Blog Archive: November 2017

Could Bitcoin Price Reach $30,000 By The End Of 2018?

29 November, 2017 | Crypto | 32 seen

With Bitcoin price reaching for the first time $10,000 on November 28, 2017 - I keep wondering - could we see Bitcoin double or even triple in value in 2018?

According to Coinmarketcap the price for bitcoin has gone up tenfold since the begging of 2017, trading high $1,003.08 on January 2017 and reaching $10,075.90 on November 28, 2017

Why Bitcoin Price at $7,174.50 ain't no fun, But I'm still buying it?

Bitcoin Year to date chart - January 1st - November 2017 (data source: Coinmarketcap.com)

Now, there is one approach we could try to apply and try to predict the future price of Bitcoin -  using the total market capitalization of Bitcoin.

As of writing this article, the total market cap of Bitcoin is $168,861,518,975, while in January it was $15,491,200,000. That's the same tenfold increase

In order for Bitcoin to reach $30,000 value, the total market cap should increase three times:

That's about a 500 billions of US dollars. 

As the total market cap for 1324 cryptocurrencies currently listed on Coinmarketcap is about $ 311 billion at the end of November and Bitcoin dominance is about 54%, personally, I do believe that we could see Bitcoin double or even triple in 2018. 

Top Cryptocurrencies I'm Looking to Acquire (Buy&Hold) in 2018

The question is, will it actually happen so? Things could go completely wrong, major exchange hacks, governments outlawing cryptocurrencies and so on. 

Remember - investments are risky, never invest more you can afford to lose.

DIY Open Wooden Compost Bin

26 November, 2017 | DIY | 24 seen

A compost bin is a must-have garden construction at our rural property - fallen leaves and trimmed grass mostly go here. It was on early May 1st, 2017 evening I decided to build an open wooden compost bin from materials we left over from roof works. 

It was agreed to install a compost bin on the other side of the house, as when planning a place for a compost bin, it should be chosen carefully, so as not to be an obstacle in the future.

Choosing a place for a compost bin

As there is already an old foundation here, and we are not planning to do with them anything for the next couple of years, it was agreed this is a good place for a compost bin. Now it was a matter of taking down the laths from the loft, an electric saw, some measurement tape, a pencil, and a level. 

Wooden boards for compost bin

A little experiment here, adjusting height and weight.

Leveling boards

Definitely much easier than leveling bearing beams for the roof construction.

The result

Day trip to David Gareji monastery complex and Sighnaghi

25 November, 2017 | Travel guides | 19 seen

At the end of November, my mother visited me again in Georgia. We decided to make a few easy day trips during her stay in Tbilisi.

Our first day trip was to David Gareji Monastery complex and Sighnaghi.

Although I've been to these places for a dozen of times, I never get bored of them.

This time we took a road to David Gareji monastery complex via Rustavi town (which actually is a place I would love to return to take some urban photography), made a short stop at Gardabani to buy a freshly baked Azerbaijani bread, and followed a rocky road to David Gareji monastery complex.

Road to David Gareji 

Seems this is some military road, used by Georgian army located somewhere close. During the Soviet times, its said there has been a huge tank polygon somewhere in this area.

Sheep

Oh, I always love scenes like this. Lovely.

At Bodbe monastery near Sighnaghi

One of the rare HDR's I've taken this year.

We continued to the nearby town of Sighnaghi and spent about 10 minutes there taking a walk at Sighnaghi city wall which features beautiful views of Alazani valley. 

Best Hotels & Guest houses in Sighnaghi, Georgia

24 November, 2017 | Hotel reviews | 16 seen

If there is a reason to visit Sighnaghi, then here you go - museums, history, and gourmet food.

Sighnaghi has been on my travel list for years, and I keep returning year after year. Great views of the Alazani valley, interesting architecture and city wall are the reasons I keep returning.

When looking for 5-star hotels in Sighnahi, seems there is just one (in 2017) Kabadoni Boutique Hotel. You should be willing to pay around GEL 30 (guesthouses) - GEL 220 (hotel) for a stay in a Sighnaghi.

Please note: hotels listed below may contain links to Booking.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a reservation on Booking.com site, I might earn an affiliate income, at no cost to you.

Nana's Guest House

Located in Sighnaghi’s historic centre, Nana's Guest House is a restored 18th-century house, a 2-minute walk from Sighnaghi’s Ethnographic Park. It offers simple rooms with country-style furnishings and free Wi-Fi.

Featuring a balcony, all rooms come with a satellite TV with DVD player and a seating area. The private bathroom includes a bath tub or shower and a hairdryer.

A breakfast, consisting of organic, home-made products, is served daily in the breakfast room. Guests can relax in the garden, complete with BBQ facilities.

Nana's Guest House is a 10-minute walk from Sighnaghi’s Main Square and a 3-minute walk from shops, bars and restaurants. The Sighnaghi Central Bus Station, with links to Tiflis, is a 5-minute walk from the property. 

Price: ~ GEL 65 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Lia's Guest House

Featuring free WiFi, Lia's Guest House offers accommodation in Sighnaghi. Free private parking is available on site.

Each room in this guest house offers a private entrance. Some units include a seating area to relax in after a busy day. Some rooms feature views of the mountain or garden. The rooms include a private bathroom. A flat-screen TV is available.

