Friday, April 12, 2019

City Walk 7: Pakistan Day at Quaide Azam Residency, Baghe Jinnah, Frere Hall and Governor House Sindh

Frere Hall - The Icon of Karachi's Colonial Heritage
Walk Route: ~4km
1. Frere Hall: Meeting point, parked our cars. 7:30am
2. Victoria Mansion: Breakfast at dhaba behind Karachi Gymkhana - Anda, Paratha, and Chai. 8:15am
3. Governor House Gardens. 9:15am. Closed at 9:00am so we couldn’t go inside! (Photos from the Previous Trip)
4. Baghe Jinnah: recently renovated with lush gardens and kids friendly. 9:30am
5. Bara Dari, Government Commerce College, PIDC, Pearl Continental, Moven Pick, Commissioner House, etc: Walked by and enjoyed the curated roadside gardens. 10:15am
6. Quaide Azam House Museum: Free guided tour of the exquisite classy interior. 10:30am
7. Frere Hall: Back to Frere Hall and visited the usual Sunday Book Fare. 12:00 pm
8. Jan’s Broast Saddar: Hadi treated us before leaving back for Singapore

Walk Route: Frere Hall - Victoria Mansion - Governor House - Baghe Jinnah - Bara Dari - PIDC - Quaide Azam Residency
Fawwara Chowk Near Zainab Market - Looked Different on a Calm Morning
We Started from Karachi's Influential Abdullah Haroon Road
Karachi's Colonial Heritage Near Metropol Junction
Victoria Mansion and Dhaba Breakfast
After ordering the breakfast, Hassan and I tried to find out Victoria Mansion taking clues from the Google Maps. However, at the given location was a 1970s building, courtyard of which is in very bad shape. Hassan, Hadi, and I finally concluded that Victoria Mansion must be the same building we have already seen on the main Abdullah Haroon Road while walking from the Frere Hall after crossing the Metropol Signal.

Is this the Victoria Mansion, plotted on Google Maps in that Vicinity?
Governor House Gardens: Opens 6am to 9am
When we reached, 09:10 am, it was already closed. So be there before 9 am if you want to see the curated privileged gardens recently opened for public. Photos from the previous walk in October 2018 (unpublished).
Governor House Sindh: Garden Are Now Accessible to "Ghareeb Awaam" 6-9 am Only
Govenor House Sindh - A Reminiscent of Our Colonial Past and Current Mindset
The Greener Grass
The Privileged Lone Tree
Cozy Corner Inside the Governor House
Cyclists Group (Critical Mass I Think) Invited by the PTI's Governor Imran Ismail Who Was Also Accompanying
In Short: Please Behave!
Baghe Jinnah
Gulshan-e-Jinnah, or Bagh-e-Jinnah, Old Pologround, Re-Inaugurated Every Now and Then!
Another 'Takhtee' of Inauguration by the then Governor Sindh Dr. Ishratul Ibad Serving His Publicity Only
Karachi's Characteristic Tree, Lignum Vitae, or Neelgam as popularly called, lined up in Bagh-e-Jinnah, Shaheen Comples Top Left
Lignum Vitae is Karachi's Indigenous Flower, called Neelgam also, Changes Color from Purple to White
Flood Lights Inside Baghe Jinnah
Baghe Jinnah is Recently Renovated So Better Visit That Before it is Back to its Default Condition
Marble Bench in Baghe Jinnah
Bara Daree Adjacent to Baghe Jinnah
Government Commerce College Karachi - Defunct Hyatt Hotel Peeking from Left
PIDC and Club Road
See the newspaper article if you like to know more about the abandoned structure, in the below photo, Hyatt Regency Hotel
https://www.dawn.com/news/129294

At PIDC Signal, Karcahi Minibus, Defunct Hyatt Regency, and an MBS Poster!
Karachi's Pearl Continental
Club Road Karachi, PIDC Building Visible
An Old Member of Karachi's Real Elite Club
Chief Secretary the Most Powerful Bureaucratic Position in the Province 
One of the Pioneer Members of the Real Elite Club
Tale of the Old Wise Tree Surviving the Crazy Modern Age
Dedicated to Those Who Know How to Use Katha and Choona :P
The Defiant Wire in Front of Karachi Gymkhana
Back to Metropole Junction
The Other Side of Metropole Junction - Quiet Only on Due to Sunday Morning

Qauide Azam House Museum
Quaide Azam House Museum - Jinnah's Personal Abode in Karachi
The Elaborate Entrance to Jinnah's Residence
The Building is Well Preserved With Original Furniture - Photography Not Allowed As Such
Jinnah is Not Only Father of Nation But a Fashion Inspiration Also At His Own Cost!
Met Yasir in the Walk Who Insisted on a Selfie with the Flag Apt for Pakistan Resolution Day!
Working and Sweating Hard to Feed Their Children