Sacred ship from ancient Egypt is undergoing restoration

by Sean McLachlan on

A sacred boat that lay hidden in the sands of the Sahara for 4,500 years will be restored and put on display, Egyptian authorities say.

The boat is one of a pair discovered buried next to the pyramid of the Pharaoh Khufu at Giza, also known as the Great Pyramid. They rested in long, stone-covered pits.

The first boat, shown here in this photo courtesy Berthold Werner, was excavated in 1954 and is already on display at the Solar Boat Museum at Giza. It’s considered one of the most remarkable finds from ancient Egypt and is similar in design to the feluccas that still ply the Nile today.

Japanese and Egyptian archaeologists are working together to gather samples of the second boat’s wood in order to understand how best to restore and preserve it. The current project to uncover and analyze the second boat has been going on since 1992. Last summer the painstaking task of excavating and removing the boat from its pit was completed.

According to tests, the boat is made of Lebanon cedar and is actually a little older than the reign of the Pharaoh Khufu, who ruled from 2551-2528 BC, according to the Japanese team. His name has been found inscribed on the boat.

It’s not certain that the two vessels were actually used, and may have only been symbolic boats to carry the pharaoh across the sky with the sun god Ra in the afterlife. Egyptians were often buried with little statues of servants, animals, soldiers, and even entire farms to serve them in the hereafter.

Museum Secrets learns the art of Viking warfare

by Jessica Festa on



When’s the last time you engaged in Viking sword fighting during your travels? Apparently, there are some people who are trained professionals in this skillful yet dangerous art form, like Kelle Longbow and his son Gernot. In fact, Museum Secrets got the chance to talk to the two fight choreographers and see the proper technique for Viking fighting in the exclusive video above.

According to BBC History, “Laws of the late Viking period show that all free men were expected to own weapons, and magnates were expected to provide them for their men.” Swords, battle axes, and spears were popular, with elaborately decorated swords symbolizing high status and wealth. Surprisingly, the Vikings had no professionally elected army, although the bonds between the men and their leaders were strong enough to hold them together. In the end, the goal was to capture or even kill the opposing leader.

Although the current sport uses dull blades and doesn’t involve death, the risk of injury is apparently still pretty high, as Viking warfare is based on hitting the enemy. Luckily, you can only strike on the upper arms, shoulders, torso, and knees to upper thighs.

To get a better idea of Viking warfare, check out the video above. Museum Secrets airs on Thursdays at 10 PM ET/PT on History Television Canada and for international viewers, more short videos are available at www.museumsecrets.tv.

Dim sum has a little somethin’-somethin’ for everyone

by Laurel Miller on

I realize that Chinese New Year ended on February 6th, but in an effort to establish that there’s no bad time to visit Hong Kong or eat Cantonese food, I decided that now would be a good time to write about dim sum (also, I’m a terrible procrastinator. Is it really almost St. Paddy’s Day?).

Hong Kong means different things to different people. Some go for the bargains on everything from cameras to couture, others for the booming nightlife and easy access to other parts of Asia. Others just…really like Jackie Chan movies. Whatever your reason, this former British colony is faring well since it’s 1997 return to China (technically the city and environs are considered a Special Administrative Region–SAR–of the mainland). While not as cheap as other Asian cities or destinations, Hong Kong offers plenty of attractions, food and travel options to suit all budgets.

To a little piglet such as myself, Hong Kong means dim sum. In a city positively obsessed with eating, dim sum is perhaps Hong Kong’s most beloved culinary ritual. Dim sum, which is variously translated as “touching or pointing to the heart,” refers to a variety of steamed or fried dumplings, rice flour rolls, and other small savory or sweet snacks. While Westerners have openly embraced dim sum where dumplings are concerned, some traditional dishes such as braised chicken feet (foong jow) and steamed beef tripe with black bean and chili sauce (ngow pahk yeep) aren’t quite the hits they are in China.

