Kenya: Colonial Struggle to Vibrant Democracy

Kenya's history spans thousands of years, with ancient human ancestors. Arab and European traders arrived in the 7th century, followed by British colonization (1895-1963). Jomo Kenyatta led independence movement, becoming first president in 1964. Daniel arap Moi's rule (1978-2002) was marked by repression and corruption. Democratization began in 1991, with Mwai Kibaki's presidency (2002-2013) bringing reforms. Uhuru Kenyatta (2013-2022) navigated corruption scandals. Kenya remains East Africa's economic hub, with a growing tech sector and diverse culture.

Poland: Europe's most resilient nation

Poland's history spans over 1,000 years. Founded in 966 AD, it became a powerful kingdom in medieval Europe. Poland-Lithuania (1569-1795) was a major power, but faced partitions by Russia, Prussia, and Austria. Poland regained independence in 1918, but WWII devastated the country. The Soviet-backed government ruled from 1945-1989. Solidarity's peaceful revolution in 1989 led to democracy. Poland joined NATO (1999) and the EU (2004), becoming a thriving democracy and economy.

Rackcards and Freecards: The AvantCard Craze

Rackcards or freecards. You either love 'em or hate 'em. I have a foot in both camps. But stuff like this is hard not to like. From www.avantcard.com.au (retrieved from web.archive.org)

Hungary: Europe's odd man out

Budapest card sent by mum in 2006

In many ways, Hungary is an odd one out in Europe. Its Uralic language has more in common with the languages of Finland and Estonia than its European neighbours. The capital, Budapest, was severely damaged in WWII and remnants of the battle are still evident in secluded pockets of the city.

Italy, Rome and The Vatican

 When you think of Italy and postcards, you're bound to come across Roman ruins and the Colosseum, surely one of the most postcarded sites ever.

Italy and Rome's history spans over 2,500 years. Ancient Rome was founded in 753 BC, growing into a republic (509-27 BC) and then an empire (27 BC-476 AD) that dominated the Mediterranean. 

Adelaide: Postcards from my home town

Everyone has to be born somewhere, and it was here in the leafy 'middle class' Eastern suburbs of Adelaide that became my first home. I grew up in the sheltered, predominantly white, Anglo-Saxon environment of Burnside, attending local schools before deciding that the bright lights of Sydney were more attractive than early 1980s Adelaide. 

Historic Bulgaria

Bulgaria probably doesn't feature on many Bucket Lists, but it's a fascinating window into what life was like before the fall of the Soviet Bloc. Bulgaria's population has fallen by around 30 per cent since then, and many buildings are derelict. However if you're a castle chaser, Bulgaria has plenty.