23 October 2012 - 11:18 AMT

Western Armenia. Lost Motherland, Armenians and Kurds of Van Lake area

Kurdish men performing a national dance. The dance is extremely long, lasting up to half-an-hour with repeating motives and lyrics finally bringing people to complete entrancement — Kurdish men performing a national dance. The dance is extremely long, lasting up to half-an-hour with repeating motives and lyrics finally bringing people to complete entrancement Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Little girls and a boy on their way from Muslim school. Sometimes even little girls need to put on hair covers — Little girls and a boy on their way from Muslim school. Sometimes even little girls need to put on hair covers Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Typical Kurdish houses — Typical Kurdish houses Sedrak Mkrtchyan

A little girl welcoming tourists to ruins of Varagavank Armenian monastery, located in the village where she lives — A little girl welcoming tourists to ruins of Varagavank Armenian monastery, located in the village where she lives Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Streets of local cities are narrow, dirty and full of either small shops or tea houses — Streets of local cities are narrow, dirty and full of either small shops or tea houses Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Another tea house with totally male visitors drinking tea. European tradition to call eastern coffee \"Turkish coffee\" is strange for citizens of Turkey: coffee is rarely used here — Another tea house with totally male visitors drinking tea. European tradition to call eastern coffee \"Turkish coffee\" is strange for citizens of Turkey: coffee is rarely used here Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Roads in most of the villages were never covered with asphalt — Roads in most of the villages were never covered with asphalt Sedrak Mkrtchyan

A village at Van lake shore. Locals rarely swim. The water is generally used for agricultural purposes and for wool washing — A village at Van lake shore. Locals rarely swim. The water is generally used for agricultural purposes and for wool washing Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Local children know only two words for tourists: \"Hello\" and \"Money\", with the second one being repeated till you treat every single child with coins — Local children know only two words for tourists: \"Hello\" and \"Money\", with the second one being repeated till you treat every single child with coins Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Inhabitants of Mush city. 20 meters away from this place is Armenian St. May church — Inhabitants of Mush city. 20 meters away from this place is Armenian St. May church Sedrak Mkrtchyan

One of Mush city districts. A woman urges the little girl run home and put on her hair cover — One of Mush city districts. A woman urges the little girl run home and put on her hair cover Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Village says goodbye to the visitors — Village says goodbye to the visitors Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Mush valley and beginning of Sasoun mountains - Homeland of Armenian epic heroes — Mush valley and beginning of Sasoun mountains - Homeland of Armenian epic heroes Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Mush valley and beginning of Sasoun mountains - Homeland of Armenian epic heroes — Mush valley and beginning of Sasoun mountains - Homeland of Armenian epic heroes Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Father and son — Father and son Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Girls like to be photographed, while elderly women generally refuse. One of them once explained that they should be paid first — Girls like to be photographed, while elderly women generally refuse. One of them once explained that they should be paid first Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Western Armenia. Lost Motherland, Armenians and Kurds of Van Lake area — Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Girls like to be photographed, while elderly women generally refuse. One of them once explained that they should be paid first — Girls like to be photographed, while elderly women generally refuse. One of them once explained that they should be paid first Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Western Armenia. Lost Motherland, Armenians and Kurds of Van Lake area — Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Western Armenia. Lost Motherland, Armenians and Kurds of Van Lake area — Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Western Armenia. Lost Motherland, Armenians and Kurds of Van Lake area — Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Western Armenia. Lost Motherland, Armenians and Kurds of Van Lake area — Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Western Armenia. Lost Motherland, Armenians and Kurds of Van Lake area — Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Western Armenia. Lost Motherland, Armenians and Kurds of Van Lake area — Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Western Armenia. Lost Motherland, Armenians and Kurds of Van Lake area — Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Children study ancient Armenian cross-stone, preserved by the locals. Thousands of Armenian cross-stones were destroyed along with hundreds of Armenian churches in Western Armenia since the period of Armenian extermination — Children study ancient Armenian cross-stone, preserved by the locals. Thousands of Armenian cross-stones were destroyed along with hundreds of Armenian churches in Western Armenia since the period of Armenian extermination Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Little boys and girls pose separately — Little boys and girls pose separately Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Western Armenia. Lost Motherland, Armenians and Kurds of Van Lake area — Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Armenian children surprised by unexpected visitors. Houses are tiny, and although beton and bricks are used today, clay houses are most common — Armenian children surprised by unexpected visitors. Houses are tiny, and although beton and bricks are used today, clay houses are most common Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Agriculture and animal breeding are the main sources of income for the locals. — Agriculture and animal breeding are the main sources of income for the locals. Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Western Armenia. Lost Motherland, Armenians and Kurds of Van Lake area — Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Both Armenian and Kurdish women cover their hair and face according to Muslim tradition — Both Armenian and Kurdish women cover their hair and face according to Muslim tradition Sedrak Mkrtchyan

An Armenian man with his wife in a Kurdish village. Most of Armenians hid their Armenian origin for almost a century, keeping family stories of relatives massacred during the Armenian Genocide. There are cases when Armenians of the region secretly convert — An Armenian man with his wife in a Kurdish village. Most of Armenians hid their Armenian origin for almost a century, keeping family stories of relatives massacred during the Armenian Genocide. There are cases when Armenians of the region secretly convert Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Dwellers of a Kurdish village gather up for a holiday — Dwellers of a Kurdish village gather up for a holiday Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Looks of kids vary a lot. Dark haired, dark skinned and completely blonde children can be met in one family — Looks of kids vary a lot. Dark haired, dark skinned and completely blonde children can be met in one family Sedrak Mkrtchyan

A boy on the roof of a Kurdish village in Mush valley. Conversations about ethnicity were prohibited some ten years ago. Currently people proudly speak about their Kurdish and even Armenian origins — A boy on the roof of a Kurdish village in Mush valley. Conversations about ethnicity were prohibited some ten years ago. Currently people proudly speak about their Kurdish and even Armenian origins Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Smoke from car on the road up the hill, where a Kurdish village is located — Smoke from car on the road up the hill, where a Kurdish village is located Sedrak Mkrtchyan

A man with one leg in Mush valley. He earns his living asking for money from people, who have rest near the river and his house on their road to Mush — A man with one leg in Mush valley. He earns his living asking for money from people, who have rest near the river and his house on their road to Mush Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Western Armenia. Lost Motherland, Armenians and Kurds of Van Lake area — Sedrak Mkrtchyan

Men in Horasan tea house — Men in Horasan tea house Sedrak Mkrtchyan

A boy earning money arranging shoes of prayers left at mosque entrance — A boy earning money arranging shoes of prayers left at mosque entrance Sedrak Mkrtchyan

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