LAHORE , PAKISTAN 🇵🇰: CHING CHIS & MANGOES

Rickshaw (Ching Chi) rides and Motorcycles .

Chane ki Daal .

It’s mango and peach season, delicious !

Chicken Karahi .

7jul18 Lahore , Pakistan 🇵🇰

LAHORE , PAKISTAN 🇵🇰: FOODIE AFTER THE RAIN

Chicken Makhani and Roti

3jul18 Lahore, Pakistan 🇵🇰

LAHORE , PAKISTAN 🇵🇰: FOOD MONSOON

Morning Chai ☕️ .

Rickshaw Row

Biggest rainfall in Lahore in 38 years on July 3rd. Tragically, 8 people died.

Koozy Haleem . A variety of lentils. Chilies 🌶 and spices can be added. I dumped them all in. Spicy hot and delicious.

Monument in Bahrain Town

Haircut, anyone?

The art of decorating trucks is a big thing in Pakistan. Usually, the art is a direct reflection of that particular driver’s ideology.

Halwa Poori . Poori bread with Chana Masala and Halwa.

Sajji . Originating from the Balochistan province.

4jul18 Lahore, Pakistan 🇵🇰

Iaşi , Romania 🇷🇴: “Sa primesti ce ai dat”

The Border crossing from Moldova 🇲🇩 .

The road to Iaşi .

Passing through villages on the way…there are still horse drawn carriages serving as practical modes of transportation .

Mănăstirea Trei Ierarhi (Monastery of the Three Hierarchs). Completed in 1639.

Artist : HarceaPacea https://www.instagram.com/harceapacea

sa primesti ce ai dat . Rough translation: “To get what you gave.”

“I also want to be an artist.”

Grand Hôtel Traian. Designed by Gustave Eiffel. 1887.

23/24jun18 . Iaşi , Romania 🇷🇴

Chișinău , Moldova : “Chișinău , You Intoxicate Me”

Trupele de Carabinieri (Carabinier Troops) is the gendarmerie-type force of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova. The Moldovan Carabinieri are to ensure, together with the police or independently, public order, protection of rights and freedoms of citizens, owners’ properties and prevention of violations of the law. The Department of Carabineer Troops has 5 Military Units and some 2,000 soldiers working on a contract basis or on time. On December 12, 1991, the establishment of the Carabinieri Troops was approved by the Parliament and subsequently signed by the President of the Republic of Moldova. (wiki)

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“We are forlorn like children, and experienced like old men, we are crude and sorrowful and superficial—I believe we are lost.”
― Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front

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Chișinău , you intoxicate me.
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Abandoned building near the city center.

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And, she did…

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Driving politics 

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“We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that SELF may prove to be.” ― May Sarton
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Church in the woods
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Valea Morilor

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Decay is inevitable, but beauty can remain

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jun2018. Chisinau , Moldova

Chișinău , Moldova: The Central Cemetery a.k.a. The Armenian Cemetery

Founded in 1811. It’s the most ‘honored’ cemetery in Chișinău. Many nobles alongside regular citizens. It’s falling to decay, as it’s so massive, but there’s constantly work being done by groundskeepers. Walking through it, I was struck by two things that are not common in American cemeteries: Pictures of the deceased prominently displayed on the tombstones, really ‘putting a face with the corpse’ for me. Which, I never knew I needed. Sounds creepy, but it was kind of wild to see the face of someone who was born and who died before I ever came to be. Just gently putting into perspective that life goes on with or without us. We’re so small in relative terms. Secondly, the tables that were on the grave sites. Some were as long as picnic tables. Others were small little cafe-like tables that were obviously meant for visitors to come and sit. A Ukrainian friend explained that once a year there’s a special day where families come and visit their beloveds’ graves…drink and eat, and share stories of their lives. An effort to keep their spirits alive, I guess. 

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Reminiscent of the Grapes of Wrath

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Who WERE they?! What were they LIKE?!

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An especially elaborate table at a grave site

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What happened?

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16jun18 Chișinău , Moldova

Chișinău , Moldova: Eternal Flame

The Eternal Flame honors those who were lost during  World War II.

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Five, symbolic reddish-brown rifles, each representing one year of the war, form an arc over the eternal flame.