Price: ~ GEL 52 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Nato & Lado

Enjoying stunning mountain views from the terrace, Nato and Lado is a 3-star guest house located in Sighnaghi. Scenic views can be seen from the balcony, Pirosmani Art Museum is only 230 m from the accommodation, and Bodbe Monastry is 2 km away.

Individually decorated, the room at the guest house offer free WiFi, and air-conditioning. Some room offer a TV with cable channels, and the bathrooms come with either a bath or shower.

Breakfast is provided each day, and guests can try traditional Georgian cuisine. There is a shared kitchen which guests are welcome to use.

An array of activities are available, including hiking, and there are Georgian folkloric songs and entertainment in the evening.

Price: ~ GEL 50 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Galavnis Kari Hotel

Located in Sighnaghi, a 5-minute walk from the 18th-century Sighnaghi Fortress, this hotel offers free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour front desk. Church of St. Nino is 2 km away.

Rooms at Galavnis Kari Hotel feature a TV with satellite channels. Some rooms include a balcony. Private bathrooms are fitted with a shower and hairdryer.

Guests can enjoy Georgian and European cuisine at the Galavnis Kari Restaurant, or have a drink at the on-site bar. Property also has a wine cellar, offering two types of wine.

The nearest bus stop, providing connections around the area, is 700 m from Galavnis Kari Hotel. Tbilisi International Airport is 90 km away. 

Price: ~ GEL 60 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Guest House Art

Featuring free WiFi and a barbecue, Guest House Art offers accommodation 200 m from Sighnaghi city centre. Free private parking is available on site.

Some units feature a seating area to relax in after a busy day. Enjoy a cup of tea while looking out at the mountain or garden. All rooms are equipped with a private bathroom. A flat-screen TV is featured.

Price: ~ GEL 64 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Guest house Evdoshvili St N5

Guest house Evdoshvili St N5 is a guest house in Sighnaghi that boasts a garden and terrace. Each accommodation at the guest house has mountain views and free WiFi. Rooms include a balcony with garden views.

The units in the guest house are equipped with a TV. Every room is equipped with a private bathroom with a shower, free toiletries and a hairdryer. All rooms have a desk.

A continental breakfast is available daily at the property.

Price: ~ GEL 72 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Guest House Pirosmani 60

Guest House Pirosmani 60 is set in Sighnaghi and boasts a terrace and shared lounge. This guest house offers a 24-hour front desk and free WiFi. The accommodation features a shared kitchen, and organising tours for guests.

At the guest house, every room comes with a wardrobe. The rooms are fitted with a kettle and a private bathroom, while selected rooms also offer a terrace and some have mountain views. All units will provide guests with a dishwasher.

Price: ~ GEL 60 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Kabadoni Boutique Hotel

Featuring an indoor swimming pool and a wellness centre, Kabadoni Boutique Hotel is located in the historic Sighnaghi Town. Guests are offered a wine bar and rooms with free Wi-Fi.

Each elegant air-conditioned room at Kabadoni includes an iPod docking station and a flat-screen TV. Bathrooms come with slippers and bathrobes.

Local Georgian dishes are served in the Kabadoni Restaurant, while relaxing cocktails are offered at the outdoor Sunset Lounge Bar. A range of wines from the Alazani Valley can be enjoyed at the Wine Bar.

Relaxation at the hotel is provided by the spa centre including a steam bath, massage and a fitness centre.

Tours around the Alazani Valley wineyards and Kakheti Region can be organized by staff at the hotel, and the 9th-century Bodbe Monastery is 2.5 km away. A shuttle service to Tbilisi Airport (98 km) is provided on request.

Price: ~GEL 230 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Boutique Hotel BelleVue

Located in Sighnaghi, Boutique Hotel BelleVue offers air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi. All rooms boast a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a private bathroom. Free private parking is available on site.

At the hotel every room comes with a balcony. The units feature a wardrobe.

Price: ~ GEL 120 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Zandarashvili Guest House

Surrounded by greenery, Zandarashvili Guest House is located in Sighnaghi. Free WiFi access is available.

The classic-style rooms are simply decorated. Some rooms include a private bathroom and a balcony.

Guests can cook their meals in the shared fully equipped kitchen, complete with a dining area. Meals can also be cooked for guests upon request. Barbecue facilities are on site

At Zandarashvili Guest House you will find a 24-hour front desk, a terrace and laundry facilities. An array of activities can be enjoyed on site or in the surroundings, including cycling and hiking. The property offers free parking.

Samgori Bus Station in Tbilisi is 1.5 hour-drive away. Tbilisi International Airport is 85 km away. 

Price: ~ GEL 30 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Golden Lion 

Set in Sighnaghi, Golden Lion boasts a bar. Featuring on-site dining, the guest house has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi. Every room is fitted with a balcony with views of the city.

At the guest house, all rooms are equipped with a wardrobe. All rooms will provide guests with a fridge.

Price: ~ GEL 60 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Guest House Kusika

Kusika is a guest house located in Sighnaghi, enjoying stunning panoramic views of the Alazani Valley, it is situated within the courtyard of a 16th century fortress. Guests can enjoy a peaceful garden, a large terrace and barbeque facilities.

Free WiFi access is available, along with either a flat-screen TV or TV, and satellite or cable channels. The bathrooms come with either a bath or a shower. There is a shared lounge and children’s playground.

