recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Drakkar

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

## Information

"***The Drakkar*** , or dreki[12] 'dragon', are the type of ship, of thirty rowing benches and upwards[13] that are only known from historical sources, such as the 13th-century Göngu-Hrólfs saga.

Here, the ships are described as most unusual, elegant, ornately decorated, and used by those who went raiding and plundering. These ships were likely skeids that differed only in the carvings of menacing beasts, such as dragons and snakes, carried on the prow of the ship. "

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.
Cherry Blossom Festival

**Hanami** (or *Cherry Blossom Festival*) is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Japan during this special day .

## Information

**Hanami** (or *Cherry Blossom Festival*), (花見, "flower viewing") is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers; flowers (*hana*) in this case almost always refer to those of the cherry (*sakura*) or, less frequently, plum (*ume*) trees. From the end of March to early May, cherry trees bloom all over Japan, and around the first of February on the island of Okinawa. The blossom forecast (桜前線, *sakura-zensen*) "cherry blossom front" is announced each year by the Japan Meteorological Agency, and is watched carefully by those planning *hanami* as the blossoms only last a week or two.

In modern-day Japan, *hanami* mostly consists of having an outdoor party beneath the sakura during daytime or at night. In some contexts the Sino-Japanese term *kan'ō* (観桜, view-cherry) is used instead, particularly for festivals. *Hanami* at night is called *yozakura* (夜桜) "night sakura". In many places such as Ueno Park temporary paper lanterns are hung for the purpose of *yozakura*. On the island of Okinawa, decorative electric lanterns are hung in the trees for evening enjoyment, such as on the trees ascending Mt. Yae, near Motobu Town, or at the Nakijin Castle.

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.
Fika Time

**Fika Time** is a serie of stamps in SLOWLY. This can be purchased on the Stamp Store while you visit Sweden.

## Information

Swedes have ***fika*** (back slang of kaffi (coffee, dialectal)), often with pastries, although coffee can be replaced by tea, juice, lemonade, hot chocolate, or squash for children. The tradition has spread throughout Swedish businesses around the world. *Fika* is a social institution in Sweden and the practice of taking a break with a beverage and snack is widely accepted as central to Swedish life. As a common mid-morning and mid-afternoon practice at workplaces in Sweden, *fika* may also function partially as an informal meeting between co-workers and management people, and it may even be considered impolite not to join in. *Fika* often takes place in a meeting room or a designated *fika* room. A sandwich, fruit or a small meal may be called *fika* as the English concept of afternoon tea*Text and from Wikipedia.*

National Fika Time 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 the country.

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

**Crystal Rock**  is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Mauritius**.

## Information

"***The Crystal Rock, Le Morne*** is a popular diving and snorkelling destination, situated off the south west coast of Mauritius, about 200 meters from the shore. Sitting right in the middle of the ocean, this rock also provides fantastic photography opportunities. "

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Text and image from Trip\_Advisor .

## 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.
Dia del Cartero

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

## Information

***Dia del Cartero***, 12 November, is a very special day for all postal workers. Those who travel great distances, whether by car, bicycle or even on foot, to deliver mail to millions of homes.

**History of the Postman in Mexico**

In our country, this profession existed before the arrival of the Spaniards. These people were runners, who were in great physical condition to cover long distances and deliver mail. These were mainly news and information. The mail system was known as Posta.

In the Aztec empire, the postmen created the relay system, in order to make delivery faster, more efficient and above all to keep the postmen in optimal health. These were housed in towers that were placed every 10 kilometres, where the postmen waited for the relay.

From then on, they began to transport jewellery, parcels, food and cloth. By colonial times, the system was even faster with the inclusion of the horse, supporting the postal worker of the time.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator"
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Text and image from Gobierno de México (Spanish).

## 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.
General Pulaski Memorial Day

**General Pulaski Memorial Day** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit United States during this special day .

