Monument to 50 Years of Soviet Armenia in Yerevan

13 April, 2023 | Tourism objects | 94 seen

The monument to the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution is located in the Arabkir administrative district of Yerevan, at the beginning of Azatutyan Avenue, above the Cascade complex.

The monument was built in 1967 and is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Soviet Union in Armenia.

If you are into Soviet Architecture, this place deffintely is worth the visit. The views from the viewing platfom are just awesome.

 The 50-meter obelisk, which is 65 meters, symbolizes the 50th anniversary. It ends with three slightly pointed arches. Such an end of the monument was used in the Urartian period and used to symbolize the royal crown.

 A stylized pine tree (15m) is perceived as a wheat spike, which had historical and cultural significance in the past and symbolized the Tree of Life.

I first visited this place back in Summer of 2014, the place looked more or less the same. Which leads to think it could take anothed decade (or two) bedore making looks prettier.

Tbilisi - Yerevan Transfer by GoTrip.Ge Review

12 April, 2023 | Travel guides | 79 seen

If you are planning to travel from Tbilisi to Yerevan, you might want to consider using the services of gotrip.ge company. This is a popular company in Georgia that offers transportation services to different destinations in the country, including the transfer between Tbilisi and Yerevan. 

The founder of the company, Sergey, actually contacted me a few years ago asking to make a review of this company, but never actually came back. Anyhow, as I had used gotrip.ge service for a couple of times myself I decided to give my unbiased review.

In the past I have used several ground transportation options to Yerevan, private cars and minivans, see my article here: Tbilisi - Yerevan Transfers By Taxi Car

First of all, let's talk about the price. Back in February 2023, the price for a one-way transfer between Tbilisi and Yerevan with gotrip.ge was around GEL 450 / USD 176 per car. This price might be subject to change, so it's always a good idea to check the company's website or contact them directly for more up-to-date information. Despite being a bit on the expensive side, this price includes several benefits that make the journey more comfortable and…

Beyond Yerevan: Why Vanadzor Should Be on Your Armenia Itinerary

11 April, 2023 | | 195 seen

Vanadzor, also known as Kirovakan during the Soviet era, is the third-largest city in Armenia. Located in the northern part of the country, Vanadzor serves as the administrative center of the Lori Province.

The city is situated on the banks of the Pambak River and is surrounded by the picturesque mountains of the Lesser Caucasus. I made a quick stop and made a few drone photos here in Mid February 2023, after returning from Yerevan to Tbilisi.

Vanadzor has a rich history and culture, with several notable landmarks and attractions. The city is home to many museums, art galleries, and cultural centers, including the Vanadzor Fine Arts Museum, the House-Museum of Stepanavan Brothers, and the Vanadzor Drama Theatre.

Visitors can also explore the natural beauty of the region by hiking in the nearby mountains or visiting the Vanadzor Botanical Garden.

One of the must-visit places in Vanadzor is the Lori Berd Fortress, a medieval fortress situated on a hill overlooking the city. Another popular attraction is the Sanahin Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located about 20 kilometers from Vanadzor. The monastic complex, dating back to the 10th…

12 years in Georgia

7 April, 2023 | Living in Georgia | 18 seen

Georgia, a land of diverse cultures, mouth-watering cuisine, and breathtaking landscapes, has been my home for the past twelve years. Time flies when you're having fun, and I can say without a doubt that every year has been nothing short of amazing. From the bustling city streets to the tranquil countryside, Georgia has never ceased to amaze me.

The first weekend at the start of April 2023 was no exception. I decided to document my adventures in cinematic mode, using my new iPhone 14 plus and DJI Mavic.

In this short documentary -lunch with the team of Caucasus Translations, a local translation agency, where I had the pleasure of meeting some of the brightest minds in the industry.

Parking on Chavchavadze Avenue with our almost brand new Jeep Renegade car, while waiting for our kiddo from QSI school.

Technical inspection while sipping a latte at Mc Donalds.

With a stop at Chateau Ateni, a beautiful winery nestled in the rolling hills of the Georgian countryside. The winery has been producing some of Georgia's finest wines. I took a tour of the vineyard and learned about the traditional Georgian winemaking process.

The highlight of…

March 2023 Stock & Crypto Portfolio Update

5 April, 2023 | Stock Portfolio | 60 seen

At the end of March 2023, I was managing 3 small investment portfolios. The total value of all portfolios combined was USD 6,466.07 / EUR 5,948.35.

One of my short-term goals is to grow portfolios to $10,000. To get there it is planned to deposit additional capital, plus selling options premium.

It was a good month for portfolio #1. It grew by + EUR 2,426.37 and stood at EUR 4,379.47 ($4,760.70) at the end of the month. For the truth's sake, we deposited an additional EUR 2,200 in it to have margin collateral for our options trades.

The main goal for this portfolio at the moment is to grow it to 100 fully covered Amazon shares, so we can sell covered calls on Amazon.

