Postcards from Lisbon - Destination Nr. 4

Hi Everyone,
it's mail time and as some of you may already know, this means that I will send out 36 postcards with a personal message, signed and numbered. This time from Lisbon.

As I have been to Lisbon a couple of times before, I could actually just send you postcards with some of the photos I have taken there in the past. Yet, the entire idea behind my 36x36x36 postcard project is to see what kind of postcards I can find there, and send you the best that catch my eye. Not an easy task, but one I enjoy.

If you too would like to receive a postcard, all you need to do is to provide me with your address. But keep in mind: First come, first serve. So you better be quick.

The initial idea of my 36x36x36 postcard project dates back to two postcards I received in May 2014.  See more

Thank you & vielen Dank

Portugal 2013 © Miri Berlin Photography

Portugal 2013 © Miri Berlin Photography

Postcards from Tel Aviv - Third Destination

Tel Aviv 2014 © Miri Berlin Photography

Tel Aviv 2014 © Miri Berlin Photography

Hello from Tel Aviv, the place where I was born. I'm ready for my 36x36x36 postcard project.
As some of you already know, I will send 36 postcards with a personal message, signed and numbered.
If you would like to get one, all you have to do is to send me your address within 3 days.
Keep in mind, first come, first serve, so try to be quick.
The initial idea of my 36x36x36 postcard project goes back to two postcards I received in May 2014. See more ...


Thank you & Vielen Dank.

Short Story from Sarajevo & Soundscape from Bangkok

As it turned out my postcards from Sarajevo to Germany arrived after 2 weeks, while it took only 2 days for Austria. The delivery to the USA took 3 weeks. Here a photo of the main post office I used for sending the postcards to you.

General Post Office Building in Sarajevo, 2014

General Post Office Building in Sarajevo, 2014

Like many other buildings from Austro-Hungarian period, also Sarajevo's General Post Office was designed by the famous architect Josip Vancas (1859-1932). The building was completed and officially opened in 1913.

'The author of numerous architectural achievements in Sarajevo, Vancaš took its example from the Viennese Post saving bank, remaining consistent with the classical spatial concept. He divides the facades into joints by pilaster systems and window openings, decorating them with sezession floral motifs. The most precise part of the palace was the window auditorium that was distinguished by its proportions and rich architectural plastics.'
Source 

The building was completely burnt in May 2nd of 1992 during the Siege of Sarajevo.  It was reconstructed by Ferhad Mulabegovic in 2001.
Source (Pictures of the Central Post Office in 1915 & the interior of Central Post Office in Sarajevo today)
..... ..... ....

I arrived at the post office counter in Sarajevo and handed over my postcards to the clerk. She stuck the stamps on the cards and then started to stamp them. The noise of the stamping sounded through the large bright main hall and was deafening.  She did it with a remarkable energy. The sound had its own rhythm and felt somehow prehistoric.
I should have recorded it, instead I stared like mesmerized at the motion sequences between the stamp-pad and the postcards.
When I stepped into the post office in Bangkok I felt that maybe it would be nice to provide you with some local post office soundscape.

::: D e u t s c h / G e r m a n  ::::

In der Hauptpost von Sarajevo händigte ich der Beamtin meine Postkarten aus. Sie klebte die Briefmarken auf, um sie dann mit dem Stempel zu versehen.
Das Geräusch des Stempelns, für das sie viel Kraft aufwendete, ertönte durch die grosse, lichtdurchflutete Halle, und schien den Raum für eine Weile zu dominieren.
Es hatte seinen ganz eigenen Rhythmus, und (wenn man so will) einen prähistorischen Klang. 
Leider habe ich versäumt diese Geräuschkulisse aufzunehmen, aber bei der nächstbesten Gelegenheit hole ich es nach.  
Hier der Sound vom Postamt in Bangkok
(Kleine Anmerkung am Rande: 2 Minuten und 9 Sekunden können sich wie eine Ewigkeit anfühlen, dennoch fiel es mir schwer, die eine oder andere Tonsequenz zu löschen, bei genauem Hinhören, macht jede Sekunde für mich Sinn, aber für den interessierten Zuhörer kann sie schon eine Sekunde zuviel sein. 
Insgeheim hoffe ich, dass man es durchhält ohne verrückt zu werden. Ich verrate schon mal, einen Höhepunkt gibt es hier nicht, aber das Ende hat es in sich, und ist nicht arrangiert.)