## Information

**General Pulaski Memorial Day** is a United States public holiday in honor of General Kazimierz Pułaski (spelled Casimir Pulaski in English), a Polish hero of the American Revolution. This holiday is held every year on October 11 by Presidential Proclamation, to commemorate his death from wounds suffered at the siege of Savannah on October 9, 1779, and to honor the heritage of Polish Americans. The observance was established in 1929 when Congress passed a resolution (Public Resolution 16 of 1929) designating October 11 as General Pulaski Memorial Day. Every President has issued a proclamation for the observance annually since (except in 1930).

This is a separate holiday from the regional holiday in the Chicago area titled Casimir Pulaski Day that commemorates Pulaski's birth on March 4, 1746.
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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.
Cheung Chau Bun Festival

**Cheung Chau Bun Festival** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Hong Kong during this special day .

## Information

**Cheung Chau Bun Festival** or **Cheung Chau Da Jiu Festival** is a traditional Chinese festival on the island of Cheung Chau in Hong Kong. Held annually, and with therefore the most public exposure, it is by far the most famous of such Da Jiu festivals, with *Jiu* (醮) being a Taoist sacrificial ceremony. Such events are held by mostly rural communities in Hong Kong, either annually or at a set interval of years ranging all the way up to once every 60 years (i.e. the same year in the Chinese astrological calendar). Other places that may share the folk custom include Taiwan, Sichuan, Fujian and Guangdong.

Cheung Chau's Bun Festival, which draws tens of thousands of local and overseas tourists every year, is staged to mark the Eighth day of the Fourth Month, in the Chinese calendar (this is usually in early May). It coincides with the local celebration of Buddha's Birthday.

The Cheung Chau Bun Festival began as a fun and exciting ritual for fishing communities to pray for safety from pirates. Today this religious origin has largely been forgotten, and the festival has mainly become a showcase of traditional Chinese culture.

Kwok Kam Kee, the official bun supplier for the festival which was opened 40 years ago, makes over 60,000 buns for the festival.
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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside one of the countries 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.
Bonifacio Day

**Bonifacio Day** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit the Philippines during this special day .

## Information

***Anzac Day*** is a national holiday in the Philippines, commemorating Andrés Bonifacio, one of the country's national heroes. He was the founder and eventual *Supremo* of the Katipunan, a secret society that triggered the Philippine Revolution of 1896 against the Spanish Empire.

Unlike Rizal Day which is held on the death anniversary of José Rizal, Bonifacio Day is celebrated on his birth date. This is because of the controversial events on which Bonifacio was executed by his fellow revolutionaries during time of the Philippine Revolution.

Bonifacio Day ceremonies are usually held at the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan, and is usually led by the incumbent president."
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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.
Gateway of India

**Gateway of India** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **India**.

## Information

"***The Gateway of India*** is an arch-monument built in the early twentieth century in the city of Mumbai, in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It was erected to commemorate the landing in December 1911 at Apollo Bunder, Mumbai (then Bombay) of King-Emperor George V and Queen-Empress Mary, the first British monarch to visit India.

At the time of the royal visit, the gateway was not yet built, and a cardboard structure greeted the monarch. The foundation stone was laid in March 1913 for a monument built in the Indo-Saracenic style, incorporating elements of 16th-century Marathi architecture. The final design of the monument by architect George Wittet was sanctioned only in 1914, and construction was completed in 1924. The structure is a triumphal arch made of basalt, which is 26 metres (85 feet) high.

After its construction the gateway was used as a symbolic ceremonial entrance to British India for important colonial personnel. It has been called a symbol of "conquest and colonisation" commemorating British colonial legacy. The gateway is also the monument from where the last British troops left India in 1948, following Indian independence. It is located on the waterfront at an angle, opposite the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel and overlooks the Arabian Sea. Today, the monument is synonymous with the city of Mumbai, and is amongst its prime tourist attractions. "

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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.
Aruba

## Information

**Aruba** officially the **Country of Aruba** (Dutch: *Land Aruba*; Papiamento: *Pais Aruba*) is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands physically located in the mid-south of the Caribbean Sea, about 29 kilometres (18 mi) north of the Venezuelan peninsula of Paraguaná and 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Curaçao.

