Lada

Can you manage to locate a house where the only information you got is the first name of the owner?

As soon as I alighted on Yerevan early in the morning from the night train, I have been trying hard to locate a very cheap place called Lada’s Homestay. The only clue I had is it is near the train station, yes, near the train station. And it is only 1000 Dram. These were the only information I had.

What? Do I think I’m a FBI agent or something? What is the definition of near? 50m radius from the train station? And I still gave it a try. I must be insane. But 1000 dram a night is so tempting and I can’t help myself.

So I started my aimless search by walking to the neighborhood within the vicinity of the train station and asking around. First to the north, and then to the east, followed by to the south and finally to the west. Unfortunately, not many Armenians spoke English here, at least here and nobody knew what I wanted and for those who spoke English, they didn’t know anything about Lada but they did know that Lada is a Soviet-made car. They asked me to go to hotel in the city centre.

You see, information is so important for those traveling on a shoestring. I can’t stop blaming myself why didn’t I ask for more information from Tomoko, at least a telephone number or something beforehand. Sometimes I salute to Japanese travelers as they always can find some cheaper places to stay and I know that is because they tend to stay in a place where most of the travelers of their kind have stayed before. They travel by guestbook.

Upon giving up, I checked in to a newly established hostel equipped with all the facilities a traveler needs. You know what?  I don’t need all of those. A bed or a shade is more than enough for me.

I had to pay almost 6 times more. Damn it.

Note: RM 1 ≈ 120 Dram