I managed to completely ruin my sleeping pattern over the past week, leading to days being slept away and nights lazily spent watching things and generally browsing the Internet. I have felt that itch to get outside and do photography, but just haven't had that energy. With this, the weather also really picked up here in Armenia, with it reaching into the mid 30s (Celsius). I did try going for a little walk the other day in the morning as I had to go out and purchase a few things, but that experience was uncomfortable: drenched in sweat, tired, and just really feeling the regret of getting out. At the same time, I have been longing for it. Missing the days I had prior where I got out and explored a bit more. Perhaps I needed something like this though, a time where I just sat back a bit and recovered. I wasn't sleeping as much before, and I think the constant running around was starting to impact my health. Sunburn appearing on my arms, stiffness in the joints from carrying around heavy backpacks up mountains. I definitely wasn't eating nor drinking enough, that's also for sure. I woke up about an hour ago to the screaming of children, endless noise seems to be the theme around here suddenly. It does feel that if you want some peace you have to wait for that sun to set and experience the brief two hours of bliss in the middle of the night, before the roosters awaken and proceed to also scream out their lungs.
I wanted these indoor photographs to be a bit of a reflection on how this all feels at the moment, capturing that feeling of being stuck inside. That want to get out but also inability to go beyond those walls just yet. A few glimpses of the outdoors as the sun began to set and the tons shifted. Birds scattering the horizon with the remaining light behind them.
Drapes soften the light throughout the day, but the heat builds up with a greenhouse effect. An illusion of indoor comfort with a generally calmer lit environment at a glance, but that idle air, warm and void of moisture hits quick. Apparently it reaches highs of near 50 Celsius here in peak summer, and that's something I have just never experienced before. A little nervous as to what that might actually feel like and whether I can even survive that. Already feeling the pressure of the sun as it managed to burn my arms purely from the drive home the other day. The dirt already fills the air and gives off an incredibly dry atmosphere. You feel the cracks in your hands forming, the dryness within your skin. The wrinkles being pulled out of your face as your body dries up under that sun. It's easy to forget to drink enough water too, though it comes to no surprise anymore that the nation is riddled with public drinking fountains. They definitely do their part to at least try to remind you to stay hydrated. But my liquid intake as of late has been far too much coffee. Mugs that stand tall, all that caffeine a desperate bid to maintain some of the energy I had a week ago.
It makes me question what life was like here in the past. How the natives would live under much more challenging conditions. The people that relied on their produce to survive, had no air conditioning and fans. Sat beneath the scorching sun and let days pass with one beautiful sunset to the next. It's not difficult to look out into that skyline and imagine the days of more intense culture, more simple ways of life. Sometimes I feel I'm more destined for that than whatever today's chaotic society is.
Though I understand the remaining spirituality in the land even if culture has shifted. Looking out into the vast landscapes of Armenia certainly gives off an interesting emotion. There's something to it that really displays its age. It really does feel like a place that has been forgotten in time for the most part. With a much slower way of life, untouched areas of rocky and natural areas in the mountains. All kissed by that intense sunlight, producing colourful assortments of flowers and bush, Sights of farmers walking their cattle through the roads. Old churches sitting above. This is definitely a place to come to to reflect, to slow down and try to understand things. Still with a ton of chaos, with areas that I am starting to find unbearable, but that's part of the experience in the end, isn't it? A test of your own abilities.
Long time no read you Namiks, the photos express exactly what you wanted, it feels like confinement, but wanting to get out of those walls. It's exactly the same for me, that's why I like the night, because it's just at that time of the day when everything is quieter, that's why I'm a night person.
Regarding the heat, how incredible! 50 degrees is too much, make sure you buy a thermos of water and drink at least a liter and a half of liquid a day, use sunscreen and a cap, as a person who lives constantly in the tropics, I tell you that the sun can be completely overwhelming and exhausting, here we have never reached 50 degrees, I think I would die, maximum we have had 35 degrees and that is enough to feel completely exhausted.
All the colors are part of the landscape my friend, less hot and calmer days will come, keep enjoying your surroundings, do not shut yourself in, the confinement and sleep disturbances (either not enough sleep or too much sleep) can generate problems in your mental health. Greetings my friend @namiks 💕
There are plenty of drinking fountains throughout Armenia which makes total sense. I carry a bottle of water around with me and can fill it up pretty much anywhere, it's great!
I did try to find a cap and some sunscreen yesterday, but just couldn't seem to find it anywhere. I'm sure there are plenty of places, but perhaps something that requires a bit more time to look.
I have no idea how I'll survive as it gets even hotter though, haha. Wish me luck!
I wish you the best of luck, the heat can be oppressive. I totally loved having water always available, look for the sunscreen in a pharmacy and the cap, it will show up, I'm sure it's something that many should use. However, look on the bright side, you can make fried eggs and food without using electricity or gas, just put them outside and that's it! 😅😅
One thing I'm really missing is natural water. The ability to run off to rivers/lakes or beaches. There is a lake here but it's a bit far out.
And yeah I thought of pharmacies but they're very overpriced places, so I want to look elsewhere.
It's good to live all the experiences you can, it makes us appreciate much more the things we had in the past, likewise you probably don't have rivers or beaches nearby, but you have other places that you couldn't find anywhere else, appreciate that it's probably unique.
An umbrella with UV protection could also help you in the meantime, but it is less easy to carry.
I have seen people carrying umbrellas around, but it's a bit more of a rarity. I think the average person just doesn't walk as much as I do, so they just hide away in a cafe or something where it's a bit more cooler.
Hahaha, it's better to look a little weird but be protected from sunburn and excess sweat dude, it's only while you get the sunscreen and hat, I'm seriously worried about, 50 degrees It must be completely insane! 🤒
I know that feeling of getting exhausted and uncomfortable after taking a walk under the scorching sun.
It's good you had some rest at least. The sunburn and the joint stiffness show that you really needed to rest for the moment.