I was so giddy at the sight waiting for me at the Post Office and I was giggling like a teenager. I am sorry, I couldn't help it. Postcards, or any mails for that matter, really bring joy to my day. 

Take for example this postcard from my Keri. It is quite unexpected. She and I have been friends since 1998 although we haven't seen each other yet. After our paths crossed through email, we became pen pals, exchanging letters, greeting cards and pictures for years. We lost contact in the mid-2000 when she was pursuing her undergraduate degree and I was busy with my career. Then, out of the blue, I found her by just following blog links one day. Isn't it great?

Looking closely at the picture of the Table Mountain (upper middle photo), I can, sort of, see (or imagine) where she lives :) She once told me that her apartment is on the left side of the mountain, just around the corner and that they are looking at the mountain short-side on. Being on the third floor of the building she has a fantastic view of the mountain from her bedroom window. Now that is priceless - waking up in the morning to see the Table Mountain standing majestically. 

The other views on the postcard are of, clockwise from top left, Namaqualand (it is up the west side of the country and despite its semi-desert environment, apparently  local and foreign tourists flock there during springtime for its amazing wild spring flowers), the lion, the beautiful sunset of Blyde Canyon, and the city of Cape Town. She herself has never been to Namaqualand and plans to go there in a place called Little Namaqualand where Richterslveld, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located.  They will camp there and go hiking with friends. I would love to go hiking there, too. It must be great to see this amazing landscape by way of trekking/hiking and interacting with the locals. Some people I know raise their eyebrows at me for being enthusiastic in activities such as this. Well, why not? Hiking does a lot of wonders to a person's well being. What many of these people don't know is that hiking can be used as alternative to walking or running on a treadmill. Hiking also helps reduce stress, burns fat thereby contributing to weight loss, and prevents heart ailments. I can say hiking is one of the best fat burners in my list! Oh dear me, but I digress now. I got carried away again. 

The stamp above is part of the first set (of the two sets) issued by SAPO, consisting of six self-adhesive round-shaped stamps. It features the official logo, the jabulani (the official match ball), and the 18-carat gold FIFA World Cup trophy. SA is probably the only country in the African region to issue its own World Cup stamps.