This was my first “big” trip as an OFW based in Al Ain.
Visa-free. Budget flight. Land border crossing. On paper, it looked simple.
October 6–12.
In reality, it felt bigger than that.
We flew Air Arabia from Sharjah to Yerevan. Around 800 AED roundtrip at that time. Budget airline, nothing fancy, but direct and practical. From Al Ain, we had to bus to Sharjah Airport first — part of the journey already.
Landing in Armenia felt different immediately. Slower. Older. Less commercial than most places I’ve visited.
We stayed near Republic Square in Yerevan, walking distance to everything. No complicated transport needed.
Update: I booked through Agoda back then. If you’re checking hotels in either country, you can browse there and use CYCRUZAGODA for up to 10% off selected stays.
Yerevan — Pork, History, and Quiet Streets
First dinner was khorovats.
Armenian pork BBQ.
Until now, I still say that pork was one of the best I’ve had anywhere. Smoky, juicy, simple. No complicated sauces. Just done right.
Republic Square at night felt calm. Fountains lit up. Not crowded. Just people walking.
Next day we went to Cascade Complex. Long stairs. Art installations. Mt. Ararat in the distance if the weather cooperates.
Then the Genocide Memorial.
Heavy atmosphere. Quiet. Reflective. You don’t talk much in places like that.
Garni Temple and Etchmiadzin followed on another day. History layered everywhere. Armenia feels ancient in a way that isn’t polished for tourism.
But what stayed with me wasn’t just the landmarks.
It was how affordable everything felt compared to the UAE. Meals didn’t feel expensive. Coffee didn’t feel inflated.
Travel felt accessible again.
The Road to Georgia
Instead of flying, we hired a private car from Yerevan to Tbilisi.
With luggage and family, it made sense.
Total travel time around six to seven hours including a stop at Lake Sevan.
Lake Sevan was that unexpected pause. Blue water. Mountains in the distance. Cold air. A reminder that road trips hit differently than flights.
Border crossing at Bagratashen was straightforward.
Exit Armenia. Walk. Enter Georgia. Stamp. Continue.
No drama.
Just movement.
And there’s something satisfying about physically crossing from one country into another by land. You feel the shift slowly instead of landing into it.
Tbilisi — Wine, Balconies, and Slow Days
We stayed in Old Town Tbilisi.
Wooden balconies. Stone streets. Walking distance to Narikala Fortress.
Cable car ride up. City view from above. Sulfur bath domes visible from the hill.
Georgia felt more colorful than Armenia. More animated. Wine culture everywhere.
They say it’s the birthplace of wine — and honestly, after tasting a few, believable.
Tried khinkali — soup dumplings you have to eat carefully or you spill everything.
Khachapuri — cheese bread boat. Heavy but comforting.
Armenia won for pork.
Georgia won for wine.
We didn’t rush the days. Meidan Bazaar for souvenirs. Churchkhela snacks. Random café stops.
It wasn’t a “maximize everything” kind of trip.
It was steady.
Looking Back
Armenia felt grounded. Historic. Understated.
Georgia felt expressive. Slightly louder. More colorful.
Both were visa-free at the time for Philippine passport holders and both felt budget-friendly coming from the UAE.
But what I remember most isn’t the itinerary.
It’s that feeling of being able to travel again using hard-earned dirhams. Not luxury. Not five-star. Just smart planning and movement.
And Lake Sevan.
That quiet stop between countries.
Some trips are about cities.
Some are about the road between them.