At the end of March, we were holding just 19 shares of Amazon. 81 to go. The average buy price per Amazon share is $105.02

Additionally, we are selling high probability options trades (delta under 0.1) collecting options premium to boost the returns for the portfolio.

In March we were selling options with AMZN, INTC, BAC, and WFC stocks.

In the end, we managed to collect +198.77 USD from expired…

Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan

4 April, 2023 | Hotel reviews | 90 seen

Centrally located on Republic Square, Marriott Armenia Hotel Yerevan offers soundproofed rooms with classic-style décor and fine international cuisine. A bar and an outdoor summer terrace are also available.

We booked this hotel for about 3 day stay at mid-February 2023 paying about EUR 420.

Our booking included access to the executive lounge, which included free meals and drinks. Despite being rated as just a 4-star hotel, this is by far the most recommended stay in Yerevan. And I have stayed in a quite a few great hotels in Yerevan.

We got a king size bed and a seperate bed for our 4 year old kid. Our room was located just next to the exectuive lounge, free meals and drinks whole day. 

It just cannot get located more centrally. As we traveled here to open an Yerevan office and conduct face to face interviews, it was great for business stay.

Behind its grand façade, the Marriott Armenia Hotel Yerevan provides spacious rooms and suites with flat-screen TV, mini-bar and seating area. Guests enjoy views of Mount Ararat or Republic Square.

It was a plesant surpirse having this executive lounge with meals for free. Last tim I…

Spring Break in Latvia

31 March, 2023 | Travel guides | 22 seen

If you're looking for a unique and unforgettable Spring Break experience, Latvia might just be the perfect destination for you. With its rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and lively cities, Latvia offers a one-of-a-kind vacation that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.

One of the highlights of any trip to Latvia is exploring the western part of the country, which is known for its stunning natural scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're interested in hiking, fishing, or simply taking in the beautiful views, the western region of Latvia has plenty to offer.

One adventure you won't want to miss is screwing in a screw pile. This may sound like an odd activity, but it's actually a popular way to build houses and other structures in Latvia. It involves using a large screw to anchor a foundation in the ground, and it's surprisingly fun to do.

Of course, not every adventure goes according to plan, and you might find yourself stuck in mud up to your ears at some point. But even when things don't go as expected, Latvia has a way of turning mishaps into memorable experiences.

And speaking of memorable experiences, one thing you…

Mansard Waterfall Rumbas Guest House in Kuldīga

30 March, 2023 | Hotel reviews | 12 seen

Located in Kuldīga, Rumbas has accommodations with city views, free WiFi, and free private parking. The property has river and garden views, plus is a 5-minute walk from the Art gallery of Artists Residence. 

The property is located next to the Venta Rapid and the old brick bridge of Kuldīga

We booked a nice 3-bedroom apartment for a 3-night stay at the end of March 2023 and paid about EUR 390. we just needed a nice place to stay while I was figuring out how to install ground screws and build the frame for our Summer cottage in some 30km distance from Kuldīga.

In total, we had 3 bedrooms, 1 master, and two guest bedrooms, with a large shared kitchen with nice views towards the Old Brick bridge of Kuldīga.

Brick bridge in Kuldīga over the river of Venta according to some sources is the longest of its kind bridge in Europe.

Apartments are located on the second floor. 

The apartment is equipped with 3 bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen with a fridge and an oven, and 1 bathroom with a shower and free toiletries. Towels and bed linen are available in the apartment.

By the way, The Venta rapid forms the…

The Cost-Saving Way to Build a Frame House in Latvia: Our DIY Project (Screw Foundation Piles)

27 March, 2023 | Frame House | 192 seen

Welcome to another interesting blog topic series - Frame house, where I'm going to share almost in real-time our endeavors of building a small 60m2 1-storey holiday house in Latvia. 

I decided to build it myself as much as I can, hiring only local people to help with lifting, digging and similar work.

The labor cost and services can add a lot, especially in Latvia.

For the below described works I spent about EUR 2,000 and two days in March 2023, while firms were asking me EUR 4,000 only for just installing grounds crews. There was one company offering to build me such a house for EUR 80,000. When I asked what is the reason for the price? The answer was classic - everything is expensive, inflation, quality construction materials etc. By the way, I bought the same highest quality C24 wood material for this construction site, which the company was saying now cost very expensive. Truth is - it doesn't!

Anyhow, without further ado:

Overall it took us about 2 years of pre-preparation works, owning land, and having electricity on it. Last, but not least we got a building…

TerraM Crypto Hedge Fund Portfolio February 2023

8 March, 2023 | Crypto | 35 seen

On December 2022, we minted 10,000 TerraM coins on the Solana network with an aim to raise $10,000 capital for options trades on Ethereum via the Deribit trading platform.

