#What is the best time to visit Armenia?

[lionheartlr]

Discover Armenia: A Travel Guide to the Land of History and Hospitality

Armenia, nestled in the South Caucasus region, is a country of ancient history, stunning landscapes, and rich cultural heritage. With its friendly locals and a blend of traditional and modern experiences, Armenia offers an unforgettable travel adventure. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know for a perfect trip to this enchanting land. Brief History of Armenia Armenia…

[pedripics]

Pedri via Residency - May 28, 2024

What is something you still want to accomplish in life? - " A lot of things. I am still very young or do you already want to kill me?"

Favourite teammate at Barça? - "I am close with the group in general but Ferran"

Do you play any instruments? or would you like to learn how to play one? - "Better not for the sake of the rest of the people. I like to listen to music but not much else" Favourite series or movie? - "Mi reno de peluche and the one about chapo guzman; favourite favourite is Prison Break and La que se avecina"

Do you know anything about Armenia? - "not too much, to be honest… but recently a very nice driver took me to a shooting was from there. His name was Ara"

Favourite moment of the season? - "It wasn't the best season. On a personal level, I would say the brace."

How do you deal with criticism? - "I try to stay out of it, although it's not always possible, of course... you have to try and keep going and keep believing in yourself"

How do you feel about being able to play for Spain after such a long time? - "Very happy. I haven't been able to play for Spain for a long time. Hopefully we will have great EUROs and also a great 24/25 season with Barça"

How did you feel after the brace? - "crazyyyyy"

"I always try to stop and sign, because I remember when I asked for signatures as a kid"

Plans for the summer? - "I hope to go on vacation, but in a month and a half… that will mean that we go far in the euro with the national team"

Have you eaten German food before? - "Yesss... a member of my marketing team is German and he made us German food a long time ago, with sausages and so on"

How is your English? - "I still have to improve a lot. Give me a few months and I will answer in English"

Do you miss doing anything in your daily life? - "I can't complain. I like to live in peace"

Would you like to go to China? - "Of course, yes. Althpugh in the season there is not really time for anything and during holidays I prefer to stay close and rest. Let's see if we ever have a tour in China"

How many trophies have you won? - "With Barça, La Liga, Copa and Supercopa"

Do you feel ready for the EUROs? - "Siiii"

5 UCL Trophies or a World Cup? - "I don't want to choose. I would like to win it all"

Would you like to play against Portugal in the EUROs final? - "Sure. As long as we play in the final, I don't care against who it is"

Pele or Maradona? - "Maradona... Because he played for Barça and my father told me about him when I was younger. I remember the day he died very well because it was my 18th birthday"

Have you been to New York? - "Yes"

Favourite team to play against? - "Obviously Barça" (he did NOT understand that question lmaooo back to duolingo it is)

Visit Uruguay? You have a lot of fans here - "Ronald also told me once... We'll have to listen to him, because otherwise he gets angry"

How was it going to the Spanish GP in 2022? Are you going this year? - "It was a crazy experience. I don't think I can go this year because it clashes with the EUROs"

Do you like going to concerts? - "I haven't been to many, honestly... I have yet to go to one of Quevedo's. And last year they invited me from Spotify to see Coldplay in Barcelona but in the end I didn't go and I regretted it a little. Teammates went and they love it" (who tf turns down coldplay tickets??? 😭)

Your dad is a great person. - "The best"

How do you feel about receiving so much love? - "Very proud and privileged"

Do you want to score for Spain during the EUROs? - "Clarooo. Let's see if I can make it happen, because I haven't scored for Spain yet"

Red or blue? - "Azulgrana"

Do you like to cook? - "I'm not very good at cooking... My brother and mother are much better"

Pedri or Pedro? - "Pedri... Pedro sounds strange to me. From a young age they already called me Pedri, because there was another boy in the team whose name was Pedro and it was to differentiate us... and everyone calls me Pedri"

What do you think of Alexia, Aitana and Marta? - "They are top footballers!"

Is it difficult to have a 'normal' life? - "It's not easy, but mine doesn't change that much because I really like to be quiet and at home"

Only fish or only meat? - "I prefer meat... but for nutrition, fish"

When you were a kid did you make trouble in class? - "I was more of a quite kid"

Who do you think will win the Golden Boy award? - "Well, I hope a Barça teammate. Lamine, and if not Cubarsi"

What inspires you to perform at such a high level on the field? - "I do what I like the most"

What do you think of your season at Barça this year? - "I was saying this the other day. It hasn't been an easy season and I hope the next one will be much better in every single way and we will win titles"

Have you ever wished to have a sister? - "My mother always wanted to have a daughter, but in the end she had to settle for Fer and me hahaha"

How do you feel for the EUROs? - "Very good. Better and better"

Blue or Black? - "Blue"

[mariacallous]

AGDAM, AZERBAIJAN—In a clearing between overgrown grasses, Khalid Zulfugarov opens a stack of wooden crates, each filled with bright chunks of metal that glint in the winter sun. There are shells, anti-tank mines, and cluster bombs with tail fins. Nearby, next to a crater blown in the earth, a 20-liter water jug is filled with thousands of bullet casings, piled together like spare change, the collected relics of a conflict that has ravaged this land for 30 years.

Zulfugarov, the head of an Azerbaijani mine disposal team, is picking through his contaminated homeland, sifting through the soil with sniffer dogs and metal detectors to find each tiny, potentially deadly fragment. As he does so, his memories of Karabakh rush back.

“This is where I was born. I studied here; I fought with my friends,” he says.

His ancestral village is Nuzgar, which is located 50 miles south of Agdam, the area that he is currently clearing. It was once a bucolic settlement on the fertile lowlands of the southern Caucasus, mostly home to farmers who tended the rich, arable land. During Soviet times, it was part of the Nagorno-Karabakh oblast, home to ethnic Armenians and Azeris such as Zulfugarov, as well as the vineyards that produced the Soviet Union’s best-known cheap wine.

But when communism collapsed, so did the peace in Karabakh. Newly independent Armenia and Azerbaijan fought over the territory. Neighbors became enemies, and as Armenian paramilitaries gained control, Karabakh’s entire population of 700,000 Azeris fled.

For the next three decades, Nagorno-Karabakh was governed by an ethnic Armenian administration as the Republic of Artsakh, an unrecognized country. Its shrunken, monoethnic population lived up on the mountains at its heart. Down on the plains, the abandoned Azeri towns and villages were looted and closed off to the world, becoming a buffer zone between Artsakh and Azerbaijan. A de facto 185-mile border was carved into the landscape with berms, barbed wire, and land mines. What was once vineyards became a barren no-man’s land.

In 1993, Zulfugarov, then a 19-year-old Azerbaijani conscript, fled Karabakh to Azerbaijan proper. There, he worked in construction before joining the national demining agency. For the past three years, he has been clearing the land just miles away from his home village of Nuzgar, yet he is still unable to return.

In 2020, after 26 years of relatively frozen conflict, Karabakh’s war reignited. Azerbaijan had turned into a gas-rich autocracy, and grievances over its loss of Karabakh had become central to its national story. Baku wagered that the geopolitical timing was right, and over the first nine months of 2020, it pumped up its military arsenal with $123 million of Turkish-made defense and aviation equipment. On Sept. 27, Baku launched a surprise offensive and recaptured the lowlands. Three years later, it launched a second offensive and seized the main city, Stepanakert, too. Nearly all of the region’s entire ethnically Armenian population fled, just as the Azeris had three decades earlier.

