2013: rock-n-roll New Year !!

On a personal note...

Never before I was able to achieve so many personal To Do-s [some coming back from my teenage years] as I did in 2012. Apparently, dragon loved me. But hey, I was determined, I took the risks, and it was worth it. I fought some of my personal inhibitions [yes, I do have inhibitions too :) !], and it was so worth it.

I wish readers of my blogs, my friends and family to see at least some of the most important dreams realised in 2013.

May 2013 rock your inhibitions and set you free.

It’s London calling. It’s rock-n-roll.

Have a very happy New Year !!


With love, 

x Mika

It's Christmas Day in West and end of an era in Armenia politics

Here we are. It's Christmas Day in West, and now officially end of an era in Armenian politics, as ex-president and leader of (what remains of) opposition HAK group Levon Ter-Petrosyan formally withdrew his candidacy from upcoming presidential election citing age (68). Not surprising, considering the circumstances. Considering the fact that over the last 5 years he failed in building up a viable opposition force. He failed in contributing to the rise of new leaders ready and able to challenge the status quo on a national level.

That flirting - unashamedly - with oligarch-led party and the oligarch himself illustrated the impotency of those on the scene and inability to lead. Ironically, Gagik Tsarukyan (oligarch head of the BHK [‘Prosperous Armenia’] party) became ‘the only hope’ for the opposition. It was painful to see how political figures downgraded to become oligarch-pleasers.

Here is hoping this ‘end of an era’ will stimulate the rise of new political leaders to match an increasing importance and influence of civic activists in Armenia.

As for the February presidential election, the only candidate that I will support is the leader of Heritage party, Armenia ex-FM Raffi Hovhannisyan. Although I disagree with Raffi on number of internal and foreign issues, and criticised his populism in past, currently he is my favourite Armenian politician (compared to others in public view). I also respect immensely his post-DIY stance, when he came out in support, even though it was obvious this would not be in line with the majority of average voters and in defiance with the prevalent anti-gay hysteria. I will never forget his stance.

But there should be no doubt that Serj is the winner. I can safely say Armenia is heading to the most predictable presidential election. This time, he won't need any violations, any fraud. This could be a textbook example of 'free and fair elections' in Armenia. It will be 'picture perfect'.

‘Free and fair’ only from a technical point of view but never by essence.

Welcome, winter! à la Brussels

 *Grand Place: as I was told, pretty "controversial" main Christmas tree in Brussels, No.1 talk in town

 *Grand Place: much more controversial, in my opinion, 'Nativity Scene'...with real sheep

 *Cuteness: 'Welcome, winter'

 *Christmas tree with recycled bottles

*"controversial" main Christmas tree (from different angle)

Papier d'Arménie

A discovery from Brussels, thanks to present by a dear friend of mine.

Papier d'Arménie:
Papier d'Arménie, or Armenian Paper, is a room deodorizing product sold as booklets of twelve sheets of paper each cut into three pieces, which are coated with benzoin resin, the dried sap of styrax trees.
At the end of the 19th century, Auguste Ponsot discovered that Armenian households would burn Styrax as a fragrance and disinfectant. M. Ponsot adopted this habit with the help of the pharmacist Henri Rivier, whereby benzoin resin was dissolved in alcohol, then infused onto a blotting paper support. The "alchemy" inherent in Papier d'Arménie became a huge success with the emerging importance of hygiene from 1888–1889, and has been steadily produced in Montrouge, France since 1885. (for more: see Wikipedia)