OFFICIAL Card - India

While I do have several cards from India in my collection most have come to me from swaps. With only 6,200 users it would still be considered a "not so common" country. This view card arrived and I must admit it had me stumped. On my scan I didn't crop it fully hoping that it helps to explain. While the card is very sturdy cardstock it looks like it is picture or a scan of a card. on the right side you can almost see a grey line where it might have sat on the scanner bed. The back has lines, text, etc it is just the front that seems a bit odd. That said the view shows the Buddha Vihar in the city of Gulbarga.Thanks to Sanket for the great stamps and sticker he chose as well!

Direct Swap - Amit from India

I responded to a post in the forum offering cards from the Mumbai Meet-up. This offer caught my eye for two reasons - first the date of the meet-up was December 11, 2013 (11/12/13) and secondly because Amit was asking to send him a card postmarked on that day and he would send a second card in return. When I see requests like that I can't help but not want to help! I like to know that you can help make a stranger across the world happy by a simple gesture. The second card is one that Amit designed himself to commemorate the day. At the time I made these arrangements I did not know it was the same meet-up that Sita was offering cards. So lucky me I received three from that day!

Random Act of Smiliness - Sita from India

On December, 11, 2013 (11/12/13) a group of Postcrossers took part in a meet-up in Mumbai, India. Sita was offering to send signed cards from the group. Try as I might to send something in return she graciously declined. I will have to connect with her in 2014 to help add to her collection. This cards highlights the many "Wonders of India"

OFFICIAL Card - India

I received this gorgeous card earlier in the week from Kanthi who lives outside of Mumbai, India. It is a stunning sunset at Shore Temple, which overlooks the Bay of Bengal. Kanthi tells me this is one of her favourite places and it is an UNESCO site. Beautiful stamp Kanthi used as well.

Direct Swap - Binay from India

At the end of June, Binay got in touch with me as he had seen a card I had sent recently of SkyDome (Rogers Centre) and was wondering if I would like to swap. He collects stadium cards from around the world. He had quite an extensive trade album to choose from and to be honest I couldn't. While I like being able to select cards, sometimes I still want the element of surprise. I liked many of the cards he had with people, I gave him a few suggestions and let him decide. I received these great cards from him a few weeks ago. One shows three snake charmers and the other shows a fish merchant at the Mapusa Market. His words were really charming and talked about his studies, the weather, his homeland (Nepal) and a recent encounter he had with a snake!

As it turns out he also collects stamps and football tickets. In my package to him I surprised him with a ticket stub to an Argos game as the kids went on a field trip the day we arranged the swap. I also included some low domination stamps and received a very kind thank you when he received it last week.

OFFICIAL Card - India

India is another "rare" country on Postcrossing, having only 1,100 users. In comparison, Canada has 5,300. So, I was really excited to receive this card last November from Mansoor from Mangalore, India. The view is of Colva Beach in Goa. After the snow that is still melting from earlier in the week, this beach looks even more inviting than when I first received it. Mansoor, also collects stamps and has a blog which is a pretty interesting read!