Hotel Marino Beach Colombo

14 January, 2022 | Hotel reviews | 39 seen

Marino Beach Colombo has a restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, and bar in Colombo. 2.4 km from Galle Face Beach and 1.7 km from U.S. Embassy, the property offers a garden and a terrace. The accommodation features a 24-hour front desk, room service, and currency exchange for guests.

We booked here a one-night stay at the start of January 2022 and paid about $135.

The reason we booked this hotel, probably is its rooftop infinity pool. 

Top 13 5-star hotels in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Th room size was quite ok.. Nowadays its modern having bathroom with a glass window.

Our threenager daughter enjoyed her time at the kid pool, while we were sipping mango and strawberry cocktails. 

The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms with a desk, a kettle, a minibar, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV, a balcony and a private bathroom with a bidet. At Marino Beach Colombo rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels.

Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a continental breakfast.

Not the biggest skycrapper in the city, but still quite awesome. 

Unfortunelty we didn't had enough time to enjoy all the hotel's facilities, as we were leaving early in the morning to depart from the Colombo airport back to Tbilisi, via Doha. 

Decent 4-star hotel with a view. Book now on Booking.com

Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo

13 January, 2022 | Churches and Monasteries | 39 seen

Gangaramaya Temple is one of the most important temples in Colombo, Sri Lanka, being a mix of modern architecture and cultural essence. Located on the Beira Lake, it was completed in the late 19th century.

We were for the second day in Colombo, at our Hilton Colombo residences when I decided to google for top sightseeing objects in Colombo and Gangaramaya Temple popped up. 

It was a matter of catching a tuk-tuk and for 100 Sri Lankan Rupees, we were taken to this temple. At the temple, we were asked to pay 800 Sri Lankan Rupee entrance fee and our journey started (after removing our shoes)

The temple's architecture demonstrates an eclectic mix of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, and Chinese architecture.

This Buddhist temple includes several imposing buildings and is situated not far from the placid waters of Beira Lake on a plot of land that was originally a small hermitage on a piece of marshy land. It has the main features of a Vihara (temple), the Cetiya (Pagada) the Bodhitree, the Vihara Mandiraya, the Seema malaka (assembly hall for monks) and the Relic Chamber. In addition, a museum, a library, a residential hall, a three storeyed Pirivena, educational halls and an alms hall are also on the premises.

Most notable for tourists is the architecture of the Simamalaka Shrine, which was built with donations from a Muslim sponsor to the design of Geoffrey Bawa.

Today Gangaramaya serves as a place of Buddhist worship and a learning centre. The temple is involved in Buddhist welfare work including old peoples' homes, a vocational school and an orphanage. The temple is uniquely attractive and tolerant of members of many different religions. It has been instrumental in establishing the Buddhist temple on Staten Island (US) the Buddhist Center in New York and the Buddhist Centre in Tanzania, thus helping to propagate the Dhamma in other countries.

Madu Ganga River Boat Safari

12 January, 2022 | Travel guides | 85 seen

Madu Ganga river boat safari is a fun and pretty easy attraction in Balapitiya, Sri Lanka

We booked a tour on Madu Ganga (and a few other destinations) from a local guy at our hotel's beach (Taj Bentota Resort & Spa).

We agreed to pay 8,000 Sri Lankan rupees for a Madu Ganga river boat safari, a visit to the turtle shelter and a visit to the spices and herbal garden. At an agreed time, our driver (s) already waited for us at the hotels' lobby and the trip started.

After some 25 minutes drive we were at the Captain Boat House Balaptiya and our actual boat trip started

Situated at Balapitiya, Madu Ganga is the second biggest wetland in Sri Lanka. Abundantly rich in biodiversity, the river covers at least 150 acres of land and consists of 14 mangroves out of the 24 mangrove species found in Sri Lanka.

The Madu Ganga wetland is considered to be one of the last remaining tracts of mangrove forests. It is the best place to watch prawn farming and traditional fishing methods. It is also home to 300 species of plants and about 250 wildlife species which makes it a haven for ecologists and botanists.

As our boat driver told - we were very lucky seeing a crocodile today, as it is kind of rare. Cool enough.