On Jan. 1 of this year, the Republic of Artsakh officially ceased to exist. The land that was once Nagorno-Karabakh is now fully controlled by Azerbaijan.

War and occupation have stripped the landscape of life and color; the ruins of Azeri villages are now the same beige-grey as the scrubby undergrowth, the once-fertile soil riddled with metal from tanks, shells, and bullets. The pomegranate trees are among the few things that survived from the old times, bearing yearly fruit that hangs unpicked until it bursts blood-red.

The area remains closed to the public, but Foreign Policy was granted access by the Azerbaijani government. (We were not given permission to visit some areas we requested, and Stepanakert is currently closed to foreign media.) We spent five days in the region, being escorted through a huge reconstruction project unfolding behind a curtain of checkpoints: demining sites, new villages, roads and airports, and reforestation projects, all being readied for former residents to return.

The fighting in Karabakh is now over, and the Republic of Artsakh is no more. But a new conflict—this time, centered on the region’s landscape and the scars that war has inflicted on it—is now underway.

Since the beginning, nature has been both a victim to and a weapon of Karabakh’s conflict.

Nagorno-Karabakh is the water source for much of the southern Caucasus. Tributaries of the major Aras, Kura, and Tatar rivers run through the region’s mountains and down to the plains of Azerbaijan. The Soviet-built Sarsang reservoir—once the biggest in the region—fell under the control of Artsakh in 1993. In September 2013, Baku filed a case with the Council of Europe, complaining that Artsakh was misusing Sarsang and intentionally depriving 400,000 people in Azerbaijan’s border regions of water. Baku’s case succeeded: In January 2016, the council called for Armenian forces to withdraw from the area around Sarsang to allow international teams to assess and repair critical infrastructure.

When Karabakh’s hot war reignited in September 2020, the landscape quickly became a focus of misinformation. Huge forest fires broke out on the front lines in the far north and southwest of the territory and close to Stepanakert. Fires are common in conflict, but these blazes were immediately weaponized. Azeri social media accounts accused Armenians of torching the trees as they fled the advancing Azerbaijani army. Armenian accounts accused Azerbaijani forces of starting the fires with incendiary weapons to provide cover for their offensive.

“Nowhere else has environmental misinformation been used at this level. It’s just off the scale,” said Eoghan Darbyshire, a researcher at the U.K.-based Conflict and Environment Observatory. He analyzed open-source satellite imagery and climate data and found that while the fires were almost certainly related to the conflict, proving who had started them and how was far stickier than the absolutist social media posts suggested.

By November 2020, Azerbaijan had recaptured the Karabakh plains, and Artsakh conceded the loss. Stepanakert remained in Armenian hands, while the rest of the territory was left with Azerbaijan. Russian and Turkish peacekeepers monitored the cease-fire. Although combat was over, the environmental dispute only intensified.

Following the cease-fire, Azeris began trickling back to the Karabakh plains to visit their homes for the first time in three decades, only to realize that the whole area had changed. The lush hilltop forests had been hacked away, and the water in the once-clear streams smelled putrid. Agdam’s ancient Oriental plane trees, which had been protected as state monuments since Soviet times, had been felled, and their roots were scorched. Azerbaijani officials say that Artsakh’s government caused the destruction—through some combination of pillaging Karabakh’s hardwood forests, opening a gold mine that leached pollutants into the water, and simple vandalism.

In March 2022, Azerbaijan’s government invited the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to assess the Karabakh plains. The UNEP documented 2,000-year-old trees felled, once-cultivated farmland abandoned, 52 new quarries or mines opened under Armenian administration, and extremely high levels of heavy metals in the Okhchuchay River, which flows from Karabakh to Azerbaijan.

The report that the program produced was meant to be for internal use only, but the Azerbaijani government released it publicly, using it as the basis for a new legal challenge. In January 2023, Azerbaijan announced that it would be filing another case against Armenia with the Council of Europe, this time alleging breaches of the Bern Convention, which governs the conservation of European natural habitats and wildlife.

Meanwhile, in December 2022, Azerbaijani eco-activists began blockading Stepanakert with pickets on the Lachin Corridor, the sole road running from the rump state of Artsakh to Armenia proper. Their complaints were the same as those made by the government: that Artsakh was illegally destroying Karabakh’s habitats. Baku said the protests were independently organized, and media organizations connected to the Azerbaijani state invited journalists in to report. Baku also engaged public relations firms to spread the news of the Bern arbitration.

In April 2023, Azerbaijan built a permanent military checkpoint on Lachin, cutting off all traffic in and out of Stepanakert—as well as the city’s gas and electricity cables. For nine months, Artsakh relied solely on the Sarsang dam to generate electricity. As a result, the reservoir, which feeds springs to the Tatar River and supports migratory birds, dropped to critically low levels.

Foreign Policy requested but was not granted access to the reservoir, but photographs shared with FP show the reservoir’s decline over the course of 2023. Steppes of brown banks drop sharply to the new water level, some 20 meters (65 feet) below what it was before the blockade. The ground left behind is sticky and infertile.

Karabakh’s environment is now a cornerstone of Azerbaijan’s image campaign as it pushes to reconstruct and repopulate the region as quickly as possible. At the COP28 U.N. climate conference in Dubai in November 2023, Baku showcased its plans for the reconstruction of Karabakh from a display in its wood-trimmed pavilion, decorated with pictures of tranquil lakes and mountains.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has promised that new hydroelectric dams in the region will be generating 270 megawatts by the end of this year, and that a solar farm capable of generating 240 megawatts will soon begin construction. New houses are being fitted with solar panels, and dams and climate-monitoring stations are undergoing restoration. Huge replantation projects are already underway to regrow lost forests, and native species, such as the Eurasian gazelle, are being reintroduced after decades of localized extinction. Baku has pledged to prioritize environmental and climate concerns during this process and has committed to a net-zero carbon emissions target in Karabakh by 2050, when the reconstruction is expected to be completed. Eventually, Aliyev says, Karabakh will turn Azerbaijan into an exporter of green energy.

“The great return will be a green return. We want to focus on the future, what we can improve,” Umayra Taghiyeva, Azerbaijan’s deputy minister for ecology and natural resources, told Foreign Policy.

In reality, Azerbaijan’s environmental imperatives are clashing with political and economic ones. On the ground, the region is mostly a construction site as new villages and towns, thousands of miles of roads and railways, and even two new airports are being built from scratch. Convoys of diggers chug through the ever-expanding arteries of this newly disturbed land, kicking up dust and petrol fumes.

In Agdam, they are starting to claw down the pomegranate trees to make way for the newly laid-out city. According to UNEP reports, waste from the demolition of old buildings is being poured into landfills, and the construction of new roads is destroying even more of Karabakh’s forests.

Much of what has been built already is Potemkin-like. Brand-new buildings, conference halls, and village squares are silent and underused—a jarring sight against the ruins of the old settlements. The first batch of former residents who have returned and resettled have been willing to withstand a strange isolation for the prize of coming home. Their rebuilt villages lie at the end of the ruler-straight new highways, about a four hours’ drive from Baku. The populations are still tiny—in the thousands overall. Most places, however, are still mined; independent experts and the Azerbaijani government have estimated that more than 1 million mines have been laid in the area. As of April 2023, only 7 percent of the contaminated land had been cleared.

