I believe Lasheen and I traveled to Armenia in mid-2001, and the story of our trip is so funny that he must had shared it with many of his friends. During early 2000, Armenia was still recovering from post-soviet shock and there was no internet, or even proper phone lines to contact people there. Anyway, the story of our unforgettable trip goes like this: I wanted to visit some of the Bahai friends in Yerevan, Armenia, and to get to know how the Junior Youth Empowerment programs which was launched world wide was being implemented and experienced in Armenia. As Lasheen and I were very close, I called him and told him I was leaving to Armenia and if he wanted to join me, he affirmatively said yes, lets go. It didnt take long that we packed; said our goodbyes to family and friends and headed to Dubai airport. On the way he asked me what about visa for Armenia, do we need one? I, very confidently said, I have Iranian passport and dont need a visa and since you have Indian passport, you will most probably get your visa on arrival. He wittingly said, Indians are very well respected in the CIS and he would not need a visa. We purchased our tickets at the airport and the lady looked at our passports and inquired where were our visas for Armenia. We both told her not to worry, as we will get it on arrival. She said are you sure, because we have no way of contacting Yerevan and asking them about regulations, as they had just began direct flights from Dubai to Yerevan and there was a big communication gap. We responded confidently, that Indians and Iranians dont need a visa to Armenia! To cut the story short, we boarded the plane, and throughout the journey we were cracking jokes, and talked about what we want to do on arriving to Yerevan, we didnt know the language, and had not informed anyone to come to pick us up at the airport. I just had the address of the Bahai Center and thought we would get a taxi and go directly there. Anyway, when we landed at the airport, first I told him, he should sit till I get my visa and then I would tell the officer he is my friend and get him through. When I approached the immigration officer, he flatly rejected my application and said how I had boarded the plane without a visa and I had to return back to Dubai! Then Lasheen told me Guru dont worry, we Indians get visa without a problem, and when I get out of airport, I will ask someone to get you out as well... When Lasheen approached the officer at the desk, he looked at him and said how did he come to Yerevan, whom he knew there what was his purpose and where is his visa?!! He just responded to him, we were friends and came together to meet Armenian Bahai friends, which of course the officer was not at all believing. To him it was a strange mix. Anyway, he rebuked him and told him to sit with me at the waiting area till we would be sent back by the next plane. When we asked when was the next plane to Dubai, he said after three days!!! We cracked and laughed so loud that the guy was thinking we are crazy. The airport was completely empty, no coffee shops, nothing, just long metal benches and empty space. There was only one officer sitting in a small room listing to his radio, and every now and then he would come and say something in Armenian or Russian which we did not understand. He was so perplexed why we are just laughing and cracking jokes. I believe we were there for about 3-4 hours, and did not know what to do for the next three days in the an airport which did not have a restaurant or coffee shop. We did not have any contact phone numbers and did not know the local language to even use the phone directory. Then just at late afternoon, an immigration officer came to us and said someone has come to airport, but he wants to release only one person! We said we are two and either both of us get to go out or return together to Dubai. Fortunately, I had informed a friend in Georgia about my plans to visit Armenia, and he happened to be in Yerevan that day, he was surprised to see Lasheen, and he vouched for both of us. Anyway, we stayed in Yerevan for a week, and had a wonderful experience working with the local community in Yerevan studying Drawing on the Power of the Word course material and got to make fantastic friends in Armenia. This picture was taken at the Bahai Center during one of evening meetings with the local friends there....
Posted on: Thu, 03 Apr 2014 06:57:19 +0000