Blog Archive: March 2015

World Backup Day: Protect Your Data with a Robust Backup Plan

31 March, 2015 | Servers | 9 seen

World Backup Day is an annual event observed on March 31st to raise awareness about the importance of backup and data protection. The day is a reminder that data loss can occur at any time, and having a backup plan in place is essential to ensure the safety of important data and prevent significant disruptions to our daily lives.

In today's digital age, we rely on technology more than ever before. Our personal and professional lives are heavily dependent on the digital devices and services we use daily. From personal photos, documents, and contacts to business-critical files, databases, and intellectual property, our data is critical to our daily lives.

Despite this dependence, many people fail to realize the importance of data backup until it's too late. Data loss can occur due to various reasons, including hardware failure, malware attacks, accidental deletion, natural disasters, and theft. Losing this data can result in significant financial losses, security breaches, and reputational damage.

To avoid the risks associated with data loss, it's essential to have a robust data backup plan in place. A backup plan is a set of processes and tools used to copy, store, and recover data in case of a disaster. A backup plan should include the following elements:

World Backup Day serves as a reminder to individuals and businesses to review their backup plans and ensure they are up-to-date and effective. It's an opportunity to evaluate the backup plan's effectiveness, assess any gaps, and take corrective action as needed. Whether you are an individual, a small business, or a large corporation, data backup should be a critical part of your IT strategy.

In conclusion, World Backup Day is an essential reminder that data loss can occur at any time, and it's essential to have a robust backup plan in place to protect critical data. By following best practices in data backup, you can minimize the risks associated with data loss, ensure business continuity, and protect your personal and professional data.

Tbilisi Sulphur Baths On Kiev Street

31 March, 2015 | Health & Wellness | 77 seen

Most often referred just as the "Kiev's Bath" which is a direct translation from Russian "Киевская баня". This sulfur bathhouse is located on Kiev's street (left side cross-street from David Aghmanashebeli avenue)

I have been heading here since days we had a nice apartment in this neighborhood on Rome street, discovered first at the end of 2012.

Some would call Kiev's bathhouse old and neglected (and that's true), some would call them a good and cheap alternative to those more expensive (and fancier) located in the Tbilisi Old Town.

Facade of Kiev's bathhouse in Tbilisi

In 2019 there have been some repair works done, and now bathhouse looks decent. There have been added huge informative posters (saying it's a sulfur bath)  to the broken window boxes. I really love this creative way how to achieve result with a limited budget. 

Renovated Kiev's bathhouse in Tbilisi

One hour bathing here will cost you 10 GEL ($4.50 / EUR 4.10) ( the price has been increased to GEL 20 per hour for a single bath since the start of 2016, the price is still valid in 2019) and it's more a way locals do it. They have more expensive and probably cheaper options also. 

Sulfur pool

Pools are pretty small, but quite OK for one/two persons

Wall tiles

The bathhouse is run in two shifts which means they are working 24/7, by days there are nice old ladies and in the evenings/nights there are a bit scary man running bathhouse. In times when ladies shift is running, baths are clean, in times when it's a man shift - it's 50/50 :) I doubt any personel here speaks any English, some basic Georgian or Russian language knowledge is needed.

Anteroom

You can order a cup of Turkish coffee from old ladies running this bath, it will cost you 1 GEL.

20 Best Toshiba / Dynabook Laptops You Can Buy Online - Amazon.com

30 March, 2015 | Laptop Reviews | 94 seen

Toshiba was once a major player in the world of technology, with a strong reputation for producing high-quality laptops. However, in recent years, the company has experienced significant changes that have affected its laptop business.

In 2018, Toshiba sold off its laptop division to Sharp, a Japanese electronics company. This move came after years of financial struggles for Toshiba, which had been impacted by a number of issues, including an accounting scandal and a costly expansion into the nuclear power industry.

Under Sharp's ownership, Toshiba laptops have been rebranded as Dynabook, although the company still uses the Toshiba name in some markets. Dynabook has continued to produce laptops that are similar in design and functionality to the old Toshiba models, but with a renewed focus on innovation and quality.

Despite the changes, Dynabook has managed to maintain a loyal customer base thanks to its reputation for reliable, durable laptops. In fact, the company was recently ranked number one in laptop reliability by SquareTrade, a leading provider of protection plans for electronics.

In addition to its laptops, Dynabook also produces a range of other technology products, including tablets, storage devices, and accessories. The company has also made a commitment to sustainability, with a focus on reducing its environmental impact through initiatives such as energy-efficient products and responsible manufacturing practices.

Overall, while Toshiba laptops may no longer exist in their original form, the brand lives on through Dynabook, which continues to produce high-quality laptops for both personal and professional use. As the company continues to evolve and innovate, it remains a trusted and reliable choice for those in need of a new laptop. 

A quick note: This article contains affiliate links to Amazon.com, 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.

DYNABOOK Satellite Pro C50-J15250 Laptop, 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7, Windows 11 Pro, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, 15.6" FHD Display, Intel UHD Graphics, Thin & Light, Full-Size Keyboard (PYS43U-00F00)

• MOBILITY & PERFORMANCE – The Satellite Pro C50-J features a thin and light design, an 11th Gen Intel Core™ i7-1165G7 processor, the new Windows 11 operating system, and super-reliable Wi-Fi 6 connectivity scales to any demanding workload or prolonged task you throw at it in a variety of computing environments.
• FULL HD DISPLAY & STUNNING VISUALS – Enjoy more of your screen in a variety of lighting conditions on this 15.6-inch thin-bezel, anti-glare display with FHD resolution (1920 x 1080); plus, with Intel UHD Graphics, everything from your projects to entertainment looks superb and streams smoothly on this laptop computer.
• MEMORY AND STORAGE – Work with many tabs, spreadsheets, or docs open with 16 GB high-speed DDR4 RAM, plus securely save and quickly access all your important files with a 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD.
• LONG BATTERY LIFE RATING – The Satellite Pro C50-J delivers up to an 8-hour battery life rating to make it the perfect solution for productivity on the move.
• PORTS & CONNECTIVITY – Get all the ports you need with 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, USB 3.2 Type-C port, HDMI, a mic/headphone combo jack, microSD card slot; Gigabit LAN and Wi-Fi 6 enable effortless network access anywhere.

