Kim Kardashian Starts 'Journey of a Lifetime'

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian arriving at Yerevan's Zvartnots International Airport.

Kim Kardashian, her husband singer Kanye West, daughter North West and sister Khloe Kardashian arrived in Yerevan on April 8. They were greeted at Zvartnots International Airport by women dressed in traditional Armenian costumes and offered bread and salt as a welcome usually reserved for dignitaries. Large number of media outlets were waiting at the airport trying to get a glimpse of the reality TV star and her family. When asked by reporters how she felt being in her ancestral homeland, Kardashian replied, "I am very happy."

The Kardashians were then taken to the Marriott hotel in minivans where hundreds of fans and supporters were waiting for their arrival. This much-touted visit is seen by many as an opportunity for the world to know about Armenia and the Armenian Genocide. They will be shooting a segment for their reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians which is expected to air before April 24, the day that Armenia and the world will be commemorating the centennial of the start of the Genocide. According to USA Today, Kardashian's representative, Ina Treciokas said "It's a long-planned family trip to the old country, and it will be featured later on their reality show, Keeping Up With the Kardashians."

The New York Times wrote: "American television star Kim Kardashian has arrived in the capital of her ancestral Armenia for a visit expected to draw attention to the centennial of the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians. Armenia formally marks the killings by Ottoman Turks on April 24. Armenia calls the killings a genocide, a view widely supported by scholars, but Turkey vehemently rejects the term, maintaining that the figure is inflated and that many people on both sides died. Kardashian is expected to visit the vast complex in Yerevan, the capital, that commemorates the victims."

Upon arrival, the Kardashian sisters took to social media to express their feelings about being in Armenia. Kim Kardashian, who has over 30 million followers on Twitter, 24 million on Facebook and over 29 million followers on Instagram tweeted: "Armenia we are here! We're so grateful to be here & start this journey of a lifetime! Thank u everyone who greeted us" and "I can't wait to explore our country and have some yummy food!" with the hashtag #MyDadAndGrandParentsWouldBeSoProud.

Khloe Kardashian wrote the follow status on her Facebook page: "The love and welcoming to Armenia has been overwhelmingly beautiful!!! I wholeheartedly, can't believe all of you Angels who are outside our hotel with flowers and smiles. Im incredibly eager to get some sleep and see Armenia in the day light! I hope I'm able to sleep. I'm so excited to be here!!" She also posted a photo on her Instagram and wrote the same sentiments.

AFP reported that Kardashian is in Armenia to film a documentary. It wrote, "Kardashian's Armenian ancestors on her father's side immigrated to America and the trip was aimed at remembering those killed in the genocide 100 years ago." One of the organizers of the trip told AFP that "Kim Kardashian, her daughter, husband and sisters want to visit Armenia to commemorate victims of the Armenian Genocide."