Visitors can book themselves for boat rides and bird-watching rides.

Accompanied along with trained professionals and local fishermen, the Madu River safari begins at the mouth of Madu River at Balapitiya, which lasts between 1 to 2 hours and visitors have the opportunity to see a large area of the wetland. The boat traverses through thick mangrove forests, which provide protection to a large number of aquatic birds, animal and plant species. One can get a chance to see crocodiles, water snakes, tree snakes, and wild boars in their natural habitat during the boat ride.

Plenty of refreshments here, starting a coconut juice for just 100 Sri Lankan Rupees and even Coca Cola for some 200 local money. Awesome.

Another interesting thing to do during the safari is the fish spa in the midst of the river. Sailing through the mangroves, one will encounter several rectangular fish tanks teaming with Gourami fish. The primary purpose of these fish tanks is to provide fish therapy. The natural environment around the fish spa is fantastic, and you get uninterrupted, scenic views of the vast mangrove forests. 

Sandra decided to take the fish spa and for some 300 Sri Lankan rupees she got it and was very excited.

The river also consists of 25 islands, out of which only 15 are of sizeable landmass and safe to visit.

One island where the motorboat halts at is the Cinnamon Island which has cinnamon trees sprawling over acres of land, and the plantations date back to the 1900s. It is an age-old cinnamon plantation set on an island that has been run by a single family for generations. Here, one can learn more about the process of harvesting cinnamon.

I was very surprised learning the process how cinnamon is made. Quite an awesome trip.

Another stop in the Madu River Safari is at Koth Duwa, one of the large inhabited islands in Madu Ganga. The island houses an ancient Buddhist Temple comprises of many buildings and thus covers the entire island. The noteworthy places in the temple are Bo-tree, Image house, and Dagoba.

If you happen to be in area - consider Madu Ganga river boat Safari. 

Visit Madu Ganga River Safari to book online or learn more

Hamad International Airport

11 January, 2022 | Airports | 13 seen

Hamad International Airport is the sole international airport in the state of Qatar, and the home of Qatar’s flag carrier airline, Qatar Airways. Located south of its capital, Doha, it replaced the nearby Doha International Airport as Qatar's principal airport.

The airport is named after the previous Emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. 

I first visited Hamad International airport at the start of 2022 while traveling in transit from Tbilisi (Georgia) to Colombo (Sri Lanka).

Our connecting flight was some 8 hours long, to make our stay more comfortable in transit we booked lounge access with a chance to take a nap and have refreshments. Plenty of food, drinks and even a shower. Nice.

Here we took an access to kind of quiet area with a chance to take a nap on sofa. 

Al Mourjan Business Lounge offers a variety of dining areas to suit your taste.

Spread over 10,000 square metres, Al Mourjan Business Lounge is around 10 times the size of an Olympic-size swimming pool. A rich variety of spaces have been designed around your needs.

You can enjoy a refreshing drink in our garden resort area, catch a quick nap in one of the quiet rooms, relax in one of the family rooms or simply kick back and enjoy a moment of tranquillity.. 

More than 38.8 million passengers arrived at the airport in 2019, up from 34.5 million in 2018

The Grand Documentary of 2021

7 January, 2022 | Documentaries | 23 seen

From more than 235 GB of footage (1409 short clips per year), I was able to produce about 48 minutes long documentary. 
As every year - the documentary is made in a style of a home video, filmed with a DSLR camera, DJI Mavic drone and since April I've replaced the DSLR camera with a mobile phone. Which IMHO gives a much better result having both A-Roll and B-rolls.
The length of the film is determined by its main character, our daughter Renee. 
Still, just a few travel around the World but more exploring our home countries (Georgia, Latvia).
Glued, sanded, lathed, beaten, and put together in Riga, Tbilisi, and Colombo

Šaha Kluba Apartmenti Kuldīga

6 January, 2022 | Hotel reviews | 13 seen

Šaha kluba apartmenti is a beautiful place to stay in Kuldiga and enjoy the unbeatable atmosphere of the old city and its surroundings, which is recognized as one of the Top 10 tourist attractions in Latvia.  

