Orang Asli

This card came from my very first direct swap in PostCrossing. It started at the end of July. The recipient got my card in August. Mailed this one on 9th of September and it arrived 3 days ago. I didn't knew that Malaysia is a slow-mail country till now. But maybe it's an exception... Anyway, never loose hope !!!

It's my first Malaysian card and it show an aborigine (called Orang Asli) who plays a nose flute. The "Orang Asli" are made up of nearly 100 different ethnic sub-groups. These include around twenty in Peninsular Malaysia although administratively, they are categorized as Negrito, Senoi and Aboriginal Malay. Sabah and Sarawak, on the other hand, has between 30 to 40 distinct sub-groups each with an even more amazing number of languages and dialects. Malaysia has one of the oldest rainforests where there are still those jungle tribes who hunt with blowpipes using poisoned dart. They hunt monkeys, gibbons, squirrels and birds. They have their own dances and musical instruments like the one shown in the picture.

The nose flute is spread all over the Pacific Rim and partially in Africa, India and China.

The stamp (70 sen - 2010) shows an Negrito aborigine who "menyumpit" (hunts with a blowpipe). Primarily hunter-gathers, the Negrito people subsist on the bounty of Peninsular Malaysia's abundant rainforests for food as well as shelter.

Thank You,  SL Liew !

Country: Malaysia

Description: Orang Asli plays a nose flute

Publisher: Yacine Collection

The Singapore Girl

Yesterday my mailbox was full of cards and I had no time to blog about them all. So, let's continue...

This card traveled 13 day to reach me. It was sent because a copy of it was among my favorites. Who say that favorite isn't helping?

The card depicts not one BUT two Singapore Girls. The "Girl" concept was created in 1972, when Singapore Airlines was formed. Nowadays The Singapore Girl is a global marketing icon, one of the airline industry’s most instantly-recognized figures. In her distinctive uniform, a sarong kebaya in batik material designed by Parisian couturier Pierre Balmain, she epitomizes Singapore Airlines’ tradition of friendly service and Asian hospitality. On joining Singapore Airlines, Singapore Girls undergo 15 weeks of training, followed by a series of refresher and product-specific courses.

Let's see some advertising campaigns...

1972 - SIA Singapore Girl

1972 - Day in the Life of a Singapore Girl

1978 - Half the World and more with the Singapore Girl

1980 - All Around the World

1982 - Who are you

1985 - All Around the World with a Singapore Twist

1986 - You're always there

2000 - Singapore Girl Jazz

2002 - You're always there

2004 - Changing Worlds with the Singapore Girl

2012 - Dancing with Singapore Girl

2012 - Across the World with Singapore Girl

In 1993, a waxwork of the Singapore Girl was unveiled at Madame Tussaud's.

The motto written on the postcard is All around the world, you're a great way to fly.

Apparently there are more cards with Singapore Girls. (gotta have!)

The 55 cents stamp designed by Tze Ngan is a part of the Celebration of Culture and Heritage collection issued in October 2012. This stamp shows Hari Raya Aidilfitri feast that marks the end of Ramadan fasting in Muslim world.

Thank You Vivian !

Country: Singapore

Description: Singapore Airlines advertising card
Photo: unknown

Taiwan Spin Top

 

Today another postcard came in my inbox. It's from Taiwan and depicts a game where players use big colorful tops on streets. On YouTube there is a short movie that shows how children practice this sport. Amazing & watch-worthy.

About the stamps: they are not dated (although first two from 2013 and the last one from 2014) and bear the "Republic of China (Taiwan)" mark.
The duplicate one (1NT$ - April 2013) represents Ribes formosanum (Formosan gooseberry or Formosan currant). The plant is found at altitudes of 3,000-3,900 meters on Mt. Qilai, Mt. Xue, and Mt. Hehuan. The berries are oval or spherical and look like little lanterns. When ripe, they are red and edible, with a sweet and tart taste.
Parandra lanyuana (5NT$ - August 2013) is one of the long-horned beetle stamp series. It has a dark brown body and inhabits rotten wood in dark forests of Orchid Island. Adults measure 1.9-2.5 cm.
Perilla frutescens (5NT$ - June 2014) is a perennial herbaceous plant of the mint family Lamiaceae with heart-shaped leaves and serrate edges. Its flowers are dark pink in color.

Thank you, Frank !

Country: Taiwan
Description: Colorful Top on Taiwan Street
Photo: unknown
Location: unknown