Grand Palace, Bangkok Postcards

The two postcards show the aerial views of the Grand Palace (Thai: Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang), a complex of buildings in Bangkok, Thailand. My sister bought this when she visited Bangkok last summer. I was able to visit the palace last 2006 and it was really magnificent! A must visit whenever you are in Bangkok!
The Grand Palace served as the official residence of the king of Thailand from the 18th century to the mid-20th century. After the death of King Ananda Mahidol in the Grand Palace, King Bhumibol moved the official royal residence to Chitralada Palace.

Grand Palace Postcard 1

When Siam restored law and order after the fall of Ayutthaya the monarch lived in Thonburi on the west side of the river. Rama I, on ascending the throne, moved the centre of administration to this side of the Chao Phraya; and, after erecting public monuments such as fortifications and monasteries, built a palace to serve not only as his residence but also his offices--the various ministries, only one of which remains in the palace walls. This palace came to be known as the Grand Palace.

Grand Palace Postcard 2

The palace complex sits on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River. The other approaches to the palace are protected by a defensive wall of 1,900 metres in length, which encloses an area of 218,400 square metres. Further out from the wall is a canal, which was also created for defensive purposes, making the area surrounding the palace an island, known as Rattanakosin.
Parts of the Grand Palace are:* The Chapel Royal of The Emerald Buddha* The Upper Terrace* Subsidiary Buildings* The Galleries* Phra Maha Monthian* Chakri Maha Prasat Hall* Dusit Maha Prasat Hall* Borom Phiman Mansion* Phra Asada Maha Chedi* Amarin Winitchai Hall* Wat Phra Keo Museum

SOURCES:
The Grand Palace Homepage
Grand Palace Wikipedia Entry

Philippine Blog Awards 2 Winners!

Last night we attended the Philippine Blog Awards 2 at the One Esplanade MOA. As I've said in the previous post, this blog was nominated and a finalist for Best Blog under the Hobby/Recreation category.


First a little bit background about my hobby. Deltiology is the study and collection of postcards. Worldwide, deltiology is the third largest hobby after stamp collecting and money collecting. Postcards are collected because of their importance in research. For example, I have in my collection a postcard of Hyatt Terraces Baguio's restaurant, which, as we all know, was a casualty of the July 16, 1990 quake. Or I have Bookmark reproductions of old postcards that shows Philippine buildings and images during the American period.

It has been almost 10 years now since I started collecting postcards. Now I have more than 2000 postcards in my collection. So I decided last year to start blogging all my postcards. I mainly collect Philippine postcards, UNESCO sites, Maps, Paintings, Bridges, Buildings (Hotels, Museums, Palaces, Schools, Airports, etc.), Places of Worship (Churches, Cathedrals, etc.), Planes, Ships, Birthday Greeting Cards.

Now back to the awards night. We arrived at the venue before 6 P.M. and registered, and were then ushered to our seats. There I was able to see the faces behind some of the famous blogs, although I was only able to meet and converse with just one blogger, Greg Quimpo, who owns the blog Dogs Are Us!, a blog that advocates the protection of dogs. (The Animal Kingdom Foundation Rescue Center is located in Capas, Tarlac.)

We also saw several known personalities, Sen. Mar Roxas (who also blogs and gave a speech related to blogging) and Manuel L. Quezon III (one of the judges). I was hoping to meet Ivan Henares and Senor Enrique, two of the blogs I frequently read. PBA gave away 36 awards, including Best Blogs (Hobby, Personal Travel, etc., categories), Best Blog Design, Blogger's Choice Award, etc.

My blog didn't win. But heck, am happy that my blog was one of the finalist. I just want to increase awareness (maybe appreciation) on postcard collecting, and this is a good start!

To all the winners, congratulations. And KUDOS to the Philippine Blog Awards Committee!

