Sri Lanka

Cinnamon Island, Sri Lanka

Cinnamon Island is situated in Bentota in Sri Lanka. This is a little, but a charming island that offers a few fun activities for you. Here you will be able to learn about cinnamon cultivation and if lucky will meet a monkey or at least a dog.

We visited Cinnamon Island at the start of January 2022, during our trip to Sri Lanka, and in particular during the Madu Ganga River Boat Safari.

Cinnamon Island is situated in the Southern Province in…

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Chronicles: A Tropical Escape to Colombo, Bentota, and Galle

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Ahoy, fellow wanderers! Join me in this travelogue as I take you on a sun-kissed journey through the gem of the Indian Ocean – Sri Lanka. In January 2022, the island nation unveiled its wonders as I explored the vibrant cityscape of Colombo, basked in the coastal bliss of Bentota, and wandered through the historic charm of Galle. With the Indian Ocean as our constant companion, infinity swimming pools beckoning, and a myriad of flavors to savor…

Sri Lanka

Taj Bentota Resort & Spa Hotel Review in Sri Lanka

Taj Bentota Resort & Spa -  is located in Sri Lanka's Galle District, offering breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean. Pampering spa services, an outdoor pool, and 5 dining options are provided.

We booked this 5-star hotel for a 3-night stay at the start of January 2022, while traveling near the Ocean in Sri Lanka. For a 3 night stay here we paid about USD 580.


The room seemed a bit small at the first glance, but after all it was…

Georgia

Royal House Gori

The Royal house is said to be a 4-star hotel located in Gori, Georgia.

I booked this place for a one-night stay at the end of January 2022.  The pictures on Booking.com and reality are totally different.  Luckily the price I paid was just GEL 64 (that's about EUR 20) and the stay was only one night.

Now, the so-called hotel is decent, there is a bed (a lot of beds) heating, shower. Just hard to call it a 4-star hotel, more like a…

Sri Lanka

Galle Face Green

Galle Face is a 5 ha (12 acres) ocean-side urban park, which stretches for 500 m (1,600 ft) along the coast, in the heart of Colombo, the financial and business capital of Sri Lanka.

The promenade was initially laid out in 1859 by Governor Sir Henry George Ward, although the original Galle Face Green extended over a much larger area than is seen today. The Galle Face Green was initially used for horse racing and as a golf course, but was also…

Georgia

Sulfur Bath N5 in Tbilisi

Sulfur Bath N5 is located in the Tbilisi Bath district of Abanotubani. 

We have been heading to these bathhouses a lot in the past (back in 2011-2013), since then we have changed our location, visiting other, not so fancy ones on Kyiv street, but lately again, we have started to visit sulfur bathhouses in the old town district.

Chreli Abano Sulfur Bath in Tbilisi

This time we visited Bath house N5

The bathhouse is located near…

Living in Georgia

Experienced my second Earth Quake in Tbilisi

On February 13, 2022, late evening for the second time in my life, I felt tremors of an earthquake and they happened in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia. According to the sources the magnitude of the earthquake was 5.4 with the epicenter in Armenia.

My previous experience with earthquakes dates back to June 2014, when I experienced tremours from a 4.8 magnitudes strong earthquake.

We were watching a TV show, when the tremours started, the bed was…

Living in Georgia

Bakuriani ski resort in Georgia

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Bakuriani COOL - another awesome weekend has been on our tapes. The little one for the first time on skates and skis. Paragliding, chariot riding, and some investment opportunities. Enjoy the video and thumbs up!

Sri Lanka

Independence Memorial Hall in Colombo

Independence Memorial Hall is a national monument in Sri Lanka built for commemoration of the independence of Sri Lanka from British rule with the restoration of full governing responsibility to a Ceylonese-elected legislature on February 4, 1948.

It is located in Independence Square (formally Torrington Square) in the Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo. It also houses the Independence Memorial Museum.

I first visited it at the start of January 2022…

Georgia

Restaurant at Georgia Gold Hotel in Gori

Georgia Gold is a 4-star hotel located just in the heart of Gori, Georgia. Seems this place has been opened to the public just recently. 

Anyhow, we didn't stay here for a night, but come for a breakfast and got some of the most delicious ones. 

