Envoy Blog (2007)
New Year Celebrations
29/12/2007
All nations around the world celebrate New Year one way or another. Each have different traditions and sometimes even different dates. For example the Iranians celebrate their New Year (called “Aide No Rooz”) at the start of their Lunar Calendar which typically falls in March and celebrates the start of Spring. The Mexican’s celebrate New Years eve on the 31st December and at the stroke of 12 bell rings they each eat a grape and make a wish. Another extreme is Australia. Although New Year celebrations are held on 31st December it is during their summer. So Santa comes wearing shorts! After a night of celebrations, most people spend 1st of January at the beach.
In Armenia, up until the end of the 20th Century, New Year was celebrated on the 21st of March. The significance of that day was magnified as it was the first day of Spring as well as the birthday of the mythical god Vahagn, in whom believed the pagan Armenians around 10 thousand years ago.
It was custom on New Years Eve for children to walk around their village in groups and sing songs to their neighbours, typically receiving dried fruits as gifts in return.
Like most Armenian gatherings, food prepared for New Years eve is a highlight. This would include foods like “dolma” prepared with rice and meat and wrapped in vine leaves and “Bood” which is pork, prepared with different spices in an oven. Among the pastries the most important is the “Darin” a big flat bread with a coin hidden inside it. Sliced and served to the number of people in the family, whoever receives the portion with the coin in it is the “lucky” member of the family for the coming year.
Another special dish is the “Anush Abour“, a sweet soup made of wheat, kernels and dried fruit. 
Two minutes prior to midnight all lights in the house are turned off. The New Year is welcomed in to the house with the Lord’s Prayer. Then the lights are turned on again and everyone embraces each other and conveys their best wishes for the New Year, giving presents to the children and then everyone enjoys a bowl of “Anush Abour“.
To all our guests and friends of envoy, we wish you a wonderful New Year. May God bless each of you in 2008 and may His Will prevail in our lives.
All nations around the world celebrate New Year one way or another. Each have different traditions and sometimes even different dates. For example the Iranians celebrate their New Year (called “Aide No Rooz”) at the start of their Lunar Calendar which typically falls in March and celebrates the start of Spring. The Mexican’s celebrate New Years eve on the 31st December and at the stroke of 12 bell rings they each eat a grape and make a wish. Another extreme is Australia. Although New Year celebrations are held on 31st December it is during their summer. So Santa comes wearing shorts! After a night of celebrations, most people spend 1st of January at the beach.
In Armenia, up until the end of the 20th Century, New Year was celebrated on the 21st of March. The significance of that day was magnified as it was the first day of Spring as well as the birthday of the mythical god Vahagn, in whom believed the pagan Armenians around 10 thousand years ago.
It was custom on New Years Eve for children to walk around their village in groups and sing songs to their neighbours, typically receiving dried fruits as gifts in return.
Like most Armenian gatherings, food prepared for New Years eve is a highlight. This would include foods like “dolma” prepared with rice and meat and wrapped in vine leaves and “Bood” which is pork, prepared with different spices in an oven. Among the pastries the most important is the “Darin” a big flat bread with a coin hidden inside it. Sliced and served to the number of people in the family, whoever receives the portion with the coin in it is the “lucky” member of the family for the coming year.
Another special dish is the “Anush Abour“, a sweet soup made of wheat, kernels and dried fruit.
Two minutes prior to midnight all lights in the house are turned off. The New Year is welcomed in to the house with the Lord’s Prayer. Then the lights are turned on again and everyone embraces each other and conveys their best wishes for the New Year, giving presents to the children and then everyone enjoys a bowl of “Anush Abour“.
To all our guests and friends of envoy, we wish you a wonderful New Year. May God bless each of you in 2008 and may His Will prevail in our lives.
27/11/2007
Enthusiastic and eager to get their hands on to some paint and create a special artwork, envoy kids produce a new addition to our art collection.
The artwork appropriately titled as “Teamwork” is a collaboration of their little hands, each patiently waiting in turns to get their hands on to the canvas and create this masterpiece!
Thanks kids for your contribution to our unique art collection.
28/10/2007
There are now more reasons to stay at envoy. Not only does envoy offer its guests clean and affordable accommodation with friendly service, but also special discount offers from a range of local restaurants and museums.
