Taipei 101

Few are the postcards that manage to be original by construction. And this one is a brilliant example. It shows Taipei World Financial Center (also known as Taipei 101) in two aspects: a childish drawing and a photography reversal film window (upper right corner). Taipei 101 is the tallest building in Taiwan (509,2 m) and held the world record of tallest building between 2004 and 2010, when it was surpassed by Burj Khalifa. The design is inspired by traditional Chinese architecture, with a shape resembling a pagoda and its specifications are based on the number "8", a lucky number in traditional Chinese culture; it features 8 upward-flaring sections, and is supported by 8 super-columns. It got the fastest elevators in the world, rising at 1010 meters per minute (60.48 km/hour) and descending at 610 m/min (36.6 km/hour). The brakes are ceramic rather than steel (as found in high-performance cars) for greater efficiency. TAIPEI is mnemonic for Technology, Art, Innovation, People, Environment, and Identity. 101 represents the concept of striving for beyond perfection.
The postcard came with two stamps:
The 2.5 $ (ND2013) shows Rhodomyrtus tomentosa shrub.
The 10 $ (ND2010) shows a white lighthouse.

Thank You, Yining !

Country: Taiwan
Description: Taipei World Financial Center (skyscraper)
Location: here
Publisher: unknown (due to postcard decorations)

Pyatigorsk Eagle

The card (33 years old) came from Estonia, but it shows the Russian town of Pyatigorsk. It was taken from sender's mother collection and the main element is the bronze statue of an Eagle with a Snake, the official symbol of the Caucasian Mineral Waters. This composition was made by sculptor LK Shodkim (Л. К. Шодким) for the centenary anniversary of resort opened at 1 May 1901. According to the author eagle represents the healing power of mineral springs, conquering the disease, which represents a snake in its claws. The original sculpture was made of cement, but in the past decade, the figure fell into disrepair, and it had to be restored. In 1973 it was re-cast in bronze on the Leningrad factory of monumental sculpture and installed in the same place. There are similar sculptures installed in all the cities of the Caucasian Mineral Waters: Pyatigorsk, Kislovodsk, Yessentuki and Zheleznovodsk. But Pyatigorsk eagle is perhaps the most beautiful and most famous among them.
The stamp (2014) was designed by Indrek Ilves> It shows two Euro Coins (1 and 0.20) and the interesting part is that their value correspond with the stamp value of 1.20 €.

Thank You,  Helle !

Country: Russia (but sent from Estonia)
Description: Pyatigorsk Eagle, symbol of the Caucasian Mineral Waters
Publisher: unknown (due postcard decorations)
Photo:  G. Kosmenko / Г. Косменко