Philippine Blog Awards 2

Last August, I received an email from the Philippine Blog Awards team informing me that this blog has been nominated for the Best Blog under the Hobby / Recreation Category. I honestly wasn't expecting this, but I got excited. My main goal is just to show here my postcard collection and of course give a lit bit of information about the image/s on the postcard, and giving awareness on deltiology (postcard collecting) in the country.

This morning I again received an email, informing me that my blog is one of the finalists for the Best Blog- Hobby/Recreation category! The winner will be announced during the 2008 Philippine Blog Awards Night, on September 21,2008. Win or lose, I'm glad that Filipinos are now aware of postcard collecting!

Hyatt Terraces Plaza Postcard

This is one of the postcards that I treasure most. It shows the Kaili Cafe-Restaurant of the Hyatt Terraces Plaza Baguio, one of the casualties of the July 16, 1990 earthquake.

The back of the postcard reads:

Kaili Cafe-Restaurant - located in the picturesque Atrium Plaza. Set amidst colorful handwoven tapestries and refreshing greenery.
Hyatt Terraces Baguio, the only 5-star resort hotel in the Philippines' summer capital, boasts 291 rooms and suites with private balconies, three specialty restaurants, two bars,an Igorot Park and discotheque.

Hyatt Terraces Plaza Postcard

The five-star Hyatt Terraces Plaza sustained the worst damage when its terraced front collapsed onto the hotel lobby area killing about 50 people.

NOTE: COLLAPSED DURING AN EARTHQUAKE
Block 150, Southdrive Road, Baguio City

Westin Philippine Plaza Postcard

Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila (Formerly Westin Philippine Plaza) on Manila Bay is part of the largest convention complex in the country and the only resort hotel in Manila. The hotel is set in 12-acre grounds and looks out over breathtaking Manila Bay. The balconies of the rooms and suites offer harbor or city views.

Westin Philippine Plaza Postcard

609 rooms and suites, Spiral restaurant, Le Bar (a bar, bistro and library combined), 7Pecados entertainment centre, Sunset Bar with cultural shows, lagoon-shaped pool, spa and gym, 16 meeting rooms with pillarless Grand Ballroom, Harbour Garden Tent and Grand Sunset Pavilion.

NOTE: RENAMED SOFITEL PHILIPPINE PLAZA MANILA

CCP Complex Roxas Boulevard Pasay City 1300 Manila, Philippines

Tel: (632) 5515555 - (632) 5515610

SOURCE:
Sofitel Philippine Plaza Homepage

Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino Mactan Postcard

Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino Mactan is located literally a stones' throw away from the airport terminal. It is only 15 minutes away from Mactan's white sandy beaches and 30 minutes to Cebu City's financial district.
Rooms: 167 soundproof deluxe rooms, from delightful villas to grand executive suites

Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino Mactan Postcard

Services:
* Color television and Cable TV
* International Direct Dialing phone connection
* Safety deposit box
* Mini-bar and refrigerator
* 24-hour room service
* Shoe shine service

NOTE: OPERATIONAL

1 Airport Road, Lapu-Lapu City, 6015 Cebu, Philippines
Tel: (6332) 340-4888

SOURCE:
Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino Mactan Homepage

Subic International Hotel Postcard

Subic International Hotel is a 3-star hotel ideally located at the heart of the Subic Freeport Zone, 3 hours away from Manila.
Accommodations: 284 Deluxe Rooms and Suites

Subic International Hotel Postcard

Amenities and Services:-Laundry and Valet-E-mail and Internet-Cable TV-Safety Deposit Boxes-IDD Telephone Systems (AT&T, MCI, Sprint)-Free Entrance to the Gym and Sauna, to the Swimming Pool and to the Casino Filipino Olongapo

NOTE: OPERATIONAL

Rizal cor. Sta. Rita Road, Subic Bay Freeport Zone Olongapo City 2200, Philippines
Tel: (047) 252-22-22, 252-67-03

SOURCE:
Subic International Hotel Corporation Homepage

Makati Shangri-La Postcard

Makati Shangri-La, Manila is located at the centre of Manila's most prestigious business, shopping and entertainment district, Makati City. The hotel offers 699 spacious and beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites, each with views of Makati’s famous avenues and the city beyond.