It measures 32 kilometres (20 mi) long from its northwestern to its southeastern end and 10 kilometres (6 mi) across at its widest point. Together with Bonaire and Curaçao, Aruba forms a group referred to as the ABC islands. Collectively, these and the other three Dutch substantial islands in the Caribbean are often called the Dutch Caribbean, of which Aruba has about one-third of the population. In 1986, it became a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and acquired the formal name the Country of Aruba.

Aruba is one of the four countries that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands, along with the Netherlands, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten; the citizens of these countries are all Dutch nationals.
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*Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

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

## Information

**Africa** is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area and 20% of its land area. With 1.3 billion people as of 2018, it accounts for about 16% of the world's human population. Africa's population is the youngest amongst all the continents; the median age in 2012 was 19.7, when the worldwide median age was 30.4.

Despite a wide range of natural resources, Africa is the least wealthy continent per capita, in part due to geographic impediments, legacies of European colonization in Africa and the Cold War, predatory/neo-colonialistic activities by Western nations and China, and undemocratic rule and deleterious policies. Despite this low concentration of wealth, recent economic expansion and the large and young population make Africa an important economic market in the broader global context.

The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Isthmus of Suez and the Red Sea to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The continent includes Madagascar and various archipelagos. It contains 54 fully recognised sovereign states (countries), eight territories and two *de facto* independent states with limited or no recognition. Algeria is Africa's largest country by area, and Nigeria is its largest by population. African nations cooperate through the establishment of the African Union, which is headquartered in Addis Ababa. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
East Timor

## Information

**East Timor**, also known as *Timor-Leste*, officially the *Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste* (Portuguese: *República Democrática de Timor-Leste*, Tetum: *Repúblika Demokrátika Timór-Leste*), is an island country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island surrounded by Indonesian West Timor. Australia is the country's southern neighbour, separated by the Timor Sea. The country's size is 15,007 square kilometres (5,794 sq mi). Dili is its capital.

East Timor was colonised by Portugal in the 16th century and was known as Portuguese Timor until 28 November 1975, when the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (Fretilin) declared the territory's independence. Nine days later, it was invaded and occupied by the Indonesian military; it was declared Indonesia's 27th province the following year. The Indonesian occupation of East Timor was characterised by a violent, decades-long conflict between separatist groups (especially Fretilin) and the Indonesian military.

*Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Dragon Boat Festival

**Dragon Boat Festival** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit some countries such as China, Taiwan, Macao, Hong Kong 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

The **Dragon Boat Festival** (simplified Chinese: 端午节; traditional Chinese: 端午節) is a traditional Chinese holiday which occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar.
The fifth lunar month is considered an unlucky month. People believed that natural disasters and illnesses are common in the fifth month. To get rid of the misfortune, people would put calamus, Artemisia, pomegranate flowers, Chinese ixora and garlic above the doors on the fifth day of the fifth month.[*citation needed*] Since the shape of calamus forms like a sword and with the strong smell of the garlic, it is believed that they can remove the evil spirits.

Another explanation to the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival comes from before the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC). The fifth month of the lunar calendar was regarded as a bad month and the fifth day of the month a bad day. Venomous animals were said to appear starting from the fifth day of the fifth month, such as snakes, centipedes, and scorpions; people also supposedly get sick easily after this day. Therefore, during the Dragon Boat Festival, people try to avoid this bad luck. For example, people may paste pictures of the five poisonous creatures on the wall and stick needles in them. People may also make paper cutouts of the five creatures and wrap them around the wrists of their children. Big ceremonies and performances developed from these practices in many areas, making the Dragon Boat Festival a day for getting rid of disease and bad luck.

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.
Chile

## Information

**Chile**, officially the **Republic of Chile**, is a country in the western part of South America. It occupies a long, narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Chile covers an area of 756,096 square kilometres (291,930 sq mi), with a population of 17.5 million as of 2017. Chile is the southernmost country in the world, the closest to Antarctica, and borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far south.