List price: [amazon B09NQFBQW7 listpriceformattedprice] Buy this laptop on Amazon (Paid link)

Toshiba 2023 Dynabook Tecra A40-K 14" FHD Business Laptop, 12th Gen Intel 12 Cores i7-1260P, 64GB DDR4 RAM, 2TB PCIe SSD, WiFi 6, BT 5.2, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10 Pro, BROAG 64GB Flash Drive

• CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1260P, 12C (4P + 8E) / 16T, P-core 2.1 / 4.7GHz, E-core 1.5 / 3.4GHz, 18MB
• 14" Full HD (1920 x 1080) 250 nits Non-Touch Display; Intel Iris Xe Graphics. HD 720p Webcam with Privacy Shutter.
• 64GB DDR4 SDRAM Memory; 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive.
• Intel Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) AX211 (802.11ax) + Bluetooth. 2 x USB 4.0 Type-C ports (supports Thunderbolt 4), 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Sleep & Charge), 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x HDMI, 1 x LAN (RJ-45), 1 x Headphone/microphone combo jack.
• Bundled with BROAG 3 In 1 Design Stylus (Stylus Pen + Ballpoint Pen + USB 3.0 64GB Flash Drive). OS: Windows 10 Professional, 64-bit, English. U.S. English Premium, Raised Tile, Backlit Keyboard; Dark Blue.
• List price: [amazon B0BSV16777 listpriceformattedprice] Buy this laptop on Amazon (Paid link)

Toshiba Dynabook Satellite Pro L50-G Business Computer, 15.6" FHD Laptop, Intel Quard-Core i7-10510U, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, GeForce MX250 2GB, Bluetooth, WiFi, Webcam, Type-C, Windows 10 Pro

• CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10510U Processor @ 1.8 GHz (4 Cores, 8M Cache, up to 4.90 GHz)
• 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) Non-Touch Display; NVI-DIA GeForce MX250 2GB GDDR5. Webcam and Microphone Ideal for Home, Student, Professionals, Small Business, School Education, and Commercial Enterprise, Online Class, Google Classroom, Remote Learning, Zoom Ready.
• 16GB 2666MHz DDR4 SDRAM Memory; 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive.
• Wireless-LAN (802.11ac+agn) + Bluetooth. 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C (Data, Power, Display), 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (1 w/ USB Sleep and Charge), 1 x HDMI, 1 x RJ-45 LAN, 1 x SD, Headset.
• Bundled with All-in-One Conference Camera, Microphone & Speaker for HD1080P Video Call, Wide-Angle 90° Camera, 10ft Voice Pickup, AI Noise-Cancel. OS: Windows 10 Professional, 64-bit, English. Premium raised-tile Non-Backlit Keyboard w/10 key numeric pad.

List price: [amazon B08FCNLLST listpriceformattedprice] Buy this laptop on Amazon (Paid link)

2018 TOSHIBA Tecra A50 15.6" HD Business Laptop Computer, Intel Core i7-7500U up to 3.50GHz, 16GB DDR4, 256GB M.2 SSD, DVD±RW, HDMI, 802.11ac, Bluetooth, TPM 2.0, USB 3.0, Windows 10 Professional

• 15.6" HD 1366 x 768 LED backlight display, Intel HD Graphics 620
• 7th Gen Intel Core i7-7500U Processor @ 2.70GHz (2 Cores, 4M Cache, up to 3.50GHz)
• 16GB DDR4, 256GB M.2 SSD; 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI, 1 x VGA, 1 x Headphone output/Microphone input combo, Gigabit LAN and WLAN, 10/100/1000Mbps LAN ; DVD Super Multi, 802.11ac, Bluetooth, Webcam, Media Reader, Built-in stereo speakers, Touch pad pointing device with multi-touch control
• Security Lock Slot: Use the slot to tether your PC to the desk to further deter thefts; Fingerprint Reader and TPM: Equipped with a Fingerprint Reader and Trusted Platform Module v2.0 so that you can secure your data and thwart unauthorized access
• Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit

Price: [amazon B00N99FXIS listpriceformattedprice] Buy this laptop on Amazon

2018 TOSHIBA Tecra 15.6" HD Business Laptop Computer, Intel Core i7-7500U up to 3.50GHz, 8GB DDR4, 256GB M.2 SSD, DVD±RW, HDMI, 802.11ac, Bluetooth, TPM 2.0, USB 3.0, Windows 10 Professional

• 15.6" HD 1366 x 768 LED backlight display, Intel HD Graphics 620, 8GB DDR4 can up to 16GB, 256GB M.2 SSD
• 7th Gen Intel Core i7-7500U Processor @ 2.70GHz (2 Cores, 4M Cache, up to 3.50GHz)
• Security Lock Slot: Use the slot to tether your PC to the desk to further deter thefts; Fingerprint Reader and TPM: Equipped with a Fingerprint Reader and Trusted Platform Module v2.0 so that you can secure your data and thwart unauthorized access
• 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI, 1 x VGA, 1 x Headphone output/Microphone input combo, Gigabit LAN and WLAN, 10/100/1000Mbps LAN ; DVD Super Multi, 802.11ac, Bluetooth, Webcam, Media Reader, Built-in stereo speakers, Touch pad pointing device with multi-touch control
• Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit

Price: [amazon B07BVNZKV6 listpriceformattedprice] Buy this laptop on Amazon

Toshiba Lightweight Laptop Portege Z30-C1320 13.3" Ultrabook, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, Intel HD Graphics 520, Silver (PT261U-012008)

• 6th generation Intel Core i7-6600u Processor
• Windows 7 Professional (available through downgrade rights from Windows 10 Pro)
• 8 GB DDR; 256 GB solid-state-drive
• Full sized Ports (3 x USB 3.0; 1 x RGB; 1 x HDMI; 1 x RJ-45)
• Dockable to Hi-Speed port Replicator III+ (sold separately)

