Category Archive for Art + Design
Writer for LA Times Travel studios! Grand Egyptian Museum Goth artifacts & gift shop, Giza Pyramids Sphinx guide.
Ready for more Goth adventures from Egypt, including the new Grand Egyptian Museum? I’ve got you in this new post.
First, an announcement… I’ve joined LA Times Travel studios as a regular contributor! I will be writing about my travels worldwide for this Los Angeles Times vertical, in an ongoing column — you can read my travel journalism here.
My first article was inspired by my recent return to Egypt… a joy to be with the Pyramids and Sphinx again, in the revamped Giza Plateau! Keep reading for plenty of tips on how to see the ancient tombs without battling the heat and tourists, so you can get unobstructed pics like these.
I flew back to Cairo mostly to see the brand spanking new Grand Egyptian Museum, which was as mesmerising and spooky as I hoped it would be… Read on for my guide to seeing ancient Egyptian sarcophagi, death gods like Anubis, ankhs and more at the newly-opened GEM!
This time around, I only stayed in Giza for a few days (see my review of my luxe hotel located across from the Sphinx). On my first trip in 2019, Yukiro and I went all around the country — you can see all our tips for exploring Egypt on a guided tour here.
This has been a good career year for me… I’m now a journalist for Los Angeles Times Travel Studios! As a regular contributor, I’ll be sharing stories from my fabulous offbeat travels, which you can read here. (I will also soon be speaking at TBEX Asia in Almaty, Kazakhstan on Aug 22 — see the travel conference details here.)
First up: a guide to Grand Egyptian Museum’s gift shop, which IMO is the best in the world. I write: “Rather than hawking racks of microplastic detritus, Grand Egyptian Museum is a wonderland of handmade, natural, artisan goods evoking the splendors of Nefertiti and Cleopatra.”
Read my first article about the Grand Egyptian Museum’s epic gift shop here on LA Times.
From sculptures of underworld jackal god Anubis to canoptic jars and ankh robes… GEM Shop is arguable also the best Goth store in the world right now!
Ankh soap or handmade crochet Anubis dolls, anyone? 99.9% of products are handmade in Egypt, with proceeds supporting the museum and NGOS / local artisans.
You can’t enter the museum’s GEM Shop without a ticket to the galleries, or preview the items / buy them online… so you’ve just got to come.
I spent way too much at GEM Shop (but hey, it was for journalism research and for a good cause, right?) Was tempted by these pharonic Farah Omar silk scarves, and King Tut memorabilia.
Thanks for supporting my travel writing! See my debut LA Times Travel ETA piece, “Giza’s New Grand Egyptian Museum Swaps the Mass-Produced Souvenirs for a Sprawling, Gorgeous Artisan Emporium.”
The museum is right by Egypt’s Pyramids and Sphinx, which are as great as ever. The ancient Giza Plateau has mega-modernized since my first visit. In 2025, builders replaced the old Mena House entrance with a sleek gateway on Fayoum Desert Road, and introduced air conditioned electric shuttle buses. Now, you can hop on / off right at the 4500-year-old tombs of Egyptian pharoahs Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure!
Tips to make your Giza visit extra fabulous: Hire my lovely female guide, Sherine Ramadan! Visiting this World Wonder with an expert lets you make the most of the experience, and prevents vendors from hassling you. (To book her, contact ramadansherine @ hotmail dot com or What’s App + 201097104413)
– Get a timed ticket from the official website in advance (don’t fall for a spoof site!)
– Wear close-toed shoes as there is hot sand, stones and sandflies
– Go as early as possible to avoid the heat and tourists (and get unobstructed photos with the Great Sphinx and pyramids) –
The descendents of Anubis the jackal death god are guarding the pyramids at Giza Plateau! Just the tip of the Pyramid of Khafre retains its original limestone casing.
This was my second visit to the pyramids. I didn’t go inside the great one this time, but had fun exploring the rocks (and since I went so early, there were no people in the background).
Love the sleek new upgrades to Giza plateau. One of my fav moments: drinking an iced coffee from Mulliri while looking out at the pyramids!
If you’ve visited Giza, what were your impressions — and do you have travel advice to add?
All right, time for a tour of the spookiest exhibits at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza. Dream come true to wander the long-awaited museum, which opened late last year.
Felt at home with the spooky sarcophagi! Had to recreate the infamous Goth death metal pose from my previous trip, with the ancient Egyptian stone coffins. (The one on the far left has indentations that indicate the shape of knees!)