The only commercial flights into the new airports thus far are transporting delegations from Turkey—one of Aliyev’s biggest allies—whose constructors have won major contracts in Karabakh. The construction company Kalyon, which is controlled by in-laws of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is building roads, while another in-law has won the contract to build an agropark—part of Baku’s ambitions to turn the once-agricultural region into a high-tech farming hub.

Baku will ramp up its green public relations drive later this year when it hosts COP29—a bid that it won with Armenian backing. Unsurprisingly, given that Azerbaijan is also a major petrochemicals producer, some see this public commitment to sustainability as little more than lip service. Its ambitious promises in Karabakh will undoubtedly be scrutinized under the spotlight.

“It is one of the more powerful examples of state greenwashing. In a different world they could create a new national park, and create employment through environmental projects and tourism,” Darbyshire said.

Aliyev has gained popularity from his victory in Karabakh and its reconstruction; many of the region’s newly returned residents proudly showed Foreign Policy their photos with the president. Today, however, there is almost no political opposition left in Azerbaijan, and critics of the war tend to live abroad in exile. But in less guarded moments, many Azeris working in Karabakh raise an amused eyebrow at the stark differences between the old land and the new.

Demining is expected to take decades, and full reconstruction—let alone rehabilitating the landscape—will take longer still. By the time the region is a fully functioning part of Azerbaijan, it will likely be unrecognizable from the idyllic place where Zulfugarov grew up. Reconstruction is yet to start in Nuzgar, which is still inaccessible, but he is certain that he will move back someday.

“I don’t think of what happened here, I think of what it will become,” he says, gesturing to the diggers working on the horizon. “In five or 10 years, this can be one of the most beautiful places.”

[lizhengcn]

Gay trip in Caucasus countries

Georgia & Armenia, the Caucasus gay trip

Tbilisi, Georgia

For some personal reasons, I flied to Tbilisi from Shanghai on Mar. 10.

When I arrived at the immigration center of Georgia, the staff checked my passport more than 15 minutes than other passengers. I assumed that my photo on the new passport looks like an international the wanted offender.

I was allowed to enter Georgia after 20 minutes' passport check.

The airport pickup driver I booked online seemed impatient and didn't help me to unload my luggage when we arrived at my hotel.

The next evening I went to a chic restaurant called HOLY which is located in a chic area near their city center metro station Rustaveli.

Many local young chic people like hanging out here. If you'd like to see beautiful young local here is a good place to go.

I ordered a salad and main dish, with a bottled juice cost me 72 lari.

After the dinner, I went to 2 gay bars searched from Google. One is SUCCESS bar which is too small for me, I stayed there for 3 minutes and left. The other is called Cafe Gallery, they charged me 20 lari for ticket and it's around 1 am, only few guys came and I left at 1:30 pm.

So the first Saturday night in Tbilisi was boring except that I saw a guard guy in the next-door bar who is cute as hell.

Before I came to Tbilisi, I met a guy Ivan online who owns a real estate website in Georgia. We talked a lot through WhatsApp and I promised to treat him a dinner when I came to Georgia for his kindness of telling me so much useful info about Georgia.

The next day we met at a nice old-fashioned restaurant called Margalita which Ivan reserved. Ivan was born in Ukraine with a Portugal nationality. During the lunch, I found Ivan is a very nice guy with a warm heart. He tried to pay the bill but I insisted and he tipped the waiter when we left.

After lunch, Ivan suggested he'd show me around some nice places of Tbilisi. We went to the Stamba hotel bookstore, vake park, turtle lake on a mountain.

When we finished the day-trip, Ivan booked a taxi for me to my hotel.

I saw a basketball court near my hotel, so when I finished dinner I went to the court to play basketball with the local boys.

The boys on the court were so friendly and passionate to me. Everyone shook hands with me even they didn't speak English much.

There is a boy aged 20-30s who plays basketball so well with beautiful movements and is my dream type. He was so kind to pass the balls to me but I didn't play well that evening. The next day I brought him a bottle of water.

Ivan invited me to a local band live concert at cafe 1890 in the second Friday evening since my arrival.

During the concert I suggested we should go to a popular gay bar that I heard from a guy on Grindr. Ivan, his wife Olga and his employee Vlad and I went to the gay bar UNHOLY which was called BAR34 before.

We were a bit early and there were few guys in the bar. Best time is from 12am-3am at weekend nights.

When we were seated in a sofa, a white boy sat next to me. His name is Andrew and he's from Noway and in his master course in Greece.

We did have a great time there especially that Olga enjoyed dancing with me at the dance floor.

The next morning Andrew sent an e-mail to me saying "Did you suck my cock at the darkroom?".

What the fuck? I even didn't notice there was a darkroom for sex in the bar.

Andrew told me in another e-mail saying, you can suck 10 cocks in 30 minutes in the darkroom. Last night he sucked one cock and other 3 cocks nearby cum to his mouth, meanwhile he cum to a guy's mouth and face.

Maybe Andrew was there only for fun, not like me. I came to the bar to look for a boyfriend.

Apr. 4th, the weather was perfect, I felt so good in the morning and just wanna go out to chill.

My plan was to visit the gay friendly sulfur bathhouse called QUEEN bath. When I arrived at the bath address I found a cozy restaurant nearby. I decided to have a lunch and then I could stay in the bath for a whole afternoon.

I received a message from Grindr when I finished my lunch. The guy named George (80% Georgian boys called George) sent me both his face and nude pictures which I liked a lot. I invited him to join me to go the QUEEN bath together and he said he'll come in 30 mins.

George showed up after 30 mins and we came to the bathhouse together. I bought 2 tickets for us, the facility of the bathhouse is simple and crude but the sulfur spring is the same as the luxury baths nearby.

After the shower and 10 mins bath in the sulfur pool we went into the sauna together.

George has a hairy body and a beautiful cock.

I touched his cock and unwrapped his foreskin, his pink and beautiful glans showed up. My hands was shaking and my cock was hard as rock with the prostatic fluid coming out from my penis.

Yerevan, Armenia

Apr. 17 was a big day in my caucasus trip. A guy named Jack tapped me on Grindr and I tapped back. After a while he sent his nudes and it made me horny. I spent 2 hours walking and enjoying the street singers' performances on the North Avenue which is the most popular street in Yerevan. I tipped 15 dollars to each singer which are my favorites.

When I was back to my hotel I felt so horny because I hadn't wanked more than 3 weeks. I sent a message to Jack asking him if he'd like to be fucked. He said yes because his roommate wasn't home.

I took a taxi and arrived at his apartment within 15 minutes.

Jack opened the door and his cat Furla came to the door to welcome me. Jack is cute with a fit hairy body and seemed very sweet.

I was seated in the sofa and Furla jumped onto my legs. My cock had been hard since I came into Jack's apartment.

Before I tried to touch Jack's hairy arms, Jack kissed me while Furla was playing with us.

Jack led me to his bedroom and the light was soft. The atmosphere was sexy and romantic.

Jack took my tops off and I took off my pants, letting my hard penis out.

Jack kneeled down on his knees and began to suck my cock. His sucking was so comfortable and soft which I enjoyed very much. I touched his hair and his shoulders during his sucking.

Then we went to the bed, we cuddled and kissed each other. I was sucking his big cock and touching his beautiful hairy body and rimming his ass. He turned his pose from lying to a doggy style so that I could rim his ass more comfortably.