Price: [amazon B00N99FXIS listpriceformattedprice] Buy this laptop on Amazon

TOSHIBA Tecra 15.6 inch HD Business Flagship High Performance Laptop, Intel Core i7-7500U, 16GB RAM, 256 GB M.2 SSD, VGA + HDMI, DVD +/-RW, Windows 10 Pro

• Intel HD Graphics 620, 15.6" HD 1366 x 768 LED backlight display
• 16GB DDR4, 256GB M.2 SSD, Intel Core i7-7500U Dual-Core processor, 2.7 GHz
• 1 x VGA, 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Headphone output/Microphone input combo, Gigabit LAN and WLAN, 10/100/1000Mbps LAN
• 802.11ac, Bluetooth, Webcam, Media Reader, Built-in stereo speakers, Touch pad pointing device with multi-touch control
• DVD Super Multi, Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit, 0.95" Thin, 5.lbs Weight, Battery: 4-cell lithium-ion

Price: [amazon B078CY8KZJ listpriceformattedprice] Buy this laptop on Amazon

Toshiba CB35-B3340 13.3-Inch Chromebook 2 (Full-HD Screen)

• Intel Celeron Processor N2840
• 4 GB DDR3L SDRAM memory
• 16 GB Solid-State Drive
• 13-inch IPS Screen, Intel HD graphics
• 9-hour battery life

Toshiba CB35-B3330 13.3-Inch Chromebook 2

• Intel Celeron N2840 2.16 GHz
• 2 GB DDR3L SDRAM
• 16 GB Solid-State Drive
• 13.3-Inch Screen, Intel HD graphics
• Chrome, 11-hour battery life

Toshiba Satellite C55-B5300 16-Inch Laptop (Intel Celeron N2840 Processor, 4 GB DDR3L Memory, 500 GB HDD, DVD-SuperMulti Drive, Windows 8.1)

Enjoy crisp, vibrant images on this Toshiba Satellite C55-B5300 laptop's 15.6" high-definition display, which presents media in 1366 x 768 resolution to ensure faithful reproduction. The built-in wireless LAN allows fast mobile Web access.

• Intel Celeron processor N2840
• 15.6" LED-backlit TFT high-definition widescreen display
• 4GB DDR3L memory / 500GB Hard Drive
• DVD±RW/CD-RW drive / HD webcam with microphone
• Windows 8.1 64-bit / WLAN 802.11b/g/n

Toshiba Satellite S55-B5280, 15.6" Laptop, 12GB Memory, 1TB Hard Drive, Intel Core i7, Windows 8.1

• •Intel® CoreTM i7-4510U Processor
• •12GB DDR3L memory: DDR3L 1600MHz
• •1TB Hard Drive Bluetooth
• •1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0, and 1 USB 3.0 with Sleep and Charge
• •Built-in high-definition webcam with microphone

Toshiba Satellite Radius L15W-B1310 11.6-Inch 2 in 1 Touchscreen Laptop

• Intel Celeron N2840 Processor
• 2 GB DDR3 RAM
• 500 GB 5400 rpm Hard Drive
• 11.6-Inch Screen, Mobile Intel HD graphics
• Windows 8.1

Toshiba Radius 2-in-1 11.6" Touch-screen Laptop - Intel Celeron Processor N2840 / 4GB Memory / 500GB HD/ Webcam / Windows 8.1 64-bit -Satin Gold

Easily browse media and Web content with this Toshiba Radius 11 2-in-1 L15W-B1302 laptop, which features an 11.6" high-definition 10-point multitouch display with TruBrite technology that simplifies navigation and offers crisp images.

• Intel Celeron processor N2840 / Intel Wireless Display-capable
• 11.6" LED-backlit TFT high-definition widescreen 10-point multitouch display
• 4GB DDR3L memory/ 500GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 rpm)
• One-touch function keys / Built-in webcam /Bluetooth 4.0 interface
• Windows 8.1 64-bit / No Optical drive

Toshiba Satellite Radius 11 L15W-B1120 Convertible 2 in 1 Touchscreen Laptop (Pentium, 4GB, 128GB SSD)

• Intel Pentium 2.66 GHz Processor
• 4 GB RAM, 128GB Solid-State Drive
• 11.6-Inch Screen, Mobile Intel HD graphics
• Windows 8.1

Toshiba Satellite S55-B5258 15.6-Inch Laptop

• Intel Core i7-4710HQ Processor (6M Cache, up to 3.5 GHz) with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
• 8 GB DIMM RAM
• 1 TB 5400 rpm Hard Drive
• 15.6-Inch Screen, Mobile Intel HD graphics
• Windows 8.1; DVDRW Drive Not Included

Toshiba Satellite S55T-B5273NR Laptop Computer - 15.6" WLED Backlit Touchscreen Display, 4th Gen Inter Quad-Core i7-4710HQ Processor, 8GB DDR3 RAM, 1TB HDD, Windows 8.1

The 15.6" Satellite S50 laptop series is an all-purpose entertainment PC offering smart performance, design and technologies for those who want to step up from "mainstream" and enjoy superior multitasking, HD media and creativity

• 15.6" WLED Backlit Touchscreen Display (1366 x768).
• 4th Gen Intel Quad-Core i7-4710HQ Processor, 2.5 GHz boost up to 3.5 GHz.
• 8GB Memory / 1TB Hard Drive / Intel HD Graphics 4600.
• Dual-Band Wireless AC 3160 / HDMI with 4K Ultra HD Output / Bluetooth 4.0 / DTS Sound.
• Windows 8.1 (64-bit) (Optical Drive not included)

Toshiba Satellite C55-B5270 15.6 Inch Laptop (8GB Memory, 500GB Hard Drive, Intel Pentium N3530, Windows 8.1)