Makati Shangri-La Postcard

Rooms and suites include:• Colour television with in-house movie channels and cable TV• Data and computer ports• Electronic safe• International direct-dialing telephone with voice mail• Mini-bar and refrigerator• 24-hour room service• Broadband Internet access

NOTE: OPERATIONAL

Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue, Makati City 1200 Philippines
Tel: (632) 813-8888

SOURCE:
Makati Shangri-La, Manila Homepage

Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa Postcard

The Philippine's premier five-star resort, Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa is a lush garden retreat ideal for vacationers and families, with kid's play areas, a wide range of restaurants, and CHI, one of the largest and most luxurious spas in the region.

Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa Postcard

Just 15 minutes from Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa recently completed a three-year major renovation programme on its 547 rooms and suites. The new resort features a stylish design, sleek contemporary furniture, and the latest in-room communications and media amenities. The highlight of the contemporary resort is the entirely refurbished Ocean Wing, that contains exceptionally luxurious and spacious accommodations with memorable views of the Visayan Sea.

NOTE: OPERATIONAL

Punta Engano Road, Lapu-Lapu, Cebu 6015, Philippines
Tel: (63 32) 231 0288

SOURCE:
Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa Cebu Homepage

Manila Hotel Postcards

The Manila Hotel is a 570-room, five star hotel in Manila, Philippines, located in the heart of the Manila Bay area. The Manila Hotel is the oldest premiere hotel in the Philippines, built in 1909 and opened in 1912. To design the hotel William Howard Taft hired William E. Parsons, a New York architect, who envisioned an impressive, but comfortable hotel, along the lines of a California mission, but grander. The original design was an H-shaped plan that focused on well-ventilated rooms on two wings, providing grand vistas of the harbor, the Luneta, and Intramuros. The top floor was, in fact, a large viewing deck that was used for various functions, including watching the American navy steam into the harbor.

Manila Hotel Postcard 1

The hotel was the residence of General Douglas MacArthur from 1935 to 1941. During World War 2, the hotel was occupied by Japanese troops, and the Japanese flag was flown above the walls for the entirety of the war. The hotel survived the bombing of Manila and was later reconstructed. The hotel was remodeled in 1976 and expanded to 570 rooms. The hotel’s spartan interiors in simplified Mission style gave way to more lavish furnishings and, for some sections, major renovations by Paris-trained Filipino architect Andres Luna de San Pedro (son of Juan Luna).

Manila Hotel Postcard 2

The hotel contains the offices of several foreign news organizations, including The New York Times.It has hosted numerous historical persons and celebrities, including authors Ernest Hemingway and James A. Michener, U.S. President John F. Kennedy, The Beatles, actors Michael Jackson, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and John Wayne, publisher Henry Luce, entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr., Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden, and many various world leaders.

Manila Hotel Lobby Postcard

The main lobby was designed for sitting as well as for making grand entrances. Measuring 125 feet (38 m) long by 25 feet (7.6 m) wide, the lobby is lined with white Doric columns. The floor is Philippine marble, the chandeliers are made of brass, crystal and seashells, the furniture is carved out of Philippine mahogany which is used throughout the hotel. The penthouse, the most expensive suite (with a private swimming pool) on the 18th floor, has a view of the Bay, of Rizal Park and the 16th-century ruins of the Spanish walled city of Intramuros, opposite the hotel. Like the Presidential Suite, the penthouse is decorated with rare paintings, Asian antiques and Filipino crafts.

NOTE: OPERATIONALOne Rizal Park, Roxas Boulevard, Manila Philippines 1099Tel: 1-800-9-MNL-HTL

SOURCES:
Manila Hotel Wikipedia Entry
Manila Hotel Homepage

Manila Diamond Hotel Postcard

Bask in Manila Bay's magnificent sunset from the 27-story, 500-room Diamond Hotel, a World-Class Hotel in Manila of exceptional beauty and elegance. Only minutes away from shopping malls, museums and parks, convention and exhibit centers, business districts, sports complexes, and country embassies, the Diamond Hotel's luxurious guestrooms, bars, fine-dining restaurants, amenities, and special facilities provide the most exquisite Manila accommodations possible.

