From the nomadic steppes of Kazakhstan to the frenetic streets of Hanoi, Asia is a continent so full of intrigue, adventure, solace, and spirituality that it has fixated and confounded travelers for centuries.
Our truck parked next to thirty-nine giant Armenian letters haphazardly clustered alongside the highway, 15km from Ashtarak. The letters were erected in 2005 to honor the 1600th anniversary of Mesrop Mashtots inventing the Armenian alphabet. Mashtots, who is also memorialized with a...
We made a short stop at Saghmosavank Monastery, surrounded by a fortified wall and commanding beautiful views over the Kasagh Gorge and Mt Aragats. The monastery comprises two main church buildings: the Church of Zion and the smaller Church of Karapet; both date from the 13th century. The...
The city of Ashtarak is spread out in and above the gorge of the Kasagh river. The town has old churches, fascinating museums, and ambitious restaurant complexes. The ancient church, Tsiranavor, is situated at the very edge of Kazakh’s ravine. Below the church is a three-bay bridge...
A steep and windy road brought us to a 10th-century fortress located on the slopes of Mount Aragats at 2,300 meters above sea level. Constructed on a ridge above the confluence of the little gorges of the Amberd and Arkashen streams, this majestic stone fortress (🎫1400 AMD) dates back to...