Apartments are located in a renovated building right in the heart of the historic town center next to the city garden - a recently renovated park in old medieval castle location.

We booked a one-night stay here at the end of December 2021. This place is located some 15 km from our Vilgāle apartment. I just needed a comfortable stay after I did some paint job. 

We paid EUR 74 for a one night stay here

Nice and cozy stay in the Kuldīga

The unique attraction - Venta waterfall, is located in 200m walking distance from apartment premises. The old brick bridge can be reached along  the same direction and distance, after a short walk through the CITY GARDEN. The Old Townhall, tourist information centre and pedestrian street can be reached by some minutes walk through historical town area.

Book now on Booking.com

December 2021 Dividend Income Report - $154.65

5 January, 2022 | Investments | 61 seen

Welcome to the fifty-sixth (#56) dividend income report, covering earnings I've made from dividend-paying stocks in December 2021.

Last December, just like in November, October, and September we spent both in Georgia and Latvia. We had a nice family gathering on Christmas and New Year in Riga. 

Shortly before the New Yeae I did some paint job at our Vilgåle apt

From the perspective of dividend income - Last December was very good, after a longer time I was able again to break a $100 monthly milestone  

In total, I took $154.65 in dividend income last month. Which is quite awesome, for doing nothing, just holding stakes at great companies (y).

Back in July, I decided to start it over and build a dividend-paying stock portfolio from scratch, I sold all existing positions, kept some cash, and started selling credit spreads to generate income, which is used to buy these stocks. 

An additional $168 was made from options trading

As options trading is not a passive form of making money while you are sleeping it wouldn't be fair to include them in dividend income reports.

Subscribe to the newsletter and learn more about my options trades.

Dividend income in December 2021

From the dividend stocks I got the following income last month:

Total: $154.65

December historically is one of the best dividend months, but also I'm looking to have such great numbers (and increased at the end of every quarter)

Seven dividend stocks paid us dividends last month.

I hope in the next quarterly end month to take some $170 but will see

Monthly dividend income

2021 is not our best year for dividend income, but I'm really looking to return back to normal in 2022/2023

Goals for December 2022

When looking at December 2022, I will be quite optimistic and say USD 220 is what I'm looking at.

How to Order Online Delivery Food in Yerevan, Even if You Don't Understand a Word in Armenian (menu.am)

5 January, 2022 | Restaurant reviews | 22 seen

This article might be outdated, some of the mentioned companies might be out of the market, as the article was originally written back in 2014/2016. Now in 2022, there are food delivery apps, and much works much smoother, but I still find it valuable to publish this story because of the geeky tutorial.

This trick we first tried back in 2014, when stayed for a few nights at boutique hotel Meg in Yerevan. 

The next time I tried the following method was in 2016, I ordered online delivery food to Park hotel.

If you are staying at some of the Yerevan hotels, chances are high at some point you will get hungry (and if this happens at night, you are left with rusk or some chocolate from your backpack, but if you don't want to wait until morning (your hotel should have great breakfast menu) - you could use some online food delivery site, one I can recommend - menu.am, listing all the best food items from local Yerevan restaurants.

Menu.am is a Restaurant Food, Flowers and Drinks Delivery Service in Armenia. You can order food from menu by the same prices as in Restaurants.

They operate in Tbilisi as well, see Menu.ge

Tutorial for starved English-speaking guests of Yerevan city - go to Menu.am, select the English language as default from the navigation bar, then just pick up the items and add to basket. This process is pretty straightforward and doesn't ask for much more explanation.

Some problems might arrive later, at checkout - you will be asked to create a profile (you could opt to use Facebook login, to fasten this process a little). Unfortunately,  the checkout form is not translated to English, it's available just in Armenian, and if you can't read Armenian - use Google Translate to translate missing pieces of the webpage. (Dear menu.am developers, if you are reading this, please translate checkout page).

If you are translating string by string, at one point you will find it complicated to copy/paste text from buttons. Now here is my personal advice (I'm a web developer and I use the following techniques in my everyday work) use inspect element tool from Google Chrome browser - select text you would like to copy and right mouse click - > inspect (CTRL+SHIFT+I)

Now copy missing strings to Google Translate and.... problem solved.