Manila Diamond Hotel Postcard

NOTE: OPERATIONAL

Roxas Blvd. cor. Dr. J. Quintos St. Manila 1000 PhilippinesTel: (0632) 528-3000

SOURCE:
Diamond Hotel Philippine Homepage

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Manila Postcard

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Manila is located in Makati City, which lies to the east of Manila, the country’s capital.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Manila Postcard

Guest Rooms: * 442 spacious rooms * 89 Club rooms with exclusive use of the Club Lounge * 19 suites on the highest levels of the hotel

Restaurants and bars: * The Tivoli - Classic continental cuisine * Paseo Uno - Modern casual dining * Tin Hau - Oriental delicacies * Clipper Lounge - Relaxing area to meet and lounge * Captain's Bar - Meeting and entertainment venue * Kipling's Cigar Bar - Perfect retreat for cigar lovers * Martinis - Fashionable jazz bar * Mandarin Deli - Proffers the freshest breads, pastries and light meals

NOTE: OPERATIONALMakati Avenue, Makati City 1226, Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel: +63 (2) 750 8888

SOURCE:
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Manila Homepage

Corregidor Hotel Postcard

Corregidor Hotel is a comfortable place to stay for visitors and tourist. The hotel has a pool, souvenir shop, bar and restaurant. For those who still have energy to spend, the hotel has tennis and basketball courts. Corregidor Hotel is walking distance to the North Dock, wharf and beach.

Corregidor Hotel Postcard

SOURCE:
Where to stay in Corregidor: Corregidor Hotel

Casa Punzalan Postcard

A restored ancestral house, Casa Punzalan is the first tourist inn in the centuries-old town of Taal. This is a traditional old house that has been converted into a simple but comfortable guesthouse and offers a real taste of provincial life in the Spanish-era.

Casa Punzalan Postcard

National Theatre Munich Postcard

Nationaltheater München (National Theatre Munich) on Max-Joseph-Platz is an opera house. After the first theatre, commissioned by King Maximilian 1st of Bavaria and designed by Karl von Fischer, which opened in 1818 with Die Weihe by Ferdinand Fränzl, was destroyed by fire in 1823, it was reconstructed and re-opened in 1825. This second theatre, designed by Leo von Klenze, incorporated Neo-Grec features as seen in its portico and triangular pediment.

National Theatre Munich Postcard

Based on the original plans by Karl von Fischer, the architect Gerhard Moritz Graubner recreated the original neo-classical 2100 seat theatre. Albeit somewhat enlarged and only the foyer and main staircase retaining their original look, the theatre opened on 22 November 1963 with a performance of Richard Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.

SOURCE:
National Theatre Munich Wikipedia Entry

Avalon Casino Theatre and Ballroom Postcard

The beautiful Art Deco Avalon Casino Theatre and Ballroom, located in Avalon on Catalina Island off the coast of Los Angeles, was constructed in 1929. The Casino's name derives from a more traditional Italian definition of casino, meaning social gathering place; the building has never served as a gambling establishment and for many years did not even serve alcoholic beverages.

Avalon Casino Theatre and Ballroom Postcard

The Casino was 140 feet (43 m) high when it was built and was the tallest building in Los Angeles County at the time. Surrounded by sea on three sides, the circular Art Deco structure stands the equivalent of 12 stories tall. The Avalon Theater, on the first level, shows first-run movies nightly. The circular domed ceiling has remarkable acoustics studied by experts from around the world. The upper level houses the world's largest circular ballroom with a 180-foot (55 m) diameter dance floor. French doors encircle the room, and balcony views are spectacular.

