Day trip to Bolnisi and nearby vicinity

3 February, 2019 | Travel guides | 9 seen

Day trips to Bolnisi and region of Kvemo Kartli are quite possible and easy done from Tbilisi. 

In the mid-December, we bought an SUV VW Touareg car and it was just the right time to put it on the test, so we decided to make a day trip to some easy and close place from Tbilisi. 

As we were traveling with our 5-month-old daughter it was important to return home the same day, though there are some great hotels available in Bolnisi. Bolnisi is located just some 70 km from Tbilisi and it might take about 1 hour and 30 minutes to get there.

Bolnisi is located in the Kvemo Kartli region, Georgia. It has an estimated 13,800 inhabitants.

In 1818 the colony Katharinenfeld was founded in Bolnisi by 95 German colonist families from Swabia. There are still remnants of the German past in Bolnisi. A small street called Mill Street has evidence of 19th-century German architecture and a few signs in the German language that date from the early 20th century.

Bolnisi has long been the seat of a bishop or archbishop and is the home of the oldest dated Christian structure in Georgia. It is known as Bolnisi Sioni. A dedication Bolnisi inscriptions from the Bolnisi church, carved in the late 5th century, is one of the oldest dated specimens of Georgian writing. 

Bird Watching Tower on Sloka Lake

2 February, 2019 | Lakes | 11 seen

Bird watching tower on Sloka lake actually is a floating platform which is a very popular tourist attraction among the locals and bird watchers.

Discovered in the early May 2018, during our "living in Jūrmala" series. 

Bird watching tower on Sloka Lake

The bird watching tower actually is just one point from Sloka lake walking trail:

The trail winds through diverse forest settings along the coastline of the lake populated by numerous waterfowl. It starts and ends next to Sloka Lake, where there is a car parking lot a picnic site and a 7 m high floating overhead platform for sightseers.  Hiking on the trail takes you to a number of interesting sites: the swamp forests of Vēršupīte, a sulfur spring next to Sloka Lake, the great bolder and several swamp lakes.   

Walking on the trail gives you a chance to test your physical fitness by trying out the swing, walking on a narrow log, climbing and doing other fitness tests. 

The overhead platform is a good place for bird watching on Sloka Lake.

Pontoon footbridge connected to the platform

How To Register Hotel / Guest House on Booking.com

1 February, 2019 | Blogging | 179 seen

Registering your hotel, guest house, apartment, Bed & Breakfast, vacation home or hostel is really easy and shouldn't take you more than 15 minutes.

Best you can start online and register now. 

Disclosure: this article contains links to Booking.com, by clicking on links on this page and by registering your property on Booking.com I will earn an affiliate income, at no cost to you. Last, but not least, if you will sign up with my affiliate link - first 5 bookings via Booking.com will be commission free.

Register property on Booking.com

Here’s how Booking.com is helping you feel confident welcoming guests:

• Your place, your rules – Pick your prices, policies, and rules for guests
• Booking.com got your back – Access to 24/7 support and guest misconduct reporting
• Find your perfect match – Set requirements and criteria guests need to fulfill

How Booking.com works for rental owners?

Open and close your property when you want

Booking.com gives you the freedom to open or close your property on our site whenever you want. With no lock-in contracts, you're in control of your property.

Booking.com don't charge guests

Booking.com don't add anything on to the price. Unlike other platforms that usually charge guests, the price you set is the price booking.com display.

You control your availability

Only accept guests during the summer or maybe just weekends, at Booking.com you decide when you want guests.

Use Booking.com alongside other platforms

Using Booking.com along with your other relationships isn't a problem! With a simple calendar, you can manage your availability parallel to your existing relationships.

How much I will make with listing my property on Booking.com

Pricing structure on Booking.com is based on the idea that the price you set is what guests pay. Booking.com don't add anything on top – this way, you can price your property competitively and welcome more guests.

In general, Booking.com takes in commission 15% from every booking, the commission varies by city, region, and country. 