Guests staying at envoy can take advantage of the discounts offered by local restaurants specialising in a variety of cuisines from traditional Armenian to burgers and Chinese. There is something to suit everyone’s palate!
The special discount offer also extends to some of the local museums that may be of interest to those touring Armenia and would like to get a more in depth idea of Armenian heritage and culture.
Make sure to ask the reception staff for your discount offers while staying with us!
01/10/2007
Two years ago today envoy opened its doors (and heart) to receive our first guests. The crew had been working tirelessly for days painting, tiling, plumbing and it was down to the final touches. And indeed we have come to know many a guest as friends who are engraved in our hearts forever. Although it would be impossible to name all but it includes Nanor from Canada, Zorik from Australia, Tom from US, Kristof from Poland, Jason and Tera (now ex PCV’s) from US, and the list goes on.
We thank you for staying at envoy and becoming part of the envoy family. We have been fortunate to have guests from almost 60 different countries staying with us. Each have brought with them a little piece of their culture to us and we have learnt much from all and enriched our lives. We hope that we will have more of these opportunities to come in the future.
22/09/2007
Only in Yerevan for a short stay? Want to learn more about Yerevan and get a glimpse of the Armenian culture? Why not discover the secrets of the city by joining envoy’s new service, a fun and informative two hour walking tour of Yerevan?
The tour departs daily at 10am and only requires 3 people to sign up to operate. It provides information and highlights areas in Yerevan you may wish to return and explore more in your own time.
For further information and bookings contact envoy reception.
02/09/2007
Two recent guests of envoy managed to conquer the heights of Mt Ararat, which sits with all its splendour on the boarder of Armenia and Turkey. Access is available only from Turkey. This is the account of their incredible 3 day adventure to the 5165m summit.
We landed in Istanbul Turkey, where it all began. Not knowing where we were going to stay or how all of it was going to be played out. Well we found a place to stay and spent the rest of the time figuring out how we were going to get to Van 2000km away on the other side of Turkey.
After 2 days in Istanbul we got on to a painfully slow bus that took more than a day and a half to get to Van, where we were told to get the permit which was previously organised to climb Mt Ararat (5165m). We were mistaken. After much debate and deception of the local tourist board, not to mention ample use of our phrase book, we were told that we have to go to Dogubayezit to get our permits from our mandatory guide! Well another 8 hour bus ride to the town (because first the bus broke down, then it ran out of petrol, etc) but we made it just before sundown where we were greeted by one of the most amazing views one could imagine.
Out of a totally flat plain rises Mt Ararat with its entire splendour 5165m above the town. That is the last we saw of it for at least 3 more days as it was raining and cloud covered.
When day broke on the 24th June, we started our climb and made our way to camp 1 which was at 3200m which was not as hard as we imagined it would be. Being backpackers, we were carrying all our own gear, not like others on the mountain with horses, our bags weighing 20kg each. The second day we made our way to just before the snow line on the edge of a glacier at 4200m. This was camp 2 a little plateau big enough for a few tents. We spent the rest of the day acclimatising and exploring up and down the slopes.
On summit day we were greeted by the best weather we had seen since we arrived in Turkey. No cloud to be seen anywhere. We started at 2 am and climbed mixed snow rock and ice to about 4800m, where our first taste of the summit came. Shortly after sun rise, approaching a plateau at 4900m we could see the summit clearly, but we were beat! The route is really well marked and anyone with enough determination, passion and fitness could climb it.
Gasping for air, because we had not acclimatised, we pushed on for the summit which after crossing the glacier at 5000m (where crampons and ice axe is necessary) came at 8.12am local time. We made it to the highest mountain in Turkey and one of the Volcano 7 summits. Standing at 5165m we could see far into Iran, Armenia and Turkey.
Well we did what some people said was very ambitious, climbing a 5000m peak in 3 days. And the descent? That took us another 10 hours but we made it back to town not just base camp, so 3 days in total and we were all done.
Ararat is easy and I recommend it to anyone with enough will power and fitness to try it. The nitty gritty details are:
- You need a guide. It is required by the government, they are ridiculously expensive.
- You need a permit. This can be organised by your tour operator (you could do it yourself but contact me if you would like details how to: gogabees@gmail.com)
- And lastly, be prepared to pay, this can be an expensive exercise.
