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International Scout Centre Rustavi
The industrial town of Rustavi, approximately 25 km southeast of the Georgian capital Tbilisi, offers a modern international scouting center. The youth center offers space for a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. The facility is available for children and young people from Rustavi and offers comfortable and reasonably priced accommodation, seminar, and conference facilities for regional and international youth groups, schools,…
Dashbashi Canyon & Waterfall with 240 meter long Glass Bridge
If there is a reason to visit Dashbasi canyons near the Tsalka in Georgia - the canyons themselves, cascading waterfall and the glass bridge hanging over the gorge should raise some interest. Dashbashi Canyon Natural Monument is part of Khrami (known as Ktsia at it source) gorge near Dashbashi village, 3 km from the town of Tsalka I first heard about this place a couple of years ago from an ex-pat friend, back then the place was pretty much…
Batumi Central Park / 6th May park
Batumi Central park is really cool and relaxing attraction with a huge lake in the middle located in front of the Hilton Hotel. It's said that the park/garden is more than 130 years old and was constructed together with Batumi boulevard back in 1881. Despite I've visited Batumi zillions of times, I even have lived there some 10 years ago, this was the first time me visiting this park. Indeed very nice, with a little nice mini-zoo inside 6 May…
Best Western Premier Batumi Hotel
Best Western Premier Batumi hotel is one of our best finds in Batumi, the price corresponds to the service. Budget-friendly 4-star hotel with a swimming pool. I booked this hotel directly by calling to the reception instead booking online and got a very nice offer - 800 GEL for 4 nights with breakfast included and additional head for our 3-year old kiddo. I think we saved at least 500-600 GEL. Quite nice. If you prefer online booking, here is…
Goldigen Room Artisan Pizza In Kuldiga
Welcome to another Kuldīga Restaurant review - today I will write about a lovely pizza place located just in heart of Kuldīga town - Goldingen Room Artisan Pizza. The family restaurant Goldingen room, located in the heart of the old town of Kuldiga – Town Hall Square, is a story about the taste and mood of Italy. The restaurant offers to discover flavors of Mediterranean cuisine, complete with topping-up local produce and matching wines from…
Installing laminate flooring, painting walls
During the weekend I did a lot at our Vilgāle apartment, fixed some electric plugs, painted walls, and installed the floor, but first things first - it was agreed to save huge on the floor by choosing laminate instead of parquet. We paid less than EUR 9/m2 for laminate and saved on installation as I did it myself. Parquet would cost about EUR 40-50/m2. I chose DEPO store in Riga to buy the floor and tools In total paid EUR 378 for about 32m2…
Polishing, Painting and some cable works
I spent another day at our Vilgāle apt, today's plan was to polish the ceiling and wall (I yesterday plastered) and add the base layer of paint for the living room and hallway. In the morning we went to Majai un darzam store in Kuldīga, where I bought a bucket of paint, some plugs, and switches, special screws for drywall, so I can properly install the lamp from IKEA, and the day started. Yesterday I decided to apply more plaster on kitchen…
Wall Plastering, Ceiling Paint, Some Electricity works
It has been a while since the latest update from the Vilgale apartment, in fact, it has been 3 months since I last visited it. Now, having a Spring break from QSI school in Tbilisi, we decided to visit Latvia for some 2 weeks and do some things - like continuing with the renovation works at the Vilgāle apt. I bought some materials back in Riga at the Depo store and was the very happy and enthusiastic starting day today at Vilgāle. This is…
Svan Tower in Tbilisi (Turtle Lake)
Svan Tower near Turtle lake is a well seen, but less visited tourist attraction in Tbilisi. Best reached while hiking near Turtle lake. Hiking Trails in Tbilisi - Turtle Lake (Kus Tba) - Tskneti Hiking trails near Turtle lake, Tbilisi in Winter We visited the Svan Tower again in Tbilisi at the end of February 2022 and had a lovely picnic in the footsteps of the tower. See this short video I made: Hiking trip near Turtle Lake The…
Buying a car in Riga
A few years ago I wrote an article on how to buy a used car in Georgia, now it is time to write about our experience buying a used car in Riga Latvia. For the past couple of years, we were using mostly car rentals and enjoyed it a lot - I mean no headaches about servicing the car, someone brings your car to the airport, you drop it at the airport. Quite nice, also quite expensive. It was agreed we could buy some used car and use it for some two…
Gudaleti Monastery Complex
Gudaleti monastery complex is located in the village of Gudaleti on an elevated spot, on the edge of a high gorge on the river Gudaleura. The church is located about 1 hour and 20 minutes drive from Tbilisi. The complex includes the Church of the Assumption and a tower fortress. We discovered this church by chance while driving through the village of Gudaleti to visit a friend who has bought a house in the same village. Seems the church is…
Bristol Hotel and Spa Bakuriani
Bristol Hotel and Spa Bakuriani is offering accommodations in Bakuriani. The property provides ski-to-door access and ski storage space, as well as a restaurant and a bar. The hotel features an indoor pool, sauna, karaoke and a 24-hour front desk. We booked Bristol Hotel and Spa Bakuriani hotel at the end of January 2022, for a two night stay, paying about $250 (breakfast included) When visiting such hotels it's always about personal, not…
Spice and Herbal Garden No7 near Bentota, Sri Lanka
Spice and Herbal garden No7 is located next to the Galle - Hambantota - Wellawaya Hwy near Bentota in Sri Lanka. We visited this place during a day trip from our hotel (Taj Resort & Spa) to Madu Ganga river when returning back to our hotel. We didn't have any special plans to visit this place, but our driver (s) just took us there. Once here I didn't understand how this works and thought - oh, nice we are enjoying a nice excursion at…
Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery Sri Lanka
Kosgoda Turtle Care program aims to protect sea turtle eggs and increase hatching rates. I had a chance to visit Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery in Sri Lanka at the start of January 2022, during a day trip from our hotel at Bentota. After returning from the Madu Ganga riverboat safari our guides took us to the Turtle hatchery. Arriving on the site a guide come made a littlec excusrion on the site, telling the story how turtles are rescued,…
Bentota Beach in Sri Lanka
Bentota is a small coastal resort town, about a 2-hour drive away from Colombo, Sri Lanka. We visited Bentota and Bentota beaches at the start of January 2022, while staying at the 5-star resort hotel Taj Bentota and Spa It is said that Bentota has been the water sport capital of Sri Lanka with the hoteliers in the area actively promoting water sports from adrenaline filled speed boat and jet ski riding, wind surfing, boogie boarding, water…
Bandaranaike International Airport / Colombo, Sri Lanka
Bandaranaike International Airport, commonly known as Colombo International Airport is the main international airport serving Sri Lanka. It is named after former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and is located in a suburb of Negombo, 32.5 kilometres (20+1⁄4 miles) north of the nation's longstanding capital and commercial center, Colombo. It is administered by Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd and serves as the hub of…
Villa Park Gori
If there is a reason to visit Gori in Georgia, then a visit to Villa Park Gori restaurant in Georgia would be at the top of my priorities. Villa Park Gori is an elite-class restaurant in Gori, with comfortable spaces and a variety of dishes. Located on Tskhinvali highway a few kilometers out of the Gori town. My friend David took us here at the end of January 2022 Tasty Georgian and European cuisine. Live music. English speaking staff.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…