Use this earning potential calculator to find out how much you could make:

Earnings potential calculator Booking.com

other perks

• 24/7 support by phone or email with real people
• Strong search engine presence for more bookings
• Advice and analytics to increase performance

Tools to help you manage your properties

Make bulk changes to all properties or a select group in your portfolio. Find the right guests for your properties by setting house rules and requirements that need to be met. See an overview of your entire portfolio through the group Extranet; Understand how your business is doing with the comprehensive analytics tools

Booking.com extranet

What happens if my property is damaged by a guest?

Property owners can request damage deposits from guests. Deposits help cover any potential damage caused by a guest, offering some reassurance that your property will be treated respectfully. If anything goes wrong, it can be reported to our team through our misconduct reporting feature.

What will happen after I sign up?

After you’ve registered your property, Booking.com will review your information to make sure we have everything we need. Then you’ll receive an email with login details for your Extranet. This is where you’ll go to update your availability and prices. After that, you’ll receive instructions on how to set your property live on Booking.com!

Signup now and enjoy first 5 bookings from Booking.com commission-free.

Saint Peter and Paul Monastery Complex of Bolnisi

27 January, 2019 | Churches and Monasteries | 39 seen

Saint Peter and Paul Monastery Complex of Bolnisi was built in 2012 and is located on Mount Elia close to the Bolnisi town in Georgia.

First discovered and kind of visited in mid-December 2018, during a day trip to Bolnisi region. Originally I thought that at this place is located Bolnisi Sioni, and once we let our Tbilisi apt I just entered Bolnisi church in Google navigation. Huge was my surprise arriving at the real Bolnisi Sioni Cathedral instead of this place.

From Bolnisi Sioni we continued our explorations in the area of Bolnisi, and reached another very interesting church (again I thought this is it) - Tsughrughasheni Church. We already started to head back to Tbilisi, to notice a mosque in Bolnisi. Hmm.. and then we noticed a church a top of the hill. Finally.

Saint Peter and Paul Monastery Complex of Bolnisi

I was really surprised about the road construction taking up to the church - concreted stones.

Pawed road and a cross

On the right side is located mount Elia - on which are built terraces and probably soon there will be vineyards and/or olive groves

View towards Bolnisi

We didn't reach church this time, as we were worried that the road at the end might get much steeper and nobody felt inspired about that. Also, our little daughter was tired sitting in the baby car seat, so it was just the right time to turn car back and return to Tbilisi. Definitely will reach the top next time.

Mangaļsala Pier

26 January, 2019 | Tourism objects | 11 seen

The Mangalsala Dam or the Eastern Mole has been built between 1850 and 1861 and rumor has the Russian Empire's Tsar actively followed the developments (back in those days there were two tsars ruling the Empire, Nicholas I and Alexander II). Mangalsala is the first part of the Riga city which is crossed by all ships entering the Daugava river.

The length of the mole is 2240 meters. The sea part of the eastern mole was formed by pile constructions, which were later laid out and covered with stones. The base of the dam is made of heavy fascines and stones. The dam of Mangaļsala serves as a strengthening of the right bank of the Daugava river.

For me, the Mangaļsala pier has always been a very interesting place to visit, either to catch a lovely sunset or make a romantic walk on the pier. 

Mangaļsala pier

Top 10 Luxury Hotels in Borjomi

25 January, 2019 | Hotel reviews | 67 seen

Borjomi is a popular resort town in Georgia. The most popular recreation season probably here is during the Summer. Local tourists from Georgia and international tourists from Russia, Poland, Israel and lately from the Arab countries make the largest amount of tourists here.

In this article have listed top luxury hotels in Borjomi and nearby Likani, Don't worry - the price won't sky-rocket. Although there are not many 5-star hotels (yet) in Borjomi for the ones they have you won't pay more than Eur 80 per night.  The best - for such money you can actually get a celebrity treatment 

Alternatively, see 6 Best Value Hotels in Borjomi, Georgia or  Bakuriani Hotels - Enjoy Your Winter Holidays in Georgian Ski Resort

Disclosure: this article contains 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

Borjomi Likani Health & Spa Centre

Read my review here: Borjomi Likani Hotel, SPA and Health Centre

Located 350 m from the Kura River, Borjomi Likani features a spa and wellness center with indoor pool, sauna, hammam, hot tub and medical treatments. Free WiFi and free private parking are available on site.

