recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Brussels Town Hall

**Brussels Town Hall** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Belgium**.

## Information

"***The Brussels Town Hall*** (French: Hôtel de Ville, Dutch: Stadhuis) is a Gothic building from the Middle Ages. It is located on the famous Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium, opposite the Brussels City Museum. It is the only remaining medieval building of the Grand Place and is considered a masterpiece of civil Gothic architecture and more particularly of Brabantine Gothic.

The oldest part of the present Town Hall is its east wing (to the left when facing the front). This wing, together with a shorter belfry, was built and completed in 1420 under direction of Jacob van Thienen. "

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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Boryeong Mud

**Boryeong Mud** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit South Korea during this special day .

## Information

The **Boryeong Mud Festival** is an annual festival which takes place during the summer in Boryeong, a town around 200 km south of Seoul, South Korea. The first Mud Festival was staged in 1998 and, by 2007, the festival attracted 2.2 million visitors to Boryeong.

The mud is taken from the Boryeong mud flats, and trucked to the Daecheon beach area, where it is used as the centrepiece of the 'Mud Experience Land'. The mud is considered rich in minerals and used to manufacture cosmetics. The festival was originally conceived as a marketing vehicle for Boryeong mud cosmetics.

Although the festival takes place over a period of around two weeks, it is most famous for its final weekend, which is popular with Korea's western population. The final weekend of the festival is normally on the second weekend in July.
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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Greenery

**Greenery** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Japan during this special day .

## Information

The present observation of **Greenery Day** (みどりの日, *Midori no Hi*) as a national holiday in Japan stems from the celebration of the birthday of the Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito, who lived from 1901 to 1989) on April 29 every year during the Shōwa era (1926-1989). In 1989, following the ascension of the Emperor Akihito to the Chrysanthemum Throne, the name of the holiday was changed from "Birthday of the Emperor" to "Greenery Day". Officially, as its name suggests, it is a day to commune with nature and to be thankful for blessings. The day was renamed to "Greenery Day" to acknowledge the controversial wartime emperor's love for plants without directly mentioning his name. However, in practice it is seen as just another day that expands the Japanese Golden Week vacation.

In 2007, Greenery Day moved to May 4, and April 29 was changed to Shōwa Day in accordance with a 2005 revision of the law pertaining to public holidays. The Shōwa Emperor reigned for 62 years and 2 weeks. On May 3, 1947, he became a symbol of Japan by the new constitution of the country.
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Text from Wikipedia.
Image from Greenery

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Festa Junina

**Festa Junina** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Brazil during this special day .

## Information

Portuguese St. John's Day, brought to Brazil during colonial times, has become a popular event that is celebrated during a period that starts one week before St. Anthony's Day (June 12) and ends after St. Peter's Day (June 29). Despite the Portuguese origin of this festival as a midsummer festival (due to the fact of Portugal being a nation located in the Northern hemisphere), this nationwide festival, called "**Festa Junina**" (June Festival), or *São João* (Saint John), takes place during midwinter in most of the country (due to the fact of great part of Brazil is located in the Southern hemisphere).

Rural life is celebrated through typical clothing, food, and dance (particularly square dancing, or *quadrilha*). The *quadrilha* features couple formations around a mock wedding whose bride and groom are the central attraction of the dancing. A kind of maypole (called "pau-de-sebo") is also raised and used in some festivities. A typical hot drink is prepared called "quentão" (very hot) that consists in a mix of fruits and spices laced with cachaça. On St. John's Day eve celebration, sometimes a ritual takes place of walking barefoot at midnight on live-coal made of the remnants of the main bonfire, which is a traditional part of the party. It's believed that if the one who walks is strong in faith, he shall not be hurt.