A continental breakfast is available to order each day, and guests can prepare their own meals in the shared kitchen. Ingredients can be bought in Sighnaghi centre just 600 m away, or try one of the restaurants and cafes.

Guests can relax and listen to the birds singing, while sampling Georgian House wine at the property, or check out the Bodbe Monastery, just 2 km away from Kusika.

Price: ~ GEL 50 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Guest House 2017 

Boasting a garden, Guest House 2017 is situated in Sighnaghi. This guest house offers free WiFi. The accommodation provides a 24-hour front desk.

All guest rooms have a seating area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a kitchen, a dining area and a private bathroom with free toiletries and a bath or shower. Each room has a kettle, while selected rooms are fitted with a terrace and others also boast mountain views. The units will provide guests with a microwave.

A buffet breakfast is available each morning at the property.

Price: ~ GEL 70 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Old House in Sighnaghi

Boasting a garden and terrace, as well as a restaurant, Old House in Sighnaghi is located in Sighnaghi. With free WiFi, this hotel offers a 24-hour front desk. Staff on site can arrange airport transfers.

All rooms in the hotel are fitted with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. Each room has a private bathroom with free toiletries and a hairdryer. Guest rooms at Old House in Sighnaghi feature air conditioning and a desk.

Price: ~ GEL 80 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Guest House Maria

Guest House Maria is located next to a historic fortress in Sighnaghi. Free WiFi access is available. The property features a view over Alazanskaya Valley and the Caucasus Mountains.

Each room here will provide you with a TV with cable channels and a balcony. Guests have access to a full a kitchenette with a microwave and an oven. Featuring a shower, shared bathroom also comes with a bath. You can enjoy lake view and mountain view from the room.

At Guest House Maria you will find a 24-hour front desk, a garden and a terrace. Other facilities offered at the property include grocery deliveries, a shared lounge and luggage storage. The property offers free parking.

Price: ~ GEL 51 Book this hotel on Booking.com

11 Katkha Tbilisi Restaurant on Nikoloz Baratashvili street

23 November, 2017 | Restaurant reviews | 23 seen

11 Katkha has been my favorite Georgian cuisine Tbilisi restaurant for years, for a long time I loved to visit 11 Katkha restaurant near Dinamo stadium, sadly one-day I learned that Dinamo stadium branch is closed.

From my understanding 11 Katkha is a restaurant chain, as soon I found another branch in Saburtalo. I've been heading to Saburtalo for about a year, just to enjoy the best katmis mcvadi in town.

Now, huge was my surprise discovering 11 Katha restaurant opened in the city center (close to the Freedom square) on Baratishilli street.

Interior at 11 Katkha on Baratishvilli street in Tbilisi

When speaking about 11 Katkha - it's all about katmis mcvadi, kitris pomidori salati, turkuli kava, imeruli hachapuri and sometimes, just sometimes, badrijani.

Georgian cuisine 

I love Katkha for one another reason - prices - they keep it low and affordable. Average bill for two persons 40 GEL, for 3 persons 60 GEL (of course it depends)

Chicken barbecue with pomegranate dressing

How to Enable OneSignal Web Push Notifications SendTag For Drupal (User Segmentation by Interests)

21 November, 2017 | Servers | 24 seen

I spent a good amount of time, trying to learn how to implement a better user segmentation on OneSignal. The best I could get so far was the default OneSiganal's out of the box segmentation based on user country.

As my blog covers many mutually unrelated topics, I was not utilizing the power of push notifications at 100%. In fact, after getting more than 26,000 subscribers (over a year) I felt afraid every-time I sent out a web push notification, as user targeting was very poor.

At OneSignal official documentation, I learned about using Data Tags, especially SendTag and SendTags

Once you've integrated OneSignal in your app or website, implementing tags is very straightforward - simply use the sendTag or sendTags methods to tag your users with a key-value pair at any time. You may also get and delete tags with other methods. To learn more and to check out code examples, dive into the SDK reference for your particular app or website.

Here is the code example, you should call

As it was hard to understand what to do next, I thought about following "workaround" using Drupal blocks, before diving in, here are the things you will need:

• OneSignal implemented on your website, see: How To Setup Web Push Notifications For Drupal 8 (Or Any Other Site) Using OneSignal
• Block Visibility by Term for limiting block for certain category/categories. Read an implementation guide: How To Hide Drupal Block For Nodes In Specific Taxonomy - Example With Google Adsense
• PHP input filter enabled (use on your own risk)

Now, create a new block and paste in (using php filter) following code:

Where category = key and investments = value

Make sure to enable check box to display this block on investments category only. Also, you should put this block somewhere in enabled block regions to make it work. As I'm using custom MailChimp subscribe forms for collecting e-mail at te the end of articles, I put this code inside MailChimp block.

How to add MailChimp Signup Form for Drupal

For tracking multiple categories create new block, with new key and value, for example

And so on. 

In case user has already subscribed at investment page, but after is visiting shopping page, both values will be recorded:

Collecting user tags on OneSignal

Top Cryptocurrencies I'm Looking to Acquire (Buy&Hold) in 2018

19 November, 2017 | Crypto | 7 seen

As the new year of 2018 is fast approaching, I decided it's the right time to review my current investment strategies and goals. Planning ahead is a great strategy and investments in crypto-investments are no exceptions.

Now if you have been following my blog for a while, you might already know - I started to invest in cryptocurrencies in July 2017, after experienced my first FOMO. Also, it should be noted that crypto investments take just a part of my broader investment portfolio, which, right now, consists of stocks, mutual funds, cash and peer to peer lending.