Although dim sum is Cantonese (regionally now referred to as Gaungzhou) in origin, today it reflects the multi-regional influences of Hunan, Shanghai, Beijing, and other provinces in various ingredients and styles, such as the inclusion of Hunan ham in a pan-fried root vegetable dish such as taro cake. There are over 2,000 types of dim sum; in addition to the aforementioned dumplings and rice flour rolls, there are spring rolls, pan-fried cakes, baked or steamed buns, crepes, steamed rice dishes wrapped in lotus leaves, bite-size meat dishes such as spare ribs or duck feet, soups, or sweet puddings of tofu with sauces ranging from black sesame to mango.

[Photo credit: Flickr user LifeSupercharger]Standard dim sum ingredients include dried Chinese mushrooms; sweet lotus seed or bean paste; water chestnuts; bamboo shoots; rice or wheat flour; glutinous rice; Chinese sausage (lop cheong); preserved pork belly; dried shrimp; chives; ginger; garlic; seafood; poultry; beef, and pork, although the Cantonese are widely known for eating “everything under the sun,” so few bits and pieces are off limits.

Dim sum is thought to have originated during the Sun Dynasty of 960-1280 AD, when drinking tea at teahouses became a popular custom after a day of labor in the fields. The term yum cha, or “to drink tea,” came to be synonymous with the supplementation of small snacks, or dim sum. Today, teahouses still abound throughout China, and Hong Kong has it’s fair share. These are gathering places where locals can gossip, drink, eat, and relax, although some teahouses–often in five-star hotels– cater to a more upscale clientele, or tourists.

Dim sum is meant to be consumed communally; diners pick what interests them from passing waiters who push carts loaded with bamboo steamers or domed platters- the serving dish will then be placed upon the table, and waiters will tally up the bill according to how many you accumulate. It’s not considered bad form to pick morsels communally from the central plate, although you should place your individual choices into your own bowl or plate to catch any drips, or break apart large items using your chopsticks. Dipping bowls of sweet soy sauce, hot mustard (guy lath) and chili sauce (lath ju yow) are used communally as well, although it’s also common to spoon some condiments onto your plate for personal use.

For an authentic teahouse experience in Hong Kong, although perhaps not the best dim sum, 79-year-old Luk Yu Teahouse in the city’s Central District is a historic landmark. Fiercely crotchety, white-smocked old woman bustle about the small, marble-floored teahouse, carrying battered aluminum trays filled with assorted buns and dumplings around their necks. Over the din of dining Cantonese businessmen and families, ceiling fans lazily circulate and hazy sunlight filters through stained glass windows. Don’t expect to know what you’re eating, however. During my visit, I was the only Westerner there, and as is the way with most dim sum restaurants, selection of dishes comes down to point and choose. My winning pick was a giant, fluffy cha sui bao, or steamed bun, stuffed with sweet barbecued pork.

The dim sum from the immensely popular Super Star Seafood Restaurant in Kowloon, known for it’s whimsical, animal-shaped dumplings is generally excellent. Super Star also offers hands-on dim sum cooking classes by arrangement, and it was there that I (in theory) learned how to pleat my har gow and sek tau yu (rockfish) dumplings. The shaping of dim sum dumplings is an art form that requires skill and dexterity, and the number and style of pleats or shape are specific to each type of dumpling; in the case of har gow, the “shark fin” pleat is said to replicate the shape of a gold ingot. Although my sek tau yu resembled malignant tumors rather than the goldfish they were meant to represent, the instructor was kind, and they tasted wonderful; the airy filling redolent of ginger and garlic, the dough tender and whisper-thin.