Chile also controls the Pacific islands of Juan Fernández, Isla Salas y Gómez, Desventuradas, and Easter Island in Oceania. It also claims about 1,250,000 square kilometres (480,000 sq mi) of Antarctica under the Chilean Antarctic Territory. The country's capital and largest city is Santiago, and its national language is Spanish. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

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

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

## Information

The **completo** (Spanish for "complete", "total") is a hot dog variation eaten in Chile, usually served with ingredients such as chopped tomatoes, avocados, mayonnaise, sauerkraut, salsa Americana, ají pepper and green sauce. It can be twice the size of an American hot dog.
Most completos contain some or all of the following ingredients:

* Avocado - traditionally only salt is added to the avocado puree before it is put on the completo.
* Tomato - Fresh tomato is a favourite in Chile. Typically tomatoes are peeled before they are diced for completos.
* Mayonnaise - Chile is the country with the third highest consumption of mayonnaise per capita on earth. It is therefore a very popular completo topping. Completo mayo in Chile tends to be house made as this remains the preferred method of preparation by Chileans. Completo Mayo with tomato is one of the most used variants. It is called **Italiano** for the similarity of its colors with the flag of Italy.
* Sauerkraut - Introduced to Chile by the large wave of German immigrants it received in the 19th century, sauerkraut is now completely accepted as being a staple food in Chilean cuisine. It is popularly called *chucrut*.
* Salsa Americana - A form of relish, what is commonly referred to as *americana* is a finely chopped or blended mixture of pickle, pickled carrot and pickled onion.

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.
Damascene Sword Monument

**Damascene Sword Monument** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Syria**.

## Information

"***The Damascene Sword Monument*** , widely considered as the symbol of the city of Damascus, Syria, stands in the Ummayad square, and is considered a symbol and reminder "of the victories, strength and achievements of the Syrian people".

The name of the square is a reference to the Umayyads who took Damascus as the capital of their caliphate in the 7th century. "

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.
Géolithe

La géolithe est une pierre ayant le pouvoir de capter l'âme d'un être défunt dans un autre univers. Ces pierres sont largement incomprises à ce jour mais disposent de propriétés remarquables répertoriées dans l'oeuvre d'Erdemtem "*Les Géolithes: Observations Empiriques".* Elles existent en abondance au sein de Vaha-Jinn. En tant que vaisseaux d'être vivants, les détruire ou les exploiter à des fins malveillantes est considéré comme un crime au sein de la cité, à même titre que l'agression d'un être vivant.

## Propriétés en état d'inertie

La géolithe est dite en état d'inertie lorsqu'elle n'a pas capté d'âme. Dans cet état, elle est noire à l'aspect lisse et brillant et aux reflets de couleurs pouvant varier selon le spécimen. Elles sont essentiellement oblongues et leur longueur peut varier entre 1 et 2 mètres.

En état d'inertie, elles sont relativement solides et protégées par une couche étrangement dure appelée *bouclier*.Si ce bouclier subit trop de chocs, il laisse libre accès à la pierre. Si la pierre est cassée ou taillée le fragment désolidarisé du point de fragilité ne subsiste pas et se désintègre en une poussière dorée qui disparait.

Les géolithes semblent toutes disposer d'un point de fragilité qui, s'il est frappé, rompt la pierre et la désintègre totalement.

## Propriétés en état de symbiose

La géolithe est dite en état de symbiose lorsqu'une âme est captée en son sein. Lors de ce processus, elle va imiter la structure du corps que l'âme habitait précédemment à la perfection à quelques exceptions près:

* La géolithe ne change pas de taille.
* La géolite ne parvient pas à intégrer les éléments qui ne sont pas rattachés physiquement au point central du corps appelé hara.
* La géolite ne parvient pas à imiter efficacement les éléments éthérés tels que spectres, ectoplasmes et synthétise à la place une substance délayée.
* Il arrive parfois que la géolithe intègre à l'âme un élément distinct du corps comme certaines prothèses. Ce phénomène est toutefois assez rare.
* Toute matière perdant le contact physique au hara se désintègre en quelques secondes
* L'utilisation de la magie ne peut se faire qu'au contact direct, par imposition magique

Le bouclier est aussi présent en état de symbiose mais tend à se spécifier en fonction de l'âme du transposé.
Delft Kissing Couple

**Kissing Couple** is an exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit Netherlands .

## Information

**Delftware** or **Delft pottery**, also known as **Delft Blue** (Dutch: *Delfts blauw*), is a general term now used for Dutch tin-glazed earthenware, a form of faience. Most of it is blue and white pottery, and the city of Delft in the Netherlands was the major centre of production, but the term covers wares with other colours, and made elsewhere. It is also used for similar pottery, English delftware.