The rooms offer air conditioning and a flat-screen TV. The bathrooms provide a hairdryer, bathrobes and slippers.

Guests can dine in the hotel’s restaurant or order room service and breakfasts in the room. Packed lunches and grocery delivery are provided upon request. Other facilities include a bar, concierge service, bicycle rental, 24-hour front desk and luggage storage. Tennis, squash, billiards and horse riding can be enjoyed on site or in the surroundings.

Borjomi Train Station is 4.5 km away, and Tbilisi International Airport is 175 km from Borjomi Likani.

Price: ~ EUR 66 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Crowne Plaza Borjomi Spa & Wellness Centre

Crowne Plaza Borjomi Spa & Wellness Centre is located in the heart of Borjomi, a picturesque Georgian spa and resort town. You can start the day with free sunrise yoga sessions. It is set just a few minutes' walk from the entrance to the famous Park of Borjomi where you can access free of charge.

The hotel features contemporary interior design rooms with a hint of nostalgia for the elegant, trusted and much loved old times. You will find a terrace café, two restaurants, a wine bar where guests can choose between different dining options.

Elegantly decorated rooms include air conditioning, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, work desk and seating area with a sofa. Private bathrooms fitted with a bath or shower. For your comfort you will find slippers, hairdryer and free toiletries.

Guests can relax at the exclusive wellness & spa centre offering swimming pool, spa baths, Borjomi mineral water baths, aesthetic care for face and body, saunas and different relaxing areas. You can also choose between various health treatments to satisfy any taste.

Guests can enjoy free access to Natural Sulphur Bath and Natural Spring of Borjomi in the hotel garden. The Crowne Plaza Borjomi has a two-storey playroom and a children's menu for the youngest guests.

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

Borjomi Palace Health & Spa Center

Borjomi Palace Hotel & Spa is located in Borjomi town centre, 800 m from the Mineral Water Park. It features a spa centre and a gym. Free Wi-Fi and free private parking are provided.

All bright rooms come with a flat-screen TV, a kettle and a minibar. Modern bathrooms are fitted with a spa bath, and free toiletries are available.

Georgian Wine House Restaurant offers various Georgian and European dishes. Also guests can have a drink at the bar and sing karaoke.

The on-site spa centre offers various medical and cosmetic treatments, including massage services. You can work out in a gym, relax in a sauna and play billiards.

Price: ~ EUR 57 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Alma-Ata Hotel

Featuring a shared kitchen and a shared dining area, Alma-Ata Hotel is located in Borjomi’s city centre. Free WiFi access is available throughout. The property is a 10-minute walk from both the Mineral Water Park and Plato Barjomi.

Each room here will provide you with a flat-screen TV, air conditioning and satellite channels. Featuring a shower, the private bathroom also comes with a hairdryer and free toiletries. Extras include a desk and bed linen.

At Alma-Ata Hotel you will find a 24-hour front desk. Other facilities offered at the property include a shared lounge, a tour desk and laundry facilities. Transfers can be arranged for an additional cost.

Price: ~ EUR 40 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Milano Palace

Milano Palace is offering accommodation in Borjomi. All rooms feature a flat-screen TV with cable channels and a private bathroom. The accommodation features free WiFi.

All guest rooms at the hotel are fitted with a seating area. The units will provide guests with a fridge.

Speaking English and Russian, staff will be happy to provide guests with practical information on the area at the reception.

Bakuriani is 30 km from Milano Palace.

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

Old Borjomi 

Situated in Borjomi, Old Borjomi offers 4-star accommodation with a garden and a bar. This 4-star hotel offers free WiFi. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk.

The units in the hotel are fitted with a kettle. With a private bathroom, certain units at Old Borjomi also offer a balcony.

A continental breakfast is available daily at the accommodation.

