#3 Travel Notes: Mount Ararat
โถ๏ธ Borders are weird sometimes. Mount Ararat is the national symbol of ๐ฆ๐ฒArmenia although it is entirely in ๐น๐ทTurkey. The sight of the mountain is truly impressive and graces (=make sth more attractive) the Yerevan cityscape (=landscape of a city), especially when there is less air pollution. The mountain is 5,137 metres high. Read more about it on Wikipedia.
๐@afandi_english๐ #travel #armenia #turkey
โถ๏ธ Borders are weird sometimes. Mount Ararat is the national symbol of ๐ฆ๐ฒArmenia although it is entirely in ๐น๐ทTurkey. The sight of the mountain is truly impressive and graces (=make sth more attractive) the Yerevan cityscape (=landscape of a city), especially when there is less air pollution. The mountain is 5,137 metres high. Read more about it on Wikipedia.
๐@afandi_english๐ #travel #armenia #turkey
#81 Travelogue Armenia & Georgia: European Cities
โถ๏ธ In ๐ฆ๐ฒYerevan and ๐ฌ๐ชTbilisi I somehow felt like I was in Europe. But what makes a city feel European actually?
Pedestrians rule
European cities are walkable and as a pedestrian you have the power. Driving a car is a bad idea because roads are narrow, traffic is maze of traffic lights, zebra crossings and one-way roads, and finding somewhere to park your car is a major headache.
Art for the sake of art
Works of art in public places donโt have a purpose to honour the state, glorify heroes or celebrate the nation. Itโs just art that makes a place more interesting and brings a smile to your face.
Old buildings
There is a sense that modern-day architecture is efficient but soulless. Old buildings are protected by law and are carefully maintained. They are usually much more expensive to buy or rent than new buildings.
๐@afandi_english๐ #travel #armenia #georgia
โถ๏ธ In ๐ฆ๐ฒYerevan and ๐ฌ๐ชTbilisi I somehow felt like I was in Europe. But what makes a city feel European actually?
Pedestrians rule
European cities are walkable and as a pedestrian you have the power. Driving a car is a bad idea because roads are narrow, traffic is maze of traffic lights, zebra crossings and one-way roads, and finding somewhere to park your car is a major headache.
Art for the sake of art
Works of art in public places donโt have a purpose to honour the state, glorify heroes or celebrate the nation. Itโs just art that makes a place more interesting and brings a smile to your face.
Old buildings
There is a sense that modern-day architecture is efficient but soulless. Old buildings are protected by law and are carefully maintained. They are usually much more expensive to buy or rent than new buildings.
๐@afandi_english๐ #travel #armenia #georgia
#4 Travel Notes: Culinary journey to ๐ฆ๐ฒArmenia
โถ๏ธ New country, new food! Okay, I didnโt try all of these but which one would you like to try? I have three foods and three drinks for you:
1. Khinkali โ dumplings filled with meat or cheese or both or other stuff. You hold them at the knob of dough which you shouldnโt eat.
2. Cheese bags โ made of cheese with a cheese string and a cheese filling.
3. Chicken feet โ I thought only Chinese people were into that.
4. Cones compote โ something different!
5. Tesla โ Armeniaโs favourite energy drink.
6. Fizzy basil drink โ why are Uzbeks doing so little with all their basil?
๐@afandi_english๐ #travel #armenia
โถ๏ธ New country, new food! Okay, I didnโt try all of these but which one would you like to try? I have three foods and three drinks for you:
1. Khinkali โ dumplings filled with meat or cheese or both or other stuff. You hold them at the knob of dough which you shouldnโt eat.
2. Cheese bags โ made of cheese with a cheese string and a cheese filling.
3. Chicken feet โ I thought only Chinese people were into that.
4. Cones compote โ something different!
5. Tesla โ Armeniaโs favourite energy drink.
6. Fizzy basil drink โ why are Uzbeks doing so little with all their basil?
๐@afandi_english๐ #travel #armenia
#5 Travel Notes: Christian Armenia
โถ๏ธ Think what you want about religion but I find it fascinating to observe people at their most spiritual moments. ๐ฆ๐ฒArmenia is situated in the mountains. Mountain dwellers (=people who live in the mountains) around the world have always been more likely to preserve (=keep) ancient traditions and not follow current changes around them. Visiting an Armenian church or monastery (=religious building where monks or nuns live) therefore feels a little bit like travelling through time as well. It is quite unlike anything you find in the hustle and bustle (=noise and activity of a crowded place) of Europe or America.
๐@afandi_english๐ #travel #armenia
โถ๏ธ Think what you want about religion but I find it fascinating to observe people at their most spiritual moments. ๐ฆ๐ฒArmenia is situated in the mountains. Mountain dwellers (=people who live in the mountains) around the world have always been more likely to preserve (=keep) ancient traditions and not follow current changes around them. Visiting an Armenian church or monastery (=religious building where monks or nuns live) therefore feels a little bit like travelling through time as well. It is quite unlike anything you find in the hustle and bustle (=noise and activity of a crowded place) of Europe or America.
๐@afandi_english๐ #travel #armenia
#82 Travelogue Georgia: Ukraine is in Georgia
โถ๏ธ Everyone talks about Ukraine, so letโs do that as well! Many people support Ukraine but what you can see in ๐ฌ๐ชGeorgia is really on another level. How come?
A troubled history
Despite being the home country of Stalin, Georgians see themselves as victims of Russian aggression. Thatโs mainly because Russia is controlling the two breakaway republics inside the country โ Abkhasia and Southern Ossetia โ and Georgians see how Russia is trying to do the same in Ukraine.
Wannabe Western
Georgia is somehow in Asia but it feels like Europe and Georgians are eager to join the EU. They are also heavily pro-American. Being against Russia is one way of expressing this. And as in Europe itโs also fashionable to show support for Ukraine even when you donโt care about it deeply.
Funny situation: A random young guy in Tbilisi comes up to us to ask where we are from. So we ask him back and the answer is โฆ? โ โIโm from f***ing Russia.โ ๐ณ
๐@afandi_english๐ #travel #georgia
โถ๏ธ Everyone talks about Ukraine, so letโs do that as well! Many people support Ukraine but what you can see in ๐ฌ๐ชGeorgia is really on another level. How come?
A troubled history
Despite being the home country of Stalin, Georgians see themselves as victims of Russian aggression. Thatโs mainly because Russia is controlling the two breakaway republics inside the country โ Abkhasia and Southern Ossetia โ and Georgians see how Russia is trying to do the same in Ukraine.
Wannabe Western
Georgia is somehow in Asia but it feels like Europe and Georgians are eager to join the EU. They are also heavily pro-American. Being against Russia is one way of expressing this. And as in Europe itโs also fashionable to show support for Ukraine even when you donโt care about it deeply.
Funny situation: A random young guy in Tbilisi comes up to us to ask where we are from. So we ask him back and the answer is โฆ? โ โIโm from f***ing Russia.โ ๐ณ
๐@afandi_english๐ #travel #georgia
#6 Travel Notes: Old Town Tbilisi
โถ๏ธ Letโs take a stroll (=take a walk) through the less polished (=made shiny and beautiful, esp. shoes) neighbourhoods of ๐ฌ๐ชGeorgiaโs capital Tbilisi.
๐@afandi_english๐ #travel #georgia
โถ๏ธ Letโs take a stroll (=take a walk) through the less polished (=made shiny and beautiful, esp. shoes) neighbourhoods of ๐ฌ๐ชGeorgiaโs capital Tbilisi.
๐@afandi_english๐ #travel #georgia