Huangmei Opera, China

Time to post again after a whole month...starting with this gorgeous set of recent stamps with additional ones and great postmarks, thank you aeronest as always ;)

I had an additional thought to share this cover for the anything you wish theme on Viridian's Sunday Stamps. Let me find out some more info...
Huangmei opera is a type of local opera and an intangible cultural heritage. It originates from the early Tang dynasty and has 1400 years of history. It is one of the five biggest operas in China, along with Peking opera, Yueju opera, Pingju opera, and Yuju opera.
The stamps are released in Anhui Province which is the home of Huangmei Opera -  they feature opera artists from the old generation, and the painting makes sure the costume and gestures are all from original works of the plays.

Official From Finland

On official postcrossing web-site I received an envelope with two photos inside - I don't feel thats what postcrossing is about, but on the bright side I got a cover with one of four stamps issued on Sámi culture in 2012 :)

Kuna People, Panama

My first cover from Panama includes a stamp from a set of four titled 'Homage to Kuna People' issued in 2002, and a cancellation basically 'swallowing' it..! :) Once again my thanks goes to Patrick :)

Mexico Definitives

Another cover from the days of yore when I was penpalling...definitives under title creacion popular (popular handicrafts) issued in 2007/2008, in this case showing lacquered wooden trunk from Olinala (Guerrero) and copper vase from Santa Clara del Cobre (Michoacan). Additional stamp is from the 2008-set railways of Mexico which has the staggering number of 50 different stamps in a sheet!

Shadow Play, Thailand

A set of stamps from the edition 'Amazing Thailand' 1998-1999

This beautiful set presents the Thai shadow theatre called Nang yai (Thai: หนังใหญ่), i.e. the puppets used while creating the shadow play. The main components of Nang Yai are a 6 by 16 white screen held by four bamboo or wood poles on each side. The screen is trimmed by red strip. Behind the screen strands a tinder or a bonfire lit up to reflect the shadows of the puppet. During the course of the show there is a Thai music band that plays music in accordance with each episode of the performance.



The puppet figures are made from perforated cow or buffalo hide, each weighing about three or fourkilograms. The biggest puppet is one which characterizes a place, weighing around five to seven kilograms. This is what the practical side of this would look like:



I have chosen this cover for today's Sunday Stamps, as we can choose anything we like for the theme - and this is one of the covers I really wanted to show for a while. Thank you Nina for yet another beautiful Thai cover :) What have others posted? Click here:

                                                        

Carpets Of Morocco

Whilst in Morocco I've sent myself (sure I do that!) this cover with a set of self-adhesive stamps issued in 2008, showing carpet designs from different regions - they are 4 out of 10, the rest I've used to send postcards :) The envelope was a lucky find in one of the souvenir shops. I must admit that Morocco is prime class when it comes to the variety of postcards!

Tunisia

A cover with fantastic stamps from Tunisia, from Radim who is always so kind to send mail from his many travel destinations. Děkuji Radim!

The 1st stamp shows maajna, a traditional large ceramic bowl used for kneading dough during bread preparation. The 2nd one commemorates the Tunisian Revolution which began on 18th December 2010  and ended on 14th January 2011 with the ousting of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Both current issues.

Traditional Likay Play, Thailand

ชื่อกลุ่มสินค้า	งานแสดงตราไปรษณียากรแห่งชาติ 2554
วันแรกจำหน่าย	04 สิงหาคม 2554

(heh this is the first info I found)
A special stamp collection featuring the Likay traditional play, issued on 4 August 2011 to mark the opening of the 17th Thailand Philatelic Exhibition, or Thaipex 2011.

And how beautiful are these stamps?! I have received a couple on a postcard once, now I have the whole set, yay :)) You cannot see it on the scan but there are glittering touches on the colourful costumes! Complete with different cancellations. And inside a standard postal postcard with perforated stamp rim, very cool :) Thanks so much Nina, who can wish for more? :)))

Hong Kong Festivals

Thank you Yuen for the lovely festivals set, I like it how you put them on a bit differently :)

They are three of the set of five special stamps to portray five traditional festivals and the way people celebrate them; Tin Hau Festival (worshipping the goddess of the sea), Buddha's Birthday (held on the 8th day of the 4th month in the Chinese lunar calendar) and Kwun Yum Festival (celebrating Guanyin, the bodhisattva associated with compassion).