructed in stone in the early 1950s. Being almost 500 years old, the bridge is fragile and now closed for traffic when it became UNESCO Heritage site.

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South Africa

By ilyani | Published 25 May, 2009

My few postcards from South Africa are rather random so I’m just making a general first entry for this country.

From Sandy. A breathtaking view of the Drakensberg Mountain Park.. which is the highest mountain range in South Africa rising to 3,482 metres. This park is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in this country.

From Chat_Noir. He went to Cape Town in 2006 and brough back these great postcards for us! This postcard of Nelson Mandela‘s cell rather gets my attention in a way that it’s related to someone really well-known, especially who has fought his life for a good cause. Mandela spent 19 of this 27 years of imprisonment in this cell number 5 in the Robben Island. And it’s definitely worth it, as he became the first democratically elected President of South Africa afterwards.

From Chat_Noir. Another lovely postcard showing the whole essence of Cape Town: 1) The Cape Point is the most southern tip of the African continent and the point where the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean meets. 2) Beach view with the Table Mountain in sight. 3) The Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and 4) the V&A Waterfront.

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