The museum’s sprawling galleries take an entire day (or more ) to explore. Gallery 10 is the Goth-est, with a collection of mummies and their sarcophagus final resting places.
Wonder if any of these will unleash a curse…
Grand Egyptian Museum holds over a hundred thousand antiquities, including gargantuan statues of Anubis the jackal, sphinxes, animal-headed gods and queens…
Of course, I took photos of the darkest elements like serpents, death gods, and canoptic jars to hold the mummy’s organs.
Tips for visiting the museum: Get advance tickets for first entry at 8:30am. Quickly make your rounds of GEM for unobstructred photos & a sense of the galleries (I then took my time to explore).
See King Tutankhamun’s magnificent burial relics, which are displayed here in full. This big-eared Anubis statue was to die for.
The museum’s galleries are arranged by era, and you can join a tour (but I prefered to go around on my own).
Ankhs galore! What would you most like to see at Egypt’s Grand Museum?
The architecture of the Grand Egyptian Museum is worth seeing in its own right… You’ve got to visit in the flesh to fully appreciate the dazzling scale and use of light and geometry.
Outside, these Sekhmet lion-headed goddess statues frame a fountain, staircase and courtyard.
Towering statues look over the high ceilinged entrance…
… and you’ll find cute sphinxes (lion bodies with human heads) all around.
The GEM is now well protected with security — when Yukiro and I visited the old Egyptian Museum in Cairo, we were miffed by how children could touch the Sphinxes! Now, nobody dare disrespect the old gods.
I’m still thinking of the dream-like walk up the massive entrance stairs (past giant statues of pharoahs and animal-head gods) to a picture window overlooking the Great Pyramids! (There are side escalators too, for accessibility).
As wrote for LA Times Travel studios, “Designed by Heneghan Peng Architects, the Grand Egyptian Museum began construction in 2005 and finally opened in November 2025. (By comparison, it also took about 20 years to build the Great Pyramid of Khufu… 4500 years ago.) The sprawling modernist architecture uses triangular forms and sand colored concrete to mirror the surrounding pyramids and desert. GEM’s 130 foot tall glass roofed entrance court is guarded by a colossal statue of Ramses II.”
Felt like being in liminal dream/fantasy like the novel Piranesi, wandering these steps and gazing upon a capital of Hathor (cow goddess), obelisks and sarcophagi.
King Tut was so extra that he was buried in multiple gilded sarcophagi, like a nesting doll! (The museum showcases the stone sarcophagus that held three nested coffins inside four golden wooden shrines).
King Tutankhamun’s burial tomb was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings. His canoptic alabaster jars are also a tribute to himself — the lids are carved with his likeness, lip to lip.
I took a million photos at the Grand Egyptian Museum — as a lover of ancient Egyptology, this was my happy place. Here’s a statue of god Ptah, King Ramsesses II and goddess Sekhmet the lion.
Be sure to get advance entry tickets and arrive early so you can hang here all day. There are restaurants and cafes inside (like Nahr for Mediterranean healthy food), and save Egyptian pounds for the gift store.
Blown away by the design choices. This picture window looking out at the Pyramids… ahh.
Ankh ankh… I think you can see why Egypt (Giza/Cairo) is one of my top Goth destinations!
Google “La Carmina LA Times” or go to my Los Angeles Times profile page to see more of my travel writing about the Grand Egyptian Museum and its impressive gift shop. Wouldn’t you love to spend a day here? More photos underneath, so click to reveal…
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Halifax, Nova Scotia: Best museums, art & history attractions, & local restaurants! Nova Scotian food, culture, travel tips.
“Hali-Facts” — Halifax, Nova Scotia is the most wonderful summer destination! Maritime Canadians are oh so friendly, and the walkable waterfront, markets and historic sites warmed my heart… Being here made me feel as if I were back in the glorious 1990s.
In my previous blog post, I took you along on my road trip to Nova Scotian historic attractions and museums.
This time, I’ll highlight the intriguing history, art and culture sites found in the capital — such as Halifax Public Gardens above. I’ll also give my recommendations for the best restaurants in the province, from creative tasting menus to down-home seafood. (All photos by Joey Wong).
On the Halifax waterfront: can you tell I’m loving it here! Four km of wooden boardwalk overlooking the ocean, peppered with Canadian flags, restaurant patios and artisan markets… Nova Scotia’s capital city is a vibe.
