Armenia 2-1 Belgium

I know I'm late with this, but I'm still thinking about it, and it is one of our passions, and an interesting subject we could talk about for hours!

Armenia won against Belgium on 9 September 2009, their first win in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifyers.

I watched the clip from the game the next day. Armenia seemed like a different team then when they recently played against Bosnia-Herzegovina (which I watched live on the net), where they lost 0-2.

Against Belgium, Armenia appeared strong. The First Armenian Front (FAF) were there - wow they are growing! And getting louder!! Their voice too was loud and clear when at the end of the match with Bosnia-Herzegovina they chanted that the FFA head go.

After being there, involved in football in 2005, I can see from the above matches that not alot has changed, which is sad, because it all has so much potential. We lived the potential. But as not all things go as planned, and money is such a huge issue, our dream sits and waits for us.

My favourite Armenian musical instrument

"The Armenian duduk can talk to you,entertain you, amuse you, the Armenian duduk can also get you into deep contemplation... "

How true is that statement!! If I hear it in an upbeat Armenian folk song it gives life and spark and you want to dance! The sound can also bring me to tears at the utter sadness that it can portray.

I first became aware of the Duduk while listening to my favourite Armenian music - Armenian Folk, many years ago. We now own a Duduk of our own - bought in Yerevan, Armenia on one of our trips there.

We have all tried to play it. We manage to get sound from it, but we recognise the fact that to be able to play it will take time, practice and dedication.

To sum up, the beautiful sound that comes from this piece of aged apricot wood is soul moving to say the least.

To find out more about the Armenian Duduk go here. To watch the master of the Armenian Duduk, Jivan Gasparyan, play go here for upbeat dance, and here for soul moving.

Shake Falls - Sisian, Armenia

Shake Falls is the biggest waterfalls in Armenia and is very beautiful.
To see Shake Falls in it's full glory, and other great photos of Armenia you should see this book Armenia in Colour.
"We went to the biggest waterfall in Armenia, Shake Waterfall. His Excellency (The then US Ambassador to Armenia, Mr John Evans) climbed very close to the water fall and said he could feel the heat behind him and the coolness in front, coming off the waterfall. There were two young women at the base of the falls, boiling Armenian sourj (coffee) on an open fire."

The above is taken from my other blog on MSN Space which consists of seven articles I wrote during our six month stay in Armenia in 2005, that were published in various magazines and newspapers. I also have a lot of links there to other Armenian websites and blogs.

‘Qarahunje’ - the Armenian Stonehenge

On a weekend away in Armenia we visited ‘Qarahunje’ - the Armenian Stonehenge. It was a very mystical sight, where we all couldn’t help but wonder what happened here, and what were all these stones set for. The atmosphere was beautiful.

Armenian Miniatures

These gorgeous miniatures are from the book 'The Crafts and Mode of Life in Armenian Miniatures' by Astghik Guevorkian. The miniatures are from manuscripts dating back to as early as 1038AD. For example the girl dancing in the top middle miniature is dated 1725-1730.

The miniatures here are from 'The art of dancing' page.

Armenian art

I love art - and Armenia did not dissapoint! Here is a miniature clay jug that we bought from Vernissage Marketplace Yerevan, Armenia when we were there in 2005. I love it!

My first Post!

Doing this blog has been in my mind for over a year now. Someone I recently became friends with wrote about her change of attitude to be able to 'do it all' - to do everything she is passionate about - to do everything she wants and has in her mind. That statement sparked something in me - with everything I have going on in my life (three kids, business etc etc) I have been putting this off for too long - so here it is: my first post in my new blog!

I am passionate for Armenia!