My favorite dim sum came from a much-loved Cantonese restaurant chain in Hong Kong called Tai Woo. At the Tsim Sha Tsui location, my meal began with several dim sum-style dishes, including a sweet, moist, steamed turnip cake (loh baak gao) studded with lop cheong and cheung fun, delicate, chewy rice noodle sheets rolled around pungent dried shrimp and chives, both accompanied by both peanut and hoisin sauces for dipping. Cheung fun can also be stuffed with whole shrimp, beef, or barbecued pork, and is often favored as a breakfast treat.

For the adventurous eater, Hong Kong has no shortage of culinary treasures to enjoy, be they in back alley eateries, near street markets, or in high-end restaurants. Explore them all, or enjoy the experience right here at home: every major North American city has its fair share of dim sum restaurants. Most notable for the quality of their dim sum are Vancouver, San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles. Check out this site; I can’t vouch for every restaurant on it, but I’ll stand by the Bay Area selections.

For more information on visiting Hong Kong, click here.

[Photo credits: Laurel Miller]

Hotel packages for art and culture enthusiasts

by Jessica Festa on

Hotel Villa Magna
Madrid, Spain

Hotel Village Magna is a 5-star luxury hotel located in the center of Madrid. Until December 2012, the property will be helping travelers get to know the art and culture of the city through their Prado Package, which includes a private guided tour of the Museo Nacional del Prado, a museum featuring fine European art from the 12th-19th centuries. Not only that, but once the tour is over visitors will be seated for a gourmet, butler-service meal in one of the exhibition rooms where live music will accompany breathtaking art and sumptuous cuisine. Once back at the hotel, the package treats guests to stay in the Royal Suite where unlimited Cava will be provided, as well as a daily buffet-breakfast for two, private car service to and from the museum and airport, and a late check-out of 4PM.

Packages start at $14,575 per night. Call +0034915 871 234 or E-mail villamagna@villamagna.es to book. The Midland Hotel
Manchester, England

The Midland Hotel is a comfortable hotel loved by the rich, royal, and famous, as it has been a favorite of members of royalty as well as celebrities for 100 years. The property, which is located near many worthwhile art and history museums, is also focused on culture. And to help guests experience culture in England they are offering a Theater Breaks package, which includes overnight accommodations, a 3-course meal at The Wyvern Restaurant, two theater tickets to either Opera House or Palace Theatre, and a full breakfast in the morning. Some upcoming shows to expect include Chicago, Blood Brother, the Lion King, Spamalot, Calendar Girls, and Phantom of the Opera.

Packages start at $330 per night based on double occupancy. E-mail midlandreservations@qhotels.co.uk to book.

Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts
Rome, Italy

The Rome Cavalieri is a 5-star luxury property and is walking distance from many of the city’s historical and cultural landmarks. To help guests experience Rome’s offerings, the hotel has joined with Italy’s Finest (IF) Lifestyle Management to offer exclusive city tours that explore art, culture, architecture, history, and neighborhoods. Some examples include “The Secrets of Via Giulia” tour that takes guests to places like the Church of San Giovanni dei Fiorentini, the Oratorio del Gonfalone, and the Palazzo Sacchetti, as well as the “Evolution of Luxury” tour that allows visitors to see the Opus Sectile from Porta Marina, the apartments of Princess Isabelle and the Ditta Medici, and a display of the celebrated Bulgari jewelers.

Moreover, the Rome Cavalieri has also partnered with MAXXI, the National Museum of XXI century arts, to offer guests a special package that includes accommodations, a buffet breakfast, two artsy cocktails, two entrance tickets to the museum with private transportation and VIP access, and an exhibition catalog.

For those interested in the lifestyle tours, they last approximately 3 hours and range from $790 to $1,975 based on two guests. E-mail ROMHI.Concierge@waldorfastoria.com to book. For those interested in the national museum package, rates depend on the time of year. Call +39 06 3509 2031 or E-mail RomeCavalieri.Reservations@waldorfastoria.com and mention P19MAX to book.