So glad I’m focusing on Canadian travel and finally made a summer trip to explore Nova Scotia museums, historic sites and culture.
To see footage of me exploring Halifax’s top museums and historic landmarks, watch my IG video here!
I had never been to the Canadian Maritimes, and was delighted to kick back on a purple Adirondack chair to people-watch at the working port.
One of Canada’s oldest cities (est 1749), Halifax has many cultural attractions within walking distance of the gorgeous harbour.
My “fueled by microplastics and spite” bag by Mourning Breath Shoppe got so many compliments and is 100% me (as well as 100% cotton). Doing my best to wear natural materials, minimize plastics and get the word out on the horrors of nano and microplastics these days!
You can take a boat tour out on these sparkling waves for views of lighthouses and Georges Island National Historic Site. This green mound of an isle within Halifax Harbour was an 18th century military fortification.
Under the sea… I dove into Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, which covers everything from ocean explorers to the province’s role in the Titanic ship rescue operations.
This “kawaii” cute playground outside the museum sets the tone for the informative yet fun exhibits inside, which focus on oceanic events that shaped the province’s history.
With over 30,000 artifacts, this is Canada’s largest and oldest maritime museum.
Looks like this pirate ship is about to be attacked by Cthulhu! Arrr, I’d invite the Lovecraftian Old God to join my pirate crew.
Halifax is connected to the Titanic shipwreck because it was the primary base of recovery, and home to the world’s largest number of Titanic graves (many victims are buried at Fairview Lawn Cemetery).
Posing on Queen’s Landing, the steps at Queen’s Marque (a mixed-use public space by the water).
Watch my short video here to see me playfully exploring Halifax’s museums and seawall.
An outfit change to shoot in Halifax Public Gardens with photographer Joey Wong. I’m inadvertently channeling Mira from Kpop Demon Hunters / Huntrix. (Fit check for my napalm era…)
Founded in 1838, these Halifax gardens are a study in Victorian elegance: a classic bandstand, flower gardens and a fairytale bridge over a brook.
I’m wearing a red silk Chinese halter qipao or cheungsam by Beth and Brian Qipao. 100% mulberry silk over synthetics, always! My leather silver skull bag is Alexander McQueen.
Halifax was founded on June 21, 1749 by the British, hence the influence of Victorian-era architecture like these wrought iron entrance gates.
The gardens are a popular spot for wedding, graduation and prom photos for obvious reasons!
Onward to Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Atlantic Canada’s largest art museum — set in this fetching Italianate downtown building.
The Art Gallery mainly features Nova Scotian works, such as by folk artist Maud Lewis (you might be familiar with her bright, colorful and charming paintings of animals such as cats).
Another must: Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, which celebrates the country’s diversity and Halifax’s history as the port of entry for a million people around WWII.
I was a fan of The Old Burying Ground, est 1749. These tombstones, some of which have old-time skull carvings, are giving Goth.
Now we’re going up, up, up to Halifax Citadel, the hilltop fort founded by the British in 1749.
Originally named Fort George after King George III, this impressive national historic site overlooks the harbour and is shaped like a star. Climb up and walk around the top of the walls to see cannons.
Standing on guard for thee — uniformed and marching Canadian soldiers.
Learn about the military history of Halifax and see collections from the past at the Army Museum.
It felt like stepping back in time as you make your way around Halifax Citadel’s fortifications.
Now, let’s focus on food! I was excited to try Nova Scotian cuisine as I’d heard so much about the fresh seafood and Acadian dishes.
The food scene turned out to be spectacular — so let me give you a rundown of my favorite places to eat in Halifax and other locations around the province. (Watch my Instagram @lacarmina reel for an overview of everywhere we dined in NS.)
Halifax has a lovely fine dining scene, especially downtown and by the water. You can’t go wrong with an Aperol spritz at the counter of Italian restaurant Pazzo Ristorante & Enoteca.
The two-floor restaurant is set in a gilded heritage building — talk about putting on the ritz.
Indulge in the creamy burrata, and get the pesto made right at the table (it doesn’t get fresher than this). Pazzo also has the most delectable tiramisu in Halifax, as you can tell from the photo, so save room for it!
For food, wine, fire — Tribute Restaurant is perhaps the most creative fine dining spot in the city. Or rather, “fun dining” — the experience is laid-back and full of Maritime Canadian hospitality.
Halifax chef Colin Bebbington plays with Nova Scotia seasonal ingredients such as halibut, interacting with guests from the open kitchen.
