The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Armenian: Լեռնային Ղարաբաղի Հանրապետություն Lernayin Gharabaghi Hanrapetut’yun), or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the South Caucasus. It controls most of the territory of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast and several Azerbaijani districts adjacent to the borders of Azerbaijan with Armenia to the west and Iran to the south.
Ağdam is a town in the southwestern part of Azerbaijan and the capital of its Agdam Rayon.
In July 1993, after heavy fighting, Agdam was captured by the forces of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic during its 1993 summer offensives. As the town fell, its entire population fled eastwards.
In the immediate aftermath of the fighting, the Armenian forces destroyed much of Agdam to prevent its recapture by Azerbaijan. More damage occurred in the following decades when the deserted town was looted for building materials. Agdam is currently a ruinous, uninhabited ghost town. The town’s large mosque also survives in bad condition.
The Monastery of Tatev (Armenian: Տաթև) is a 9th century Armenian monastery located in the Tatev village in Syunik Province in southern Armenia. The term “Tatev” usually refers to the monastery. It stands on a plateau on the edge of the deep gorge of the Orotan (Vorotan) River. It became the bishopric seat of Syunik and played a significant role in the history of the region as a centre for economic, political, spiritual and cultural activity.
In the 14th and 15th centuries Tatev Monastery hosted one of the most important Armenian medieval universities which contributed to the education of science, religion and philosophy; reproduction of books and development of miniature painting. Scholars of Tatev University contributed to the preservation of Armenian culture and creed during one of its most turbulent periods in its history.
Mother Armenia (Armenian: Մայր Հայաստան Mayr Hayastan) is the female personification of Armenia. Her most visual rendering is a monumental statue in Victory Park overlooking the capital city of Yerevan, Armenia.
Tsitsernakaberd (Armenian: Ծիծեռնակաբերդ) is a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide; it is located on a hill overlooking Yerevan, Armenia. Every year on April 24, hundreds of thousands of Armenians gather here to remember the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide that took place in the Ottoman Empire carried out by the Turkish government.
The 44 meter stele symbolizes the national rebirth of Armenians. 12 slabs are positioned in a circle, representing the 12 lost provinces in present day Turkey. In the center of the circle, at a depth of 1.5 meters, there is an eternal flame.
Along the park at the memorial there is a 100 meter wall with names of towns and villages where massacres are known to have taken place. On the rear side of the commemoration wall, plates have been attached to honor persons who have committed themselves to relieving the distress of the victims during and after the genocide (among others: Johannes Lepsius, Franz Werfel, Armin T. Wegner, Henry Morgenthau Sr., Fridtjof Nansen, Pope Benedict XV, Jakob Künzler, Bodil Biørn).
As an act of commemoration of the victims, an alley of trees has been planted.
The Armenian Genocide Museum opened its doors in 1995, concurrently commemorating the eightieth anniversary of the Genocide.
Four ducks travelled with me when I flew to Bali last week. The picture with the four ducks was taken in the compound where I stayed. Second picture was taken at the intersection of four paths in Penestanan. The last picture was back in the compound of the two ducks which I did not take out for the walk. They did seem to enjoy chilling out on the verandah as much as I did.
Tenzin holding Andrine in front of the Potala Palace in the Tibetan capital Lhasa. The Potala was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India, after the Chinese in 1959. Today the Potala has been converted into a museum by the Chinese.
A well deserved Lhasa Beer after climbing the Potala.
Andrine below the giant gold statue of Kim il Sung in Pyongyang (capital of North Korea). Kim died in 1994, but is still the eternal president of North Korea. There are statues and pictures of him all over the country.
Below one of the posters of the great leaders (Kim il Sung and his son Kim Jong il, who is currently the de facto leader of North Korea).
The ducks outside the Beijing National Stadium (known as the Bird’s nest). It felt very homely for them 
Andrine and Andrik visited the Great Wall at Simatai, a couple of hours north of Beijing. This is the last photo taken of Andrik – he fell off the wall just seconds after the photo was taken. R.I.P.
Andrik and Andrine looking at the picture of chairman Mao (the building is the Gate of Heavenly Peace).