28/07/2007
Some of our friends from PCV (Peace Corps Volunteers) work at Gavar Special School. We had heard of the great work being done for the children at this school and wanted to see them first hand. So envoy paid a special visit to this establishment.
The school caters for children in the region with special needs. The staff do a wonderful job, looking after the needs of the children.
The government only provides part of the funding required for the school and the rest is raised by the staff and PCVs. A lot of maintenance has already been done but a lot more is required including some major works like replacing the roof.
It is encouraging to see PCVs and staff working tirelessly and going to great lengths to raise the much needed funds to make a difference in the lives of these children and their families. And it was clear from just seeing the high spirits of the children that they appreciate all their efforts.
We were presented with an embroidered artwork created by some of the children, which we appreciate and will proudly display in the hostel.
envoy is proud to know such dedicated individuals making a difference in the lives of these children. God bless you all.
We encourage you to check out their website atwww.gavarspecialschool.org and support them with any means possible.
17/07/2007
If you have noticed and enjoyed the artwork at envoy, you should know that it is all home grown. Harnessing the talents of envoy team members we are proud to have a selection of unique artwork displayed around the common areas as well as some of the rooms.
One of our latest collection items is thanks to the talents of Davit, who is well gifted in drawing. He has combined his talent in depicting nature with sports and has produced a humourous painting of the “Football Tree”.
See if you can spot it next time in envoy!
27/06/2007
Samuel Palsmeier, a recent envoy guest, successfully conquered the peaks of Aragatz, still covered in snow in the middle of summer. The following is an account of his adventure.
President of the Spitak Mountain rescue team’ Serzh Hovespyan met me at envoy on June 13th. Serzh has been a member of Spitak since 1988 when the team first formed.
We drove out of Yerevan and stopped for provisions on the way. It was a clear sunny day and the drive up to the Physics Institute at the summit of the mountain was great. The institute is a huge complex of different buildings focused on the study of particles, and it continues to function today (see www.crdfriends.org orhttp://CRDLX5.yerphi.am).
There are plenty of camping spots and a small guesthouse/ cafe being built opposite the institute. Serzh used to be an engineer at the institute and had connections for staying in the staff accommodation. We went for a big walk down a side canyon to sample the heavy iron mineral water and made it back to the institute in time for dinner prepared by the housing staff. Unfortunately due to altitude and nerves I didnt get as much sleep as I had hoped. We woke up at 5 am and had a quick breakfast and started out at 6am. An early start is essential as there is a lot of snow in June and it gets soft by the afternoon due to the warmer weather. We hiked up North-West across the slopes of the south peak and continued up the west side to reach a saddle between the south and the west peaks (2 hrs). The views here were fantastic as you could see all 4 summits and the crater below.
Next, we hiked across to the saddle between the North and the East peaks (2 hrs). Making a left turn at the saddle we started slogging up towards the first summit (1-2hrs). The first summit is reached by hiking. The second summit, a few meters higher, requires care in crossing a knife ridge and then ascend up a short 5th class pitch and a final ridge to reach the top. We had brought technical gear for the crossing but not an ice axe for the unexpected snow still covering the north side of the ridge. The views were fantastic and very dramatic.
We descended and returned by the same route. The weather temperature was surprisingly warm, and overall we had a great outing (10hrs!).
On the way back to the hostel, Serzh treated me to a few more sightseeing stops. This included Amberd fortress and Ohanavan Church.
17/06/2007
JEF Armenia and TDM 2000 Germany in partnership with number of organizations from all over Europe held a 1 week Youth exchange called "Once upon a time" which was about cultural differences of weddings and funerals of below mentioned countries. There were six participants from each partner country which were the following Germany, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia. During the day they were using different non formal education methods to discover each others' culture and in the evening they would organize colorful intercultural evenings with their traditional meals, drinks, games, dances and music. Envoy was very happy to be the hosting place for all the participants and the events.
10/06/2007
All of Armenia was celebrating the national football team’s win over Poland.
On June 6th, Armenia met Poland in a return game held in Yerevan’s Vazgen Sargsyan Stadium. Thousands of fans supporting both Armenia and Poland came to see their national heroes in action.
Envoy hosted some of the loyal Polish supporters, who had come to Armenia for the first time. They were adamant that their team was to win as they did in the first leg especially since they were comfortably sitting at the top of the table. However, Mkhitaryan didnt let history repeat itself and sent the ball to the back of the Polish net at the 66th minute earning Armenia a 1-0 win.