Two northeastern towns in particular have competed with each other for the title of "Biggest Saint John Festival in the World", namely Caruaru (in the state of Pernambuco), and Campina Grande, in Paraíba. The festivities also coincide with the corn harvest, dishes served during this period are commonly made with corn, such as canjica and pamonha; dishes also include boiled or baked vegetable corn (often buttered), sausages, sweet potatoes, peanuts, and numerous sweet dishes such as rice pudding. The celebrations are very colorful and festive and include the use of fireworks and bonfires.
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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Bhutan

## Information

**Bhutan**, officially known as the **Kingdom of Bhutan** (Dzongkha: འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་ཁབ་, romanized: *Druk Gyal Khap*), is a landlocked country in the Eastern Himalayas. "Druk Yul," or "land of the thunder dragon" as Bhutan is known, has been heavily influenced by Tibetan culture and Tibetan Buddhism and is located between Tibet and India. Nepal and Bangladesh are located in close proximity to Bhutan but do not share a land border.

The country has a population of over 754,000 and a territory of 38,394 square kilometers (14,824 sq mi) which ranks 133rd in terms of land area, and 160th in population. Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy with Vajrayana Buddhism as the state religion. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Cusco Cathedral

**Cusco Cathedral** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Peru**.

## Information

"***The Cusco Cathedral*** , or Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin (Spanish: Catedral Basílica de la Virgen de la Asunción) is the main church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cusco, Peru. The cathedral is located on the Plaza de Armas. The entire building was built between 1560-1654.

Adjacent and joined to the cathedral is the smaller Iglesia del Triunfo, the first Christian church to be built in Cusco. The Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus, also on the Plaza de Armas, was built at a similar time as the cathedral.

The Cathedral, in addition to its official status as a place of worship, has become a major repository of Cusco's colonial art. It also holds many archeological artifacts and relics. The cathedral was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the City of Cuzco listing in 1983. "

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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Beach Bar

**Beach Bar** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit the **Maldives**.

## Information

"***The Beach bar*** represents the resorts associated with the Maldives.

Tourism is the largest economic industry in the Maldives, as it plays an important role in earning foreign exchange revenues and generating employment in the tertiary sector of the country. The archipelago of the Maldives is the main source of attraction to many tourists visiting the island country. "

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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Botswana

## Information

**Botswana**, officially the **Republic of Botswana** (Setswana: *Lefatshe la Botswana*;[*needs IPA*] Kalanga: *Hango yeBotswana*), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with up to 70 percent of its territory being the Kalahari Desert. It is bordered by South Africa to the south and southeast, Namibia to the west and north, and Zimbabwe to the northeast. It is connected to Zambia across the short Zambezi River border by the Kazungula Bridge. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue

**Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Mongolia**.

## Information

"The ***Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue*** , part of the **Genghis Khan Statue Complex**, is a 40-metre (130 ft) tall, stainless steel statue of Genghis Khan on horseback and the world's tallest equestrian statue. It is located on the bank of the Tuul River at *Tsonjin Boldog*, 54 km (33.55 mi) east of the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar, where, according to legend, he found a golden whip.

The statue is symbolically pointed east towards his birthplace. It is on top of the Genghis Khan Statue Complex, a visitor centre, itself 10 metres (33 ft) tall, with 36 columns representing the 36 khans from Genghis to Ligdan Khan. It was designed by sculptor D. Erdenebileg and architect J. Enkhjargal and erected in 2008.

Visitors walk to the head of the horse through its chest and neck, where they have a panoramic view. The main statue area will be surrounded by 200 ger (yurts), designed and arranged like the pattern of the horse brand marks that were used by the 13th century Mongol tribes. The cost of the complex is reported to be US$4.1 million, built by The Genco Tour Bureau, a Mongolian company. "

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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
English Breakfast

**English Breakfast** is a region exclusive stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit United Kingdom.

## Information

The "traditional" full English breakfast, treated as a dish rather than a meal, includes bacon (traditionally back bacon), fried, poached or scrambled eggs, fried or grilled tomatoes, fried mushrooms, fried bread or buttered toast, and sausages. Black pudding, baked beans, and bubble and squeak are also often included. In the North Midlands, fried or grilled oatcakes sometimes replace fried bread. The food is traditionally served with tea or coffee, as well as fruit juices.