Delftware is one of the types of tin-glazed earthenware or faience in which a white glaze is applied, usually decorated with metal oxides, in particular the cobalt oxide that gives the usual blue, and can withstand high firing temperatures, allowing it to be applied under the glaze. It also forms part of the worldwide family of blue and white pottery, using variations of the plant-based decoration first developed in 14th-century Chinese porcelain, and in great demand in Europe.

Delftware includes pottery objects of all descriptions such as plates, vases, figurines and other ornamental forms and tiles. The start of the style was around 1600, and the most highly regarded period of production is about 1640–1740, but Delftware continues to be produced. In the 17th and 18th centuries Delftware was a major industry, exporting all over Europe.

The Delft Blue kissing couple is one of the most popular Delft Pottery souvenirs. They represent a a farmers couple. Their names are probably Jan (the boy) and Grietje (the girl). However, their identity has never been confirmed and remains a bit of a mystery.

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.
Día de las Velitas

**Día de las Velitas** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Colombia during this special day .

## Information

**Little Candles Day** or **Immaculate Conception Eve** (Spanish: *Día de las velitas*) is a widely observed religious holiday in Colombia. It is celebrated on December 7 on the eve of the Immaculate Conception, which is a public holiday in Colombia. This day is the unofficial start of the Christmas season in the country, although the official day is the First Advent Sunday (between November 27th and December 3rd).

On this night, people place candles and paper lanterns on windowsills, balconies, porches, sidewalks, streets, parks, and squares; in short, everywhere they can be seen, in honor of the Virgin Mary and her Immaculate Conception. On December 8 it is not allowed to work and it is customary for houses to hoist a white flag with the image of the Virgin Mary all day. They also hold numerous events, from fireworks shows to competitions.

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.
Austria

## Information

**Austria**, officially the **Republic of Austria**, is a landlocked country in the southern part of Central Europe, located on the Eastern Alps. It is composed of nine federated states, one of which is Vienna, Austria's capital and largest city. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

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

## Information

**Algeria**, officially the *People's Democratic Republic of Algeria*, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa.

It is the largest country by total area in Africa, and by extension, the Arab world, and is bordered to the northeast by Tunisia; to the east by Libya; to the southeast by Niger; to the southwest by Mali, Mauritania, and Western Sahara; to the west by Morocco; and to the north by the Mediterranean Sea.

With a population of 44 million, Algeria is the tenth-most populous country in Africa, and the 32nd-most populous country in the world. The capital and largest city is Algiers, located in the far north on the Mediterranean coast. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

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

## Information

**Germany**, officially the **Federal Republic of Germany**, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second-most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south; it covers an area of 357,022 square kilometres (137,847 sq mi), with a population of over 83 million within its 16 constituent states.

It borders Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, and France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands to the west. The nation's capital and largest city is Berlin, and its financial centre is Frankfurt; the largest urban area is the Ruhr. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Costa Rica

## Information

**Costa Rica**, , officially the **Republic of Costa Rica** (Spanish: *República de Costa Rica*), is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, and Ecuador to the south of Cocos Island. It has a population of around five million in a land area of 51,060 km2 (19,710 sq mi). An estimated 333,980 people live in the capital and largest city, San José, with around two million people in the surrounding metropolitan area. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

*Additional Reference : Country stamps listing - SlowlyStamps.blogspot*
Cour Royale de Tiébélé

**Cour Royale de Tiébélé** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Burkina-Faso**.

## Information

From the base of a small hill overlooking the flat, sun-baked earth of the West African savannah, the ***Cour Royale de Tiébélé*** lies within circular, walled confines measuring roughly 1.2 hectares (2.9 acres). The complex serves as the official residence of the *pè*, or community chief. Resplendent designs in black and white embellish the earthen architecture of Tiébélé and reflect the building traditions of the Kassena people who first settled Burkina Faso in the fifteenth century.

