Pshavi's Champions Natakhtari Restaurant
| Restaurant reviews | 44 seen
Pshavi's Champions is another awesome roadside restaurant located in the village of Natakhari (Gudauri highway)
We love coming to this area for dinner and have discovered already a few Natakhtari restaurants so far. We were jsut returned from Sri Lanka trip and were looking for some nice dinning place - that show we ended up at Pshavi's Champions place.
Turns out Pshavi Champions is a chain of restaurants
Khashi's House and Pshavi Champions is a chain of restaurants that first appeared on the Georgian market in 2016 and offers customers delicious Georgian dishes, cozy and comfortable environment
-Pshavi Champions serves typical Georgian cuisine and a friend of mine suggested they are also making their own beer. Awesome!
Being vegeterain for the past 2 month helpes us avoid high bill. Total bill about GEL 50 for lot of vegeterian food - salds, badrijani, khachapuri, some khinkali and more.
If you happen to be in the area - give it a try!
Hilton Colombo Residence Apartment Review
| Hotel reviews | 18 seen
Located in the heart of Colombo city, Hilton Colombo Residence offers rooms and suites with panoramic views of the city, harbor, or the Indian Ocean. Boasting an outdoor pool, it also has a fitness center, squash court, and tennis court.
We booked a two-night stay here at the start of January 2022, during our trip to Sri Lanka. In total paid about USD 370. Additionally, we ordered an airport shuffle from the Colombo airport for about $35.
Top 13 5-star hotels in Colombo, Sri Lanka
Instead of a 2bd we got a free upgrade to 3bd apartment.
We were quite happy with 1 and a half room already, but having apartment with 3bd and two showers was quite awesome.
Spacious suites at Hilton Colombo Residence feature comfortable lounge areas with 40-inch LED Televisions and BlueRay. Modern amenities include a washing machine and ironing facilities.
Enjoy the state of the art gymnasium or relax at the sauna and hot tub. Interesting day trips around Colombo are easily arranged at the tour desk. The accommodations also provides spacious meeting and banquet venues.
Regarding the swimming pool and hot tub I…
36 Reasons to Visit Georgia and Tbilisi
| Travel guides | 14 seen
In this article, I've listed 36 awesome places to visit in Georgia, Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, and more. These are the places I've actually visited and discovered for the first (Well most of them) back in 2021. From abandoned Russian airfields in the Georgian desert to 5-star hotels in Batumi.
Meeting new life-long friends in the middle of nowhere. Take a bath in the city center of Tbilisi or enjoy natural hot pools near Kazbegi.
Trying a fish near Birvisi or enjoying world-class service near Aspindza. Keep reading to learn more about those special places we have visited and highly recommend to others
Seema Malaka Buddhist temple in Colombo
| Churches and Monasteries | 37 seen
Seema Malaka is a Buddhist temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The temple is mainly used for meditation and rest, rather than for worship. Situated in Beira Lake, the temple was originally constructed in the late 19th century. Seema Malaka is a part of the Gangaramaya Temple and is situated a few hundred meters to its east.
I had a chance to visit this temple at the start of January 2022, during our Sri Lanka trip. We found this awesome place thanks to the local tuk-tuk driver, who agreed to show us 10 sites in Colombo for just 1,000 Sri Lankan Rupees.
Really picturesque place.
Seema Malaka was originally constructed in the late 19th century. The original structure slowly sank into the water in 1970s. In 1976, Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa was brought in to redesign and construct the temple, which stands today.
The temple is constructed on three platforms over water, which are connected to the mainland and with each other by pontoon bridges. The temple's main roof is covered with blue color tiles and the temple is made from collected spindles and handrails in wooden finishes. The architecture of the edifice resembles the Kandyan era.
…Hotel Marino Beach Colombo
| Hotel reviews | 40 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.
…
Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo
| Churches and Monasteries | 40 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,…
Madu Ganga River Boat Safari
| Travel guides | 87 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…
Hamad International Airport
| 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…
The Grand Documentary of 2021
| Documentaries | 26 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
| 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
| Stock Portfolio | 65 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…
How to Order Online Delivery Food in Yerevan, Even if You Don't Understand a Word in Armenian (menu.am)
| Restaurant reviews | 25 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
…
Invest in Dairy Farms in Georgia
| 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
| Home Remodeling | 15 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
- …
Paint Job at Vilgāle apt
| 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 (…
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