So, here it is:

 

Postcards from Bangkok

::: Deutsche Version weiter unten :::

Hi everyone, 
After being in Thailand on vacation I am back in Berlin.

Shot out of a moving train, Bangkok 2014  © Miri Berlin Photography

Shot out of a moving train, Bangkok 2014  © Miri Berlin Photography

All 36 postcards (2nd edition & destination of my postcard project) were sent end of July. 
Here an image with five postcard motifes that I decided to send you from Bangkok.

36x36x36 Bangkok Postcard Project 2014 © Miri Berlin PhotographyNote: Elephants have played a significant part in Thailand’s Culture and History. Today the Thai elephant (Chang Thai) remains an enduring symbol of Thailand.Deutsch: Ele…

36x36x36 Bangkok Postcard Project 2014 © Miri Berlin Photography
Note: Elephants have played a significant part in Thailand’s Culture and History. Today the Thai elephant (Chang Thai) remains an enduring symbol of Thailand.
Deutsch: EleWiki - Das Elefanten-Lexikon: Elefanten in Thailand 

Post Office in Bangkok, Thailand 2014

Post Office in Bangkok, Thailand 2014

Unlike Sarajevo, I had to stick the stamps in Bangkok by myself. The post office clerk demonstrated me how to stick a stamp on a postcard in an appropriate professional manner and then left the remaining 35 postcards to me.
I had enough time to study motifs of the postcards. They all showed paradisiacal landscapes, which we didn't see on our journey. Long white sandy beaches, blue skies, lagoons, rocky islands, which can be found in the southern part of Thailand.
 
While the post office clerk looked through my postcards he hesitated for a moment and shot a questioning glance at me, while his finger pointed on 'Bosnia & Herzegovina'. He probably felt something is missing.
'Yugoslavia', I murmured. He seemed to understand, at least I hoped so.

: : : Deutsch : : : 

Hallo,

wieder zurück aus dem Urlaub in Nordthailand.
Ich habe Ende Juli alle 36 Postkarten aus Bangkok abgeschickt, und hoffe, dass sie euch bald erreichen werden. Oben eine Auswahl der fünf Postkartenmotive, die sich auf dem Weg zu euch machen.

Im Gegensatz zu Sarajevo, musste ich in Bangkok die Briefmarken selbst aufkleben.
Der Postbeamte führte mir vor, wie man eine Postkarte fachgerecht mit einer Briefmarke beklebt, die restlichen 35 Postkarten überließ er mir, so hatte ich genügend Zeit, mir die Motive anzuschauen.
Diese waren geprägt von paradiesischen Landschaften, die wir während unserer Reise nicht sahen. Weiße Sandstrände, blauer Himmel, Lagunen, Felseninseln. Landschaften, die im südlichen Teil des Landes zu finden sind.

Als ich dem Beamten meine Postkarten aushändigte, ging er sie durch und schaute irritiert die Karte mit dem Zielort 'Bosnia & Herzegovina'. Sein Blick bat um Erklärung, und ich murmelte 'Yugoslavia'. Er schien zu verstehen, zumindest hoffe ich es.

 

Shot out of a moving train, Thailand 2014 © Miri Berlin Photography

Shot out of a moving train, Thailand 2014 © Miri Berlin Photography

Postcards from Thailand - Second Destination

(Postcards from Thailand, limited edition, signed and numbered)

Hi everyone,

I had a great and creative time in Sarajevo. It has been a mix of work, pleasure and new experience in terms of getting a collaborative idea out the door working with a journalist I never met before. 
We plan to present our results in September, but I hope to start displaying Sarajevo photos around mid-August. So please be patient with me.