Get connected without cutting corners with the value-driven Satellite® C55-B5270 laptop. This reliable, full-powered Windows® 8 PC is a solid performer that's easy to use and great for everyday tasks like email, web browsing, online banking, shopping, creating docs, slides and spreadsheets and playing casual games. A roomy 15.6-inch diagonal HD TruBrite® widescreen display gives you plenty of room for work and play, while plug-and-play essentials make connecting with your other devices a snap. Intel® Pentium® N3530 Processor 8GB DDR3L memory: For multitasking power. With Adobe Reader and more. Includes 1-month trial of Microsoft Office 365. 15.6" diagonal, TruBrite® display. This laptop's roomy 15.6" diagonal, HD, TruBrite®, LED-backlit display (1366 x 768) offers all the room you need to conveniently navigate the Windows® world. DVD SuperMulti drive supporting 11 formats. Play your favorite music CDs. Watch the latest DVD movies. Load programs and do backups. Or share your stuff with friends and family Intel HD graphics: For lush, detailed images. HDMI output enables simple connection to an HDTV or other high-definition display. Built-in high-definition webcam with microphone: Makes it easy to video chat with family and friends Multiformat Memory Card Reader which supports the following formats: Secure Digital, SDHC, SDXC, miniSD, microSD, Multi Media Card (shared slot; may require adapter for use) 1 USB 3.0 port and 2 USB 2.0 ports: For fast digital video, audio and data transfer. Built-in high-speed wireless LAN (802.11b/g/n): Connect to the Internet without wires Windows 8.1

• Intel® Pentium® N3530 Processor 2.16 GHz
• 8GB DDR3L RAM, 500 GB HDD
• 15.6" diagonal, TruBrite® display. This laptop's roomy 15.6" diagonal, HD, TruBrite®, LED-backlit display (1366 x 768) offers all the room you need to conveniently navigate the Windows® world.
• DVD SuperMulti drive supporting 11 formats. Play your favorite music CDs. Watch the latest DVD movies. Load programs and do backups. Or share your stuff with friends and family
• Built-in high-speed wireless LAN (802.11b/g/n): Connect to the Internet without wires

Shemoikhede Genatsvale Restaurant Review in Tbilisi (Marjanishvili Street)

29 March, 2015 | Restaurant reviews | 39 seen

Shemoikhede Genatsvale is a restaurant in Tbilisi (Marjanishvili street 5) owned by a GMC Group. GMC Group is famous in Georgia and particularity in Georgia because of they run many chains of restaurants.

I was really hungry that night and decided let's search for some great offer at local discount portals - I insisted tonight I'm interested in Georgian traditional cuisine like khinkhali or kababi. So we started to search.

Now - we found a great deal, for about 17 GEL ( $7.50 / EUR 7.00) which included 2 kababs and 20 khinkali. Exactly what I was looking for that night. We bought a discount coupon at local Georgian hotsale.ge portal. And shortly we headed to this place, I have never been previously.

For a surprise, staff members asked us to provide a temporary residence permits before we can use that coupon here. Since we have been using those discount coupons pretty much here in Georgia and before nobody have asked for a document confirming our permit residence of living in Georgia I was a bit shocked. Instead of showing our permits I insisted to talk with a a manager - after a short conversations with manager we were fine, no need to show a residence permit to have a meal here (use a discount coupon). Pretty strange experience, but hey - it's Georgia!

As usual I took my phone with myself and instagramed this place:

Painting outside restaurant

Table at this restaurant

Bottle of tasty Georgian Lemonade

Kababi served with Sacabeli sauce

Kababi served with Sacabeli sauce

A cup of Turkish Coffee

20 khinkali

The bottom line

In overall they serve a great typical Georgian cuisine here, prices are modest, service is pretty OK. Go try yourself!

'Lermontov' Documentary Film

29 March, 2015 | Documentaries | 4 seen

Lermonov is a documentary film about famous Russian poet Mikhail Lermontov made by Star Media. Babich design. Released in 2014. The film is spoken in Russian, and English subtitles are provided.

I have never thought I will actually spend an evening watching something like this, but after spending a lovely afternoon at charming and for me un-typical Tbilisi literature cafe, where accidentally I started to read some Russian language books with Lermontov's poetry and more accidentally by reading a poem called "Dispute" I was just eager to learn more of this talented 19th-century poet. So I found this amazing documentary film.

This film tells a story about Lermontov's life in chapters, childhood, love, army, Caucasus, and Death. Comparing facts from this film with those available on Wikipedia I found this documentary quite realistic and very fact-based. 

Mikhail Lermontov (1814-1841) was one of Russia’s greatest poets and writers. His famous novel, “A Hero of Our Time” was one of the most popular Russian books of all time. His works were always timely and relevant, enjoying vast popularity especially among young people. Lermontov’s poetry and prose were translated into many languages and take their rightful place among the classics of world literature. Lermontov died at the age of 27, fighting a duel under strange circumstances. He grew up without parents, had two serious love affairs, was always surrounded by good friends, went through war, but nevertheless remained lonely throughout his whole life.

This movie, made to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Lermontov's birth, gives an insightful look at how his personal life intertwined with the plots of his works. The poet’s reality is gradually transferred into the world of his own imagination, while the characters and events he describes provide answers to the biographical mysteries of Lermontov’s fate.

Rachis Ubani Tbilisi Restaurant Review

26 March, 2015 | Restaurant reviews | 68 seen

I would call Rachis Ubani restaurant probably one of the best restaurants in Tbilisi. This restaurant serves a traditional Georgian Cuisine.

It's not even about the great food they are serving here (although food is tremendous here) but more of its location. 

Rachis Ubani restaurant is located on road serpentine between Vake and Turtle lake, on the edge of Tbilisi Open Air Ethnographic Museum. It is best to enjoy your meal at this restaurant's patio during hot summer evenings. The restaurant offers spectacular views of city lights. After tasting the wine they are serving here in combination with those views you will definitely agree with me by saying - it's the best restaurant in Tbilisi.

Rachis Ubani meaning in English is - Racha House. Racha is a historical region of Georgia since this restaurant is located at the edge of Open Air Museum - and probably situated in Rachians style building - so here you have a meaning of this place.

I first discovered this restaurant back in 2011 and as a rule of thumb in Georgia   - if a restaurant is in business for years it's a good restaurant.

