Friday, 11 September 2015

Georgia and Armenia 18 - 21 August



August 18 Stepantsmanda, Georgia

When I arrived at the Russian border at 5.30 pm. I was greeted with a long queue of cars and trucks, I rode around them all to get to the front. 


But it still took about 1 ½ hour to get through to Georgia, and rode to my hotel at Stepantsminda around 7.30 pm. The hotel owner did not have my online booking. Then I realized that I book it in September instead of August! She managed to put me in a large room with 4 beds. I went out to take out cash from ATM and had dinner at a local restaurant. I was in this town 3 years ago where I met Adrian from Romanian after I had breakfast at a cafe. Unfortunately, the cafe is still there but no longer running.  I met a group of Polish people with a 4 wheel drive and a KTM 400. They were the support crews for a group of 11 adventure bikes ranging from KTM 400 to BMW 1200GS. The bikes would be arriving tomorrow, but I won’t be there to meet them.
                                             Beautiful mountain scenery near Stepantsminda
 
August 19 Tbilisi, Georgia
The ride to Tbilisi was short and pleasant. I rode through the same way 3 years ago, and spent a week in Georgia, so this time I would stay in a hotel outside the city. The hotel is run by a few Indian immigrants who studied in hotel management in Georgia. They were very friendly and helpful.


I then took a local bus into the city and visit all those places that I visited before. Dinner was at a the best steak restaurant in Tbilisi. It was nice but not as good as our steak in Australia.

                            Kartvlis Deda  - the famous 20 meter aluminum monument of a Georgian woman in National dress.
                                       Metekhi Church, a famous 12th century church in Tbilisi

August 20 – August 21 Yerevan, Armenia
I arrived at the Georgian/Armenian border around 11 am. Leaving Georgia was quick and simple, but entering Armenia took an hour of obtaining visa, paying for some sort of insurance, and going through a few more counters. An English guy came and told me that I need to buy third party insurance in Armenia, and directed me to the insurance office just after the border where I bought a 10 days bike insurance for around $7. The houses in Armenian countryside are in worst condition than those in Georgia. But they have beautiful mountains and curvy roads with few traffic - a paradise for motorcyclist. I stop by this roadside café for a kebab lunch.

I was really enjoying the nice scenery the riding. I overtook a few cars and truck up a steep curvy road and then pass a small village. I was cruising along until I see a police car appearing from nowhere with flashing light.  I pulled over and the middle aged policeman was quite relax and explained to me by writing on a piece of paper that I was passing cars up the steep hill where there was no passing lines, and that I was doing 82 kph in the village. First offense 300,000 Dram, second offense 180,000 Dram.  He then said 300,000 Dram if I paid now. I offered 200,000 Dram ( $57) or writing out the ticket and I would pay in a bank in Yerevan (I had no intention of doing that as I planned to stay in Armenia for 2 days only). He then accepted my cash and drove off happily. I think I have just doubled  his and his partner’s pay for the day.  I still enjoy the rest of the day ride to Yerevan, but at legal speed.
                                    Two happy Armenian cops driving  off into the distance

Yerevan’s main attraction is the Opera house and the Cascade complex, where they had a concert for each of the two nights I was there. First night was folk music,  and second night was jazz. The music was first class! The Cascade complex is a impressive series of steps built into the hillside, but unfortunately it was never finished as they ran out of money. The finished part was fantastic.
                                                         Cascade Complex - front view
                                                      Cascade complex - view from top
                                               Cascade Complex - Night time Folk concert

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