As nearly everything is fried in this meal, it is commonly known as a "fry-up". As some of the items are optional, the phrase "full English breakfast", or "full English" (or "Full Monty") often specifically denotes a breakfast including everything on offer. The latter name became popular after World War II after British Army general Bernard Montgomery (nicknamed Monty) was said to have started every day with a full English breakfast when in the campaign in North Africa.

Breakfast cereal often precedes the dish, and the meal typically concludes with buttered toast spread with marmalade, honey, or other conserves. Alternative main dishes are kippers, kedgeree (now rare), and devilled kidneys (also rare). In grand houses and hotels in the 19th century, small game birds such as snipe and woodcock might be offered, as well as a variety of cold meats.
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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp could be purchased on the shop when you log into your account while inside the country.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Gion Matsuri

**Gion Matsuri** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Japan during this special day .

## Information

The **Gion Festival** (祇園祭, *Gion Matsuri*) takes place annually during the month of July in Kyoto and is one of the most famous and largest festivals in Japan. It's formally part of Japan's indigenous, nature-based Shinto faith, and its original purposes were purification and pacification of disease-causing entities. There are many ceremonies held during the festival, but it is best known for its two *Yamaboko Junkō* (山鉾巡行) processions of floats, which take place on July 17th and 24th. Many festival events take place in the historic kimono district in central Kyoto, and at the Yasaka Shrine. The Shinto Yasaka Shrine is the festival's patron shrine. It's located in Kyoto's famous Gion district, which gives the festival its name.

Kyoto's downtown area is reserved for pedestrian traffic on the three nights leading up to the massive procession on July 17. These nights leading up to the festival are known as *yoiyama* on July 16 and July 23, *yoiyoiyama* on July 15 and July 22, and *yoiyoiyoiyama* on July 14 and July 21. From July 14-16, the streets are lined with night stalls selling food such as *yakitori* (barbecued chicken on skewers), *taiyaki*, *takoyaki* (fried octopus balls), *okonomiyaki*, traditional Japanese sweets, and many other culinary delights.

For centuries kimono merchants were major sponsors of the Gion Festival's *yamaboko* floats. As a result, it's tradition to wear *yukata* (summer kimono) and kimono to walk around the Gion Festival. One of its nicknames used to be "the Kimono Festival," because so many visitors showed off the latest kimono fashions.

During the *yoiyama* evenings leading up to the parade, some private houses in the old kimono merchant district open their entryways to the public, exhibiting family heirlooms in a custom known as the *Byōbu Matsuri*, or Folding Screen Festival. This provides visitors with an opportunity to visit and observe traditional Japanese residences.
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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Damascene Rose Festival

**Damascene Rose Festival** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Syria during this special day.

## Information

The practices and craftsmanship associated with the Damascene rose are mainly practised by farmers and families in Al-Mrah village, in rural Damascus, who possess expert knowledge of producing essential oils and traditional medicine from the Damask Rose, among other things, as well as the village community and families who organize the yearly **Damascene Rose Festival**. The Damascene Rose begins to bloom in May when the picking commences and the annual festival kicks off. Farmers and their families head to the fields in the early morning to handpick the roses and then return home by afternoon, when the whole family helps sort the rose buds that are dried to make tea. The other rose petals are stored and prepared for distillation. The women of the village help each other make rose syrup, jam and pastries as they sing along to local tunes. Apothecaries sell the dried Damascene Rose for its numerous medicinal benefits. The festival attracts people from many surrounding villages who come to take part and enjoy the atmosphere. Rose-infused dishes are presented by women and a collection of folk songs and incantations celebrating the Rose are sung by all. The festival is a testament to the element’s unfading cultural significance for its bearers and their enduring commitment to its safeguarding.

Text and image from UNESCO.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Dodo

**Dodo** is an exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit Mauritius.

This stamp was one of the first results of the new Slowly Stamps Suggestions site. A suggestion was sent, received support from various users and soon was in the production process.

