Sunday Stamps - K

2013, Kazakhstan, 15 years to Astana

Kazakhstan is the world's largest landlocked country and shares borders with Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.  (It does, however, have the Caspian Sea) It is also the world's ninth largest country. The capital city was renamed Astana - which literally means 'capital city' in Kazakh - in 1998, six years after declaring independence form Russia (the last of the republics to do so before the fall of the Soviet Union).  Its current president has been in power ever since and is known to be an authoritarian with a government that suppresses human rights freedoms. 

This stamp shows the Akorda, the Presidential Palace which was built in 2003. The palace has four floors of rooms each serving an individual purpose - a Marble Hall for signing agreements with other international heads of state, an Oval Hall for summit talks, and a Golden Hall for hosting meetings in privy. There is also a Guest Room for conversations between the President and Foreign Ambassadors, a Hall of Extended Negotiations, and a Hall of the Security Council. And an Oriental Hall which resembles a yurt. That's just one floor.  The first floor (ground floor) is 32' high and has a Grand Central Parade Hall, a Hall of Press Conferences, Gala Hall, and a Winter Garden.

for the letter K - Kazakhstan

Sunday Stamps - J

2004, Jersey, Ducks and Swans

Mallards are one of the most common varieties of duck to be hunted for sport, although not in the UK. So, in 2001, when the Queen visited Jersey she was presented with two dead ducks as an act of homage from the Seigneur of Trinity they had to be imported from France. This was a tradition that goes back 800 years when the seigneurs of Jersey would pay tribute to the Duke of Normandy (William the Conqueror) and his successors whenever they visited the island. The ducks may, or may not, have been part of that evening's commemorative dinner.

for the letter J - Jersey

Sunday Stamps - I

2015, India
designer: Kamleshwar Singh

International Day of Yoga is June 21st and was first established in 2014 by the UN.  It recognized that yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India ... and provides a holistic approach to health and well being ... and brings harmony in all walks of life and is known for disease prevention, health promotion, and management of many lifestyle related disorders.  

The stamp shows the logo of the International Day of Yoga

• folding of both hands symbolizes Yoga, a union of perfect harmony between mind and body, human and nature.

•  green leaves symbolize nature

•  blue symbolizes the water element 

•  brown leaves symbolizes the earth element

•  brightness symbolizes the fire element

•  the sun symbolizes the source of energy and inspiration

for the letter I - India, International Day of Yoga 

 

Sunday Stamps - H

2006, Switzerland, traditional flora
designer: Flavia Travaglini

The Spatlauber is an old variety of rare apple cultivated in Switzerland since around 1750 and able to be stored for extended periods of time without shrivelling. These days, it is known for its anti-aging stem cells use in cosmetics.

for the letter H - Helvetia / Switzerland