Badrijani at Rachis Ubani restaurant

Tkemali and Sacebeli sauces

Barbecue with sliced onions

Home style fried potatoes with onions

More barbecue

Fried champignons filled with Sulguni cheese

Yard at Rachis Ubani

Well at Rachis Ubani

The bottom line

Rachis Ubani is one of the most expensive restaurants in Tbilisi I'm visiting. For  all above seen food I paid around 90 GEL ($40.00 / EUR 37.00) - it's a bit pricey compared to other Tbilisi restaurants, but as I mentioned the views and atmosphere provided at Rachis Ubani restaurant compensates that.

Restaurant 'Oriental Pearl' Review In Tbilisi

25 March, 2015 | Restaurant reviews | 14 seen

Welcome to another Tbilisi restaurant reviews series - today I will write about a Chinese cuisine restaurant Oriental Pearl located on Paliashvili street 90 (Vake district) in Tbilisi.

I first discovered this restaurant a few year ago, and ever since have been heading here for some 2 times per year.

In overall it's a lit bit pricey compared to other restaurants, but hey it's a Chinese Cuisine. 

As usual for taking photographs I'm using my Samsung phone and using Instagram (then taking them from Instagram and adding to posts - you can read a blog post on how I turned my Instagram account into a photo blog 

Window case at Oriental Pearl

Entrance doors at Oriental Pearl restaurant

Table at Oriental Pearl

The menu at Oriental Pearl

Chicken in sweet and sour sauce

The bottom line.

Oriental Pearl restaurant is pretty good but is a bit expensive compared to other Tbilisi restaurants. It's about 60 GEL ($27.00 / EUR 25.00) for all seen above. But without doubt, I can recommend it - if you are fond of Chinese cuisine.

Algeti Reservoir

24 March, 2015 | Lakes | 41 seen

The other day during a hiking tour at Birtvisi Canyon we discovered another interesting tourism object in Georgia- Algeti reservoir. I couldn't resist making some photos here (see below). 

I didn't find much information about this reservoir in English language resources, but I found one in Russian Wikipedia, so I will try to translate it here:

Algeti reservoir is a reservoir on the river of Algeti, located in the territory of Georgia in Tetri Ttskaro district, near the village of Tbeti.

The total volume of the reservoir - 65 million m³, useful - 60 million cubic meters. It's is planned to build a hydroelectric power station "Algeti HPP" with a capacity of 1.1 MW on Algeti reservoir.

Water from the Algeti reservoir is used in the irrigation system of Tbisi-Kumisi, which supplies water to villages of Jorjiashvili, Asureti, Borbalo, Koda, Marabda, Khaishi, Dundruki, Kasalari and other villages in Marneuli region.

Photos:

Down at the Algeti Reservoir

Scenic view to Algeti Reservoir

You can drive down and park your car

Though I would not recommend doing that - the road down to the reservoir is pretty bad and with many pits, you can be stuck easily on that road. If you are going down - make sure you have an SUV at least.

Algeti reservoir

Algeti Reservoir

Tremendous view of Algeti reservoir

This view recalls me a scene from the movie 'Michael Clayton' with George Clooney, when he drives his car in a dawn through a fog and stops after seeing horses in a meadow... he goes closer to take a better look and ... boom his car explodes. 

Algeti reservoir

Algeti reservoir in Georgia

A dam on Algeti Reservoir

I'm eager to return to this place in summer and would like to float a boat here or to test my eventually new drone to film this place from above.

Hiking In Birtvisi Canyon (Hidden Trails Of Georgia)

22 March, 2015 | Outdoor Activities | 184 seen

The other day in the company of three we headed to Birtvisi Canyon for some hiking experience.

It all started reading some info of a non-standard close to Tbilisi located destinations. And Birtvisi just popped up on this list. Turns out - there is a Birtvisi Fortress located somewhere in the middle of these canyons.

I had never before heard of such place and was pretty much surprised learning that it's located just some one-hour drive from Tbilisi, in the region of Kvemo Kartli (Lower Kartli). Birtvisi canyon is located in Trialeti Planned National Park.

There are two main roads heading to Birtvisi from Tbilisi:

Tbilisi - Birtvisi road

Driving directions: Tbilisi - Birtvisi (distance ~ 60 km)

We choose the longest but probably the better road (asphalt road) via road 6

Head on Rustavi Highway (Road 6), at the intersection turn right on Marnueli direction (Road E117 - look on road  for signs heading to Marnueli), then at village of Koda again make a right turn and just drive straight passing villages of Asureti, Jorijashvili, Sagharasheni now you should start looking for local tourism signs (brown) directing to Birtvisi.

At first, there will be a sign indicating the distance to Birtvisi 1km. We missed this but after some 2 km there is a second sign - Birtvisi 3.5 km, make a sharp right turn just after this sign, drive into some village, take the first left turn, drive some 300 meters, and here you go - you have arrived on site, you should leave your vehicle on a mountainous meadow and make the rest distance (some 2.5 km) by foot - well, that's why I call it a hiking, right?

Unfortunately we weren't informed about precise location of Birtvisi Fortress at that moment, so we didn't reach it actually this time.

Now I have learned that if we would continue our route and not turned back, we would probably reach that fortress after some 2km. But no regrets about that, just another reason to come back to this lovely place with spectacular views.

Photos from this route

Buds at Birtvisi

Trail to Birtvisi Canyon

Birtvisi Canyon

Mountain flowers at Birtvisi Canyon

Dead tree at Birtvisi Canyon

Valley at Birtvisi Canyon

View from Birtvisi Canyon

Dandelion at Birtvisi Canyon

At Birtvisi Canyon

Moss on the rocks

Birtvisi Canyon

At Birtvisi Canyon

Rocks at the Birtvisi Canyon 

I'm definitely planing to come back to this place, probably this autumn when it will be more green. Next time I'm eager to find that well hidden fortress as well.

About Birtvisi

Birtvisi is a ruined medieval fortress in Kvemo Kartli, Georgia, nested within limestone cliffs in the Algeti river gorge. It is now within the boundaries of the Tetri-Tsqaro municipality, adjacent to the Algeti National Park, south-west of the nation's capital Tbilisi.

