#73 - Bom Dia!

From here til the end, I suspect that cards will be more difficult to get/find/receive. But you know what they say, where there's a will, there's a way :)

I received this Portugal multiview from Maria who I've known for a year through postcrossing. This view shows (starting from the top left) the Old University in Coimbra, the canals of Aveiro, the Pena Castle at Sintra and a beach in Algarve.

#72 - From The Southern Sunny Island

Arthur and I have known each other for a year or so through eBay. He was originally living in Poland, and suddenly moved to Cyprus where he has been working for awhile.

When he heard of my postcard challenge, he didn't hesitate to send a card :)

That's another $5 for Nothing But Nets...slowly, but surely!

Find Me On FaceBook

Here's the link: http://www.facebook.com/truptispostcards

I Guess I Can't Do Math...

There are 263 territories and countries in the world according to WorldMapMaker.com.

263 x $5 per postcard = $1315

$1315 divided by $10 per mosquito net = 131.5 or for our purposes...132.

So once the challenge is complete, I will have $1315 donated to Nothing But Nets and purchased 132 nets.

Surprised nobody caught my error in the header! (I'll leave it up for awhile so you can see what I'm talking about).

#71 - Galapagos Islands

Pauline sent me yet another card from her trip to South America, this one from the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador.

The islands are famous for being the inspiration of Charles Darwin's "Theory of Evolution". Darwin had travelled to the region as young gradate upon The Beagle; a large ship with orders to to perform hydrological surveys (depth of coastal water, shoreline, etc). Of course, they came to these islands and I guess the light bulb went off for Darwin.

This island chain is home to 100's of different species of mollusks, birds, reptiles and amphibians, making it one of the most important and significant places in the world for biological research.

Unfortunately illegal hunting and fishing in recent years have decreased wildlife populations, putting some species on the endangered list. When will we learn?

#70 - Williamstad Harbour

It is believed this heart-shaped island got it's name from the Portuguese word Coracao, which means heart. Considering the islands ownership changed many times, French...English..Dutch, it makes perfect sense for the island to have a Portuguese name ;)

Speaking of Dutch, many of the buildings and architecture in Curacao combine Spanish and Dutch styles, as you can see here in Williamstad, the capital of the Netherlands Antilles.

#69 - Machu Picchu

My friend Pauline recently went to Peru and judging by her email, had a trip of a lifetime! She sent me this view of Machu Picchu, The Lost City, built by the Incas.

The Incas were a very small group of people; totalling around 100 000. At the height of their time, they ruled nearly 15 million people who belonged to other ethnic tribes and groups. 15. million. people. What! How did the minority end up ruling the majority?.....They must've been brilliant marketers. "Join our kingdom, get 2 free potatoes. Join with a friend, and get 5 free potatoes!"

In the mountains of Peru, you can find Machu Picchu, or The Lost City. It was completely covered in forest and vines until 1911. It is believed that Machu Picchu served as a retreat for Incan rulers and their family. The area is surrounded by high mountain peaks and rushing waters, features that were sacred to the Inca.

#68 - Ile Maurice

Mauritius. Beautiful island, breathtaking beaches and home to do the dodo.
Or at least...it WAS. The Europeans sighted the bird on the island in the 1600's and
it became extinct only 80 years later to do overhunting. Poor dodo...

Thanks Vishan for the gorgeous view of your island!

#67 - Tana Toraja

Veronica sent me this view of Tana Toraja, the traditional highland home of the indigenous Torajan people of Southern Indonesia.

Torajans are renowned for their elaborate funeral rites, burial sites carved into rocky cliffs, massive peaked-roof traditional houses (which you can see here), and colourful wood carvings.

You can check out another view of the homes here. I wonder why they're built off the ground like that....rain? monsoon?

#66 - Ha Long

This UNESCO site is Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. The bay contains thousands, (yes, you read that right) of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes.

There are roughly 1600 people who live in 4 different fishing communities in Ha Long bay, in floating houses.
It's pretty neat, click here to see a picture. Just one question. Where's the washroom? : Hehe!

Thanks Aletta for this card :)

Time For The First Donation!!

65 postcards x $5 = $325. Thank you! Only 198 to go.

Be sure to tell your friends around the world and get them to help this cause. It will only cost them a postcard and together, we can save people from malaria.

It's estimated that 250 million people are infected with malaria annually in Africa, eventually killing 1 million of those infected. It only takes a $10 mosquito bed net to give them the protection they need.

Before Donation Total ($737.34) . After Donation Total ($1032.34).

Thanks everyone!

P.S. Feel free to add me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/truptispostcards

#65 - Where My Heart Is......

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love the Dominican Republic. I love the people, the landscape, the climate...I feel so at home and relaxed there. I can't remember how many times I've been there, I've lost count now.

Today I received this cute card of a young boy sitting on a donkey; a common sight in la Republica Dominica.

Gracias Joke!