He passed me a condom and I wore it. Jack sat his ass on my hard cock and twisted his body on mine. It was amazing.

With Jack's body up and down on my cock, he cum onto my belly and moved his ass from my cock.

Then he lay in my arms, rimming my nipples, I masturbated to cum.

(to be continued)

#Georgia gay life#Tbilisi gay bar#Tbilisi gay sauna#Armenia gay life#Grindr hook up#Tbilisi gay bath#gay#gay travel#gay turist

Blaze

1 note

[visa166]

Your Complete Guide to Emirates Visa Types for Armenia Citizens 

Emirates Visa for Armenian Citizens

You were knowing how to get an Emirates visa from Armeniaplanning a trip to the UAE. Whether you’re traveling for fun, business, or to see family, the process is straightforward with some preparation. This guide will help you understand how to apply for an Emirates visa from Armenia, covering everything you need for a smooth application.

Emirates Visa Types for Armenia Citizens 

Business Visa: For those visiting for business or conferences. This visa allows a single entry for 14 days and is valid for 58 days.

Tourist Visa: This is the most common type for travelers wanting to explore the UAE. You can choose a 30-day or 60-day visa for single or many entries.

Leisure Visa: This 90-day visa is great for longer stays, perfect for visiting Dubai with family. Note that it allows only one entry.

Transit Visa: If you're stopping in the UAE on your way to another country, this visa lets you stay for up to 48 or 96 hours to explore.

Required Documents for the Emirates Visa

Here are the documents you need:

Passport: A photocopy of your valid passport, which should be valid for at least 6 months.

Passport Photo: A recent colored passport-size photo with a white background.

Identification: A copy of your PAN Card.

Travel Itinerary: Round-trip flight tickets and your travel plan.

Financial Proof: Recent bank statements or salary slips to show you can support yourself during your stay.

National ID: If you’re a citizen of Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, or Pakistan living in Armenia, you need to show your national ID.

Application Form: Complete the online visa application form found on the official Emirates Visa website.

How to Apply for an Emirates Visa from Armenia

Follow these steps for a smooth application process:

Complete the Application:

Choose your country and citizenship.

Select the type of visa.

Fill out the application and upload your documents.

Pay the Visa Fee:

Choose a payment method (PayPal, credit card, or debit card).

After payment, you’ll receive an application ID and confirmation email.

Get Your E-Visa:

You can check your visa status online.

Once approved, download your e-visa.

Emirates Visa Costs for Armenian Citizens (2024)

Visa fees vary depending on the type and length of stay. It’s important to stay updated on current fees to plan your budget. Remember, these costs can change.

Best Time to Visit the Emirates Visa for Armenian Citizens

The best time to visit is between November and March when the weather is cooler (20°C to 30°C). This is perfect for outdoor activities like visiting the Burj Khalifa, desert safaris, and beach trips. Many festivals also take place during these months, adding to the experience.

Conclusion

Getting an Emirates Visa Types for Armenia Citizensis easy if you know what to do. To avoid last-minute issues, apply early and ensure you have all the required documents. Keep track of costs and processing times, and reach out for help if needed. Enjoy your trip to the Emirates!

[domi-scu]

Day off, hallelujah!

The plan was to start with some shopping at Vernissage and then look at the main touristy parts of Yerevan. To begin with, I forgot my hat in the room so I was very aware I’m risking a heatstroke but thankfully, that was avoided as the city centre has loads of trees that cool things down quite significantly. The Vernissage market was larger than expected and I think I looked through everything multiple times. This meant that my tourist day turned into a shopping day with some great finds.

The handmade cashmere scarf was the biggest win. It looked beautiful and I knew I wanted it right away but knowing how expensive it probably was, I hesitated. I also knew that I’ll be given a higher price as a tourist so I googled how much cashmere costs and wasn’t expecting anything below £50 AT BEST. I figured I would ask and just walk away said but when the woman said £14????? I have a new scarf. Another great find was a tiny bookshelf carved out of wood with miniature song books by an Armenian songwriter (I think. The language barrier is real.)

Crossing the streets was a bit of an experience. It took me a while to figure out because there seems to be no rhyme or reason to it so I just had to wait for a local to show up and follow their lead for a while. It’s one way to do it!

I ended up spending £50 at the market after 2.5h so I figured that was enough for one day and moved on to a café and lunch. Touristy stuff will have to come later. For how little I’ve seen, I walked a surprising amount so by the time I finished my food, I was glad to go back to the hotel to drop things off and take another taxi back to the centre to a music marketing workshop.

The information was totally outside of what I do but I did learn a thing or two that I might try to apply. Don’t ask me what, I need to think on it for a while. During the networking session after, I got to know a local artist whose goal it is to collect and record lullabies from around the world. How innovative and interesting. She kindly invited me to join her and half the Portuguese band called Malotira at a ‘hidden away café with the best coffee around’.

It was raining as we left so we got pretty soaked but I got to experience the local metro! And get told off for taking photos in it too- who knew it’s not allowed? I'm also really curious to know why. Maybe tourists tend to fall of the escalators when they take selfies.

My new friend wasn’t lying about this place. We got to choose from about 20 kinds of Colombian coffees. I opted to have mine with ice cream and we also got some homemade chocolate with it too. Both the coffee and chocolate were indeed one of the best I’ve ever had.

We headed back just in time to catch the concert of the best tar player in Armenia with a visiting Albanian polyphonic group- that was very new to me and, once again, impressive. The entire group along with the EU ambassador and one of the UK guys went to a nearby beer garden afterwards so I joined them for drinks along with the other half of Malotira band. One of them being from Chile, the other one from UK (as it turns out, none of the guys from the Portuguese band are actually Portuguese).

As we were chatting, one of them mentioned that he once played a gig in Slovakia. He couldn’t remember where but said he really loved the venue and all he can remember is that it was a train station that was turned into a music venue. I knew immediately where that was- my favourite venue in my hometown. What a coincidence!

As we were slowly getting kicked out because they were closing, we asked for our individual bills- only to find out that the EU ambassador already paid everything (and forgot his tie there in the process). How lovely of him. I then got talked into going next door because apparently this is the place to get the best cognac. And who am I to argue with that, especially when I have multiple meetings and a panel tomorrow? I joined in and was given a 10 year old cognac. I’m no expert but it was surprisingly enjoyable. We finally headed back to the hotel and I was asleep around 2am.

[fastrepaircaree]

Coffee tourism is an exciting way to travel while indulging in your love for coffee. It involves visiting coffee-growing regions, experiencing local coffee cultures, and learning about the coffee production process. This guide will help you understand what coffee tourism is, why it's worth exploring, and some top destinations to consider.

## What is Coffee Tourism?

Coffee tourism is a niche form of travel where enthusiasts visit regions known for their coffee production. It combines the joy of discovering new places with the thrill of tasting high-quality, freshly brewed coffee. From farm tours to coffee tastings, coffee tourism offers a deep dive into the world of coffee beyond the cup.

## Why Choose Coffee Tourism?

### Immersive Coffee Experiences

Coffee tourism provides unique experiences such as farm visits where you can see how coffee beans are grown and processed. You might also attend coffee tastings and workshops to learn about brewing techniques and flavor profiles.

### Cultural Insights

Visiting coffee regions gives you a chance to explore local cultures and traditions. Each coffee-growing area has its own unique methods and customs related to coffee production, offering rich cultural insights.