## Information

The **Dodo** (*Raphus cucullatus*) is an extinct flightless bird that was endemic to the island of Mauritius, which is east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The dodo's closest genetic relative was the also-extinct Rodrigues solitaire. The two formed the subfamily Raphinae, a clade of extinct flightless birds that were a part of the family including pigeons and doves. The closest living relative of the dodo is the Nicobar pigeon. A white dodo was once thought to have existed on the nearby island of Réunion, but it is now believed that this assumption was merely confusion based on the also-extinct Réunion ibis and paintings of white dodos.

Subfossil remains show the dodo was about 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) tall and may have weighed 10.6–17.5 kg (23–39 lb) in the wild. The dodo's appearance in life is evidenced only by drawings, paintings, and written accounts from the 17th century. Since these portraits vary considerably, and since only some of the illustrations are known to have been drawn from live specimens, the dodos' exact appearance in life remains unresolved, and little is known about its behaviour. It has been depicted with brownish-grey plumage, yellow feet, a tuft of tail feathers, a grey, naked head, and a black, yellow, and green beak.

The first recorded mention of the dodo was by Dutch sailors in 1598. In the following years, the bird was hunted by sailors and invasive species, while its habitat was being destroyed. The last widely accepted sighting of a dodo was in 1662. Its extinction was not immediately noticed, and some considered it to be a myth. In the 19th century, research was conducted on a small quantity of remains of four specimens that had been brought to Europe in the early 17th century. Among these is a dried head, the only soft tissue of the dodo that remains today. Since then, a large amount of subfossil material has been collected on Mauritius, mostly from the Mare aux Songes swamp.

The extinction of the dodo within less than a century of its discovery called attention to the previously unrecognised problem of human involvement in the disappearance of entire species. The dodo achieved widespread recognition from its role in the story of *Alice's Adventures in Wonderland*, and it has since become a fixture in popular culture, often as a symbol of extinction and obsolescence.

Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp could be purchased on the shop when you log into your account while inside the country.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Georgia

## Information

**Georgia** is a country located at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region, bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north and east by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. It covers 69,700 square kilometres (26,911 sq mi), and has a population of around 4 million. Georgia is a representative democracy governed as a unitary parliamentary republic. Tbilisi is the capital and largest city, home to roughly a quarter of the population. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Ada Lovelace Day

**Ada Lovelace Day** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit the United Kingdom during this special day .

## Information

***Ada Lovelace Day*** (ALD) is an international celebration of the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). It aims to increase the profile of women in STEM and, in doing so, create new role models who will encourage more girls into STEM careers and support women already working in STEM.

Founded in 2009 by Suw Charman-Anderson, it is now held every year on the second Tuesday of October. It usually features the flagship *Ada Lovelace Day Live!* ‘science cabaret’ in London, UK, at which women in STEM give short talks about their work or research in an informal, theatre-like setting."
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Text and image from FindingAda.com.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.

## More Information

See her ***detailed biography*** at Ada Lovelace: Victorian computing visionary
Africa’s Big Five

**Africa's Big Five** is a serie of stamps in SLOWLY. This can be purchased on the Stamp Store while you visit any of the countries in Africa.

## Information

In Africa, the **Big Five** game animals are the lion, leopard, black rhinoceros, African bush elephant, and the African buffalo. The term was coined by big-game hunters, and refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot, but is now also widely used by safari tour operators.

The 1990 and later releases of South African rand banknotes feature a different big-five animal on each denomination. Each of the big five are examples of charismatic megafauna, featuring prominently in popular culture, and are among the most famous of Africa's large animals. *Text and from Wikipedia.*

Africa's Big Five Serie

Text and from Wikipedia

## Method

This stamps serie could be purchased on the Stamp Store when you log into your SLOWLY account while inside any African continent country.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Aland

## Information

**Aland** is an autonomous and demilitarised region of Finland since 1920 by a decision of the League of Nations. It is the smallest region of Finland by area and population, with a size of 1,580 km2, and a population of 30,129, constituting 0.51% of its land area and 0.54% of its population. Its only official language is Swedish and the capital city is Mariehamn.