You will be asked to provide the delivery address (just logically) - use your hotel's address, for apartment enter your room number, for the phone number (if you don't have local Armenian Sim Card) give hotel front desk number. Place your order and wait for those tasty kebabs to arrive. You might call the hotel's receptionist desk and inform them about your plans to receive a food delivery package soon.

Hope it helps.

Invest in Dairy Farms in Georgia

30 December, 2021 | Real Estate | 33 seen

Good morning! 

While browsing my Facebook feed I noticed some opportunities to invest in the agriculture sector in Georgia.

I got sold by the information that Imereti Agro Zone is planning to build some 125 ha dairy farm near Tskaltubo

IAZ is planning to develop a Dairy Farm on a 125 ha land plot. The goal of the project is to support Kopitnari IDP settlement and Partskhanakanevi inhabitants in developing and organizing a modern, self-sustainable cattle farm for milk production with the future growth perspectives that could create opportunities to generate more income.

Check here https://www.iaz.ge/dairyfarmsocialproject

I prefer investments in companies listed on the stock exchange, but there are zillions of private or semi private held funds in Georgia. 

In the past I've made some investment in vertical farming in the US. App Harvest.. so far nothing good, but still enjoy the idea.

Speaking of Dairy farms - a few years ago I had a chance to visit Piena Ceļš Georgia dairy farm close to Tbilisi

Paint job for Bedroom and Kitchen

29 December, 2021 | Home Remodeling | 13 seen

Today early morning I checked out of the lovely Šaha klubs apartments in Kuldīga to come and paint our Vilgāle apt.

While driving to Vilgāle my fiance proposed we could prebook such lovely apartments in Kuldīga for the Summer Festival - I had to reply, well we have Vilgāle, huh?

arriving early I started applying second layer of paint in the bedroom, here is what I got

Next is to install electricity plugs and lamps, add hardwood floring

More work here, but also needs to paint, add plugs and install hardwood / tiles

Cost so far:

• Water plumbing: EUR 60
• Sadales Tīkls: EUR 60
• Electrician: EUR 155
• Architect: EUR 800
• Removing walls and floor: EUR 775
• Chalk removing, / wiring: EUR 500
• Wall plastering/frame for drywall ceiling (bedroom): EUR 875
• New windows: EUR 1,252 
• Window replacement: EUR 200
• Estrich floor with an underfloor heating system and all plumbing: EUR 1,916
• Rock wool for the ceiling, drywall constructions, drywall, and some wiring: EUR 866
• Plastering bedroom and living room: EUR 1,200
• Chimneysweep: EUR 30
• More drywall, rock wool, electric cables, plumbing, and others: EUR 1094
• Doors for bedroom and bathroom: EUR 291.58
• More sauna, more drywall, more plumbing, more wiring EUR 1,992.56
• More sauna, more drywall, more electricity: EUR 370
• more plastering: EUR 340
• Paint and tools (paintbrush, rolls, gloves, scothc): EUR 74.86

TOTAL: EUR 12,852

Paint Job at Vilgāle apt

28 December, 2021 | Home Remodeling | 10 seen

It is already more than one year since I first opened doors at the Vilgāle apt and saw what have I bought at an online auction. 

during the past year, we have done a lot, removed walls, floors, built new walls, ceilings, and even floors. Now we are very close to the last details, from the major works are left the bathroom with sauna (tiles) and hardwood flooring.

At the end of December 2021, I visited Latvia for about 2 weeks and I decided it's time to start the paint job and finish the rest of the tasks in Spring / Summer 2022

A few days ago Steffen from Madona helped me to apply first layer of paint at the ceilings. Today I finished this task in the bedroom.

Today I applied first layer of the white paint at the ceiling here

Now it already looks awesome. Cant wait to see the result after the second layer of paint I'm going to apply tomorrow.