While I set high standards in the Sarajevo project, Thailand will be just for vacation.

This time, I want to send you my second postcard of 36x36x36 from Thailand. 
I will send 36 postcards with a personal message, signed and numbered.

Please keep in mind, first come, first serve, so try to be quick, as I offer only 36 postcards.

The initial idea of 36x36x36 goes back to two postcards I received in May 2014. see more ...

Thank you & Vielen Dank.

Lisbon 2013 © Miri Berlin Photography

Lisbon 2013 © Miri Berlin Photography


Postcards from Sarajevo

Hi everyone,

Sarajevo 2014 © Miri Berlin Photography

Sarajevo 2014 © Miri Berlin Photography

all of the Sarajevo postcards were mailed yesterday and should soon arrive to your house. Thanks a lot for getting in touch with me. I really appreciate it.
I have learned from this experience that it is not a good idea to write all the postcards on one day; that it is important to have a good pen and that next time I should check the space on the back of the postcard.

When I announced my postcard idea in May, I had only done very rudimentary planning. 
All I knew at that time was that my 'Postcard from Sarajevo' is the beginning of something.

I have now come up with '36x36x36 - A postcard from me to you' as official title for this project.

36x36x36 means 36 postcards from 36 places 36 times.
Whenever I leave Berlin longer than one week I would like to send you a postcard from that place.
As you can imagine 36 places (not necessarily different places) can take a while, surely some years. The postcard idea becomes a journey itself, so to speak.

I also plan to take a photo of every post office I have entered for sending the postcards to you. If possible, I will try to provide some information about the buildings as well. 

If you like to become a part of this experience, follow me for updates on my Blog, on Twitter or on Flickr. As soon as I post a new limited edition of 36x36x36, and you wish to get one postcard, all you need to do is to send me your address within 3 days after the announcement. 
Please keep in mind, first come, first serve, so try to be quick, as I offer only 36 postcards (limited edition, signed and numbered)

The initial idea of 36x36x36 goes back to two postcards I received in May 2014. see more ...

Something special - A postcard from me to you - Sarajevo Postcard Project

(A postcard from Sarajevo, limited edition, signed and numbered)

ENGLISH:

Last month I received two postcards from a friend. The first one arrived totally unexpected. 
I starred at the postcard image and the handwriting for a while. Turning it from one side to the other several times. There's something nostalgic about holding a postcard in your hand.
I felt very happy and thanked him for the dedication.
Shortly after, he sent me a second postcard, a photo shot by the great photographer Vivian Maier from an exhibition he visited at Château de Tours in France.
When it comes to photography, whether analogue or digital, I always feel there is something missing if the images are only relegated to the computer screen. The print, at least for me, is a big issue which can't be matched with pixels on a screen.

Well, getting these two postcards I realised again that it must have been a while since I have sent postcards myself.

To make a long story short: I will be in Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina, soon.
I have no idea what kind of postcards I will find there. All I know is that I want to send you a postcard from Sarajevo. I will send 36 postcards with a personal message, signed and numbered.
If you would like to get one, please send me your address to miriberlin@posteo.de as soon as possible (First come, first serve).
Thank you.


DEUTSCH:

Noch nie ist die deutsche Übersetzung so 'knapp ausgefallen'.
Ich fliege bald nach Sarajevo, und werde 36 Postkarten (limitierte Auflage, nummeriert & signiert) verschicken. Ich weiss nicht welche Postkarten ich vor Ort finden werde, aber einer dieser Postkarten kann an Dich gehen, wenn Du mir Deine Adresse so schnell wie möglich mitteilst. 
Danke.

I received a postcard from France: Photographer: Vivan Maier - Sans titre, 1953

I received a postcard from France: Photographer: Vivan Maier - Sans titre, 1953

+++++++ UPDATE June 9, 2014 +++++++

As I already have 36 recipients for the postcards now, please do not send me anymore requests.
Thanks so much for your interest. Vielen Dank für das Interesse.