Åland is situated in an archipelago, called **the Åland Islands**, at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea belonging to Finland. It comprises Fasta Åland on which 90% of the population resides and about 6,500 skerries and islands to its east. Of Åland's thousands of islands, about 60–80 are inhabited. Fasta Åland is separated from the coast of Roslagen in Sweden by 38 kilometres (20+

1⁄2 nautical miles) of open water to the west. In the east, the Åland archipelago is contiguous with the Finnish archipelago. Åland's only land border is located on the uninhabited skerry of Märket, which it shares with Sweden. From Mariehamn, there is a ferry distance of about 160 kilometres (85 nautical miles) to Turku, a coastal city of mainland Finland, and also to Stockholm, the capital of Sweden..

*Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Colosseum

**Colosseum** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Italy**.

## Information

"***The Colosseum or Coliseum***, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium; Italian: Anfiteatro Flavio or Colosseo), is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy. Built of travertine limestone, tuff (volcanic rock), and brick-faced concrete, it was the largest amphitheatre ever built at the time.

The Colosseum is just east of the Roman Forum. Construction began under the emperor Vespasian in AD 72 and was completed in AD 80 under his successor and heir, Titus. Further modifications were made during the reign of Domitian (81–96). These three emperors are known as the Flavian dynasty, and the amphitheatre was named in Latin for its association with their family name (Flavius).

The Colosseum could hold an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 spectators at various points of its history over the centuries, having an average audience of some 65,000 "

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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Al Hamra Tower

**Al Hamra Tower** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Kuwait**.

## Information

"***The Al Hamra Tower*** is a skyscraper in Kuwait City, Kuwait. It is the tallest building in Kuwait.

Construction of the skyscraper started in 2005. It was completed in 2011. Designed by architectural firms Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Ramshir and Callison, it is the tallest carved concrete skyscraper in the world, and the thirty-sixth tallest building in the world at 414 m (1,358 ft).[1]

The building utilizes wrapped glass facades on the east, north, and west both for aesthetics and to reduce the amount of reflective surface area on the south facade, which also features brushed Jura limestone. Flared walls reaching from the southwest and southeast corners of the core span the entire height of the tower, and there is a column-free 24-meter-tall lobby. "

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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Día del Taco

**Día del Taco** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Mexico during this special day .

## Information

**Día del Taco** is a celebratory day that promotes consumption of tacos. In Mexico *Día del Taco* (Day of the Taco) is celebrated on March 31. In the United States *National Taco Day* is celebrated on May 3rd.

Though Taco Day is a relatively new food celebration, the taco itself has a much longer history. Jeffrey M. Pilcher, a food historian and currently a professor at the University of Toronto, said it is unknown when the taco was invented, but the word "taco" is believed to have started in the silver mines in Mexico om the 18th century.

According to Pilcher, the miners called the pieces of paper wrapped around gunpowder and placed into holes in the rock face "tacos." "When you think about it, a chicken taquito with a good hot sauce is really a lot like a stick of dynamite," Pilcher told Smithsonian Magazine. He added that it wasn’t until the end of the 19th century that tacos are mentioned in an archive or dictionary.

Text and image from Wikipedia and Fox News.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Boudhanath

**Boudhanath** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Nepal**.

## Information

"***The Boudhanath*** is a stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal. Located about 11 km (6.8 mi) from the center and northeastern outskirts of Kathmandu, the stupa's massive mandala makes it one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal.

The Boudha Stupa dominates the skyline; it is one of the largest stupas in the world. The influx of large populations of refugees from Tibet has seen the construction of over 50 gompas (Tibetan convent) around Boudha. As of 1979, Boudha Stupa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along with Swayambhu, it is one of the most popular tourist sites in the Kathmandu area. "

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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Dala Horse

**Dala Horse** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Sweden**.

## Information

"***The Dalecarlian horse or Dala Horse*** (Swedish: Dalahäst) is a traditional carved, painted wooden statue of a horse originating in the Swedish province of Dalarna (Dalecarlia). In the old days the Dalecarlian horse was mostly used as a toy for children; in modern times it has become a symbol of Dalarna, as well as of Sweden in general.

