

Nafisa
Nafisa (نفیسه) means precious and is a popular name among Iranians/Persians. During the 1980s, I knew a girl in Iran named Nafisa who lived in my childhood neighbourhood in the north of Tehran. I did not expect to see the same name next to a series of outstanding artworks in a gallery in Bowral, Australia, 40 years later.
Last Saturday, we decided to go on a short trip to Bowral, a long overdue plan to visit the beautiful Southern Highlands of NSW that is only a 2-hour drive from Canberra.
The most fascinating moments in my life have happened just like this one out of the blue. There was a time when I had to handle some administrative work related to our immigration procedure at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the heart of Tehran. Spurred by my usual curiosity, I found my way to the nearby Malek Museum. This incident led to my acquaintance with Malek’s daughter, which resulted in many other memorable adventures, including an invitation to one of their incredible 300-year-old residences from the Safavid dynasty in Isfahan.
Continue reading A mesmerising encounter in the Southern Highlands!













