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In Blogging and the Web, Expat Life, Geek Talk, hobby, Sreisaatv2

Thursday Postcards Hunt: Towers of Enigmatic Smiles

Author sreisaatPosted on 8 Comments

This week, I’m taking you to Siem Reap, Cambodia. To a place where serenity and grandeur collide at the magnificent Bayon Temple, famous for its array of towers with smiling faces and “baroque” architecture in a Khmer context. While Angkor Wat is impressive and rightfully holds its place, Bayon remains a personal favourite for its unique charm.

The temple’s defining feature?  Two hundred sixteen (216) colossal, enigmatic faces carved onto 54 sandstone towers. These serene smiles seem to gaze eternally at the horizon, each tower boasting four expressions facing different directions. It’s hard to imagine the dedication and skill required to create such a wonder, especially with the available tools they had in those times.

These smiling faces follow you around the temple.
Conservationists say there are only about 173 intact carved images left.

On my last visit, I saw a tourist mirroring the contemplative mood. He was resting against the temple wall, just beneath a tower face. On one hand, he held an unlit cigar – a nod to the intrepid explorers of old who first marveled at these ruins. With the other, he fanned himself vigorously using his Indiana Jones hat against the relentless heat. Perhaps he, like me, was simply enjoying the structures, or pondering the mysteries of Bayon. Who were these enigmatic figures? What message did the ancient builders intend? These very questions add to the temples enduring allure.

In Blogging and the Web, Expat Life, Geek Talk, hobby, Sreisaatv2

Sunday Stamps: Kiwi fruit on Kiwi stamp

Author sreisaatPosted on 7 Comments

For this week’s Sunday Stamps with the theme countries in the Southern Hemisphere, I present a New Zealand stamp.

New Zealand’s iconic kiwi fruit took centre stage in 2006 when it adorned a stamp as part of a larger campaign to promote healthy eating among Kiwi children. The 5+ A Day The Colour Way initiative aimed to instill the importance of consuming at least five servings of colourful fruits and vegetables daily young New Zealanders.


The stamp, featuring fresh kiwi slices, was a playful and engaging way to capture the attention of children. New Zealand Post’s commitment to this initiative helped spread awareness about the benefits of healthy eating among the nation’s young people. By making healthy eating fun and accessible, the campaign hoped to empower Kiwi children to make informed choices about their diet. With initiatives like this, New Zealand is investing in the health and well-being of its future generations.

Here is the complete set:

Source: Virtual New Zealand Stamps
In Expat Life, Geek Talk, hobby, Sreisaatv2

Thursday Postcards Hunt: A Tale of Two Cathedrals

Author sreisaatPosted on 7 Comments

Lithuania, a Baltic gem, boasts a rich history woven into its stunning architecture. Nowhere is this more evident than in Vilnius, where two extraordinary cathedrals stand side by side, each with its own captivating story.

First, we have the St. Anne’s Church (below, left), a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Constructed entirely from 33 different types of brick, its unique and stunning facade is a marvel captivating visitors for centuries. Its intricate details and delicate spires have earned it comparisons to a fairytale castle. Often described as “flamboyant Gothic”, its beauty was so renowned that Napoleon Bonaparte famously wished to transport it to France “in the palm of his hand”. Thankfully, for Lithuania, this ambitious plan remained unrealized. (His hands weren’t big enough. Just kidding.)

Directly behind St. Anne’s (right) stands the imposing St. Bernardine’s Church. A larger and more spacious structure, it transitioned from Gothic origins to embrace Renaissance and Baroque elements, reflecting the architectural tastes of the 17th and 18th centuries. Uniquely, this cathedral played a defensive role in Vilnius’ history. The cathedral’s scale was such that it was incorporated into the city’s 16th century defensive wall. It featured strategic shooting openings, transforming the sacred space into a formidable stronghold.

Sadly, the cathedral’s role as a religious sanctuary was tragically interrupted during the tumultuous Soviet rule when it was repurposed as a warehouse. However, with Lithuania’s independence in 1994, St. Bernardine’s was returned to the Franciscan order and restored to its former glory.

The stamps at the back of the postcard – on the right, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Virgin Mary’s apparition in Šiluva, a significant religious site, and on the left, a part of a series with holidays and celebrations as theme, provide a glimpse into Lithuania’s heritage. And let’s not forget the creatively handwritten message itself – it adds a personal touch makes it even more special.

But why are these churches built next to each other? It’s been said that the close relationship between the two religious orders – the Brotherhood of St. Anne and the Bernardine Monks – is the sole reason to build their places of worship adjacent to each other and allowed them to share resources, community, and a stronger religious presence in the city. This is a widely accepted historical fact, often presented as general knowledge in historical and architectural texts about Vilnius.