Birtvisi is essentially a natural rocky fortress of 1 km², secured by walls and towers, the most prominent of which – known as Sheupovari ("Obstinate") – tops the tallest rock in the area.

Various accessory structures, an aqueduct included, have also survived.

In written sources, Birtvisi is first mentioned as a possession of the Arab amir of Tiflis of which he was divested by the Georgian nobles Liparit, Duke of Kldekari and Ivane Abazasdze in 1038. In medieval Georgia, Birtvisi entertained a reputation of an impregnable stronghold whose master could control the entire strategic Algeti gorge. The Turco-Mongol amir Timur notably reduced the fortress during one of his invasions of Georgia in 1403.After the partition of the Kingdom of Georgia later in the 15th century, Birtvisi was within the borders of the Kingdom of Kartli and in possession of the princes Baratashvili.

Cafe Discovery In Tbilisi Review

20 March, 2015 | Restaurant reviews | 7 seen

Welcome to another post in series of Tbilisi restaurant reviews.

Today I will write about a lovely Cafe located on Marjanishvili square in Tbilisi which offers tasty wraps for a budget price. Meet Cafe Discovery.

I have been heading to this place for a  years already (It's a good indicator here in Georgia - if restaurant is in business for years - it's a pretty good restaurant or Cafe this time).

Reason I love this place - it's one of few in Tbilisi that makes wraps (tuna fish, salmon e.t.c). I love wrapps.

Entrance at Cafe Discovery

Frankly speaking I would call this place a boutique cafe instead of just cafe, the reason is simple - it's interior is crafted with tiny details and it's not to spacious, it's a tiny tiny place - so in  case you are in a large company of friends - there is possibly you won't get a free table here.

Outdoor terrace at Cafe Discovery

Best enjoyed in summertime

Sweets and fruits in a glass case

Well I believe you can order a freshly squired apple, orange, grape, banana or mixed juice here.

Speaking of sweets - haven't tried them here - can't comment.

Turkish Coffee at Cafe Discovery

Cappuccino at Cafe Discovery

Wraps with tuna filling

This wrap at Cafe Discovery costs GEL 5.50 ($2.5 / EUR  2.30)

Tulips at Cafe Discovery

The Bottom Line

Cafe Discovery is a budget friendly place which offers a really tasty wraps. I'm highly recommending this place.

Potential Business Partner Search In Republic Of Georgia

19 March, 2015 | Living in Georgia | 22 seen

During my blogging career I have received several messages on my blog's contact form asking for advice for potential business partner search in Tbilisi or Georgia.

Well I only feel flattered and honored that I have been noticed and contacted (seems a major role is played here thanks to my posts in Living in Georgia category).

I haven't searched for potential business partners here in Georgia (though I have been doing some business here). Currently  I'm open for a propositions from travel companies willing to serve incoming tourists in Georgia. Contact me for more details. 

I remember my first experience finding a new prospects in Tbilisi (I wasn't looking for partners - I was looking for customers - so I believe it was my core mistake. Partner could bring more than a customer) it all started of paying a visit to local trade show at Expo Georgia.

Author of this blog searching for business partners in Georgia back in April 2011

It was fun, I was just returned from a skiing adventures in Gudauri, it was like my fourth day in Georgia and here I was, sitting at Expo Georgia.

Back in those days I was eager to build a tourism website and was looking for advertisers on it. My initial business failed.

Trade shows and fairs

Best starting point should be Expo Georgia - this is a thing I actually learnt in Georgia - Fairs and Trade shows are one of the best ways of networking and new prospect finding. You are left with two options - either buy a stand or booth at Expo Georgia and represent your company and / or products, either visit such trade show and talk with those standing other side of stand/booth.

I have done only second option (though there had been  times I have thought to represent myself at the stand) My favorite expo fair probably is Caucasus Tourism Fair. Read: Caucasus Tourism Fair 2014 

Another great way of networking is by visiting local charity fairs. Read: Christmas Charity Winter Fair in Tbilisi Sheraton Hotel

Government delegations

Another interesting option I have used here in Georgia - I have participated into official business delegation. Read: Georgian - Latvian Business Forum 

Commercial Chambers

Well - next you could contact some Commercial Chambers here in Georgia, I haven't dealt with them, but I have heard of AmCham (American Chamber of Commerce in Georgia).

Yellow Pages

Common practice here in Georgia is to use Yellow Pages and call to prospects directly, personally I'm a person hating to make a deals over a phone, but on the other hand I'm not a salesperson either. I believe you can hire a local company to handle those phone conversations in place of you. 

Useful websites when searching for business partners in Georgia

• www.expogeorgia.ge - Information about Trade shows and Fairs
• www.investingeorgia.org - Invest in Georgia agency
• www.amcham.ge - American Chamber of Commerce in Georgia
• www.tbsc.ge - managment consulting firm
• www.caucasustranslations.com - English, Georgian, Russian (and many other language combination) translation / interpretation services

Is there a way I can help you?

Well if you are looking for a Drupal Website development - sure thing, contact me by using contact form.

If you are looking for translation and interpretation services I can recommend company I'm working for Caucasus Translations.   

If you would like just to chat with me or buy me a beer in some of the local Tbilisi restaurants, please feel free to contact me.

Projected Future Forecast For GDP In Former Soviet Union Block Countries (2014-2019)

18 March, 2015 | Macroeconomics | 35 seen

In past I have created many GDP reviews regarding former Soviet Union republics, but have never made future GDP forecast report yet. In this article that's exactly what I'm doing.

Now, Soviet Union doesn't exist for more than 25 years already. Those former 15 republics have gone more or less separate way since dissolution of USSR.  

There has happened some geopolitical changes over last 25 years, starting of dissolution of USSR, formation of CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), three of former soviet republics have joined both European Union and NATO. And for a last of couple of years there has been attempts of trying to build up an Eurasian Union.