We are struggling of raising the capital, with myself still being the largest seed investor in the project yet. When launching the project I was somehow more optimistic and thought by this time of the year we will be, if not already fully funded, then at least halfway there. Not so easy.

No matter that, from the existing funds invested, the TerraM crypto hedge fund grow more than 16% month over month, reaching a total value of $1,631.28 at the end of February 2023. 

From the closed option trades with Ethereum on the Deribit trading platform last month, we were able to book 0.0673 ETH / $111.58 USD profit.

Profit was distributed in form of additional TerraM coins to the token holders from the TerraM token address with balances larger than 20 TerraM. Any uninvested token profit was kept on the Deribit trading platform to increase buying power.

When losing a trade, we try to roll it out for a profit, sometimes it…

How To choose an International School in Tbilisi

28 February, 2023 | Living in Georgia | 79 seen

Choosing the right international school in Tbilisi can be a daunting task, especially if you are new to the city and want to ensure your child receives a quality education. With so many options available, it can be challenging to know where to start.

In this article, we will take a look at some of the key factors to consider when choosing an international school in Tbilisi, including academic programs, school culture, and extra-curricular activities. 

First and foremost, it is important to consider the academic programs offered by international schools in Tbilisi. Ideally, you want to find a school that offers a comprehensive education that is both challenging and engaging. This typically includes core subjects such as mathematics, science, history, and English, as well as a variety of elective courses. In addition, many international schools in Tbilisi also offer advanced programs in areas such as music, art, and drama, allowing students to explore their interests and talents in a supportive and stimulating environment.

Another important factor to consider when choosing an international school in Tbilisi is the school culture. Ideally, you want to…

Top 11 Gaming Laptops with Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Graphics cards

27 February, 2023 | Laptop Reviews | 234 seen

At the start of February 2023, Nvidia announced the release of the GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics card for laptops

The world’s fastest laptops, powered by GeForce RTX 4090 and 4080 laptop GPUs enable users to game at previously impossible detail levels and speeds, and to power through creative workloads in a fraction of the time, all in thin and light form factors.

In this article, I've listed 11 top-selling laptops with the latest Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 graphics card, available to purchase on Amazon. Most models also come with the latest 13th-generation intel core i9 processor.

A quick note: This article contains affiliate links to Amazon, by clicking on links on this page and by making a purchase on the Amazon site, I might earn an affiliate income from that. The prices for laptop computers listed on this page are retrieved using Amazon Product Advertising API and are updated daily. For actual prices please refer to the product page on Amazon.

Exploring the Best of Armenia: A Travel Video from our Business Trip

24 February, 2023 | Travel guides | 21 seen

Welcome to our latest video, where we take you on a journey to Armenia, a country known for its rich culture, history, and stunning natural beauty. In the mid February 2023 we visited Yerevean for a weekend to conduct work interviews with potenital country managers for the translation company expansion plans

We stayed at the luxurious Marriott Yerevan Hotel, visited the Rio Shopping Mall, tried some of the finest Armenian brandy, explored the famous Cascade, and so much more.

Join us as we share our experiences and take you on a virtual tour of this fascinating country. Get ready to be inspired and amazed!

How to Make Traditional Georgian Khinkali: From Dough to Delicious

23 February, 2023 | Food blogger | 81 seen

Just made my first batch of khinkali and it turned out to be a delightful culinary adventure! I got creative with the fillings and tried out some unique combinations like banana, salmon, cheese and of course, some more traditional flavors.

The result was a delicious burst of flavors that I can't wait to share with my friends and family. Who knew that making khinkali could be so much fun?

Khinkali is a traditional Georgian dumpling that has been enjoyed for centuries. These flavorful and juicy dumplings are often filled with meat, cheese, or mushrooms, and can be found in almost every corner of Georgia. If you're looking to try your hand at making khinkali, here is a step-by-step guide to help you create this delicious Georgian dish.

• For the dough:
  • 2 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup warm water
• For the filling:
  • 1 lb ground beef or lamb
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup water

2023 Top Solana Projects to Watch for Investment

22 February, 2023 | Crypto | 59 seen

Solana is a high-performance blockchain platform that has been gaining a lot of attention from the cryptocurrency community lately. It is known for its fast transaction times and low transaction fees, making it a popular choice for decentralized applications (dApps) and other blockchain-based projects.

In this article, we will be taking a look at some of the top Solana-based token projects to invest in 2023.

Raydium is a decentralized exchange (DEX) built on Solana. It allows users to trade various cryptocurrencies in a trustless and decentralized manner. Raydium has a high-speed order matching engine, which means that trades can be executed quickly and at low cost. Additionally, Raydium has a liquidity program that incentivizes liquidity providers to add liquidity to the platform, making it easier to find trading pairs.

Serum is another decentralized exchange built on Solana. It is designed to be highly performant, with low latency and fast order execution. In addition to trading, Serum has a suite of tools for advanced traders, including leverage and margin trading. Serum also has a governance token (SRM) that is…