13. Christmas Island

Flying Fish Cove of  Australia's Christmas Island. It is the main settlement of the island. Interesting note on their stamps are that their stamps can be used on Australia and Australia can used their stamps as well.

Thank you, Christmas Island Tourism Association

12. USA

Disneyland postcard featuring Pooh and Tigger.

Thank you, Dinna

11. Russia

From Russia featuring figures from Slavic Mythology. The card is called Gamayun and Mystic Lamb. According to Daria, she bought it as a set, and admittedly she didn't recognize most of the mythical figures depicted in the set. It could be that these are part of the greater Slavic mythology.

Спасибо Daria

10. Japan

Receive this through private swap. It is illustrated by Kaori Wakamatsu, a Japanese Illustrator whose work spans from design goods to magazines, to advertising work. 

ありがとう nannie

9. Canada

This is my first postcard from direct swap. I received this from Emilia, a Filipina based in Canada, through the Philippine Postcrossing Facebook Group. Emilia wanted to celebrate the Easter by conducting an "Easter swap" with the Filipinos here. She requested postcard featuring rabbits, chocolates or religious-related figures. Luckily, I managed to buy a bulk of religious postcards in a local bookstore in Bulacan where I was sent for work.

She sended me in return a postcard featuring an illustration from the book Alice's Adventure in Wonderland. This is the original illustration done by Sir John Tenniel. This illustration depicts the meeting Alice and the Duchess.

Thank you Emilia

8. UK

This one came from Stacey of Birmingham, England. This is my first from the UK.

Thank you Stacey
Postcard ID: GB-759047

7. Finland

Laura of Finland sent me my first Moomin card. Moomin is a Swedish-speaking Finnish children book series. The moomins a family of white, roundish fairy tale characters with large snouts that make them resemble hippopotamuses. The carefree and adventurous family live in their house in Moominvalley, though in the past, their temporary residences have included a lighthouse and a theatre. They have had many adventures along with their various friends.

In this card, it depicts Snorkmaiden's encounter with Prima Donna's horse.

It's a shame that Moomin is not popular in the Philippines.

Kiitos Laura
Postcard ID: FI-2654802

6. Germany

My first postcard from Germany. It was enclosed in an envelope. Perfect timing for me to receive this postcard as I received this the week before Easter Sunday. Another cool thing is that it is a 3D card as well. This one came from Erika of Bielefeld. Bielefeld is the home of the Dr. Oetker, producer of baking powder, cake mixes, yogurts, frozen pizzas etc.

Danke Erica
Postcard ID: DE-5044450

5. Japan

A postcard featuring a maiko girl from Kyoto. Maiko is an apprentice geisha in Kyoto This was sent to me by Michiko of Hiroshima.

どうもありがとう Michiko,
Postcard ID: JP-793940

4. USA

I requested a postcard from Miss Igorota weeks after receiving some postcards from Postcrossing. I was doubting if Miss Igorota still sends postcards from request since her last post was June 2014. I e-mailed her and thankfully she still sends out postcards. The one above is the postcard I received from her.

Thank you conniechiwa!

3. USA

The moment I saw this postcard on my mailbox, I thought this one came from Japan. Turns out, it came from USA. For those who want to know who is this character, this is Totoro from the anime movie "My Neighbor Totoro". It was created by Studio Ghibli which is considered to be among the best animation studios in the world. Totoro has been the mascot of Studio Ghibli ever since.

Thank you, Eric

Postcard ID: US-3885144

2. Poland

Not long after I got my first postcard, this one came on my mailbox. It's a 3D postcard or those that are holograms. It made me jealous that I have never encountered 3D postcards here (I later did encounter one but it's too pricey). Not much else to tell since the postcard doesn't have much information other than it was published by Tiger Stores.

Dziękuję Joanna

Postcard ID: PL-1189387

My First Postcard: Japan

I joined Postcrossing after a chance encounter with Doi's blog while I was searching on what to do with the stamps my dad bought from a garage sale. There, Doi mentioned another blog called Miss Igorota who sends out postcards to whoever requests one. I used to dream of starting a stamp collection when I was a kid but since I had no idea how to start, nor where to get penpals, I eventually forgot about it. Both blogs mention Postcrossing. I find the website's concept interesting but it got me an idea on starting a stamp collection as well. And so I joined around the last week of January 2016.

Took me more than a month for someone to receive my postcard. 2 weeks later, I received this from Satomi. He mentions that he lives in Toyota City, the headquarter of Toyota Motor Corp. Now this is the start of my journey of postcards.

Arigatou, Satomi

Postcard ID: JP-787707