Remember - investments are risky, never invest more you can afford to lose.

I would call my investments in crypto as experimental. Despite I was looking to keep just 5% of the total portfolio in crypto assets, by now, writing these lines, crypto takes already about 10% of the total portfolio. And it seems it could rise to about 20-25% in 2018.  I keep investing on a monthly basis using dollar cost averaging. 

Investment Portfolio

By now (November 2017), this experiment has turned into a lovely +36.76% value growth in just 5 months. Awesome. Despite being one of the smallest parts of my portfolio crypto investments have returned the highest returns. Double Awesome. 

• Invest in Cryptocurrencies - Review After One Month
• Investments in Cryptocurrencies, Review After 3 Months (BTC/ETH/LTC/XRP)

For acquiring coins (bitcoin, ethereum and litecoin) I'm using Coinbase.com exchange.

Affiliate link here: If you are just planning to acquire your first bitcoin, consider to register at coinbase.com with this link, once you buy or sell $100 (€85) of digital currency or more, we will both get $10 (€8) of free bitcoin.

For acquiring other altcoins I'm using Poloniex.com exchange, which I like because of another reason - lending out bitcoins, see: Invest in Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum and other) Peer to Peer Lending - Poloniex.com

Currently, in 2017, I hold following coins - bitcoin, ethereum, litecoin and ripple. 

TOP 10 Crypto Coins I'm looking to acquire in 2018

For 2018 I have decided to buy and hold about 10 cryptocurrencies with the largest market cap, according to Coinmarketcap

Unfortunately, not all coins from my list are supported on Poloniex exchange, and for acquiring IOTA and NEO coins seems I will have to open an account at Bitfinex.

In fact, both Poloniex.com and Bitfinex are two exchanges I like the most, probably because of the reason they are supported at Coinlend, another great tool in hands of greedy crypto investor - an automatic bot which lends out coins. See: CoinLend.org Review - Automating Cryptocurrency Lending Free Bot Investor

Top Dividend Paying Stocks In Nasdaq Baltic I'm Planning to Acquire in 2018

18 November, 2017 | Investments | 26 seen

I've been investing in Baltic equity market since April 2017, currently (2017) my capital has been exposed to 14 great companies listed on the Nasdaq Baltic stock exchange giving a combined dividend yield on cost 4.04%

For detailed reports see Nasdaq Baltics Review After One Month Investment in Dividend Paying Stocks and Dividend Paying Stocks - Review After 3 Months of Investing in Nasdaq Baltics. Also, make sure to read monthly dividend income reports as well.

For tracking stock portfolio I've built a simple Google Spreadsheet, you can learn more and download in this article: Simple Google Spreadsheet to Track Stock Portfolio Changes Using GOOGLEFINANCE

As I have been a strong monthly dividend growth investor, I keep investing in stocks throughout the year in several batches. When Investing in Nasdaq Baltic, the great help to learn more about upcoming dividends is Dividend Calendar.

Some readers have asked me - do I just invest based on dates or I do my homework and research companies before investing. Of course, I do my homework and do at least fundamental analysis for each stock I'm adding to the portfolio.

But as I'm just starting out, sometimes I overpay for the stocks, like Silvano Fashion Group (SFG1T) or OlainFarm (OLF1R). On the other hand, I'm here for a long-term (at least 10 years) and as long I don't feel I'm making a fatal error, I feel OK after seeing a negative return in the portfolio. 

Now, when planning investments for 2018 in Nasdaq Baltics, I did another simple research, based on historical data and my own experience to list stocks I'm looking to acquire next year. 

Stocks In Nasdaq Baltic I'm Planning to Acquire in 2018

Please remember: your capital is at risk when investing in stocks and you could actually lose some, if not all money, as stock prices might drop. invest only money you are comfortable to lose.

Stock prices as of November 15, 2017

Table is ordered by market cap, for dividend yield check out this article: Dividend Paying Stocks In Nasdaq Baltic Market By Yield

As investments in the Baltic stock, equity is just a part from my broader 1 million dollars saving account by the time I will turn 60 (2045) I'm planning to invest in the Baltics about EUR 5,000 in 2018 in several batches. 

It seems that January - March will be a quiet period on the stock exchange with little to no dividend paying stocks (I expect to see Vilniaus Baldai dividend payment in January) I will use this time to acquire new stocks and increase holdings in existing stocks. 

Right now the top priority is to acquire new stocks. New stocks mean more diversified portfolio. Also to increase total dividend payouts in 2018 the next priority is to increase and acquire more stocks in companies that paid great dividends in 2017

Top 5 star and Luxury hotels in Heraklion

17 November, 2017 | Hotel reviews | 60 seen

Heraklion is probably the most popular tourist destination on the island of Crete, also it turns out Heraklion is the fourth largest city in Greece.

Our travels took us to the Heraklion in June 2017, after we had discovered Western part of Island, we decided it's the time to turn to the Eastern side of the island.(For a complete list of my travels in Crete, see map) 

While still being somewhere in Rethymno, we booked a 5-star Galaxy Iraklio Hotel, which turned out a pleasant experience. Top 5-star or 4-star hotel in Heraklion are quite an affordable, on average you should be ready to spend about EUR 100 per night. For a 5-star hotel that's a very good price.

