Improve border crossing information for travelers

Hi everyone, We are an Indian couple, planning a 15-day trip to Armenia and Georgia. I’ve built a logic-driven itinerary to hit the highlights, but I need a reality check on the logistics, specifically the land border crossing. **The Itinerary:** * **Armenia:** Yerevan (3 days - Cascade, Garni/Geghard, Khor Virap, Mt Aragats) -> Goris (2 days - Noravank, Tatev). * **The Crossing:** Moving from Armenia to Tbilisi while stopping at **Haghpat and Sanahin Monasteries**. * **Georgia:** Tbilisi (4 days - Mtskheta, Kazbegi/Juta) -> Akhaltsikhe/Kutaisi (3 days - Stalin Museum, Vardzia Cave, Gelati) -> Batumi (3 days - Gonio, Botanical Garden). **Questions for the sub:** 1. **Best time to visit?**: we are considering May end to visit the Caucasus. 2. **Border Logistics (Day 6):** We are covering Haghpat and Sanahin *while* crossing the border into Georgia. Has anyone done this recently with a private driver? How long did the actual border control at Sadakhlo take for Indian passport holders? 3. **Safety:** How is the situation currently around Goris and the Syunik region? Safe for general tourism? 4. **Vardzia to Kutaisi:** Can a standard private hire car handle the direct road to Kutaisi, or should we backtrack to the highway? 5. **Veg Food:** Any "must-try" vegetarian dishes in the smaller towns (Goris/Akhaltsikhe) that aren't just bread and cheese? 6. **Local Connection:** Since we don't drink, any tips for making friends or meeting locals outside of the bar/wine scene? We’re thinking of **GoTrip** for the base changes. Any obvious spots I should swap or cut to avoid burnout? P.S.: I have travelled internationally once; this is first time for my spouse. Hence, excited and yet a little nervous with safety amidst the ongoing geo-political tension globally. Cheers!