Map of Former Soviet Union (Source: Iron Curtain and Ex-U.S.S.R. Countries) 

I will speak about those economical organizations seperatly latter in this post, but for now, let's take a look of Projected Future Forecast by International Monetary Fund for those former Soviet Union Countries

Projected Future Forecast For GDP (Nominal) In Former Soviet Union Block Countries (2014-2019) 

According to IMF, there will be 4 countries in next 5 years to increase their GDP by more than 50% - Turkmenistan (89.63%), Kazakhstan (71.40%) , Uzbekistan (54.71%) and Tajikistan (51.24%)

• While it may look as impressive growth of 51.24% for Tajikistan, it's overall GDP still will be very modest - up from $9,156 billion in 2014 to $13,84 billions in 2019. It's a growth of "just" $4.69 billions in 5 year term. Pretty modest result for a country with population  8.2 million.
• More slower, but still pretty decent results will show Russia (26.12%), Armenia (28.86%) and Belarus (33.65%). Speaking of Russia  - for me those results seems surprisingly good, taking into account sanctions over Russia made both by EU and USA  I was thinking the Russian economy for next 5 years will be with negative sign, but according to projected future of Russia's GDP, it wont decrease at all. If that's right I will be indeed surprised.

OK, at lets divide those 15 former Soviet countries in smaller blocks:

• Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania)
• South Caucasus (Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia)
• Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan)
• Eurasian Union block countries (Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan).

What doesn't fit in any group those are Ukraine and Moldova. So I will group them into Eastern Partnership countries together with Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus)

Baltic States Projected Future GDP (Nominal) (2014-2019)

Baltic states have been members to European Union and NATO since 2004. Since 2014 all countries have euro as national currency. In next 5 years Lithuania is projected to have biggest GDP increase of 38.28%, followed by Latvia (34.76%) and Estonia (34.63%)

• The total combined GDP of Baltic states will increase from $107,900 billions to $147,092 billions. 
• What I can see from those data - Baltic's are united, they will experience modest but stable growth in next 5 years.

South Caucasus Projected Future GDP (Nominal) (2014-2019)

Situation in South Caucasus countries is pretty interesting - Armenia has joined Eurasian Union, Georgia is seeking it's way into European Union while Azerbaijan is trying to be neutral of choosing a larger geopolitical power. There are frozen conflict over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

My personal observation is simple - if Baltic states we can call more or less united, then situation is quite opposite here in Caucasus.

• In next five years region of South Caucasus is awaited to grow GDP by 44.69%

Central Asia Projected Future GDP (Nominal) (2014-2019)

• Now, according to IMF Estimates region of Central Asia will experience most faster growth in former Soviet Union block making average 69.86% growth in next five years.
• The total output of combined GDP of Central Asia will increase from $0.35 trillions in 2014 to almost $0.6 trillions in 2019. 

Eurasian Union Projected Future GDP (Nominal) (2014-2019)

And here comes a table with Eurasian Union, as you can see - main driving force behind it is Russia.

• If Russia is willing to make it work (Eurasian Union) I believe they will try to get in other Central Asia's countries, like Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
• I believe there will be no problems to get Tajikistan on board (taking into account it's small economy) but I believe Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are not so eager to join a club (They have oil)

Eastern Partnership country Projected Future GDP (Nominal) (2014-2019)

Now this is a tricky part, though those countries are members of Eastern Partnership -  still Belarus is closest ally to Russia, Armenia has joined Eurasian Union. In Ukraine is ongoing military conflict.

I would call those countries of Eastern Partnership  a trouble kids for EU.

The Bottom Line

Seems next five years could bring a lot of surprises, prosperity will come together with fight for power. I believe European Union will find more struggle to take away from Russia's sphere of influence those countries in Eastern Partnerships as Russia has never kept in secret -  it's vital to keep it's borders safe from NATO. 

Best Hikes In Tbilisi Are Located Near Turtle Lake

17 March, 2015 | Living in Georgia | 25 seen

I have been living in Georgia for more than tvelwe years already. I have traveled around the country quite a lot. 

Probably one of my favorite destinations in Tbilisi is Turtle Lake. On hot summer days, I like to head here to perform some work (in my early Tbilisi years for some Drupal development, latelty managing my crypto hedge fund) or brainstorm new ideas.

Though I started to blog - and document my travels just in 2013, I have been here (at Turtle Lake) some hundred times for sure. If at the start I headed here just to chill near the lake, then lately I'm more into some outdoor activities. 

In this post, I have listed three hiking routes all of them starting at Turtle Lake - one ending at Tskenti village, the second ending at Vake Park, and the third ending at Round Garden (Eristavi Street, almost in the city center)

Stratfor: How Currency Woes Undermine Georgia, Moldova

17 March, 2015 | Emerging Markets | 20 seen

Governments across the former Soviet Union have felt the impact of currency devaluations, but currency depreciations and related economic problems in Georgia and Moldova are exposing their governments to major political pitfalls this year, including even potential government collapse. Both countries have been pursuing greater integration with the West but are still heavily linked to Russia, making them susceptible to Russia's economic downturn. Economic difficulties will undermine both countries' efforts to achieve greater political and economic integration with the European Union and will be a boon to Russia's strategy of slowing the West's push into the former Soviet periphery.

The former Soviet Union has experienced substantial currency devaluations in the past several months. Russia and Ukraine, preoccupied with the conflict in eastern Ukraine, have predictably been the most affected. The Russian ruble lost 43 percent of its value in 2014 and has fallen an additional 11 percent since the start of 2015. Ukraine's currency, the hryvnia, has lost nearly 40 percent of its value in 2015. But the two countries are not alone. Countries that export and produce energy, such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, as well as states strongly integrated with the Russian economic bloc, such as Belarus and Armenia, have also felt the impact.

Georgia and Moldova are two countries that do not fall into these paradigms because they are neither energy producers nor members of Russia-led economic groupings like the Eurasian Economic Union. In fact, both countries are Western-oriented and are pursuing greater economic integration with the European Union, having signed free trade agreements with the bloc in 2014. In spite of this, both the Georgian and Moldovan currencies have suffered. The Georgian lari has tumbled by nearly 30 percent over the past four months, and the Moldovan leu has lost 20 percent of its value since Jan. 1.

