Oct 9th, 2011 at 3:00PM:
Today is World Post Day, celebrated every October 9 to mark the anniversary of the foundation of the Universal Postal Union in 1874. More than 150 countries celebrate this day honoring something that's so vital to our lives but is generally taken for granted.
In Somaliland they aren't celebrating, because they don't have a postal system. No other country recognizes Somaliland as a nation and ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
postcards posts
Somaliland: the country without mail
Oct 9th, 2011 at 3:00PM:
Today is World Post Day, celebrated every October 9 to mark the anniversary of the foundation of the Universal Postal Union in 1874. More than 150 countries celebrate this day honoring something that's so vital to our lives but is generally taken for granted.
In Somaliland they aren't celebrating, because they don't have a postal system. No other country recognizes Somaliland as a nation and ...Ten (more) random observations about Ethiopia
Apr 26th, 2011 at 9:30AM:
When writing last year's Ethiopia travel series, I collected twelve random observations about Ethiopia. These were interesting bits of information that didn't fit in any of my articles. While writing my Harar travel series, I collected ten more.
1. The standard traveler's money belt that hangs from your neck and is tucked under your shirt is very amusing to Ethiopians because Oromo women ...Postagram app turns your Instagram photos into postcards
Apr 12th, 2011 at 2:30PM: The whole crew here at Gadling loves sending postcards. Heck, we love receiving them, too. Sadly, handwritten notes - including postcards - are nowhere near as popular as they used to be. Why send a postcard from the road when you can instantly Skype or IM with someone? Why send one stock photo when you can upload all of your own pictures? The answer to both questions is the same: sending someone ...Postcards - the original social travel network
Mar 1st, 2011 at 2:00PM:
Before Twitter, before FourSquare and even before email - people used postcards to "check in to" their location. The postcard lived in easier times - in an era when we'd arrive at our destination and spend a week actually visiting things and relaxing instead of scrambling to find a Wi-Fi signal to get our email.
It has been 18 years since I last sent anyone a postcard, and I clearly ...
Photo of the day (12.16.10)
Dec 16th, 2010 at 5:00PM:
What charmed me about this photo from Thimphu, Bhutan, other than the pleasant colors and lines, was the caption. Flickr user AndreaKW translated the suggestion box's Dzongkha script as literally "thoughts box" and I love the idea, much less pressure than coming up with constructive suggestions. A thoughts box could have notes like "Next time, pack fewer shoes" or "Why don't I ever eat meat on a ...Postcrossing celebrates five years of postcard revolution
Jul 14th, 2010 at 3:30PM: There's something very special about sending or receiving a postcard. It's one of the simple joys of travel, yet in the age of email, Skype, and social networking, you'd think the old-fashioned postcard would have become a thing of the past.
It hasn't. Thanks to Postcrossing, a postcard trading organization, postcards are undergoing a revival. Postcrossing turns five years old this week and in ...The naughty postcard museum
Jul 11th, 2010 at 11:00AM: The British have always been famous for their humor, both dry wit and the naughtier brand. One man who combined the two is being celebrated in a new museum that opened in Ryde in the Isle if Wight yesterday.
Donald McGill, Britain's "king of vulgarity", illustrated thousands of postcards over an almost sixty-year career. He was best known for simple double-entedres like the one pictured to the ...Postcard fans trade four million cards
Mar 28th, 2010 at 11:00AM: Who says snail mail is dying?
Postcrossing is an organization where strangers from different countries can trade postcards. Once you get a free membership, you can request to send a card and another member's address is sent to you, along with a unique country-coded number. You pick a card, write a message along with the code, and mail it. Once the recipient gets the card and registers it on the ...Share postcards from YOUR hometown - International travel tip
Mar 17th, 2010 at 4:44PM: Whenever I travel overseas, I always pack a stack of postcards from North Carolina and my hometown, Asheville, located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains.
The postcards show beautiful scenery, and they pinpoint a location some non-Americans might be unfamiliar with. By sharing my postcards, anyone can start a generic conversation (e.g., "This is where I live...") and go from there.
...Documenting a vacation via postcards - Souvenir tip
Mar 8th, 2010 at 5:50PM: When going on vacation with your family or friends, you often have special memories of different locations or attractions. An inexpensive way to capture those memories is to purchase a postcard from that location and immediately have each person write down on the back of the postcard their favorite part of the attraction. Be specific.
When you get home, collect the postcards and add them to an ...Five reasons to leave your camera at home
Feb 2nd, 2010 at 11:30AM: When packing for that dream trip, a camera is usually high on the list of essential items. Actually, it's not as important as some people think. Here are five reasons to leave your camera at home.
One less thing to worry about
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Besides a wallet, what could be more ...Postcards as guides - International travel tip
Jan 22nd, 2010 at 8:37AM: The cheapest way to quickly discover what an unfamiliar city has to offer is to peruse a postcard rack and buy a few that intrigue you.
Postcards not only highlight "sight-see-worthy" locations, but if language is a barrier, just show the cab driver the picture, and you're on your way.
Once you're at your location, write a memory of your visit, mail it to your residence, and add to your ...Buy a postcard - Souvenir tip
Jan 9th, 2010 at 2:01PM: Ensure you have at least one great photograph by buying a postcard.
Sure, you brought along your digital camera and snapped some awesome shots, but remember -- images can accidentally be deleted and memory cards can be lost or corrupted.
To make a postcard an even better keepsake, write a little note about what you've done on vacation so far and mail the postcard home. Your postcard will be ...Postcards from strangers
Jul 6th, 2009 at 11:00AM: One of the coolest things about having lots of friends who travel is getting postcards from around the world. Sadly, letter and postcard writing don't seem to be as common as they used to be. Much of the stuff coming through the mailbox these days is either bills or junk mail. Going to the mailbox has gotten to be a drag. An organization called Postcrossing is trying to change that. This free ...The postcard goes 3-D
Jun 30th, 2009 at 1:00PM: Even with all the technical developments like email, Skype and Twitter that help travelers stay in touch, the urge to send postcards never seems to go away. There's something strangely thrilling about sending and receiving one of these decidedly analog pieces of cardboard by snail mail. The physical sense it has traveled vast distances across strange lands to reach you at the mailbox outside your ...Synagogue postcards exhibit to see at home
Feb 28th, 2009 at 4:30PM:
In an earlier post today, I highlighted a video where post cards were used to tell a bit about Iran's history. Here's another interesting use of postcards.
The Web site of the National Museum of Jewish History has a page dedicated to postcards of synagogues from across the U.S. The 61 postcards featured are of synagogues that have played an important role in the communities where they were ...Postcrossing: Turn Your Mailbox Into a Surprise Box
May 15th, 2007 at 8:41AM: Simple ideas are always brilliant, and the idea behind Postcrossing may be the most brilliant yet. Members of Postcrossing follow a simple process:
Request an address from the website.
Mail a postcard to the address.
Wait to receive a postcard in return.
Register the received postcard in the system. This makes you the next person whose address will be given out.
By participating, ...