In this article I've listed some of the top 5-star and 4-star hotels in Heraklion, to consider.

Please note: hotels listed below may contain links to Booking.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a reservation on Booking.com site, I might earn an affiliate income, at no cost to you.

GDM Megaron Hotel

Housed in a listed 1920’s building overlooking the Old Harbour of Heraklion, the prestigious 5-star hotel GDM Megaron offers fine dining, a health club and a rooftop plunge pool. Guests also benefit from free parking.

The elegantly furnished guest rooms have a luxury bathroom with toiletries. Many feature a balcony with views over the Venetian port and the sea. All rooms are air conditioned and have high-speed internet access, a satellite TV and minibar.

Serving an American buffet breakfast, the cafe is also open for lunch and dinner. The top-floor Megaron 5th Bar Restaurant offers Cretan and Mediterranean cuisine and views of the harbour. Outdoor dining is available during the summer on the rooftop.

Located on the hotel’s 4th floor, the Health Club includes a sauna, hammam, hot tub and a gym. The rooftop plunge pool offers sea views.

GDM Megaron is located in the heart of Heraklion's business and shopping district, within walking distance of the Archaeological and the Historical Museum. Heraklion Port and International Airport are within 2 km of the hotel.

Price: ~ EUR 90 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Aquila Atlantis Hotel

Within 200 metres from the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, the 5-star Aquila Atlantis Hotel features an outdoor pool with unobstructed views over the harbour, a semi-covered pool and an elegantly decorated restaurant. Facilities also include 6 multipurpose spaces accommodating up to 850 guests.

Fitted with parquet floors and earthy colours, all rooms and suites of Atlantis Hotel enjoy views over the city of Heraklion, the harbour or the hotel's atrium. Each unit includes a desk and comes equipped with air conditioning, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, coffee machine and minibar. The modern bathrooms are stocked with free toiletries, bathrobes and slippers.

Guests can relax at the sun loungers by the pool and enjoy a refreshing drink from the on-site bar. Breakfast is served daily at the modern setting of the lounge bar, where drinks and cocktails can also be enjoyed. Mediterranean flavours accompanied by fine wine are available daily at the hotel's main restaurant.

Price: ~ EUR 85 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Galaxy Iraklio Hotel

Located in Heraklion's elegant district, this 5-star hotel offers 2 gourmet restaurants, a free wellness centre and a large freshwater pool. Luxurious rooms feature balconies with pool and city views.

All accommodation in Galaxy Iraklio offers work desks, satellite LCD TV and free Wi-Fi access. Air-conditioned rooms are equipped with pure Egyptian cotton linen and hypoallergenic rooms are available. Some units feature whirlpools.

Vetri Restaurant serves an American buffet breakfast prepared with fresh, local ingredients and Cretan cuisine. Per Se Lounge offers casual meals, wines and cocktails. The Pool Deck serves light meals and drinks. 24-hour room service is available with additional in-room dishes. Galaxy also includes a state-of-the-art conference centre, with 9 fully equipped halls and a total capacity of 800 persons.

Price: ~ EUR 90 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Olive Green Hotel 

Olive Green Hotel is centrally located in Heralkion, right in the lively shopping area of the town. Authentic Cretan recipes blended with modern gastronomic touches can be tasted at the 24/7 restaurant. Free WiFi is available throughout.

Every room at this hotel combines contemporary living and sophisticated design with modern facilities such as individually controlled air conditioning, a flat-screen smart TV with satellite channels, led lighting, multi and USB plugs, a 15’’ laptop size safe and a separate glass walk-in XL rain shower. Most rooms have balconies and some have a terrace with elegant outdoor furniture where you can relax. For your comfort, you will also find premium toiletries, in house pillow choice, bathrobes and slippers. Free WiFi is available.

A fine selection of wines and other spirits is served at the bar. The on-site restaurant offers an abundance of options, ranging from breakfast and brunch to sustainable local gastronomy. 

Price: ~ EUR 67 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Ibis Styles Heraklion Central

Enjoying a privileged location in the heart of Heraklion Town, Ibis Styles Heraklion Central by Accor is just a short stroll from major touristic sights and lively areas of the town. Free WiFi is provided throughout.

Boasting magnificent sea or city views from their balcony or window, all rooms at Ibis Styles Heraklion Central are spacious, distinctly designed and equipped with a 43" flat-screen TV, electronic safe and mini bar. Free pillow menu and tea/coffee making facilities are provided.The modern bathroom in each room is stocked with a rain shower cabin and hairdryer. Air conditioning comes standard.

Throughout the day, the restaurant offers a great selection of a la carte options for lunch and dinner in a spacious area flooded by daylight. In the unique ambiance of the onsite bar, guests can de-stress and linger with hot or cold beverages, fine selected wines, long drinks, rare whiskies and spirits as well as signature cocktails.

Price: ~ EUR 72 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Capsis Astoria Heraklion

This well-known Capsis Astoria Heraklion is located next to the Archaeological Museum. It offers modern rooms with TFT TVs, and has a rooftop swimming pool that overlooks Heraklion and the old Venetian port.

Each of the rooms has a private bathroom with tub, and self-regulated climate control. The walls are decorated with charming black and white photographs depicting the history of Heraklion.