### Support for Local Economies

By engaging in coffee tourism, you contribute to the local economy of coffee-producing regions. This supports small-scale farmers and local businesses, promoting sustainable and ethical coffee practices.

## Top Coffee Tourism Destinations

### Ethiopia

Ethiopia is often considered the birthplace of coffee. Here, you can explore coffee farms in regions like Sidamo and Yirgacheffe. Experience traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremonies and taste some of the world’s best beans.

### Colombia

Colombia is renowned for its high-quality coffee. The Coffee Triangle region, including areas like Manizales, Pereira, and Armenia, offers coffee farm tours and tastings. The stunning landscapes and coffee culture make it a must-visit destination.

### Costa Rica

Costa Rica is known for its eco-friendly coffee farms and lush landscapes. In regions like the Central Valley and Tarrazú, you can tour coffee plantations, learn about sustainable farming practices, and enjoy breathtaking views.

### Brazil

As the largest coffee producer globally, Brazil has a rich coffee heritage. Visit coffee farms in Minas Gerais or São Paulo to see large-scale production and learn about Brazil’s coffee history.

## How to Plan Your Coffee Tourism Trip

### Research Destinations

Start by researching coffee-growing regions and their unique offerings. Consider what type of coffee experiences you're interested in, such as farm tours, tastings, or cultural events.

### Book Tours in Advance

Many coffee farms and tours require advance booking. Look for reputable tour operators and book your tours ahead of time to ensure availability.

### Pack Accordingly

Prepare for different climates and activities by packing appropriately. Comfortable shoes for walking tours and a camera for capturing your experiences are essential.

## Conclusion

Coffee tourism offers a unique and immersive way to explore the world of coffee while traveling. By visiting coffee-growing regions, you gain a deeper appreciation for the journey of coffee from farm to cup. Whether you’re savoring Ethiopian brews or learning about sustainable practices in Costa Rica, coffee tourism provides unforgettable experiences and supports local communities. 

Embark on a coffee tourism adventure and discover the rich flavors and cultures that make coffee truly special.

[aijamisespava]

Visiting Eurovision 2008

To do a very brief "long story short" testimonial of my Eurovision journey, I got interested and listened to all the songs in the 2021 contest. Shortly after, during my school's winter break, I speedran the rest of the years down to 2009. I had contemplated picking the project back up, but hadn't for the longest time (that was 2021, and here we are in 2023).

So, almost 2 years and 2 contests later, here I am again. I added another year to my growing Eurofan Resume with 2008. I'm not going to do a full out ranking because I've done a LOT of long posts, and with 43 songs, that would be enough for a book. I'll bring up a few key entries (winner, host, personal winner) and maybe bring up some other thoughts.

The winner in 2008 was Russia with Dima Bilan's "Believe" and while I got chills when I heard it, it was also the first song I heard of the set, it kind of got pushed down by other entries I liked a little more, ranking 19th.

After winning in 2007, Serbia took up hosting duties with "Oro" by Jelena Tomasevic. And this one was on my playlist before the song was even done. Serbia did such a good job hosting with this song, and in my opinion, should be kind of what future host entries should look up to (I also partly say it as a joke).

Now for my winner....it was tough to choose between 2 countries as both songs were really good and were rather quick additions to my playlist when they appeared in the playlist. My 2nd place was Turkiyë's "Deli" by Mor Ve Ötesi. And my winner was..."Qélé Qélé" by Sirusho from Armenia! The song was just so infectious and is so easy to get stuck in my head (and not be annoying!).

Some entries that surprised me (as we wrap up), were Belgium, Croatia, and Moldova. I didn't realize I would find these entries good after seeing some low (I know that 2008 wasn't exactly a good year in the fandom's eyes). And with that, that's my Eurovision 2008 briefing!

If you want to know my thoughts about a country I didn't mention (or even expand on my opinions), don't be shy and comment or use the ask function and I'll do my best to get back to you!

That was so much fun, and I may do it again with another year sometime in the future, who knows!

[rabbitcruiser]

National White Wine Day

National White Wine Day on August 4 is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a glass of this very versatile drink. White wines make for great apéritifs before a meal, a suitable companion to fish or white meat dishes, and a great accompaniment to dessert. White wine is generally considered to be lighter and more refreshing than red wine and is the preferred alcoholic beverage for millions of people throughout the world. So, whether it is a chardonnay or a sauvignon blanc, National White Wine Day is here and it’s time to relax and treat yourself to a crisp little tipple.

History of National White Wine Day

The origins of wine can be traced back as far as 7500 years ago, in what is now known as Iran.  Experts are pretty sure that wine was being drunk long before this but there’s no actual evidence for them to point towards at the moment. By 460 BC it was being consumed in Europe and the Greek physician Hippocrates was prescribing it as a remedy to some of his patients.

During the Roman times, wine featured heavily at expensive banquets and was considered a sign of prestige. It was the Romans who began to produce less sweet versions of white wine as they conquered new territories in the North and cultivated on new land. It was also the Romans who introduced the concept of drinking cool wine in the summer and warm wine in the winter, a practice which many still follow today.

White wine eventually became popular throughout all of Europe, which led to more vineyards throughout the continent. By the 16th century, that popularity haNational White Wine Dayd spread to the Americas, with vines being planted in Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile.

Champagne was created in the 18th century and by the 19th century, it was the drink of choice for the elite. Champagne is only produced in the Champagne province of France, an area that has unique soil due to its sloping landscapes.

The 20th century has seen vines introduced to new places and technological developments that have changed the process of winemaking throughout the world. One thing, though, hasn’t changed, and that’s the people’s love for a glass of white wine. The origins of National White Wine Day are unclear but we do know the best way to celebrate, and that’s with a glass of the good stuff.

National White Wine Day timeline

4100 BC The First Winery

The oldest winery found in a cave in Armenia can be traced back to this period.

1697 Bubbly arrives

The French monk Dom Perignon invented champagne.

1811 A Fine Year

A bottle of Château d'Yquem from 1811 sold for $117,000 in 2011, making it the most expensive bottle of white wine ever.

1857 California Dreamin’

The first commercial California winery, Buena Vista Winery, is founded.

National White Wine Day FAQs

What day is National Chardonnay Day?

National Chardonnay Day is celebrated on the Thursday before memorial day each year.

How many National Wine Days are there?

We currently celebrate 8 different wine holidays on National Today.

How many days is white wine good after opening?

If you are keeping it in the fridge then white wine is usually good for 5 to 7 days.

National White Wine Day Activities

Pour yourself a glass of white

Host a wine tasting evening with friends

Visit a vineyard

There’s no better way to celebrate National White Wine Day than by treating yourself to a glass of white wine. Invite some friends over, pop open a bottle, and savor its unique and refreshing taste.

When it comes to white wine there is such an incredible variety that you’re basically spoilt for choice. Why not host a white wine tasting evening and invite your friends over to sample the different wines available. Score them and the group can collectively decide on their favorite wine.

Become more knowledgeable about white wine by visiting a vineyard and learning more about how it is produced. Many vineyards offer tours of their grounds so you can see what goes into that bottle of wine and of course there will be some wine tasting involved too.

5 Facts About White Wine That Will Surprise You

The Phobia

75 Grapes

Nebuchadnezzar

Temperature is key

If it was a popularity contest

Some people suffer from a phobia of wine, it’s called oenophobia.

