Hong Kong: Weather Phenomena [天氣現象] (FDC)

Weather Phenomena - Official First Day Cover 2014-03-27 [Hongkong Post]

$5 -Typhoon (Miniature Sheet)
A typhoon is a classification of tropical cyclone with wind speeds near its centre reaching hurricane force. The stamp sheetlet showcases the satellite image of Typhoon Vicente when it approached Hong Kong in July 2012 and the Hurricane Signal No. 10 was issued by the Hong Kong Observatory.


Source: Back of Envelop
----- :: WalaGemini 2018/06/10 :: -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hong Kong: Festive Customs [節慶民間習俗] (FDC)

Festive Customs - Official First Day Cover 2018-02-27 [Hongkong Post]

Despite being a fast-paced, modern city that constantly keeps abreast of the times, Hong Kong attaches great importance to its traditional culture and preserves many unique folk customs. The city celebrates an array of colorful traditional festivals, with many festive customs and traditions deeply rooted in the heart of the community. Hongkong Post issues a set of six special stamps on the theme of "Festive Customs" to showcase these customs and traditions with their strong local flavors.

$2  - Putting Up Spring Festival Scrolls 貼揮春
It has been identified as one of the intangible cultural heritages of Hong Kong. It has became a tradition for people to decorate their homes and shops during Chinese New Year with Spring Festival scrolls that are inscribed with auspicious phrases such as "Wishing you safety wherever you go" so as to pray for blessings and fortune in the coming year.

$2.6 - Throwing Wishing Placards 拋寶碟
It is a time-honored custom which is considered to have originated in Lam Tsuen, Tai Po. People write down their name and wishes on wising placards and toss them onto the Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees. It is believed that the higher the wishing placards land on the tree, the greater the chance the wish will come true.

$3.4 - Offering First Incense in Chinese New Year 上頭炷香
It refers to worshippers making their first offerings of joss sticks to the deities immediately upon the arrival of the Lunar New Year.

$3.7 - Spinning Wheels of Fortune 轉風車
It is a popular custom practiced on the third day of the Lunar New Year. This day is known as "chi kou", literally "red mouth", and it is said that arguments are more susceptible to arise on the day. So instead of visiting friends and family, people normally prefer to wish for luck by spinning the wheels of fortune in Che King temples. By tradition, spinning these wheels of fortune will bring good luck in the coming year.

$4.9 - Drawing Chinese Fortune Sticks 求籤
It is a common ritual in local Chinese temples. In performing this ritual, people have to kneel in prater in a designated area of the temple and shake a fortune stick holder until a stick falls out. they can then collect the corresponding oracle in verse from a stall outside the temple or ask the fortune-teller in the temple for an interpretation.

$5 - Unicorn Dance 舞麒麟
It is a form of traditional folk performing art usually practiced during festivals and celebratory occasions. It is listed as part of Hong Kong's intangible cultural heritage. The unicorn dance is performed by two dancers who move the head and body of the unicorn respectively to the rhythm of the music, and is believed to bestow blessings and ward off evil.

FDC of the stamps version is also available:
http://walagemini.blogspot.hk/2018/04/hong-kong-festive-customs.html

Source: Back of FDC
----- :: WalaGemini 2018/05/27 :: -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Malaysia: Animals With Various Special Roles - Working Dogs (FDC)

Animals With Various Special Roles - Working Dogs - Official First Day Cover 2018-01-18 [POS Malaysia]

Left: General Purpose Dog
Dogs are often used in crime prevention efforts. It is one of the initiatives and efforts of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) team. PDRM usually uses two dog breeds for this work, the German Shepherd and Labrador breeds because of their intelligence, strength and obedient nature. these crime prevention dogs carry out various tasks such as tracking people or things, finding criminals, controlling crowd and helping other PDRM units.

Right: Drug Detection Dog
in 1979, PDRM established a drug detection dog unit to empower the fight against drug crimes. Dogs in this unit sniff out and detect any drugs that criminals try to conceal. In addition, PDRM also has a specialized unit of dogs to detect firearms and explosives, This unit is often deployed to monitor and detect harmful substances in an area of place, especially where important events will be held.


Direct Swap [walkaround99]
----- :: WalaGemini 2018/05/20 :: -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Poland: Palace of Culture and Science

Palace of Culture and Science is a notable high-rise building in Warsaw, Poland. Constructed in 1955, it is the center for various companies, public institutions and cultural activities such as concerts, cinemas, theaters, libraries, sports clubs, universities, scientific institutions and authorities of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

The Palace of Culture and Science is the tallest building in Poland.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Culture_and_Science#Construction
Postcrossing Forum - 2018 February 50 RR [CurtisinWarsaw]
----- :: WalaGemini 2018/04/27 :: -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hong Kong: Hong Kong by Night II [香港之夜 II] (FDC)

Hong Kong by Night II - Official First Day Cover 2018-03-22 [Hongkong Post]

Hong Kong, Asia's world city, has long been hailed as the "Pearl of the Orient" that boasts a bustling and vibrant cityscape, and magnificent and breathtaking night views. To promote Hong Kong's stunning beauty at night, Hongkong Post issues a set of four special stamps entitled "Hong Kong by Night II", which captures charming night scenes of the city from different perspectives.

$2 Stamp - Apliu Street and Kweilin Street in Sham Shui Po. The district is characterized by its busy trading activities and bustling bazaars that brim with a strong local flavor.

$3.7 Stamp - Central glowing in the dark, adorned by magical and surreal light trails for added vibrancy

$4.9 Stamp - "Monster Building", a housing complex in Quarry Bay comprised of five conjoined old building. These composite buildings, commonly found in the olden days, house both shops and residential flats. After nightfall, household lights dot the buildings to paint a deeply nostalgic picture of Hong Kong

$5 Stamp - Tian Tan Buddha, commonly known as the Big Buddha, sitting peacefully at night. It provides an oasis of tranquility and serenity amid the hustle and bustle of this popular tourist attraction in the daytime.

FDC of the stamp version is also available:
http://walagemini.blogspot.hk/2018/04/hong-kong-hong-kong-by-night-ii-ii_8.html

Source: Back of Envelop
----- :: WalaGemini 2018/04/08 :: -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hong Kong: Year of the Dog [歲次戊戌] (FDC)

Year of the Dog - Official First Day Cover 2018-01-27 [Hongkong Post]

The stamp sheetlet highlights a polychrome glazed porcelain dog sculpture against a background full of elegant polychrome glazed porcelain apricot flowers, expressing wishes for a flourishing and fruitful year ahead. Polychrome glazed porcelain figurines are noted for their vibrant colors, lustre, gracefulness and versatility. As their production is complicated and requires exquisite craftsmanship, polychrome glazed porcelain figurines are extremely precious and valuable.


----- :: WalaGemini 2018/04/01 :: -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japan: SKYTREE 晴空塔

SKYTREE White

It is an original color based on "aijiro", the lightest shade of Japanese traditional indigo blue. The color of SKYTREE also replicates the technique of indigo dyers, with a hint of blue added to the white color, giving a delicate pale blue glow, like that of white celadon ware. Colors created by indigo dyers represent the legacy of Japanese traditional craftsmanship as conserved in the traditional residential area housing the tower.

Postcrossing Forum - 3+ stamps tag [sometimes_light]
Source: http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/about/design/
----- :: WalaGemini 2018/02/12 :: -------------------------------------------------------------------------