Now Armenia holds 6th place just after Belgium in Group A with 7 points. Poland is still leading the group with a total of 19 points.
Next Armenia comes face to face with Portugal on August 22. Armenian supporters are hopeful of a repeat victory.
Oh, and just for fun, a scoreboard was waiting at the hostel for the Polish fans – we had to make the most of the win!
01/06/2007
Today is international Childrens day and Yerevan celebrates in style! Numerous programs are organised for the children at different locations of the city, the Opera surrounds, the Cascade steps, Hrazdan Valley etc. There are free to public shows and entertainment for all the young at heart. Its a fun filled day of games, singing, playing and lots of laughter and excitement for the children and all alike.
20/05/2007
Envoy has now been in operation for less than 2 years. We have already had guests from 55 countries staying with us and some have even made repeat trips!
We have had people from all over the world, from Finland to Turkey, and Ghana to Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, from Latvia to Lebanon and even as far flung as Australia and New Zealand!
We have seen people of all ages and all backgrounds, from babies to grandparents, cyclist women from USA to Homenetmen scouting groups from around the world. They have all come and stayed with us and it has been a blessing to share their stories and experience, their cultures and also introduce the Armenian culture to many! We have become close with some and still maintain contact. We have made many new friends which we are ever grateful for.
05/05/2007
Now, the friendly atmosphere and the convenient location are not the only reasons to choose to stay at envoy… we have recently installed air conditioning in the rooms. Just in time for the hot summer days ahead, envoy will be cooler than ever!
24/04/2007
Today is the day of remembrance for the Genocide in 1915. Every year, on April 24 Armenians from Armenia and from all over the world visit the Genocide Victims Monument and put flowers in memory of the victims.
The procession starts on the eve of the 23rd. This year, one of our envoy team mates’ Gevorg organised a group of guests to participate in this event.
23/02/2007
Young June Oh, a 33 year old multi-talented Korean traveler indulged envoy with his travel stories and his national music.
He has been touring around the world on his bicycle for around 2 years. He has now cycled in 17 countries (including Armenia). He spent 10 months in India which was a highlight for him. He has also cycled around Japan and many countries in Europe. The next stop from Armenia is Georgia and perhaps then on to Iran and to some African countries.His travel companion (apart from his bicycle) is his national musical instrument called “Haegumâ” (hagem). Apparently the origin of this instrument is from Mongolia. Through music Oh provides an example of Korean culture. He only took one year to learn to play the Haegum and now he is able to introduce his culture to all corners of the world as he travels! Thank you Oh for bringing some of Korean culture to envoy for us to enjoy!
10/02/2007
Zorik has been a guest/friend of envoy for a couple of months. The following is an excerpt from his impressions on Armenia:
As a fourth year medical student from Sydney University (Australia), we were given the opportunity to explore any part of the world as part of a 2 month medical rotation. Having Armenian roots and having not been to Armenia before, my choice was easy: Armenia.
Since arriving mid-December, I have not looked back! I have enjoyed every second of my time in my motherland. I have visited many places of interest and have befriended dozens of wonderful people whom I will never forget. Most notable of these is the staff at “Envoy Hostel” where I have stayed while in Armenia.
One of the many great things about Envoy has been the fact that I have met people from all over the world. From tourists to students to “Peace Corps” members, I have enjoyed the opportunity to mix with and learn about different cultures and organizations. I would not have had the opportunity to meet such a diverse group of people if I had not come to Envoy!
Touching lightly on my medical rotation – I have spent the majority of my rotation at the 6th hospital (St Astvatzamayr) under the supervision of General Surgeon Dr Taron Tonoyan. I have also spent time at Garni Hospital and plan on visiting a few other medical institutions in the coming weeks. It has always been comforting to know that after my work at the hospital, I would be returning to a warm room and a comfortable bed.
I spent my first ever New Years and Christmas away from home and the family. Despite missing my family I enjoyed both occasions and will take away many fond memories. I want to thank each and every member at Envoy for allowing me to be a part of their lives and for treating me as one of the family. God bless you all and God willing, I wish to return in the coming year. Guess where I’ll be staying when I return. :)
Tel: +374-10-530369
54 Pushkin Avenue, Yerevan 0002, Republic of Armenia
Copyright © 2010 Envoy Hostel