It takes approximately 75 grapes to make a glass of white wine. Which means you need 300 grapes for a bottle.

Nebuchadnezzar is the name given to the largest bottle of white wine that you can buy. It’s a 15-liter bottle, which equates to 20 normal-sized bottles.

White wines should be served at a temperature of 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chardonnay is the most popular white wine in the world,

Why We Love National White Wine Day

It’s versatile

The variety

The taste

White Wine is a drink for many occasions. Whether it’s chicken, fish, a dessert, or just a social catch up with friends, a glass of white wine will suit the occasion.

From chardonnay to champagne and everything in between, there is a huge range of different white wines out there and you could spend a lifetime deciding which your favorite is.

Let’s not forget that the main reason white wine is so popular is that it tastes great.

Source

[floridafoundationpro]

Walton county Florida foundation repair

Walton county Florida 

Welcome to Walton County Florida! This beautiful area of Northwest Florida is a great place to call home, offering unparalleled natural beauty and a wide array of activities for visitors and locals alike. From stunning white sand beaches to lush forests and rolling hills, Walton County offers something for everyone. This blog post will provide an overview of all the wonderful attractions and activities that Walton County has to offer, from shopping and dining to outdoor recreation and cultural exploration. We will also discuss some of the best places to stay and attractions to consider when visiting Walton County. With so much to offer, visitors of all ages and interests will find plenty to do, making it a great destination for a vacation, special occasion or just a day trip. We hope you enjoy learning about all the great things that Walton County Florida has to offer!

Hurry! Fill this form to talk to a Florida foundation pro!

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Should I buy a house in Walton county, FL? If you are considering purchasing a home in Walton County, FL, it is important to consider all factors involved. The area has a low cost of living and several parks and beaches to enjoy. Additionally, there are plenty of job opportunities available and the area has seen a steady increase in population over the past few years. With its temperate climate, Walton County also offers an ideal location for those looking to retire or relocate. Before making a purchase, it is important to weigh the pros and cons and assess your financial capacity to make a sound decision. Additionally, researching the local market and consulting with a qualified real estate professional will provide you with invaluable insight. Ultimately, whether or not to buy a house in Walton County, FL is a decision only you can make. What are the house foundation problems in Walton county Florida and how can they be repaired?  Foundation issues in Walton County, Florida can be caused by a variety of factors, including improper construction, water damage, and soil erosion. An experienced professional should be consulted to identify the cause and scope of the problem and to recommend repair options. Common repair solutions can include underpinning, crack injection, and soil compaction. In some cases, the installation of a perimeter drainage system may be necessary to prevent future problems. Properly completed foundation repairs can help to ensure the structural integrity of the home, prolong its lifespan, and prevent further damage. Quality craftsmanship and materials are essential for an effective long-term repair. Homeowners should always seek out experienced professionals to complete the job to ensure the best possible outcome. In conclusion, Walton County, Florida is a great place to call home. The county offers plenty of attractions, activities, and amenities to keep you busy. Whether you're looking for a family home or an investment property, you can find great opportunities in Walton County. As with any property purchase, it is important to be aware of any potential foundation problems in the area. With proper research and maintenance, these issues can be prevented or repaired to ensure your home is safe and sound. Read the full article

[alissacorreadelrosario]

Go to Armenia and step outside of your comfort zone!

There's no doubt that Armenia has so many spectacular views!

Take a trip to Armenia and be mesmerized in its beauty.

I love the season of autumn because whenever the autumn leaves fall, this season reminds me that change can be amazing and beautiful. Embrace change and be the best version of yourself that you can offer to the world.

Dream vacation, budget friendly, easy to travel by doing do it yourself and last but not the least, cheap ---that's how I can describe my vacation in Armenia last November 2022.

If you've been to Armenia you will know how amazing it was! If not, this is your sign to visit this country. I love this country! I know you will too! 

Step outside your comfort zone, too!

They say that the best way to know a country is by eating their local delicacies. That's what I did during my visit, Armenian food trip!

I don't want to be stuck in the Philippines. I want to see the world and create memories. The world is so beautiful and I want to see it in my naked eyes. I am not saying leave your home country, move somewhere and work there, we all know this is not an option for everyone but living in our comfort zone is something we all can work on.

Life is so beautiful to explore, many times we won't achieve our dreams but we learn from every challenge we face to progress better. I believe that everything that we experience is a part of the process, you choose what stories you want to tell somebody --- you try new things again and again despite failing or just doing one thing that made you unhappy? You have the option, make sure to choose wisely while trusting the process of life.

After almost two years of in a lockdown pandemic here in the Philippines I really feel that there's something missing in my life. When international travel is back and there is no more restrictions I just feel that I need to navigate my life by taking a leap of faith and doing what I love the most. 

Story time about my trip to Armenia:

Passport control, immigration and luggage check From Georgia, there's a Georgia to Armenia Border Control if you want to explore Armenia. In the Schengen area, there's no border checkpoint if you want to enter other European countries. However, Georgia and Armenia are different because you need to show your passport and visa upon entering. You also need to bring your luggage in the area because they need to scan your belongings upon entering. It's a little bit hassle. There's nothing to worry. The immigration officer is so kind. The lady immigration officer just asked me: "Are you dancing?" Haha! Funny, right? The immigration officer is so friendly and not so serious, unlike here in the Philippines. For Filipino passport holders, holder of Multiple Entry Schengen Visa can enter around Armenia during the date of visa validity of your Schengen visa. Again, don't loose hope if you don't have Schengen visa because you can fill up the form online just to get an electronic visa to experience the beauty of Armenia. You just need to pay a fee for this e-visa.

Beautiful Yerevan, Armenia The capital of Armenia which is Yerevan is so beautiful. I enjoyed my visit since I saw a dental clinic here. I love trip abroad and I love looking around for some dental clinics. I love dentistry and sometimes I imagine myself working overseas. That's why sometimes I check international dental clinic when I am in a vacation just to observe. I am still not sure if that is God's will but let's pray that God will lead me in the right path. However, I know that if I want to work abroad I still need to get another license. My license to practice is only valid here in the Philippines. I am still young so I am not closing doors if there is an opportunity and if I have other calling in other place of the world, or in other place here in the Philippines whether it will be in Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao.

Tumanyan's Crepes & Waffles Looking for a budget friendly crepes and waffles??? Please, go to Tumanyan's crepe in Yerevan, Armenia. There are lots of varieties and flavors to choose from.

Goght, Armenia Finding peace and serenity here in Goght and appreciating the beauty of nature.

Ararat, Armenia The lady in the photo below offered free Armenian foods. She is so kind. I didn't know that I can also experience free taste around Armenia. I did experience free taste during my leisure travel in Macau, China and Osaka, Japan. I tell you that free taste will make your stomach full. Haha! Thank you so much to the Armenian lady. If you will visit Armenia, please help her by buying some of the things she sell. I did buy something as a pasalubong or souvenir for my family.

Upper Azat Valley and Geghard Monastery Christians can pray here inside the orthodox church. I respect other religion as a Catholic and I still say my prayers and petition inside the monastery.

Old Houses in Dilijan, Armenia I am amazed that they preserved this heritage that will tell the culture of the Armenians. These old houses are beautifully made with a mixture of cement and woods.