Erofilli Restaurant serves rich buffets for lunch and dinner. Greek breakfast is offered in the morning including homemade sweets and traditional products such as feta and mizithra cheese, olives and raisins. Boasting views of the Venetian Castle and the harbour, Aegean View Cocktail & Food Bar serves snacks and cocktails. Sin Bistro is open for lunch or dinner, and 24-hour room service is provided.

Set within walking distance of the centre's main services, landmarks and nightlife, the Capsis Astoria Heraklion can also facilitate conferences and social gatherings. Guests also benefit from free early check-in and late check-out.

Price: ~ EUR 70 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Candia Suites & Rooms

This property is 2 minutes walk from the beach. Located within a 6-minute walk of Heraklion Archaeological Museum and a 7-minute walk of Municipal Museum of the Battle of Crete and the National Resistance in the centre of Heraklio Town, Candia Suites & Rooms provides accommodation with free WiFi, a flat-screen TV and a kitchenette. Complimentary private parking is available on site.

There is a private bathroom with bath or shower in all units, along with free toiletries and a hairdryer.

A continental breakfast is available each morning at the aparthotel.

Price: ~ EUR 55 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Minimum Wages in Central Asian Countries 2017

16 November, 2017 | Macroeconomics | 5 seen

When speaking about Central Asian countries, I'm referring to the five former Soviet Union member states - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The total population of these countries is about 70 million.

Recommended reading: Population changes in the former Soviet Union, also see: Minimum wages in Central Asia 2013

As it has been already 4 years since my latest article about minimum wages in Central Asian countries, I decided to take a fresh look and compare. 4 years is a decent amount of time. 

Minimum wages in Central Asian Countries 2017

Currency exchange rates as of November 14, 2017

Wow - is the first word I would like to express. There are some nations (Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan) with a negative minimum wage growth if converted to the USD.

Unfortunately, I haven't kept data for minimum wages in national currencies for 2013, but there is a simple explanation how I can explain this negative growth: local currency devaluation against USD. As I have been living in another former Soviet Union member state Georgia for more than 6 years already, I've experienced local lari (Georgian national currency) devaluation against USD for a couple of times during the past years, with latest happening right now. See: GEL Loses Another 16.5% Against USD; -17% Against EUR.

Seems the same problems I've experienced in Georgia are happening in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Speaking about 326% growth for a minimum wage in Kyrgyzstan during the last 4 years, this number seems high to me, maybe I didn't enter the correct data for 2013. Back in 2013 it was hard to find any data about these countries, I assume I could make a mistake back then

Turkmenistan - the only country (except Kyrgyzstan) showing a decent +20% increase in a minimum wage. Also, Turkmenistan is the only having a minimum wage set double and even triple than rest of the countries. It should be noted that Turkmenistan has worlds 4th largest natural gas reserves and Turkmenistan is among the few countries where economic growth have continued to grow during the crisis of 2009 and seems Turkmenistan is performing rather good these days as well. See: Turkmenistan GDP 1990 - 2014

Used resources:

• Minimum wage in Kazakhstan
• Minimum wage in Kyrgyzstan stands at 5,052 som in Q2 2017
• В Таджикистане с июля будут повышены размеры зарплат, пенсий и стипендий
• Минимальный размер зарплаты в Туркменистане повысили до 185$
• Минимальная зарплата, минимальная пенсия в Узбекистане в 2017 году

Simple FB connect Drupal 8 Mapping custom fields from Facebook

12 November, 2017 | Drupal Development | 24 seen

Simple FB Connect Drupal module  allows users to register and login to your Drupal site with their Facebook account.

Indeed, as the modules name suggests, its one of the easiest ways how to connect Facebook to Drupal. And as I had already worked with this module a few years ago (see: Drupal Simple FB connect + User Form Theming ) now, when working on idea about possible Drupal Dating portal,  I decided to implement Simple FB Connect. In this article I'll write down my notes on how to map custom Facebook fields to Drupal 8 using this module.

I should note that I was working on Drupal 8.4.2 minimal profile installed. 

Before proceeding to the technical part, make sure you have created:

• Facebook app for your Drupal login - For creating a Facebook app, please follow this tutorial: Installation instructions
• You have installed and configured Simple FB connect module

For the sake of ease for this tutorial I will cover details on how to map fields from Facebook's person's public profile only (for enabling additional fields you will need to make Facebook review for your app)

The following properties on the user object are enabled by default: (See: Permissions Reference - Facebook Login)

• id
• cover
• name
• first_name
• last_name
• age_range
• link
• gender
• locale
• picture
• timezone
• updated_time
• verified

Now, once we are all set up, let's do two things:

• Create fields for Drupal user profiles
• Creating a custom module for mapping Facebook fields to Drupal fields using Simple FB connect.

Adding custom fields for Drupal user profiles

For this example I created following fields:

• First name field_first_name Text (plain)
• Last name field_last_name Text (plain)
• Gender field_gender Text (plain)
• Age Range field_age_range Text (plain)
• Locale field_locale Text (plain)

Your setup might differ, but hopefully you got the picture.

