Showing all posts tagged philately

In Expat Life, Geek Talk, Sreisaatv2

Sunday Stamps: Moo-ing to the countryside

Author sreisaatPosted on 11 Comments

This week’s Sunday Stamps bring us to the picturesque rural Cambodia. My feature is a First Day Cover from the Khmer Aspect series.

The FDC captures a common scene in the countryside: a farmer and his cows ploughing a rice field or transporting rice harvest and other agricultural produce. The palm trees complete the idyllic rural landscape. This simple image speaks volumes about the importance of agriculture in Cambodian life. Rice is a staple food source, and farmers play a vital role in making sure that everyone has enough to eat. (Years ago, my first job was with a Swiss International NGO working on food security in Cambodia. I met some amazing, resilient farmers (men and women) in four different provinces who were in our program. While I’m not a farming expert, I helped tell their stories and the challenges they faced.)

Something that surprised me (coming from another Asian country with carabaos, or water buffalos), was seeing cows used for ploughing. Apparently, it’s been a tradition in Cambodia for ages. Even though modern machinery exists, traditional methods are still used. Maybe it’s a simpler way of life, or maybe the farmers just haven’t gotten that fancy tractor yet.

Have you ever been to Cambodia?

Visit Sunday Stamps for more features of countryside stamps.

In Expat Life, Geek Talk, Sreisaatv2

Sunday Stamps: I’m Back with a Stamp That Moves You!

Author sreisaatPosted on 8 Comments

Hey everyone, it’s been a while! Remember Postcards Crossing and the Stamp Menagerie (now offline)? Yeah, it’s been a few years since I last posted, but life (and let’s be honest, a little social media overload) got in the way. But you know what? Sometimes you just got t come back to the things you love, and that includes the wonderful world of snail mail! And for my comeback post, I’m bringing a stamp that’s all about movement and celebrating the awesome people who keep our mails moving – perfect for the Sunday Stamps theme!

Issued as FDC in 2008.

This bright yellow stamp from Croatia in 2008 is like a ray of sunshine! At first glance, I thought those black figures were working ants at first, but nope, they’re postal workers in action. The black figures and the red details are a fun contrast against that yellow background. The stamp commemorates the annual POŠTANSKI ŠPORTSKI SUSRETI, which basically translates to “Postal Workers’ Sports Games”. They’ve been doing this since 2000, and it’s not about sorting mail fast or delivering mails quick – it’s about getting everyone together for a day of fun, fitness, and some friendly competition.

Imagine it: mail carriers, office staff, everyone from all over Croatia coming together for bowling, table tennis, football, even chess! There are even medals and trophies for the winners, plus a special “Fair Play Cup” for the most enthusiastic and sportsmanlike team. How cool is that?

This stamp reminds me of the movement and energy behind the postal system worldwide. It’s not just about the mail itself; it’s all about the people who make it happen. And also the importance of getting together, having some fun, and moving those bodies! 🙂

Huge thanks to my postcard-swap buddy, Tomi, for sending this gem my way. It’s the perfect reminder to get back into the swing of things and start blogging about postcards, stamps, and letters – things I geek about. Here’s to a new season of reconnecting with old blogger-friends and maybe even starting some new snail mail adventures!

P.S. Not sure if this event is still happening, but gotta give props to the Croatian postal workers! Look at them rocking out to support their Eurovision 2024 entry. Talk about dedicated fans! Seems like the Croatian postal service is pretty active. Croatian Postal workers dance to the rhythm of Rim Tim Tagi Dim.