It's been a long time since my last blog. Now Alex has got a PS4, I decided to take the opportunity to update our blog while he is busy killing zombies.
We did a number of great trips over the past a few years. I hope to get them organized and published slowly. My first update will be on our recent trip to Armenia.
Armenia is not your typical tourist destination. We got invited there earlier this year for a wedding, and we took the opportunity and did a one week road trip travelling across the country.
We began and ended our trip in Yerevan. Yerevan is a quiet and chill capital city. There are not many tourists around, and people are all very friendly. We stayed near the Republic Square. It is surrounded by a mixture of European style and Soviet style buildings. The city is not very big, and you can easily walk around on feet. While in Yerevan, we visited the Opera House and the Cascade. Alex went to the Cognac factory and brought back some souvenir for his family.
We took a day trip to visit Echmiadzin. Echmiadzin was described by lonely planet as the "Vatican" of Armenia. Judging from its look, Echmiadzin is far less impressive compared to any major church we have visited, but it does have an incredible history. The original church was built between 301-303 when Christianity was first adopted by the Armenian nation. The inside of the church is very simple. The walls are barely covered with any decoration, and the church is so small that there are no chairs to sit down. It maintains a minimalistic style which is very common throughout Armenia. Coincidentally We also found out a few days later that our friends came to this Church to host their wedding ceremony.
We also joined our friends for another day trip to visit Geghard monastery and Garni temple. Geghard monastery was one of the most ancient cave churches. It was founded in the 4th century and was carved out from rocks. Inside of one of the caves, there is also a natural spring that runs from underground. The church reminded me a lot of Petra. I'm always fascinated by the effort men willing to spend to reshape the nature.
After Geghard, we had lunch in a nearby restaurant, and all of sudden it started raining. The tour bus continued to pass by the Garni Temple but because of the rain we didn't stop by to visit it. Now I think about it, it is really a pity. I have heard great things about Garni.
We did a number of great trips over the past a few years. I hope to get them organized and published slowly. My first update will be on our recent trip to Armenia.
Armenia is not your typical tourist destination. We got invited there earlier this year for a wedding, and we took the opportunity and did a one week road trip travelling across the country.
We began and ended our trip in Yerevan. Yerevan is a quiet and chill capital city. There are not many tourists around, and people are all very friendly. We stayed near the Republic Square. It is surrounded by a mixture of European style and Soviet style buildings. The city is not very big, and you can easily walk around on feet. While in Yerevan, we visited the Opera House and the Cascade. Alex went to the Cognac factory and brought back some souvenir for his family.
We took a day trip to visit Echmiadzin. Echmiadzin was described by lonely planet as the "Vatican" of Armenia. Judging from its look, Echmiadzin is far less impressive compared to any major church we have visited, but it does have an incredible history. The original church was built between 301-303 when Christianity was first adopted by the Armenian nation. The inside of the church is very simple. The walls are barely covered with any decoration, and the church is so small that there are no chairs to sit down. It maintains a minimalistic style which is very common throughout Armenia. Coincidentally We also found out a few days later that our friends came to this Church to host their wedding ceremony.
We also joined our friends for another day trip to visit Geghard monastery and Garni temple. Geghard monastery was one of the most ancient cave churches. It was founded in the 4th century and was carved out from rocks. Inside of one of the caves, there is also a natural spring that runs from underground. The church reminded me a lot of Petra. I'm always fascinated by the effort men willing to spend to reshape the nature.After Geghard, we had lunch in a nearby restaurant, and all of sudden it started raining. The tour bus continued to pass by the Garni Temple but because of the rain we didn't stop by to visit it. Now I think about it, it is really a pity. I have heard great things about Garni. 
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