Several types of Dalecarlian horses are made, with distinguishing features common to the locality of the site where they are produced. One particular style has, however, become much more common and widespread than others. It is stoutly carved and painted bright red with details and a harness in white, green, yellow and blue. "

Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
England

## Information

**England** is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest of England and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south. The country covers five-eighths of the island of Great Britain, which lies in the North Atlantic, and includes over 100 smaller islands, such as the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight.

The area now called England was first inhabited by modern humans during the Upper Paleolithic period, but takes its name from the Angles, a Germanic tribe deriving its name from the Anglia peninsula, who settled during the 5th and 6th centuries. England became a unified state in the 10th century and has had a significant cultural and legal impact on the wider world since the Age of Discovery, which began during the 15th century.

The English language, the Anglican Church, and English law—the basis for the common law legal systems of many other countries around the world—developed in England, and the country's parliamentary system of government has been widely adopted by other nations.

*Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

Please see the **United Kingdom Country Gallery**, as England's residents receive all the stamps available in the UK at large.

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Fête de l'Iris

**Fête de l'Iris** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Belgium during this special day .

## Information

The **Iris Festival** is the annual and official celebration of the Brussels-Capital Region in Belgium. This takes place on May 8.

It is a day off for Brussels officials. The date of May 8 was chosen for three reasons:

* It takes place during the flowering period of the iris—also called flower of Lys—which is the symbol of the region and is pictured at its flag.
* It is the day of the victory against Nazi Germany during World War II.
* It is also one of the feasts of Saint Michael the Archangel, patron saint of Brussels.

During the multi-day party, free concerts, street entertainment and all kinds of activities are organized for the general public. Some monuments are exceptionally accessible to the public, and a food truck festival takes place on this day.

In 2008, there were 100,000 participants at the festivities.
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Text and image from Wikipedia and FeteDeLiris.brussels

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Cinco de Mayo

**Cinco de Mayo** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit some countries such as Mexico and others during this special day. The list of countries in which it will be relesead could change each year according to Slowly's team that evaluates users feedback and new information.

## Information

'**Cinco de Mayo** (Spanish for "Fifth of May") is an annual celebration held on May 5, which commemorates the anniversary of Mexico's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, the victory of a smaller, poorly equipped Mexican force against the larger and better-armed French army was a morale boost for the Mexicans. Zaragoza died months after the battle from an illness, and a larger French force ultimately defeated the Mexican army at the Second Battle of Puebla and occupied Mexico City.

More popular in the United States than in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo has become associated with the celebration of Mexican-American culture. Celebrations began in California, where they have been observed annually since 1863. The day gained nationwide popularity in the 1980s due to advertising campaigns by beer, wine, and tequila companies; today, Cinco de Mayo generates beer sales on par with the Super Bowl. In Mexico, the commemoration of the battle continues to be mostly ceremonial, such as through military parades or battle reenactments. The city of Puebla marks the event with various festivals and reenactments of the battle.
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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Andorra

## Information

**Andorra**, officially the **Principality of Andorra**, is a sovereign landlocked microstate on the Iberian Peninsula, in the eastern Pyrenees, bordered by France to the north and Spain to the south. Believed to have been created by Charlemagne, Andorra was ruled by the count of Urgell until 988, when it was transferred to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Urgell.

The present principality was formed by a charter in 1278. It is headed by two co-princes: the bishop of Urgell in Catalonia, Spain and the president of France. Its capital and largest city is Andorra la Vella.

Andorra is the sixth-smallest state in Europe, with an area of 468 square kilometres (181 sq mi) and a population of approximately 79,034. The Andorran people are a Romance ethnic group of originally Catalan descent. Andorra is the world's 16th-smallest country by land and 11th-smallest by population. Its capital, Andorra la Vella, is the highest capital city in Europe, at an elevation of 1,023 metres (3,356 feet) above sea level.

The official language is Catalan, but Spanish, Portuguese, and French are also commonly spoken.

*Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Australian Animals

**Australian Animals** is a serie of stamps in SLOWLY. This can be purchased on the Stamp Store while you visit Australia.