Despite the absence of a new leader following the death of the last pè in 2006, regular maintenance of the site by the community has helped preserve this exceptional example of Kassena culture and the traditional skills associated with its preservation. However, Tiébélé faced challenges in sustaining the integrity of its structures by the time it was included on the 2012 World Monuments Watch. These included flooding, erosion, and planning for tourism management. There was interest in developing the site as a cultural tourism destination to generate economic resources for its conservation, but encouraging visitors while protecting local culture and tradition requires a delicate balance. The objectives of inclusion on the Watch were to promote awareness about the site and to build support for its long-term stewardship.

Following the 2012 Watch, local advocates were successful in raising funds for conservation at the Cour Royale de Tiébélé. The Institut du Patrimoine Wallon, a Belgian heritage institution, hosted a group of local women in Belgium and made several missions to the site for analysis and conservation work. Improvements to drainage and land security as well as development of conservation and management plans were carried out at the site. At the end of the two-year Watch cycle, we awarded a Certificate of Exceptional Accomplishment to the Cour Royale de Tiébélé in recognition of these outstanding efforts toward positive change. The certificate was accompanied with a $2,500 award.

Text and image from WORLD MONUMENTS FUNDS.

## 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.
Baobab Tree

**Baobab Tree** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **South Africa**.

## Information

"***The Adansonia digitata, the African baobab*** , is the most widespread tree species of the genus Adansonia, the baobabs, and is native to the African continent.

The long-lived pachycauls are typically found in dry, hot savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa, where they dominate the landscape, and reveal the presence of a watercourse from afar. Their growth rate is determined by ground water or rainfall, and their maximum age, which is subject to much conjecture, seems to be in the order of 1,500 years.

They have traditionally been valued as sources of food, water, health remedies or places of shelter and are steeped in legend and superstition. European explorers of old were inclined to carve their names on baobabs, and many are defaced by modern graffiti. "

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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 Pollo a la Brasa

**Día del Pollo a la Brasa** is a Limited edition stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit Peru during this special day.

## Information

**Grilled Chicken Day** is a festival that is celebrated in Peru on the third Sunday of July, in recognition of one of the most representative and most consumed dishes of Peruvian gastronomy.

In 2010, through Ministerial Resolution 0441-2010-AG, the Ministry of Culture, which in 2004 had declared it Cultural Heritage of the Nation, resolved to declare Grilled Chicken Day in order to honor an "icon " of Peruvian gastronomy and promote its consumption both in Peru and abroad.

**internal consumption**

The statistics on the supply and demand of grilled chicken speak of the massive acceptance of this product inside and outside of Peru. Currently, it has managed to position itself as the favorite dish of Peruvian families when eating out, even above ceviche. ​Due to its massive acceptance and long history, since 2010 grilled chicken has been included in the calculation of the basic family basket by the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI). ​Likewise, according to the figures provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, it is known that the monthly production for national consumption is 44 million chickens, of which which 8 million are destined to restaurants specialized in the preparation of the Peruvian "flag dish", as it is also known.

**The boom of Peruvian gastronomy**

Part of Peru's sustainable growth in recent years is due to the immediate impact of the gastronomy sector on its economy, which, according to the Peruvian Gastronomy Society (Apega), has come to exceed the rate of expansion of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The reflection of this "boom" can be seen in the large figures registered in sales of Peruvian restaurants; the growing number of gastronomic establishments and the employment opportunity that these businesses generate.

The immediate impact of the "boom" has allowed Peruvian grilled chicken to cross borders and reach the palates of thousands of diners around the world. With this, it has managed to position itself as a traditional symbol of Peruvian gastronomy, and to be chosen by foreign visitors as a favorite item on the menu.

