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Saturday 17 March 2012

Iran: 3 Museums and Counting

Iran: 3 Museums and Counting - Ramble and Wander

Day 2 started early. I went down for breakfast and saw my guide and driver, Muhammad, was already waiting for me in the lobby area. He asked me how I was doing, to which I replied, “I’m okay” before I continued with a question, “Why? What have you heard?”

He smiled and said he’s heard about what had happened to me the night before, from the receptionist. Such gossipmongers! Hahaha! 😝

The itinerary for the day includes Glass & Ceramic Museum of Iran, Carpet Museum of Iran, National Museum of Iran and Niavaran Palace Complex. I had wanted to include National Jewellery Museum as well but unfortunately, it’s closed on Fridays.

Iran: Gate of National Garden - Ramble and Wander

We first set off to see a building complex which, for the life of me, I can’t remember the name. 😅 Well, we didn’t actually see a building complex because we just parked the car across the road and went over to see the building which is part of the main gate to enter into the complex area.

It looks awesome and imposing.


Iran: Gate of National Garden - Ramble and Wander

The flags on the building are old Iranian flags, of which the middle part (i.e. the white section) has been painted over

Iran: Gate of National Garden - Ramble and Wander

Iran: Gate of National Garden - Ramble and Wander

I took a peek looking through the gates above to have a better look at the buildings inside the compound when suddenly... swoooshhh!

My face was sprayed with some water by someone from inside the compound! Niiiceeeeee!!! Haha!

Thought I had just had another brush with the security but that someone turned out to be a gardener who was watering the plants just inside the gate. Muhammad, who saw this happened, went on to have a word with the guy. What a good way to start the day, aye? ;-)

(Now that I think about it, perhaps that’s the reason why I can’t remember the name of the building complex – my brain is just trying to erase the memory of being splashed with water on a cold morning... Well, perhaps...)

(Update: A reader, Fater Saadatniaki, has been kind enough to leave a comment below to give some information about the building complex. The name of the building is ""Darvaze Dolat" or "Sardare Baghe Melli" (transliterated: the Gate of National Garden), the only surviving gate of Tehran's old city wall and perhaps the most elaborate and glamorous one. This gate leads to a building complex which is currently the seat of Ministry of Foreign Affairs." Merci, Fater :-) )


Iran: National Museum of Iran - Ramble and Wander

The rest of the day went on without a hitch, alhamdulillah. A very short drive from this place that I’m somehow unconsciously trying to forget is National Museum of Iran which, I must say, has a quite impressive collection on display. Cameras and mobile phones have to be deposited at the entrance so unfortunately no photography is allowed inside. Here, Muhammad played the tour guide inside the museum, explaining the history and stories behind almost all major displays there.


Iran: Glass and Ceramics Museum of Iran - Ramble and Wander

From there, we went to the Glass & Ceramics Museum of Iran. The museum is set in a beautiful 19th-century house that is, according to Wikipedia, formerly the Embassy of Egypt in Tehran. While I couldn’t really appreciate the glasses and ceramics on display, I still enjoyed the visit to this museum because of the house it is set in.


Iran: Glass and Ceramics Museum of Iran - Ramble and WanderIran: Glass and Ceramics Museum of Iran - Ramble and Wander
Iran: Glass and Ceramics Museum of Iran - Ramble and WanderIran: Glass and Ceramics Museum of Iran - Ramble and Wander

Afterwards, we drove for a bit and went to the Carpet Museum of Iran, which is located near a large park and housed in a purposely built building designed to resemble a carpet loom.

Iran: Carpet Museum of Iran - Ramble and Wander

And what can I say about those carpets on display? Everybody knows how amazingly beautiful Persian carpets are. They truly are pieces of arts. And like most amazing arts, they are expensive too...

Iran: Carpet Museum of Iran - Ramble and Wander


Iran: Carpet Museum of Iran - Ramble and Wander



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Iran: 3 Museums and Counting - Ramble and Wander

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9 comments:

Comments and feedback are always appreciated. So do leave one or two if you have the time. Thank you!

  1. OK. done reading. Will stop at this post and continue "backwards" another day. LOL

    Penat seh baca bebanyak neh. adeii.. Oh.. a postcard pls! =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha kenalah rajin membaca selalu. Kempen Galakan Membaca ni :-) What postcard do you want?

      Delete
    2. Thanks for taking the time to read through all the posts, by the way :-)

      Delete
  2. PS: I HATE WORD VERIFICATION =p

    ReplyDelete
  3. The name of the building that you can't remember is "darvaze dolat" or "sardare Baghe Melli" (transliterated: the gate of national garden) the only surviving gate of Tehran's old city wall and perhaps the most elaborate and glamourous one. This gate leads to a building complex which is currently the seat of ministry of Foreign affairs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah-ha! Merci, Fater, for letting me know about the gate and the building complex behind it. I've updated the post accordingly and have attributed it to you.

      Thank you again :-)

      Delete
  4. Ah nice, harap dapat pergi Iran juga satu hari nanti..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, pergi, jangan tak pergi ;-) I love my time in Iran and would love to go back there again someday :-)

      Delete
 
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