The postcard below shows the cover of the book of a multi-awarded and highly-regarded Dutch poet named J. Bernlef (real name Hendrik Jan Marsman):

The beauty of the human body has always been a source of inspiration. But taking pictures which are artsy (like the one above) and not smutty requires more than a simple push of the camera button. I could not help but feel a bit like a peeping Tom while looking at the postcard. The woman is probably enjoying sunbathing in the privacy of her own backyard. While I am not against this kind of photography, it will take me a lot of dieting, or probably try the HCG diet Austin that's getting good reviews recently, to be able to achieve the body that's worth flaunting. But I digress.

Cellojaren (Cello Years), published in 1996 is a collection of short stories. Very little information is available over the Internet about this particular book.

He published his first collection of poems, Kokkels(Cockles, 1960). J. Bernlef is one of the several pen names used by Hendrik Jan Marsman. He has authored about 25 volumes of poetry, fiction, and essays, translated work from favourite contemporaries and predecessors, and was a recipient of various awards, including the prestigious P.C. Hooft Poetry Prize. In all of his work, writer Arie Staal, of the Eastern Michigan University, says:

"... Bernlef presents the reader with a somewhat retrospective look at life and the human struggle for permanence in an uncooperative existences. These are moments, Bernleft, states, when reason forsakes us and we are left gaping."

According to an article written by Mirjam Van Hengel (The Netherlands - Poetry International Web) :

"Bernlef is an avid onlooker; his poems abound in concrete images and scenes from daily life; but he often uses words like 'vanish', 'forget' and 'absence'. Man's perception is poor, and so is his memory. The poet, who, in detached wonder, tries to give form to what happens before his yes, will always be wavering on the  borderline between what is and what is not. What is, he cannot see any longer; what is not, he cannot yet see."

The stamp used was a part of the 5-set booklet called The Netherlands as seen by Artists. The artist featured on this stamp is Amalia Pica from Argentina who created Toc Toc, referring to the traditional clogs of the Netherlands.

To my surprise there's an extra postmark from the Khmer Post Office -- commemorating the 55th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Thailand.