## Information

Hundreds of thousands of unique, cute, dangerous, and bizarre animals live in Australia. 69% of mammals, 93% of reptiles, 94% of amphibians, 46% of birds and 96% invertebrates are found nowhere else.These animals are only found in Australia. The reason Australian animals are so different was their long isolation from the rest of the world. *Text from Australian Animals.*

Australian Animals

Animal description source : Wikipedia

## Method

This stamps serie could be purchased on the Stamp Store when you log into your SLOWLY account while inside the country.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Gandhi Jayanti

**Gandhi\_Jayanti** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit India during this special day .

## Information

**Gandhi Jayanti** is an event celebrated in India to mark the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. It is celebrated annually on 2 October, and it is one of the three national holidays of India. The UN General Assembly announced on 15 June 2007 that it adopted a resolution which declared that 2 October will be celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence. He is also known as the "Father of The Nation" and this title was given to him by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose for his relentless struggles for independence.
Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated yearly on 2 October. It is a national holiday, observed in all of its states and territories. Gandhi Jayanti is marked by prayer services and tributes all over India, including at Gandhi's memorial, Raj Ghat, in New Delhi where he was cremated. Popular activities include prayer meetings, commemorative ceremonies in different cities by colleges, local government institutions and socio-political institutions. Painting and essay competitions are conducted and best awards are granted for projects in schools and the community encouraging a nonviolent way of life as well as celebrating Gandhi's effort in the Indian independence movement.
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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Amphitheatre of El Jem

**Amphitheatre of El Jem** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Tunisia**.

## Information

"***The Amphitheatre of El Jem*** is an oval amphitheatre in the modern-day city of El Djem, Tunisia, formerly Thysdrus in the Roman province of Africa. It is listed by UNESCO since 1979 as a World Heritage Site. "

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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Angkor

**Angkor** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Cambodia**.

## Information

"***Angkor*** (Khmer: អង្គរ, lit. capital city, also known as Yasodharapura (Khmer: យសោធរបុរៈ; Sanskrit: यशोधरपुर)) was the capital city of the Khmer Empire. The city and empire flourished from approximately the 9th to the 15th centuries. The city houses the magnificent Angkor Wat, one of Cambodia's most popular tourist attractions.

The word Angkor is derived from the Sanskrit nagara (नगर), meaning "city". The Angkorian period began in AD 802, when the Khmer Hindu monarch Jayavarman II declared himself a "universal monarch" and "god-king", and lasted until the late 14th century, first falling under Ayutthayan suzerainty in 1351.

A Khmer rebellion against Siamese authority resulted in the 1431 sacking of Angkor by Ayutthaya, causing its population to migrate south to Longvek. "

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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Cabo Verde

## Information

**Cape Verde** or **Cabo Verde**, officially the *Republic of Cabo Verde*, is an archipelago and island country in the central Atlantic Ocean, consisting of ten volcanic islands with a combined land area of about 4,033 square kilometres (1,557 sq mi). These islands lie between 600 and 850 kilometres (320 and 460 nautical miles) west of Cap-Vert, the westernmost point of continental Africa. The Cape Verde islands form part of the Macaronesia ecoregion, along with the Azores, the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Savage Isles.

The Cape Verde archipelago was uninhabited until the 15th century, when Portuguese explorers discovered and colonized the islands, thus establishing the first European settlement in the tropics. Because the Cape Verde islands were located in a convenient location to play a role in the Atlantic slave trade, Cape Verde became economically prosperous during the 16th and 17th centuries, attracting merchants, privateers, and pirates.

It declined economically in the 19th century due to the suppression of the Atlantic slave trade, and many of its inhabitants emigrated during that period. However, Cape Verde gradually recovered economically by becoming an important commercial center and useful stopover point along major shipping routes. In 1951, Cape Verde was incorporated as an overseas department of Portugal, but its inhabitants continued to campaign for independence, which they achieved in 1975.