Custom module for mapping FB fields

A great reading and tutorial is already provided on modules page, see: EventSubscriber example. Here I will just reproduce what's already written and some minor changes for mapping fields from Facebook.

mymodule/mymodule.info.yml

mymodule/mymodule.services.yml

Pay attention when copy-pasting the content of the services file. The intendation must be exactly like it is here (indent does NOT use tabulators but two space bars). If you get a white screen of death (PHP fatal error), please fix the indents, clear Drupal caches and try again.

mymodule/src/EventSubscriber/MyModuleSubscriber.php

A slightingly modified file already, please see EventSubscriber example for original. Inspired by themes mania

Now once configured and enabled, after login with Facebook connect, here is the result and data I was able to store in Drupal:

Mapping Facebook user fields to Drupal user fields

Hope it helps, and as usual if you have any questions or comments - please share bellow in the comments section.

How To Hide Tabs On Drupal 8 Content and User Pages

11 November, 2017 | Drupal Development | 27 seen

In Drupal 8 there is a quite easy way to to hide tabs view both on content and user pages. The best there are no hook, modules or complicated theme rewrites involved.

In today's short Drupal tutorial series I will provide a simple workaround out of the box on how to hide tabs both on content and user pages in Drupal 8.

Also see: Theming Drupal 8: How to Hide Site Name

What at start seems like a simple issue, might turn out to be a imminent problem. The truth is - it's super simple, but still a little bit complicated if you come with a Drupal 7 background. 

For hiding tabs in Drupal 8, we will need to go to the block layout page:

Search for a block Tabs , click on Configure button and from the bottom click on Remove block.

That simple. Hope it helps!

Top Hotels and Apartments in Triopetra, Crete

10 November, 2017 | Hotel reviews | 6 seen

Triopetra in Crete, is among the most abandoned places I've traveled lately, if they wouldn't have a sea and a lovely beach, I would compare this place to the remote and almost abandoned desert village in Georgia, Udabno.

During our about one month road trip around the island of Crete, we stayed at Triopetra Notos hotel for one night on June 11, 2017. According to Booking.com website there are not many hotels located in Triopetra, but during our short visit here, I did found a few new construction sites in the area, which might mean - Triopetra could gain some popularity in the future.

Right now, there is nothing much to do or see in Triopetra, except get remote abandoned feeling and take some amazing sunset pictures.

Please note: hotels listed below may contain links to Booking.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a reservation on Booking.com site, I might earn an affiliate income, at no cost to you.

Triopetra Notos Hotel 

This property is 1 minute walk from the beach. Offering accommodations with air conditioning, Triopetra Notos Hotel is located in Triopetra, just 38.6 km from Balíon. Rethymno Town is 27.4 km from the property. Free WiFi is available and free private parking is available on site.

The accommodation features a TV. Each unit is equipped with a private bathroom with a shower.

Georgioupolis is 38.6 km from Triopetra Notos Hotel, and Agia Galini is 12.9 km away. The nearest airport is Souda Airport, 59.5 km from Triopetra Notos Hotel.

Price: ~ EUR 58 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Paterakis Studios 

This property is a 18-minute walk from the beach. Located in Triopetra, Paterakis Studios features free WiFi, a garden and sun terrace. Balíon is 37 km away. Free private parking is available on site.

All units include a sitting area. Some units feature a dining area and/or balcony. There is also a kitchen, fitted with a microwave, toaster and refrigerator. A stovetop and coffee machine are also available. There is a private bathroom with a shower in every unit.

Rethymno Town is 27.4 km from Paterakis Studios. The nearest airport is Souda Airport, 59.5 km from Paterakis Studios. 

Price: ~ EUR 65 Book this hotel on Booking.com

​Holiday home Triopetra 

Holiday home Triopetra is a vacation home is located in Triopetra in Crete and and is 37 km from Balíon. The property features views of the pool and is 27.4 km from Rethymno Town.

There is a sitting area and a kitchen. A TV is provided. Other facilities at Holiday home Triopetra include a barbecue.

Georgioupolis is 37 km from Holiday home Triopetra, and Agia Galini is 11.3 km away. The nearest airport is Nikos Kazantzakis Airport, 59.5 km from the property

Book this hotel on Booking.com

Villa Triopetra

Located in Triopetra, this air-conditioned villa and is 37 km from Balíon. The property is 27.4 km from Rethymno Town and features views of the pool.

The kitchen has a dishwasher and an oven and there is a private bathroom. A TV is featured. Other facilities at Villa Triopetra include a barbecue.

Georgioupolis is 37 km from Villa Triopetra, and Agia Galini is 11.3 km from the property. The nearest airport is Nikos Kazantzakis Airport, 59.5 km from the property. 

Book this hotel on Booking.com

Hurma Cafe Shop in Tbilisi

8 November, 2017 | Restaurant reviews | 25 seen

Hurma cafe shop is a recently opened hipster style coffee house serving not only great coffee lattes, but also smoothies, delicious brunch and all day breakfast for a very affordable prices.

Located close to the Tbilisi Philharmony on Petre Melikishvili street 21 on the opposite side to the Tbilisi Hard Rock Cafe. This place is run by Russian/Ukrainian girls (at least that's what I understood). Despite being opened just recently, I noticed mostly foreign visitors here. Yeah, who I'm to complain, right?

That said, welcome to another great Tbilisi restaurant - Hurma cafe shop!

Menu at Hurma Cafe shop in Tbilisi

One of the rare places in Tbilisi offering Breakfast all day. Although I should mention that in recent years there have been a lot of improvement with brunch offer in Tbilisi. Prices for a brunch menu here are really low compared to other brunch places in Tbilisi. The prices will probably grow in the future, but for right now - enjoy!