Armenia's unique souvenirs I brought home one Armenian painting and a doll wearing the national costume of Armenia. The people are so talented because the items that they sell are handmade. Please help their community by buying some goods during your visit.

Lake Sevan You need to climb the stairs and I tell you that the view is worthy. The Lake Sevan is so clear and you will find an orthodox church when you reached the top.

One of the things that I've realized is traveling is not a matter of money. Traveling is a matter of courage and having self confidence that you can do it. That's why I would continue exploring and this path serves as my road towards my self-discovery and self-growth. I need to rest and take a breath sometimes and international travel really helps to provide consistency in my life. 

Take small steps towards the fear that you want to overcome. 

Explore the world and add Armenia in your bucket list. Be amazed to see the spectacular Caucasian mountains and experience the hospitality of the Armenian people.

Love lots, A💞

[sarkisyanportfolio]

Washington, D.C.

Perched to the left of the dry cleaners, the federal credit union, and the dumpster is a medium-sized tree with big pink flowers blooming. I couldn’t tell you what kind of tree it is because I didn’t grow up around nature, and that information wasn’t relevant. All I can tell you is from where I’m sitting, the flowers are impersonating fluffy strawberries. I’ve often despised this city. Its coldness, its alienation, its awkward structure and hideous wide streets. Its lack of interesting street fashion, its abundance of consultants. And yet, here I am feeling like I’m being pushed from a place that felt familiar, comfortable, and a place whose inhabitants made me feel loved sometimes… well often.

When I first got here, I had freshly stepped off the plane from Armenia; a place which had given me so much and was ripped from me in my pursuit for material gain, and other empty pleasures like success and achievement and goals. I took a look around an overpriced beige and brown block, comically ugly with perfectly square apartment buildings across the street from the Cathedral, with disappointment in myself and in capitalism. Disappointed that I had to leave Armenia, and with bitterness in my heart that this is what it took to achieve your goals, gradually I came to realize that everything worth having comes at a sacrifice.

4 years later, I have about 8 suitcases packed up, and 2 more to go. A few seats away from where I’m sitting rests a Crisp & Juicy (Crisp & J), where a tradition was established with someone who became a best friend of mine. I’ll always remember one Crisp & J visit in particular where we sat outside waiting for our food and heard of the great and honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing. How we both looked at each other in fear and panic and grief at what this could mean for women under the regime at the time.

I remember hosting a movie night in my studio apartment of 312 square feet with two friends, huddled on my blue futon. I remember my POS leech of a landlord. I remember the birthday party dinner I cooked for my beautiful friend and her now ex-boyfriend; I still don’t know how I fit 15+ people around 3 different-sized odd shaped table structures for dinner in that apartment. I look back and remember laughing and clinking glasses; making new friends and sometimes regretting it and cutting out a few of them, keeping and cherishing the rest, and reuniting with old friends in this current city that, unbeknownst to me, was growing on me against my will.

I have memories of immense loss, of growth, of grief, of talking it out, of needing my space, of needing my friends, and at times of not knowing what I needed. I have memories of being so alone, and texting my mom crying about it. I also have memories of being in a room with 3 or 4 of my closest friends laughing and singing and feeling like I’m lucky to be in a city to experience this. This city was there for me throughout all of that. I have memories of the road trip we took, the concerts, the bars, the time I blacked out in a Wendy’s and the other time I had to call my cousin to pick up my friends and I from North East DC because there were no Ubers over the span of an hour+ at 3 AM because, well, 2021.

And then there’s the pandemic. This city houses mistakes I made, and learned from. It houses my roommates who were utter strangers to me at one point, and yet we weathered a global pandemic together. Girls I quarantined with, girls I struggled with, girls that took me to the hospital when I needed them, drove me to the grocery store in the winter, girls that tell you to text me when you get home. Girls that ask where you are. Girls that ask how your grandma is.

I don’t know how to describe this place in a way that rings true. Not just true to me, but true to everyone. I’m not going to talk about city life as though I’m checking off all the Michelin star restaurants, the cleanliness of its parks, or of the quality of its museums. You stop feeling like a tourist 2 weeks in, and the place becomes the same as everywhere else – a reflection of who you are, who you can be, and who you became while you were here.

I met friends that I always feel loved around; friends that have the dry snippy humor only concrete can produce. Friends that are bold, friends that are dedicated to what they love, friends that still write even when most of us stopped. Friends that put themselves out there again and again, friends that submit their work time and time again, friends that get rejection letters, friends that have pride, friends that are fine having a spotlight shine on them only when they’re on stage with a mic. I had professors that challenged me and believed in me – and some that really didn’t, and I’ll remember them both. But, even though I came here for them, this isn’t about them.

This is about me.

[tn4na]

16012023 from my laptop the fact that i type from my laptop means that i could probably also just open my journal. but i really do get to write more this way. i suppose prioritizing is not a bad thing. today, i saw my cousins for maybe? the last time this visit? it was very nice to see them. one of them, i only got to see today. but it was a very nice day. it was very nice to see them—made me happy. today has been quite long! woke up, took an hour to really fully wake up. i think i’m gonna wake up earlier for whatever time i have left here. but anyways, i had crises, in my head. cried. was worried about urop things (silly thing to be worried about, because i can stop, whenever i want). felt stressed about spending my dad’s money (he told me that’s silly as well, i’m blessed). felt like this spring, i might be doing too little, or too much. but really, i just have to go with the flow. i have a hard time doing just what i feel like. a lot of times i also shouldn’t do just what i feel like because sometimes that’s rotting in bed while it would really make me feel a lot better to get up and do something. talked to f about all the things i want to explore in the spring, and iap. i think my theme for 2023 is play. to approach things curious, wanting to learn more. really, i just want to try my best. a year of play is a year for process, because that’s where most of the play takes place. this iap, i’ll go to the rink, because i need to move my body, and i made a commitment. i’ll also go to the building 4 practice pianos. asked j for a recommendation for what i should learn next, and he recommended me the polonaise by chopin that people call adieu (op posthumous). i’m excited to learn it. it’s something i’ve heard before for sure, but it’s not like liebestraum, or clair de lune, or these other even more famous pieces. even though this one is famous as well. i think i have a better time learning things that not literally everyone around me knows. it takes a little pressure off, and i feel like i’ll be able to play around with it a lot and come up with an interpretation of it that feels good to me. of course, i don’t actually know how far i’ll go with it, but i’ll try my best. at least for iap. anyways, those are my two independent projects, though i may also ask r or j for help with piano. other independent projects might include knitting a balaclava, or drawing, or just listening to music and observing the world. observing the world is a forever ongoing independent project. as for non independent projects, maybe i’ll learn to paint. i think that would be quite fun. told f that i had been thinking about light, and maybe that i was also thinking about ceramics and painting. but that i’m really resistant to starting things on my own, especially when things require me to buy things. f offered his paints that he bought recently, and also to teach me. since i am not alone in this, i think it may actually go somewhere. that might be another big thing for iap. also, since my dad told me to worry less about money, if there are any art classes that require money, i’ll just spend it. i’m looking forward to these things! scared, in a way. but i’m always doing things that make me scared. maybe not really, but in general, i am able to do things that make me scared. i consider this a positive thing. tomorrow, i’m gonna wake up early so maybe i can go out to lunch with my family. in the afternoon, i have an interview for an internship at the film fest in armenia. i’m not really nervous, but i do wonder if they’ll really think i’m suited for the position. i’ll just write down here all the reasons i want to go:

