Not surprisingly most people thought I was crazy to go to Cairo especially since Hamas created havoc in the Middle East. I can’t tell you how many people sent me WhatsApp messages telling me how dangerous it was to go at this time. However, since Hubby Dear who is normally the prophet of doom was quite supportive of the trip, I was quite sure I’d return home in one piece.
And just to make sure, I actually consulted an astrologer to see if there was any hiccup in my life foreseen for the next few days.
Thus it was that I went for an 8 day trip that turned out to be a fun filled, happy trip with all the normal hiccups that travelers face.
Our first day of sightseeing began with a trip to the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square. Actually the museum is in the process of shifting to its new abode in Giza and we were lucky that we could still see all of the main exhibits.
It won’t be long before the new museum opens its doors so I won’t spend much time talking about getting to the Egyptian Museum etc.
You need a Guide
No matter what people may tell you, it is important to get a good guide. We had a young fellow called Tifa who was helpful, energetic and quite knowledgeable. He enthusiastically took us through Cairo and Giza and showed us what was really important.
Cairo from the airThe jewellery box of TutAnkhAmunThe slippers of the pharoahThe king of Upper Egypt subjugating the King of Lower Egypt in the Narmer PalleteThe cartouche of the PharoahThe statue of RamesesThe coffin of the mummy Entrance to the PyramidPharoahA jar of wineThe Triad of King Menkaure with Hathor on his right Wooden statues of 365 servants one for each dayServants making wine Statue of a scribe
A day is not really good enough to see the Museum and its priceless exhibits
The Museum has so many exhibits that you need more than a day to do it justice. After all it does house antiquities spanning several thousand years!
The statues carved out of stone with such precision and detail to anatomy are mind boggling but I was most fascinated by the eyes set in the wooden statues. They looked quite lifelike and eerily followed you as you wandered through the museum. And the wooden statues were painted with colours that looked so fresh that it was hard to imagine they were crafted so many thousands of years ago. Was Anna Shetty right in telling us that these objects look like they were made by super humans or aliens?
Even if you are not a museum person, I would highly recommend a quick tour of this museum because it houses artefacts , paintings and statuary of an unbelievable beauty and design. And with so many of the Pyramids and Temples bereft of their treasures, this is the best chance you can get to see some of the antiquities that Egypt is famous for.
Early February this year, my computer engineer who often tells me things not connected with my computer, told me that from September of this year I’d be flying round the world. I found it hard not to laugh it off. Nothing in life is certain not even my daily trips to Bhaji Gully! But come September, I found myself jetting across to the other side of the world with an unexpected trip to the New World. And then, upon my return, I found myself in Egypt in the Land of the Ancient World .
Of course my trip to Egypt was planned much before Hamas set the Middle East unravelling and as our departure date came closer and closer, the number of WhatsApp messages from various well meaning friends and acquaintances increased.
This did of course create some confusion, anxiety and hesitation about going right into the dragon’s cave as it were, but then I thought that at the best of times things can go wrong so I might as well go ahead and face whatever it was that was to come my way.
Besides, Ms. Papaya was quick to point out that Egypt was in Africa and the conflict was in Asia! I didn’t want to burst her bubble and tell her that Gaza shared a border with Egypt. This fertile delta basin is as old as the hills – or rather as old as the sands of the deserts of Arabia.
So just after our Diwali Party, we made our way to Mumbai’s Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport where we boarded our Gulf Air flight to Bahrain.
tThe Narmar PlatetThe Pyramid at Gizathe Sphinx at sunsetThe Muhammed Ali mosque at Salah din CitadelThe Hanging ChurchMen watching the world go by at AlexandriaThe fortress at AlexandriaIn the catacombs at Alexandria
Stepping off the plane at Bahrain, we were amazed at how wonderful the airport was. Here we were gloating about our very own Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at Mumbai but this airport far outstripped our pride and joy. ( Sorry) .
But before we could appreciate the wonders of the airport, it was time for us to board our next flight to Cairo. Once again we got on the plane, a smaller plane for a shorter ride and when we reached Cairo, it was still broad daylight.
Luckily we had someone meet us at the airport itself which we realised was a great boon as we soon found that it was very hard to find anyone who could understand us. English isn’t very widely spoken even though Egypt was part of the British empire.
Partially complete but fully occupied buildings
Driving to the Hotel we were amazed that the whole place looked like we were in a war zone. There was building after building that looked ready to crumble with buildings looking like they’d been sliced off! It was weird seeing staircase outlines leading to nowhere and painted walls of bedrooms that had been chopped off. If this was wasn’t disturbing, the uncleared rubble was even more disheartening. I couldn’t believe that people were actually living there! But they were our guide told us – remnants of a recent past that saw rampant building of illegal constructions that fell due to faulty constructions and were ‘regularised’ for lower income group residents.
It was a long drive to our hotel which was at Giza but we were happy to settle in and relax a bit before starting out on our hectic trip the next day.
I’ll be posting more about my trip to Egypt so keep looking out for this space.
Day 2 in New York City consisted of more visits to the Park. This time round my host suggested a completely new concept of parks – one an elevated one on an artificial island and the other a re-purposed freight train railway track .