Hipster style interior at Hurma Cafe shop

Looking for a rustic, industrial, kitschy place in Tbilisi? Come to Hurma Cafe shop. Ukrainian/Russian entrepreneurs have thought about all possible details. Indeed, it's a kitschy place!

Goodies at Hurma Cafe Shop

About Getting Residence Permit and Residence Card in Georgia

7 November, 2017 | Living in Georgia | 43 seen

Recently I was contacted by a blog reader asking about how to get a permanent residence status in Georgia, after buying an apartment in Tbilisi.

I decided to come up with a longer answer in a blog format, as I believe I will hear this question more and more, as Georgia is becoming a hub for expats from all around the World. For other readers questions please see: Questions and Answers section

The good starting point for getting more information about residence permit in Georgia is the official website of The State Commission on Migration Issues. See: Residence permit and residence card

Residence permit authorizes the right of a foreign citizen to enter and stay in Georgia or transit the territory of Georgia during the term of validity of residence permit. It also authorizes a holder to invite another foreigner to Georgia.

To obtain a residence permit, a foreign citizen must either personally or via authorized representative apply to any territorial office of the Public Service development agency, branch of the Public Service Hall or Community Centre, or apply online via the distance service of the Public Service development agency: https://services.sda.gov.ge. an application and enclosed documents submitted to authorized entities must be in Georgian. However, an application completed in English and/or Russian may also be processed. moreover, a foreign citizen’s passport may be submitted to the Public Service development agency without a Georgian translation if the personal data in the passport is provided in Latin transliteration (alphabet).

Georgia issues the following residence permits:

• Work residence permit is issued to persons coming to Georgia for entrepreneurial or labour activities as well as to freelancers;
• Study residence permit is issued to persons coming to Georgia to study at authorized educational institutions;
• Residence permit for family reunification is issued to family members of a foreigner holding a residence permit and/or person who has been granted a status of a stateless person in Georgia. Family members include: a spouse, child, and a parent, also an underage or incapacitated person being fully dependent and/or being under their care (guardianship);
• Residence permit of a former citizen of Georgia is issued to a foreign citizen whose Georgian citizenship has been terminated;
• Residence permit of a stateless person is issued to a person whose status of stateless person has been established in Georgia;
• A special residence permit is issued to a foreign citizen who, based on a reasonable doubt, might be a victim of human trafficking. Such instances are specified in the Law of Georgia on Combating Human trafficking. a special residence permit is also issued to a foreign citizen who has written endorsement from a member of the government of Georgia, asking to issue a temporary residence permit to the person. it can also be issued to a foreigner subject to expulsion, after 5 years since he/ she was granted the right of temporary stay, and to the citizen of foreign country who has a status of Compatriot residing abroad;
• A permanent residence permit is issued to a spouse, parent, and child of the citizen of Georgia; also to a foreign citizen who, holding a temporary residence permit, has resided in Georgia during the preceding six years. if the person lived in Georgia for educational purposes or medical treatment or spent some time working at the diplomatic mission or at an equivalent representative office, this period cannot be counted towards the pre-requisite six-year term;
• Investment residence permit is issued to a foreign citizen who invested at least Gel 300 000 in Georgia. this provision is prescribed in the Law of Georgia on Promotion and Guarantees of investment. in such cases, residence permits are also issued to the investor’s family members, which include a spouse, underage dependent, and/or fully dependent incapacitated person;
• Temporary residence permit is issued to a foreigner, who according to the Law of Georgia on elimination of domestic Violence, Protection of and Support to its Victims, has been recognized as a victim of domestic violence;
• A short-term residence permit is issued to the person – and his/her family members – who, according to the rule established by Georgian legislation have the right to immovable property (except for agricultural land), with the market price above USD 35 000 equivalent in Gel.

A foreigner legally staying in Georgia and having any of the above-listed residence permits, has the right to receive the other type of residence permit in case he/she meets the requirements set for receiving the latter.

Study, work, family reunification, special, temporary and short-tem residence permits as well as residence permits for former citizen of Georgia or stateless person are issued with the right of temporary residence, for 6 years. these types of residence permits are issued for the term ranging from six months to one year first, and may be extended thereafter for the term of up to 5 years.

Investment residence permit, permanent residence permit, and residence permit of stateless person are issued for an indefinite term. a residence permit of stateless person is issued for an indefinite term only to those persons whose Georgian citizenship has been terminated through renunciation, or to persons who had permanently resided in Georgia by 31 march 1993, were not recognized as citizens of Georgia and after 31 march 1993 maintained their permanent registration in Georgia.

A residence permit is issued by the Public Service development agency within 30 days after receiving a complete set of required documents. However, the permits can be issued in accelerated manner; for detailed information on the fast-track service visit the websites: www.sda.gov.ge; www.psh.gov.ge.

The Public Service development agency issues an e-residence card to a foreigner who holds a residence permit in Georgia. the residence card is an identity document certifying an identity of a foreigner living in Georgia, his/her citizenship and a place of his/her residence in Georgia.

Note: Within a month after receiving a residence permit in Georgia, a foreigner shall apply for a residence card at any territorial office of the Public Service development agency, branch of the Public Service Hall, or Community Centre.

Residence permit will be terminated if a foreigner fails to apply to any authorized entity for a residence card within the period of 6 months.

Additional information on residence permits and residence cards is available on the websites: www.sda.gov.ge; www.psh.gov.ge; www.centri.gov.ge.