AYANA Resort and Spa
Bali, Indonesia

AYANA Resort and Spa is a luxury accommodation located high on a cliff overlooking Jimbaran Bay and the Indian Ocean. Because Indonesia is a melting pot of over 700 unique ethnic groups, AYANA wants to help their guests experience the unique culture of the area through their Bali Theater package. The property has partnered with the Devdan “Treasure of the Archipelago Show”, which takes viewers on a “high-energy visual tour of Indonesia’s cultural diversity, featuring a fusion of traditional and modern dance, aerial acrobatic performances, dazzling costumes and hi-tech special effects”. The package is a minimum of four nights and includes breakfast each morning, Aquatonic Pool experience, and tickets to the dance show at Bali Nusa Dua Theater.

Packages start at $285 per night, per person. E-mail reservation@ayanaresort.com to book.

The Langham Hungtington, Pasadena
Los Angeles, California

The Langham Huntington, Pasadena is a luxury hotel located on 23-acres at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. To help guests experience all the cultural offerings in Los Angeles, the property offers an Experience the Arts package that includes accommodations, valet parking, shuttle service to museums in the area, and two VIP museum passes valid at over 18 venues.

The package is valid until March 28, 2012, and saves guests over $250. Click here to book.

The Langham, Boston
Boston, Massachusetts

The Langham, Boston, is an elegant hotel located in downtown Boston near sites like The Freedom Trail, Post Office Square, the New England Aquarium, many colleges and universities, and great shopping, dining, and nightlife choices. To help guests experience the finer side of the city, the hotel is featuring an Experience the Arts package, which includes luxury accommodations, breakfast for two in Café Fleuri, use of fitness facilities and indoor pool at Chuan Body + Soul, and two tickets to the MFA Exhibition or the Institute of Contemporary Art.

Package rates vary but save guests $58 on average. Click here to book.

The Inn of the Five Graces
Santa Fe, New Mexico

The Inn of the Five Graces is a luxury bed and breakfast as well as an award winning food and wine accommodation located in the historic part of Santa Fe. In fact, the inn is located on the oldest inhabited street in the United States. This year will mark Santa Fe’s 400th anniversary, and to celebrate the inn is offering guests a Four Nights Stay in Culture and History package. The 4-night package includes breakfast, cheese and wine gatherings on select nights, a private walking tour of the historic downtown area, two passes to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, and a 4-day pass that will give guests access to five different museums including the New Mexico Museum of Art, the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, the Museum of International Folk Art, the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, and the Palace of the Governors which is home to the brand new New Mexico History Museum.

During low season, package rates start at $1,610. Call 866-992-0957 or E-mail guestservices@fivegraces to book.

Doubletree Hilton San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico

The Doubletree Hilton San Juan is a beachfront property located right on the Caribbean Sea. To help guests experience the finer side of Puerto Rico, they are offering an Art and Culture package, which includes complimentary breakfast and complimentary passes to the Puerto Rico Museum of Art. The package is also great because it is targeted at couples as well as families, so children can enjoy an enriching experience with their parents.

Packages start at $139 per night. Call 787-721-3118 to book.

Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort
Stann Creek, Belize

The Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort is a secluded boutique accommodation located on the central coast of Belize. To help recognize the end of the Mayan Long Calendar in December, 2012, the property is featuring an array of Mayan Experience packages, which include 7 nights beachfront accommodation, meals, air transfers, use of bikes and kayaks, and a selection of Mayan experiences, including:

  • Climbing the pyramids at Xunantunich and Cahel Pech
  • Visiting Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave to see pottery shards and skeletons
  • Snorkeling the Barrier Reef for sting rays whose spines were used in bloodletting ceremonies
  • Exploring the unexcavated Mayflower Maya site in the rainforest and trekking to Antelope Falls
  • Discovering the Lubaantun and Nim Li Punit Mayan ruins and eating lunch
    with a local Mayan family

Packages start at $2,099 per person. Call 877-552-3483 or E-mail info@hamanasi.com to book.