The wine pairings are wonderful with his beautifully plated dishes that pull from a variety of influences, such as a family lasagna recipe from the time he spent cooking in Bologna, Italy.
The live fire and charcoal add impact to the ever-changing dishes.
Cheers to Tribute for a chef’s tasting menu to remember!
I was keen to sink my teeth into Nova Scotia’s famous, affordable seafood — and found several favorites. Evan’s Seafood (at Alderney Landing across the bridge from Halifax in Dartmouth) doles out local-caught haddock, crab, scallops, lobster and more at excellent prices.
When Joey and I drove to Peggy’s Cove, we made sure to factor in a stop at Shaw’s Landing…
I mean, these pan-fried Digby scallops speak for themselves!
Watch my IG reel of all the food I ate in Nova Scotia for footage from Shaw’s Landing and other eateries.
The lobster roll, lobster chowder, fish and chips and more were sensational.
It’s well worth the trip to West Dover / Peggy’s Cove for authentic Maritime food from fishing communities.
One of my favorite moments from the trip was connecting with Chef Pamela Leonforde, proprietor of Café Caye Mangé in Yarmouth.
As photographer Joey Wong wrote: “La Carmina and I are always on the lookout for interesting food, and while we were in Yarmouth, Carmina discovered her cafe. She was so impressed by the quality, uniqueness, and Pam’s warmth that she brought me the next day to try more dishes and learn about Pamela’s journey and what inspired her to open a Caribbean plant-based spot in tiny Yarmouth.”
“It was so inspiring to hear how passionate Chef Pamela is about bringing healthy food to the community. During our chat, she told us her cafe is the only one of its kind outside of Halifax, and she often welcomes visitors from all over especially Americans arriving by ferry. Beyond running the cafe, Pamela also gives public talks to promote healthy cooking and nutrition, and she collaborates with the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre. It was a wonderful encounter with another ‘come-from-away’ who has made Nova Scotia her home.”
In an area of Nova Scotia that mainly serves hearty and fried food, I was delighted to dine on healthy, homemade meals (all vegan and made with natural ingredients, with many gluten-free options) at the peaceful Café Caye Mangé. Please come visit Chef Pamela and say hi for me — her rotating desserts and Caribbean black bean burger are a must-try!
We also adored The Emerald Light Kitchen + Bar in Shelburne, a chill waterfront town still untouched by mass tourism. We sat in the back patio of this picturesque green house to dine on flavorful local food made with care. Start with cocktails made from ingredients like strawberries and craft liquor by local Boatskeg Distilling Co.
We had a hard time choosing what to order as everything on the menu sounded so good! The garlic shrimp po’boy, Annapolis Blomidon brie salad, and seared scallops and shrimp (with sweet and spicy chorizo jam, cherry tomato, mixed greens, pickled red onion) were full of flavor and made from healthy, quality ingredients — as you can tell from the colors of the spread.
Still thinking about The Emerald Light’s signature tomato soup and grilled cheese… This restaurant in Shelburne is a total gem.
Nova Scotia has a rich Acadian history, so we were keen to try these distinct French settler dishes at La Cuisine Robicheau in Saulnierville. Tip: you can order a taste of rappie pie, a gelatinous potato dish with clam or chicken, for just a few bucks. It’s a must and so unexpectedly delicious!
Hot creamed lobster, pan fried haddock with lemon, and Nova Scotian white wines served in a homey space — what a heart-warming Acadian meal.
Finally, make your way to Wolfville wine country for stand-out cuisine at Juniper Food + Wine. Chef Geoff Hopgood sources ingredients from small Nova Scotian producers and pairs his beautiful, seasonal dishes with Canadian natural wines. (Had to get my scallops fix, gently seasoned and served with edible leaves and flowers.)
Juniper’s menu changes with the seasons and includes mouth-watering creations like baked potato beignets topped with bacon, sour cream, chives and smoked cheddar.
For more tips, watch my IG reel about all the food we tasted (and where we stayed) in Nova Scotia. You can also see my video about Halifax historic sites here.
Did you know the province has such a rich culture and culinary scene? Cheers to Visit Nova Scotia and HMI Creator Coast for making these travels possible.
PS – If you’re planning to visit Nova Scotia, here’s some inspiration for an itinerary. Read my previous blog post about my road trip to Annapolis, Yarmouth, Wolfville, Shelburne, Birchtown and other historic places in the province.
LA CARMINA
