Tomorrow I head to the train station and leave Armenia for Georgia, again. Though this time I intend on staying much longer than before. Recent events here in Armenia have played out the wording of a nation that has little capability of sustaining itself. It's a nation riddled with everyday problems which lead to an incapable ability to pursue a normal life. Power cuts are the norm with no warning and no known duration. ATMs stop working whenever they feel like it, and that is a major problem for a nation that is still so heavily reliant on cash transactions. Transport is unreliable and few and far between. Leading to the expensive habit of taking the taxi everywhere you go as to avoid lengthy walks down poor roads that even the drivers take their sweet time driving down as to avoid damaging their vehicles. Armenia has been a fun place, but it is not one for living in for the period of time I have been here, and I can understand why Armenians flock elsewhere for a better life. More than three decades after the collapse of the USSR, and it appears things only got worse. It's a tragedy because the nation itself is rich in culture and incredibly beautiful in diverse landscapes that range from rock to dense forestry. Huge canyons that split the Earth into two. There's a beautiful, old nation that is unfortunately split between two other nations that aim to own it. While it struggles with its own corrupt nature and inability to progress.
Today is the last day here, and it was supposed to be a simple one of finalising a few things and just ensuring everything was ready for the trip on Saturday.
I'm usually pretty good at handling these things, managing to book everything in advance and enjoy the peace. Everything just went wrong. I couldn't find accomodation, I had to cancel a few times. A card got frozen. All kinds of chaos. But I started to feel the excitement of leaving, mixed with the sad emotions of saying goodbye to Armenia. I knew I could come back at any moment. But things just felt odd. Like I was saying goodbye to another home. It isn't so bad though, is it? To have the ability to travel and see the world and all its curiosities. I think we naturally get very attached to places after a while, the idea of home can change with time. I don't think I can call a single place home anymore, it feels as if I have multiple, and now I'm about to create another. A new piece of the world that I can explore and enjoy. New aspects of culture, new people to meet, and a different environment to challenge me and force some more growth out of me. I was idle for far too long, after all. While I was out I took the camera with me one last time. This wasn't in Yerevan, but an outer town. A bit more louder though, somehow. And with more problems than the rest. I looked around and observed the moments I might miss.
The Lada is a particular favourite of mine. Something I hope to continue to see in Georgia, ajd perhaps even something I might purchase one day for the fun of it.
I kept the Helios on for these pictures. The bright sunlight and the harsh heat were a challenge, but this produces beautiful highlights for the lens to flourish under. I loved how the bokeh looked under leaves, poking upwards into the sky through the trees. This is a recent addition with this lens as it's highlights that cause the most noticeable changes in the bokeh. It was a lot of fun that kept some of the chaos off my mind in the moment, even if I only snapped a few shots in the process. Photography continues to be a form of therapy for me, something I can't live without and want to continue doing with each day. And that also contributes to my interest in moving forward, to dive into the unknown and find new things to capture. The idea of Georgia is one that brings great joy. An excitement I feel is matched with some anxiety. But that's life. Things can't always be comfortable. And we have to learn how to adapt to environments to see what we are really capable of.
Well, that's it. The last of the busy streets of Armenia. Perhaps a few shots of the train ride to come. But this is a story I consider done finally. Perhaps to be revisited another time.