Cost so far:

• Water plumbing: EUR 60
• Sadales Tīkls: EUR 60
• Electrician: EUR 155
• Architect: EUR 800
• Removing walls and floor: EUR 775
• Chalk removing, / wiring: EUR 500
• Wall plastering/frame for drywall ceiling (bedroom): EUR 875
• New windows: EUR 1,252 
• Window replacement: EUR 200
• Estrich floor with an underfloor heating system and all plumbing: EUR 1,916
• Rock wool for the ceiling, drywall constructions, drywall, and some wiring: EUR 866
• Plastering bedroom and living room: EUR 1,200
• Chimneysweep: EUR 30
• More drywall, rock wool, electric cables, plumbing, and others: EUR 1094
• Doors for bedroom and bathroom: EUR 291.58
• More sauna, more drywall, more plumbing, more wiring EUR 1,992.56
• More sauna, more drywall, more electricity: EUR 370
• more plastering: EUR 340
• Paint and tools (paintbrush, rolls, gloves, scothc): EUR 74.86

TOTAL: EUR 12,852

Holiday Season

24 December, 2021 | Living in Georgia | 11 seen

The holiday season in Tbilisi - or another awesome weekend has been recorded and sealed in our tapes - Fun at Tbilisi Golf club, picnic in the footsteps of Shavnabada monastery, and Christmas pre-party with Latvian Sunday School. Ho-Ho-Ho! Enjoy and thumbs up!

Meeting more Latvian Expats at Āgenskalna market

23 December, 2021 | Travel guides | 7 seen

After the strange yesterday, it was agreed to go and support my new German friend at the Āgenskalns market and buy some cheese. 

Leo, an old friend from the Bākūži times offered to go to the Āgenskalns market together. He pick-up us from Pulkveža Brieža street and we went there together. I asked, could Leo also take some ax or some other tool so we can cut a Christmas tree somewhere near Lāči bakery. Leo took both an ax and a Fiskar tool.

At the market, we met Steffen freezing cold with his cheese from Madona, and while I was sliding Renee in a toboggan, some other acquaintance from Georgia approached me. That was Robert from the Japan Tobacco. We last met a few years ago in Tbilisi at his impressive Dighomi house, since then we have been friends on Facebook, and it turns out his relatives are from Vilgāle. 

We chatted a bit about international schools, our upcoming trip to Sri Lanka, Sandra's new office, and of course his business project quails and their eggs. 

In the end, Sandra supported both Steffen buying some cheese and Robert buying some quail. 

I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

P.S, We cut lovely Christmas tree somewhere in the woods near Bakery Lāči after this interesting expat meeting.

Strange Day during the snowfall

22 December, 2021 | Home Remodeling | 13 seen

A few weeks ago Steffen contacted me about some things in Georgia. Turned out this German had some business in Latvia and while I was for a couple of days in Riga, he contacted me again and offered a handy hand at painting ceilings at Vilgale apartment.

Why not, I thought and for the first time, we met at the Virši petrol station near Tukums roundabout at the noon on this snowy December day.

Yes, it snowed a lot, even some kind of Orange warning was in the country. A few hours later we were already in Vilgāle, cleaning out the dust and painting ceilings. I was working with a paintbrush and edges, while Steffen painted the ceiling in the bedroom.

It was planned to stay overnight and I already booked a lovely Laidi guesthouse bathhouse, but then my better part called me and said the wood pellet stove is not working and we should go back to Riga. That's quite a lot of driving for one day. 2x180km and during the Orange warning (heavy snowfall)

Alright, we come back to Riga.

Seems I invited a German guy to paint 16m2 of the ceiling and help me out to clean some dust, for some small talk about Georgia and a cup of Coffee at the Cirkle K petrol station later in the evening. 

The local contractors would charge me some EUR 150 for this job and doubt they would clean out the dust. LOL

Got a Fewer After freezing Cold

17 December, 2021 | Living in Georgia | 2 seen

For the last few days I have been exceling as an painter at my better part's Tbilisi Office.

Yestwrday I decided to stay longer and finish most of the job, and by doing this at the end of the day I couldn't get a taxi on time and got cold on the street. Once the taxi arrived after some 40 minutes on busy Chavvhavadze Street I felt very sick and cold.

In the evening my temperature raised to 38.8 and I had a fewer.

Now I feel already much better.