Changing cities
Cities have a life of their own. In spite of being inanimate, they change with time.
Starting out as tiny village clusters they grow into busy towns, important sea ports, seats of power, centres of learning or industrial hubs depending on the dominant activity of the place. Mumbai, for instance, which was once a malaria infested conglomeration of 7 islands has morphed into one contiguous mass with the larger part of the city part of of the mainland.
Its initial beginning as a fishing village transformed into a textile town and then later into a thriving sea port. However, even this ‘avatar’ has changed since the JNPT port has come across the harbour. This has left a large part of the eastern seaboard bereft of activity with its numerous godowns that remain empty.
Picking up freshy baked sourdough bread from the local bakery
Our city is still trying to come up with a master plan to effectively utilise this space.
Luckily New York has managed to revitalize its former docklands and Hudson Yards and its neighbouring industrial area of warehouses is once again buzzing with activity. The newly developed commercial and residential buildings that exist cheek by jowl with the old structures is a clever use of urban space especially in a city that is so densely populated and real estate so valuable.
Little Island and the High Line Park are two unique concepts that give back to the city the much needed green lungs for the public to enjoy. As a matter of fact, it is amazing how the Air Quality in such a thickly populated city is not only breathable but also boasts a bright blue sky!
Little Island
After a quick breakfast of freshly baked sourdough bread picked up from the local bakery, we set off for Little Island the newest public park in the city.
Our original plan was to actually pick up a bite at Market 57, at the newly opened food hall at Pier 57. We should have eaten at passed the food hall at Chelsea which was lively and happening but we thought that Food court at the James Beard Foundation would have been a better option. That was a tactical error on our part because by the time we reached the Pier, the sun was blazing. Furthermore, the seeming lack of activity deterred us from going ahead and after a quick tour of the Little Island park, we began our walk on the High Line Park.
Little Island Park is an artificial park created on Pier 55 in the Hudson River. A series of upturned umbrella shaped pylons provide the base for this unique nature park where native plants are specifically grown in order to maintain or rather re-generate the natural flora and fauna of the place.
The upturned umbrella pylons of Little Island that hold up a unique nature park
Even though the sun was beating down, the park was full of people. Obviously, most of them were tourists like me who were bent on getting the most out of their visit to a New York despite the unusually hot September heat wave.
Because of the blazing sunshine and oppressive heat, we couldn’t manage to spend more than half an hour or so but we did manage to absorb some of the vibe especially with the visitor who thumped away some foot tapping jazz music on the bright yellow piano.
We did have an option of going to the Whitney Museum overlooking the park, but I was too lazy to cross the road and have a look at its latest exhibition, preferring to see street art with its architectural beauties and street sculptures. Perhaps I’ll leave New York Museums for another visit.
The High Line
With the docks moved out, the existing railway line was converted to a park. The 2.3 km elevated park is a unique way of seeing the city bustling below. Once again plants that are native to the area make up the garden.
Despite the heat, it was a treat to walk in High Line Park. Not only was the flora interesting but the buildings alongside with their murals were equally stunning.
We began our walk with a quick gelato from L’arte del gelato. What bliss it was to have the cool ice-cream slip down our parched throats.
To break the monotony of walking down a railway track, there are some interesting features such as the Diller-Von Furstenberg sun deck where you can dip your toes in the very subtle water fountain that is specially welcome on a hot day. Or you could just laze around on the loungers scattered there.
We stopped for a while at the 10th Avenue Square and overlook to catch our breath and stare at the city traffic driving underneath. There were many people who took a break like us and I’m sure on a cooler day it must be fun to watch the movement on a busy road.
The Chelsea Thicket with its shaded pathway was a welcome relief from the heat. It was literally like walking through an airconditioned passageway with the thick foliage blocking out the glare and heat of the sun
The Edge ,literally leaves you standing on the edge, looking down at the world below you. We didn’t visit this viewing gallery because I’m not fascinated by aerial views being a high-rise dweller myself. Besides, I often feel that pre-booking etc calls for too much planning and kind of kills the spontaneity of travelling. I like to go where my mood fancies rather than a water tight itinerary.
The Shed an art centre in the square opposite the Mall for instance, looks like an inflated cube dressed up in a quilted puffer jacket!
Similarly, the Vessel, a watch tower of sorts is made up of inter connected staircases, making a honeycomb like conical structure. Unfortunately, it is still not open to the public so one has to make do with admiring this ‘sculpture’ from afar.
The High Line Park , my host explained to me was the brainchild New Yorkers like Diane von Furstenberg a grande dame of fashion credited with the invention of the wrap dress. With an open air viewing gallery over a busy street, whimsical sculptures, bits of the old railway line, murals peeping out from nearby buildings and even some loungers to sunbathe for those so inclined, a walk down the High Line is a great way to spend a few hours out in the open.
And for those avid shoppers a spanking new Mall with high end shops and more eating options is the added incentive to make this park another must do activity in the city of New York.
Free docent-led public tours are offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from May to October, and on Wednesdays and Saturdays from November to April.
Before the date of your visit, make sure to review park rules below.