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.
Bibi-Heybat Mosque

**Bibi-Heybat Mosque** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Azerbaijan**.

## Information

"***The Bibi-Heybat Mosque*** (Azerbaijani: Bibiheybət məscidi) is a historical mosque in Baku, Azerbaijan. The existing structure, built in the 1990s, is a recreation of the mosque with the same name built in the 13th century by Shirvanshah Farrukhzad II Ibn Ahsitan II, which was completely destroyed by the Bolsheviks in 1936.

The Bibi-Heybat Mosque includes the tomb of Ukeyma Khanum (a descendant of Muhammad), and today is the spiritual center for the Muslims of the region and one of the major monuments of Islamic architecture in Azerbaijan.

It is locally known as "the mosque of Fatima", which is what Alexandre Dumas called it when he described the mosque during his visit in the 1850s. "

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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.
Hafty Polskie

**Hafty Polskie** (Polish Embroidery) is a serie of stamps in SLOWLY. This can be purchased on the Stamp Store while you visit Poland.

## Information

**Hafty Polskie** (in English "*Polish embroidery*") is a celebration of the old Polish tradition to create embroidery patterns, so called "polskie szycie" (Polish sewing) included tiny, geometric motifs. They have done with cross stitches, then there was "ruskie szycie" (Russian sewing) – cross stitches of minute, flowery motives, while in the last period the flat, **shaded stitches** became popular and were used for creating large, floral motifs.

 *Text from Ethnographic-museum.*

Hafty Polskie (Polish Embroidery) Serie

Text from various sources, linked in article.

## 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.
Brisbane City Hall

**Brisbane City Hall** is a location stamp in SLOWLY. This can be unlocked when you visit **Australia**.

## Information

"***Brisbane City Hall***, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, is the seat of the Brisbane City Council. It is located adjacent to King George Square, where the rectangular City Hall has its main entrance.[2] The City Hall also has frontages and entrances in both Ann Street and Adelaide Street. The building is considered one of Brisbane's finest[3] and was listed on the Register of the National Estate in 1978.

The building has been used for royal receptions, pageants, orchestral concerts, civic greetings, flower shows, school graduations and political meetings. In 2008, it was discovered that the building had severe structural problems. After a three-year restoration, it re-opened on 6 April 2013. "

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Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp is unlocked by logging into your account while inside the country. If the country has more than one, any other location stamps will also be unlocked at the same time.
Beer Day

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

## Information

**Beer Day (Bjórdagurinn)** is celebrated every year on March 1, honoring the elimination of the 74-year prohibition of beer. Prohibition lasted from January 1, 1915 to March 1, 1989.

In a 1908 referendum, Icelanders voted in favor of a ban on all alcoholic drinks, going into effect Jan. 1, 1915. In 1921, the ban was partially lifted after Spain refused to buy Iceland's main export, fish, unless Iceland bought Spanish wines; then lifted further after a national referendum in 1935 came out in favor of legalizing spirits. Strong beer (with an alcohol content of 2.25% or more), however, was not included in the 1935 vote in order to please the temperance lobby—which argued that because beer is cheaper than spirits, it would lead to more depravity.

As international travel brought Icelanders back in touch with beer, bills to legalize it were regularly moved in parliament, but inevitably were shot down on technical grounds. Prohibition lost more support in 1985, when the Minister of Justice (himself a teetotaler) prohibited pubs from adding legal spirits to legal non-alcoholic beer (called "pilsner" by Icelanders) to make a potent imitation of strong beer. Soon after, beer approached legalization in parliament—a full turnout of the upper house of Iceland's Parliament voted 13 to 8 to permit the sales, ending prohibition in the country.