SOURCE:
Santa Catalina Island, California Wikipedia Entry

We Are Here - Philippine Location Postcard

This is also an over-sized postcard (12.5 x 17.5) postcard, an artwork by Wilfredo Santiago and distributed Philippine-German Magazine, Manila. It is a world map that shows the location of Philippines.

World Map Postcard

Philippine Map Postcard

This is an over-sized postcard (12.5 x 17.5) Philippine postcard, an artwork by Wilfredo Santiago and distributed Philippine-German Magazine, Manila. It shows the three island groups (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao), bodies of water that surrounds the country (i.e., Mindanao Sea, Pacific Ocean), some cities (e.i., Baguio City) and several provinces (i.e., Ilocos Norte, Basilan). Also shown is Sabah, a disputed Philippine territory.

Philippine Map Postcard

Fürstenberg Haus Postcard

The postcard shows the castle, or Fürstenberg Haus, in Donaueschingen which was built when Prince Joseph Wilhelm Ernst moved into this new planned town from his castle in the hills above in the 18th century. It is a Baroque building set next to the Schlosspark and source of the River Danube. Its interior is lovely, full of 19th century paintings, tapestries and many original furnishings. The building is open as a museum, allowing visitors to wander around the various rooms. Guided tours are available.

Fürstenberg Haus Postcard

SOURCES:
Fürstenberg Sammlungen
Das Haus Fürstenberg Homepage

Dôme des Invalides Postcard

The postcard shows the Dôme des Invalides that can be found at the Invalides Complex in Paris. The Dôme des Invalides is the most recognizable and well-known part of Les Invalides. In 1676 King Louis XIV - the Sun King - charged architect Jules Hardouin Mansart with the task of creating a separate private chapel at the Invalides for exclusive use of the royal family. This gold-domed church was completed in 1708 by de Cotte after Mansart died. Inspired by Rome’s St. Peter’s Basilica, this chapel, known as Église du Dôme, is considered one of the world’s most exciting examples of French Baroque architecture.

Dôme des Invalides Postcard

The dome itself is 107 meters high (351 ft), making it one of the tallest monuments in Paris, and was centrally placed in order to dominate the court of honor – one of 15 courtyards at the complex, designed for military parades. The inside of the dome was painted by Charles de La Fosse, disciple of 18th century well-known French painter, Charles Le Brun.
Napoleon Bonaparte was entombed at Les Invalides. Also buried at Invalides are several members of Napoleon’s family as well as a number of prominent French military leaders and war heroes.

SOURCE:
Dôme des Invalides

William Taylor Hotel Postcard

The 100 McAllister Street Tower was built by the Methodist Church in the “modern Gothic” style and opened in 1929 as the luxury William Taylor Hotel, designed by architect Lewis P. Hobart. It was briefly, during the 1930s, San Francisco’s tallest structure.

William Taylor Hotel Postcard

In 1936 the building was sold and reopened as the Empire Hotel featuring the Skyroom. During World War II, 100 McAllister Street was taken over by the government for federal workers before the present federal building on Golden Gate Avenue was constructed. In 1978, Hastings acquired the building and converted it to student housing, opening the facility in 1981.

NOTE: NOW A STUDENT HOUSING

SOURCE:
Hastings College of the Law Institutional Master Plan

The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Postcard

The postcard shows the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, a famously luxurious hotel in New York. It started as two hotels: one owned by William Waldorf Astor, whose 13-story Waldorf Hotel was opened in 1893 and the other owned by his cousin, John Jacob Astor IV, called the Astoria Hotel and opened four years later and four stories higher.

The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Postcard

The first, designed by architect Henry J. Hardenbergh, was on the Fifth Avenue site of the Empire State Building. The present building at 301 Park Avenue in Manhattan is a 47 story, 625 ft. (191 m) Art Deco landmark, designed by architects Schultze and Weaver and dating from 1931. The name, Waldorf=Astoria, now officially appears with a double hyphen.

NOTE: OPERATIONAL
301 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022 USA
Tel.: 1-212-355-3000

SOURCES:
The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Wikipedia Entry
Waldorf=Astoria Homepage