We stayed overnight in Gori at another,  Royal house hotel, but in the morning decided to check out early and look for some fancy breakfast place. I remembered about this place and here…

Sri Lanka

Galle Fort in Sri Lanka

Galle Fort is located in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. The port was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. It is a historical, archaeological, and architectural heritage monument, which even after more than 432 years maintains a polished appearance, due to extensive reconstruction work done by the Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka.

We…

Georgia

Gori Railway Station

Gori Railway Station, a small stop on the Georgian Railway line, is an intermediate station on the Tbilisi-Batumi route which sees more than a dozen trains passing through each day. 

Whether you are looking to travel to Gori from Tbilisi by train or just prefer wandering about Soviet Architecture, the Gori railway station might be the answer. 

The train station is located in southern Gori, 2 kilometers from the city center and away…

Sri Lanka

Cinnamon Bey Beruwala Hotel Review

Surrounded by coconut trees and vast green lawns, Cinnamon Bey features bright and spacious rooms with a private balcony. It provides an outdoor pool and 6 on-site food and beverage options.

We booked this 5-star hotel at the start of January 2022, and for a 3-night stay here we paid about $540. By accident, we booked a superior room, but I was able to get a free upgrade to a deluxe room, which was amazing and included access to deluxe pool.…

Sri Lanka

Viharamahadevi Park Colombo

Viharamahadevi Park, formerly Victoria Park, is a public park located in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo, situated in front of the colonial-era Town Hall in Sri Lanka.

We had a chance to discover this lovely park and try some mango drinks in the park at the start of January 2022, when a tuk-tuk driver showed us some of the top sightseeing places in Colombo.

It was built by the British colonial administration and is the oldest and largest park of…

Georgia

Gorijvari

The ancient church called ‘’Gorijvari’’ stands between the Trialeti Mountains and the river bank of Mtkvari close to the Gori town in Georgia.

The church was named after Saint Georges, which was originally built in the 12th century.  It was burned down by the Turks, rebuilt, and destroyed again by an earthquake in 1920. The current church was built in the 1980s.

It was at the end of January 2022, we were traveling around Gori town and…

Sri Lanka

Tsunami Honganji Vihara

Tsunami Honganji Vihara is a Buddhist Monument in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka

We discovered this place at the start of January 2022 while taking a local driver for a trip from our hotel in Bentota to Galle. Our driver told us the tragic story about Tsunami taking more than 35,000 lives in Sri Lanka back in 2004.  This place is a memorial to the over 35,000 Sri Lankans killed by the Tsunami on the 26th December 2004

This Buddha statue…

Sri Lanka

Barberyn Lighthouse

Barberyn Lighthouse (also known as Beruwala Lighthouse) is a lighthouse located on Barberyn Island some 800 meters offshore from the town of Beruwala on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka.

I noticed Barveryn Lighthouse from our hotel (Cinnamon Bey Berawula) and one day when at the beach, a local tour seller offered me a trip to the island and lighthouse. Our agreed price was USD 30 (two adults and one kid).

From our hotel the boat ride was about…

Georgia

Gori Fortress

Gori Fortress is a medieval citadel in Georgia, situated above the city of Gori on a rocky hill.

I've visited Gori several times, and several times have seens this impressive fortress, once I even made a nice photography with impressive warrior statues in the footsteps of the fortress, see: Gori Fortress & Memorial of Georgian Warrior Heroes

It was back in January 2022, I visited Gori again and decided to make a nice photograhy with…

Sri Lanka

Colombo Town Hall

The Town Hall of Colombo is the headquarters of the Colombo Municipal Council and the office of the Mayor of Colombo. Built-in front of the Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo, Sri Lanka, it is the meeting place for the elected municipal council.

I discovered this awesome architectural place a by an accident, by taking a tuk-tuk ride around Colombo city at the start of January 2022.

In 1921 renowned Scottish town planner, Professor Patrick Geddes,…

Doing Business

How To Start a Restaurant in Tbilisi, Georgia - Food Safety and Permissions

With this post, I'm starting a new series on the Doing Business in Georgia topic - opening and operating a profitable restaurant in Georgia.

Turns out - I'm not only enjoying eating at Tbilisi restaurants but now I'm also looking to open one. Well, my case might be a bit different as I'm more looking to open an online restaurant, the ghost kitchen also called the dark kitchen, serving orders online only. I have no idea where this journey will…

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