## Celebration

The first Beer Day, Ölstofan bar owner Kormákur Geirharðsson recalls:

> I remember a lot of drinking and a lot of pissing all night long and the next days, and it [was] not stopping. This was the day Icelanders took the step to try to become civilized. Ölstofan was not open then, but the idea of owning a bar started there.
> — *The Reykjavik Grapevine*,
>
>

Following the end of prohibition, Icelanders have celebrated every Beer Day by imbibing the drink in various bars, restaurants, and clubs. Those located in Reykjavík, the capital and largest city in Iceland, are especially wild on Beer Day.; A *Rúntur* (pub crawl) is a popular way of getting to know the various bars and beers in this city, many being open until 4:00 a.m. the next day. The legalization of beer remains a cultural milestone in Iceland, and a major seismic shift in the nation’s alcoholic beverage preference. Beer has today become the most popular alcoholic beverage of choice.

The celebration of Beer Day in Iceland has inspired a similar event in the U.S., known as Iceland Beer Day, or IBD.

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.
Cuba

## Information

**Cuba**, officially the **Republic of Cuba** (Spanish: *República de Cuba* [reˈpuβlika ðe ˈkuβa] (listen)), is a country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean meet.

Cuba is located at the east of the Yucatán Peninsula (Mexico), south of both the American state of Florida and the Bahamas, west of Hispaniola (Haiti/Dominican Republic), and north of both Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Havana is the largest city and capital; other major cities include Santiago de Cuba and Camagüey. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.
Cambodia

## Information

**Cambodia**, officially the **Kingdom of Cambodia**, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is 181,035 square kilometres (69,898 square miles) in area, bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, Vietnam to the east, the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest, and maritime borders with Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Phnom Penh is the nation's capital and largest city. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

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

## Information

**France**, officially the **French Republic** (French: *République française*), is a transcontinental country spanning Western Europe and overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Including all of its territories, France has twelve time zones, the most of any country. Its metropolitan area extends from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea; overseas territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the North Atlantic, the French West Indies, and several islands in Oceania and the Indian Ocean.

Due to its several coastal territories, France has the largest exclusive economic zone in the world. France borders Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Andorra and Spain in Europe, as well as the Netherlands, Suriname and Brazil in the Americas. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

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

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

## Information

The date 4 December is a special moment for the Papuan noken, the traditional knitted bag that is rich in historical significance. On that very day in 2012, the Papuan noken was named an Intangible Cultural Heritage by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, France. Ever since then, the **World Noken Day** has been celebrated every year.

The noken being named as an intangible cultural heritage of Papua was in large part due to the efforts of Titus Chris Perkey, Head of the Papua Ecology Agency. Back then that he strove to get the noken nominated as a Papuan cultural heritage at UNESCO.

It was on 4 December 2012 that Titus Chris Pekey accompanied Prof. Wiendu Nuryati, Vice Minister for Culture at the Ministry of Education and Culture (2011-2014) while in Paris.

The submission of noken as an intangible cultural heritage was welcomed by UNESCO. As a result, noken followed the wayang, keris, angklung, and the saman dance as an Indonesian intangible cultural heritage named by UNESCO. The noken is a multifunctional knitted bag from Papua, Indonesia. The traditional bag may only be made by native Papuan women. Its making requires specific materials, and consists of wood fibre, leaves, orchid stems, and natural colouring derived from plants.

Despite its simplicity, the Papuan Noken is imbued with unique values and philosophy. This traditional item is considered a symbol of life, peace, and fertility for the Papuan people. In addition, it also holds the values of sharing, democracy, and truth.

In addition, the noken is also a symbol of maturity for women in Papua. The level of maturity of a Papuan woman is measured by her mastery of noken crafting. Those who are still unable are considered immature and not yet marriageable. Noken are commonly used to carry everyday necessities, such as groceries, harvested items, personal belongings, school equipment, firewood. In addition, it is also used for swaddling babies.

Unlike common bags, the usage of noken can be considered unique. The women usually hang the noken from their forehead or head and drape it behind their backs. The men carry them differently, and hang them around their neck.

Text and image from westpapuadaily.

## 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.
Burkina Faso

## Information

**Burkina Faso** is a landlocked country in West Africa that covers an area of around 274,200 square kilometres (105,900 sq mi) and is bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and the Ivory Coast to the southwest. The July 2019 population estimate by the United Nations was 20,321,378. *Text and image from Wikipedia*.

## Country Stamps Gallery

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