(i get too distracted on my laptop but anyways) i want to do something different freshman summer, because in the future i’ll be doing more work things. i want to go somewhere to challenge myself in a field that is different than what i may work in in the future, because it will still be relevant to my life.

armenia: in a beautiful region of the world i don’t know much about.

i want to learn more about what makes people. what drives people. lightness and darkness, good and bad, what people think, what people feel. the people i know just in the us and thailand are so different already. and i’ve learned so much just from what’s around me. i think i could learn a lot by being in a region that i’m completely unfamiliar with. i specifically want to learn more about the arts in that area, and the types of things that connect to armenian people. while a lot about everyone is the same, culture matters. where you are matters. i just want to learn

i think that having this general understanding of people allows me to approach the world in a better way. i want to make a clearer picture of how i want to spend my days.

i’ve written for my school newspaper before, and i have an interest in the arts. i’m a hard worker! [examples] and i will be able to live up to the tasks they give me

i think i am setting myself to be very lonely, and i am setting myself up to have to make new friends. i wonder how. i do wonder why i want to put myself through more pain. i think it’s out of fear.

i’m gonna try my best not to think too hard about these things. it’s a year of play. but even being free feels so unnatural to me. it’s like that passage from 1q84—it’s so hard to learn to be anything else. like i would shatter if i relaxed. but it’s okay. i’m working on it. i realized, when i texted j (not all these letters are the same person please remember) that when i go back to boston, i probably won’t see as much of the sky. i’m gonna make an effort to keep looking up.

[lil-melody-moon]

Thank you for tagging me @jimmysdragonsuit13 you absolute sweetie <3

Relationship status: Way too single

Favorite color: Purple - all shades of purple

Three favorite food: My mom's homemade chicken soup, birthday cake, mashed potatoes with fish

Top three TV shows: I mostly watch anime soooo... Yugioh ZeXal, Sailor Moon, Transformers Cybertron

Top Three Characters: Megatron/Galvatron from TF Cybertron, Emperor Mateus from Final Fantasy II, Aerith from Final Fantasy VII

What I’m currently reading: The Witcher - third book and Jim Morrison's first poetry book - I love reading it during a moody night just before going to sleep <3

Last Movie I watched: Hah, I don't remember XD Wasn't it Sailor Moon S movie tho? It probably was, I still love this movie <3

Last thing I goggled: Lyrics to "Yes, the River Knows" by The Doors, because there was just something not right witch the tab on Songsterr and color me surprise, they've actually made an alternate version of this song, making the first verse and chorus repeat before going with the rest of the song and they don't have the last part of the song on the tab, finishing it at "I promised I would drown myself in mystic heated wine" instead of "Breath under water 'til the end". How dare you? :)

Song stuck in my head: I woke up hearing "Where you expect us to go when the bombs fall?" from "Tentative", but now, being after lunch I hear Serj screaming "Hide in the sky, hide in the sky! Who wants to come with me and hide in the sky?!" so "U-Fig" is the answer on this question XD

Dream Trip: A few if you will: Argentina - I want to meet one of my best friends, Japan - I'm curious about this country and I would like to see the cherries blossoming at spring, Armenia - it's a beautiful country, why not, France - but only one city and only for a day or two, I would like to visit the Père Lachaise Cementary and leave a flower on one of the graves

Time: 13:36/1:36 pm

Anything I want right now: I want to have the apprenticeship done. As in I want to have every paper signed, everything nailed that I can attend my apprenticeship on July for three weeks. And passing two upcoming exams would be nice as well <3

I tag: @furiousbirdballoon @xjhetfieldx @explodingegg123 @larsgoingtomars @juliearchery107 and @cantag-curtis (join in if you want <3)

Get To Know Me

I was tagged by @shadestepping a bit ago but my dumbass forgot. Anyway, I’m here now😅😂

Rules:  Tag (10) people who you want to get to know better.

Relationship Status: Extremely fuckin single

Favorite Color: Crimson Red

Three Favorite Foods: Alfredo pasta, Pork chops & gravy, and Mac'n'cheese

Song Stuck in my Head: Shameless by Camila Cabello (blame tik tok)

Last Thing I Googled: “Frame Sliders”

Last Song I Listened To: Six Pills by Rosendale

Dream trip: I honestly just wanna travel overseas. Haven’t gotten the chance so I’ve never even been out of the US. (And it fuckin sucks here)

Time: 21:23

Anything I Really Want Right Now: Cuddles and an 8 month nap

If you’re tagged, I wanna get to know you better but I’m scared to reach out first so I just suffer in silence-

@writercels @rain-on-kamino @metalhusbands @amyroswell @zoeykallus @kaminocasey @soliloquy-of-nemo @maulslittlemeowmeow @madameminor

[visa166]

Your Complete Guide to Emirates Visa for Armenian Citizens

Emirates Visa for Armenian Citizens

Knowing how to get an Emirates visa from Armeniaplanning a trip to the UAE. Whether you’re traveling for fun, business, or to see family, the process is straightforward with some preparation. This guide will help you understand how to apply for an Emirates visa from Armenia, covering everything you need for a smooth application.

Types of Emirates Visas for Armenian Citizens

Business Visa: For those visiting for business or conferences. This visa allows a single entry for 14 days and is valid for 58 days.

Tourist Visa: This is the most common type for travelers wanting to explore the UAE. You can choose a 30-day or 60-day visa, available for single or many entries.

Leisure Visa: This 90-day visa is great for longer stays, perfect for visiting Dubai with family. Note that it allows only one entry.

Transit Visa: If you're stopping in the UAE on your way to another country, this visa lets you stay for up to 48 or 96 hours to explore.

Required Documents for the Emirates Visa

Here are the documents you need:

Passport: A photocopy of your valid passport, which should be valid for at least 6 months.

Passport Photo: A recent colored passport-size photo with a white background.

Identification: A copy of your PAN Card.

Travel Itinerary: Round-trip flight tickets and your travel plan.

Financial Proof: Recent bank statements or salary slips to show you can support yourself during your stay.

National ID: If you’re a citizen of Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, or Pakistan living in Armenia, you need to show your national ID.

Application Form: Complete the online visa application form found on the official Emirates Visa website.

How to Apply for an Emirates Visa from Armenia

Follow these steps for a smooth application process:

Complete the Application:

Choose your country and citizenship.

Select the type of visa.

Fill out the application and upload your documents.

Pay the Visa Fee:

Choose a payment method (PayPal, credit card, or debit card).

After payment, you’ll receive an application ID and confirmation email.

Get Your E-Visa:

You can check your visa status online.

Once approved, download your e-visa.

Emirates Visa Costs for Armenian Citizens (2024)

Visa fees vary depending on the type and length of stay. It’s important to stay updated on current fees to plan your budget. Remember, these costs can change.

Best Time to Visit the Emirates Visa for Armenian Citizens

The best time to visit is between November and March when the weather is cooler (20°C to 30°C). This is perfect for outdoor activities like visiting the Burj Khalifa, desert safaris, and beach trips. Many festivals also take place during these months, adding to the experience.

Conclusion

Getting an Emirates Visa for Armenian Citizens is easy if you know what to do. To avoid last-minute issues, apply early and ensure you have all the required documents. Keep track of costs and processing times, and reach out for help if needed. Enjoy your trip to the Emirates!