Since the early 1990s, Cape Verde has been a stable representative democracy, and has remained one of the most developed and democratic countries in Africa. Lacking natural resources, its developing economy is mostly service-oriented, with a growing focus on tourism and foreign investment. Its population of around 483,628 (as of the 2021 Census) is mostly of mixed African and European heritage, and predominantly Roman Catholic, reflecting the legacy of Portuguese rule. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Federal Palace of Switzerland

**Federal Palace of Switzerland** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Switzerland**.

## Information

"***The Federal Palace of Switzerland*** refers to the building in Bern housing the Swiss Federal Assembly (legislature) and the Federal Council (executive). It has a total length of more than 300 metres (980 ft) consisting of a central assembly building and two wings (eastern and western) housing government departments and a library.

The name in German and Romansh both mean "federal house", whereas the French and Italian names both translate to "Federal Palace". The Latin word curia originates from Ancient Rome and originally meant an assembly, and later used for where the Roman Senate met, both meanings being relevant to the Federal Palace. "

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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Belgium

## Information

**Belgium**, officially the **Kingdom of Belgium**, is a country in Western Europe. It is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the southwest, and the North Sea to the northwest. It covers an area of 30,689 km2 (11,849 sq mi) and has a population of more than 11.5 million, making it the 22nd most densely populated country in the world and the 6th most densely populated country in Europe, with a density of 376 per square kilometre (970/sq mi).

The capital and largest city is Brussels; other major cities are Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Liège, Bruges, Namur, and Leuven. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
El Salvador

## Information

**El Salvador**, officially the **Republic of El Salvador** (Spanish: *República de El Salvador*), is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south by the Pacific Ocean. El Salvador's capital and largest city is San Salvador. The country's population in 2021 is estimated to be 6.8 million. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Cappadocia

**Cappadocia** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Turkey**.

## Information

"***Cappadocia*** is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in the Nevşehir, Kayseri, Kırşehir, Aksaray, Malatya, Sivas and Niğde provinces in Turkey.

Since the late 300s BCE the name Cappadocia came to be restricted to the inland province (sometimes called Great Cappadocia), Upper Cappadocia, which alone will be the focus of this article. Lower Cappadocia is focused to elsewhere. "

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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.
Afghanistan

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## Information

**Afghanistan**, officially the **Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan**, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south (including a short border with Pakistani-controlled Gilgit–Baltistan, a territory claimed by India), Iran to the west, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to the north, and Tajikistan and China to the northeast.

Occupying 652,864 square kilometres (252,072 sq mi) of land, the country is predominately mountainous with plains in the north and the southwest that are separated by the Hindu Kush mountain range. As of 2020, its population is 31.4 million, composed mostly of ethnic Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks. Kabul is the country's largest city and serves as its capital. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.
Año Nuevo Azteca

**Aztec New Year** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Mexico during this special day .

## Information

**Aztec New Year (Yancuic Xihuitl)** is the celebration of the new year according to the Aztec calendar. The date on which the holiday falls in the Gregorian calendar depends on the version of the calendar used, but it is generally considered to occur at sunrise on 12 March. The holiday is observed in some Nahua communities in Mexico. To celebrate, *ocote* (pitch-pine) candles are lit on the eve of the new year, along with fireworks, drumming, and singing. Some of the most important events occur in Huauchinango, Naupan, Mexico City, Zongolica, and Xicotepec.

The latest and more accepted version was proposed by professor Rafael Tena (INAH), based on the studies of Durán, Sahagún and Alfonso Caso (UNAM). His correlation confirms that the first day of the Mexica year was February 13th according to the old Julian calendar or February 23rd of the current Gregorian calendar. Using the same count, it has been verified the date of the birth of Huitzilopochtli, the end of the year and a cycle or "Tie of the Years," and the New Fire Ceremony, day-sign "1 Tecpatl" of the year "2 Acatl," corresponding to the date February 22nd.

This 365-day calendar was corresponded with the solar year, was divided into 18 'months' of 20 days each, plus 5 'nameless' days at the end of the year. Also, there are some codices that show the existence of the leap year

Text from Wikipedia. Image from mexicodesconocido.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country during this special day. Any other local stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.