Worrying Indicators

The countries' reliance on remittances from migrants working in Russia drives these depreciations. Moldova saw a 20 percent year-on-year drop in remittances as of January, and Georgia recorded a 23 percent drop. Moreover, while neither country is a member of Russia's economic bloc, they are still dependent on trade with Russia, which accounts for 26 percent of Moldova's total exports and 13 percent of Georgia's total exports. Moldova's exports to Russia nearly halved in 2014, and Georgia's total exports fell by 30 percent — largely because of loss of trade with Ukraine and Russia.

The worrying economic indicators are as much a result of a poor regional economic climate as they are a consequence of a deliberate Russian response to both countries' Western integration efforts. Russia has increased import restrictions over certain goods exported by these countries and has also enacted structural regulations on migrants from states outside of the Eurasian Economic Union.

As a result, both countries have attempted to mitigate the effects of their currency depreciation by raising interest rates while selling foreign currency reserves. However, the relatively small size of their economies — Moldova's GDP is less than $9 billion while Georgia's is around $16 billion — hampers their ability to manage the depreciation and increases the impact of even minor fluctuations. Georgia has spent $120 million in currency reserves, bringing the total down to $2.5 billion. Moldova has sold $87 million of its currency reserves, bringing it down to $1.96 billion.

Both countries have received some EU financial assistance as part of their trade agreements, but the amount, in tens of millions of euros, has so far been minimal. Both countries have also planned tax hikes and public spending cuts for 2015, and additional assistance from foreign lenders such as the International Monetary Fund would likely come with further austerity measures.

Georgia

Such economic headwinds would prove politically troublesome for any country, but Georgia and Moldova are particularly vulnerable given their volatile political situations. In Georgia's case, the emergence of the Georgian Dream movement led by billionaire tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili in 2011 and its victory in both the parliamentary and presidential elections in 2012 and 2013 ushered in a new era for Georgian politics.

However, over the past year Georgian Dream has been subject to increased infighting over internal differences, as seen in the dismissal of former Defense Minister Irakli Alasania and the departure of his Free Democrats party from the ruling coalition. Alasania even announced he would challenge Georgian Dream in the next parliamentary elections in 2016.

The infighting and poor economic conditions have led to public protests. Several hundred people demonstrated Feb. 25 in Tbilisi, calling for the resignation of the government over currency depreciation. The opposition United National Movement, the party of former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili that Georgian Dream replaced, has also seen a resurgence in popularity. The United National Movement has called for fresh nationwide protests on March 21.

These conditions could aggravate the fracturing within the Georgian Dream movement and complicate the government's ability to address the economic crisis and salvage its position from political rivals. Growing rifts within the government would also undermine Georgia's plans to integrate with the European Union, though its plans to increase cooperation with NATO are less likely to be affected.

Moldova

Moldova's political system is even more fractured than Georgia's. Since 2009, the parliament has been split almost evenly between EU- and Russian-oriented parties, creating a deadlocked government. Parliamentary elections held Nov. 30 produced a weak minority coalition of the pro-EU Democratic Party and the Liberal Democratic Party, but they needed the support of the pro-Russian Communist Party in order to elect the politically inexperienced Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici. Moreover, given that the coalition only has 47 of 101 seats and will depend on the Communists to push through key legislation, the new government will have a difficult time staying together.

Under a fractured political landscape, the Moldovan government will face domestic political pushback, threatening its stability. Some 400 people demonstrated against economic conditions in Chisinau on Feb. 24, with more protests expected. The government will also face setbacks to its EU integration plans. There are already several groups opposed to Moldova's integration process, namely the pro-Russia Socialist Party and the autonomous and breakaway regions of Gagauzia and Transdniestria. A minority government will find it difficult to overcome such opposition and pass integration policies.

Furthermore, reports from Moldovan media suggest that Russia has agreed to import certain Moldovan goods without taxes in 2015, including value-added tax, a decision that would represent a notable shift from Russian import restrictions in 2014. If the reports are true, this would run contrary to Moldova's efforts to distance itself from Russia in favor of the European Union, potentially derailing Chisinau's Western integration ambitions. These shifting relations with Russia and Europe as well as political unrest will define Moldova and Georgia.

"How Currency Woes Undermine Georgia, Moldova is republished with permission of Stratfor."

Hiking trails near Turtle Lake (Tbilisi) - Photos And Route Map

16 March, 2015 | Outdoor Activities | 13 seen

Welcome to another hiking / trekking post in Tbilisi. 

This time in a company of three we made a route from Turtle Lake - Round Garden (Eristavi street). 

As warm weather is more approaching, I'm more into outdoor activities. So - last week we took our bikes and headed to Lisi lake.

Speaking of hiking near Turtle lake - this was already third time this year (first two were made on January) - so it actually doesn't matter what are the weather conditions, right?

This time I did record this route using MapMyRide app and made plenty of photos (Lately I'm really into macros)

About Route

This was a 6.3 km route in Tbilisi, Georgia near Turle lake. The route has a total ascent of 209.46 m and has a maximum elevation of 912.2 m. 

Route Map

Photos

Former Aerial tram stop at Turtle lake

Out Of Service Aerial Tram

Hikers at Turtle lake trails

Mountainous flowers near Turtle Lake

First buds 

View to Turtle Lake from Svan Tower

First macro of a butterfly

Met some cows

Anther macro of mountain flowers

Rocky hiking trails near Turtle Lake

View to Tbilisi

Turtle lake from above

Another angle of Tbilisi

Pine

Tbilisi

Neighbourhood in Tbilisi

Junk collector

After this hike we caught a taxi and went straight to Restaurant Shengen in Old Town. Why Restaurant Shengen? That day Georgian Rugby team was playing against Russia, and there at Shengen restaurant they have a Huge TV. 

Pork and Sausages at Restaurant Shengen. 

Read: Restaurant 'Shengen' Review in Tbilisi 

P.S. Georgia Rugby team won: 33:0