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16june2018. Chisinau, Moldova

Chișinău , Moldova : Pisică Ferocească

DCIM100GOPROG0188339.The Cathedral of Christ’s Nativity (Romanian: Catedrala Mitropolitană Nașterea Domnului) is the main cathedral of the Moldovan Orthodox Church in Central Chișinău, Moldova. It was commissioned by the governor of New Russia, Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov, and Metropolitan Gavril Bănulescu-Bodoni in 1830. The cathedral was built in the 1830s to a Neoclassical design by Abram Melnikov (who had designed a similar church in Bolhrad). The cathedral was bombed during World War II, and its bell tower was destroyed by the local Communists in 1962. The new bell tower was constructed in 1997. During the Soviet period, worship was prohibited and the cathedral was transformed into an exhibition center. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_Cathedral,_Chișinău

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Ştefan cel Mare Central Park (Romanian: Grădina Publică „Ştefan cel Mare” / Parcul „Ştefan cel Mare”) is the main park in Central Chişinău, Moldova. Formerly known as Pushkin Park, it is the oldest park in Moldova and spans about 7 hectares (17 acres). It has gained the nickname “The Park of the Lovers” in Chişinău due to its popularity as a meeting spot for couples. The park contains 50 species of trees, some of which are quite old, the mulberries and acacias being between 130 and 180 years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ștefan_cel_Mare_Central_Park

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Artist: Radu Dumbrava https://www.instagram.com/dumbravaradu/
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The National Theater Mihai Eminescu was established on October 10, 1920 by a group of prominent Romanian cultural and public figures, led by the Minister of Bessarabia in the Government of Romania, Sergiu T. Niţă. The troupe worked only one season, delivering 25 performances. In 1935, by ministerial order, theaters in Chisinau, Craiova and Chernivtsi were closed for financial reasons. Although short-lived, the first National Theater in Chisinau has made an important contribution to the culture of Bessarabia. https://www.gpsmycity.com/attractions/national-theater-mihai-eminescu-9979.html
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Pisică Ferocească : Ferocious Kitty

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The Chișinău Water Tower is an architectural monument of Chișinău, Moldova, located at 2 Mitropolit Bănulescu-Bodoni Street and built at the end of 19th century after a project by Alexander Bernadazzi. It was a main part of Chişinău’s water system. The upper level was built of wood and was destroyed by an earthquake. It was rebuilt between 1980 and 1983. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chișinău_Water_Tower
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Elefant, artist unknown

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Francysk Skaryna or Francisk Skorina (pronounced [franˈt͡sɨsk skaˈrɨna]; Latin: Franciscus Scorina, Belarusian: Францыск (Францішак) Скарына; Polish: Franciszek Skaryna; ca. 1490–before 29 January 1552) was a Belarusian humanist, physician, translator and one of the first book printers in Eastern Europe, laying the groundwork for the development of the Belarusian language. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francysk_Skaryna
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No escaping Western Influence

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10jun18. Chisinau , Moldova

CHIȘINĂU , MOLDOVA 🇲🇩 : TE IUBESC MOLDOVA

“I Love Moldova 🇲🇩 .”

“A Rose 🌹 by any other name . . .” = “Un trandafir cu orice alt nume . . .”

Old Roman Columns disintegrating in plain view. A graffiti tag from Bust, a Romanian graffiti writer…

Mysterious BNE has left his tag all over the capital city. No one knows who he is, but as someone who travels the world, I can tell you that he is arguably the MOST prolific sticker slapper in the street art universe. I’ve seen them in tons of cities around the globe. BNE is a proponent for clean water 💦 for everyone… I’d say go to his IG, but, he’s taken all of his posts down…? I want to meet this guy so badly!

The back of the Chișinău Water Tower.

3LB Crew

The Waiting is the hardest part.

An unattended dog , quite possibly the Queen’s , walks past a rundown house.

There’s still life inside these walls.

BNE. The sticker below is what I was referring to earlier. The tags that I’m seeing all over the city, are a first for me, I think. I thought he just did stickers.

Another sticker for mayoral candidate, Constantin Codreanu .

I love seeing books in different languages other than English . But, don’t read about that asshole, though. In ANY language.

Moldovans exit a bus 🚌 on Stefan Cel Mare Street .

Cafea cu graffiti mele, te rog .

Locals hang out in front of the opera house on Stefan Cel Mare str.

Politics are a part of the fiber of Moldova 🇲🇩 . Russian Matryoshka dolls for sale at the market in the park next to the opera house.

Kitty on LSD. Because, why not ?

I love it when street art naturally merges with the urban landscape .

FVCK your politics. Serve the people ! “Jack” sticker is from Zacharie Bodson, à Lille, France-based artist.

May2018. Chișinău , Moldova 🇲🇩 .

CHIȘINĂU , MOLDOVA 🇲🇩: ETERNAL

Victory Memorial and Eternal Flame 🔥: dedicated to Chișinău’s unknown soldiers who died in World War II .

“For me, TREES 🌲 have always been the most penetrating preachers.” – Hermann Hesse

Francysk Skaryna ~ First Belarusian Book 📚 Printer.

Sitting Still.

“Nothing is holier, nothing is more exemplary than a beautiful, strong tree 🌲.” ~ Hermann Hesse

Artistic planter pots line Str. Mateevici .

Constantin Codreanu. Running for Mayor of Chișinău .

28,29May2018. Chișinău , Moldova 🇲🇩 .