Price: ~ EUR 53 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Golden Tulip Borjomi

Situated in Borjomi, Golden Tulip Borjomi offers free WiFi. Featuring a 24-hour front desk, this property also boasts a restaurant and a terrace. The hotel provides a spa centre and an ATM.

Golden Tulip Borjomi is located in a XIX-century house, built by the consular of Iran in Russia, Mirza-Reza Khan, as a summer house with spa facilities. Nowadays it is considered as the unique cultural monument.

At the hotel, the rooms are equipped with a balcony with a mountain view. The rooms come with air conditioning and a flat-screen TV, and some rooms at Golden Tulip Borjomi have a patio. The rooms feature a desk.

A buffet breakfast is served each morning at the property.

The property has a hot tub and a fitness centre.

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

Borjomis Kheoba

Located in the centre of Borjomi, a 15-minute walk to the public park area, Borjomis Kheoba features an indoor swimming pool and various treatments. Free Wi-Fi access is available.

The comfortable rooms offer a flat-screen satellite TV and fridge. The private bathrooms come with a shower, hairdryer and free toiletries. Some rooms have a balcony.

The restaurant at Borjomis Kheoba serves European cuisine. It has a shared lounge area with billiards. Cafes and bars are a 10-minute walk away.

Price: ~ EUR 40 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Paradise Borjomi Hotel

Set in Borjomi, Paradise Borjomi Hotel features a terrace and a shared lounge. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk, airport transfers, room service and free WiFi.

The rooms come with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a kettle, a hot tub, free toiletries and a desk. The hotel provides certain units with river views, and all rooms come with a balcony. At Paradise Borjomi Hotel every room includes a seating area.

A buffet breakfast is available every morning at the property.

Price: ~ EUR 49 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Natali Hotel

Natali Hotel is located in Borjomi, just a minute's walk from Romanov Palace. Free WiFi access is available.

Each elegant room here will provide you with a flat-screen TV, a balcony and a fridge. Featuring a shower, private bathroom also comes with a hairdryer. Extras include a desk.

The on-site restaurant serves home-style Georgian cuisine.

At Natali Hotel you will find a 24-hour front desk and a garden. Other facilities offered at the property include a shared lounge, a tour desk and a children's playground. An array of activities can be enjoyed on site or in the surroundings, including fishing and horse riding. The property offers free parking.

Price: ~ EUR 76 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Mintos.com Review After 24 Month of Investing in Peer to Peer Lending

24 January, 2019 | Peer to Peer Lending | 46 seen

I've been investing in Mintos.com peer to peer lending marketplace since the beginning of 2017, or it has been already 24 months or two years since I've been exposing my funds to this Latvian fintech platform. 

In the past 24 months I've made a nice revenue of EUR 902.57 (before tax) and in today's article, I decided to share a quick overview for the past two years and also make a quick glimpse for my plans for 2019

Both individuals and entities can invest through Mintos. Individual investors must be at least 18 years old, have a bank account in the European Union or third countries currently considered to have AML/CFT systems equivalent to the EU, and have their identity successfully verified by Mintos. At the moment, US citizens or taxpayers cannot register as investors at Mintos.

Affiliate link here: Sign up to Mintos.com here. By using this affiliate link for registration both you and I will receive — 1% of your average daily balance which should be paid in 3 installments for the first 90 days.

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

Background - I first heard about this Latvian fintech at the start of 2016, one thing that made it attractive to me was an option to lend in Georgia (the country I've been living since 2011). As been familiar with overall Georgian economy and the fact that so-called fast credits are very popular among Georgian population, just oblivious I did it find appealing to monetize on it somehow. And Mintos seemed like a plan. See: Invest in Georgia - Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lending - Mintos.com

Make sure to check out my previous review about investing with Mintos.com after 12 months:

Mintos.com Review After 12 Month of Investing in Peer to Peer Lending

At the end of 2018, mintos.com took the second largest position (after stocks) in my portfolio with 23.3% of my funds invested on Mintos.com marketplace.

Investment portfolio structure at the end of 2018

Learn more: 2018 in Review and Financial Goals for 2019

The overall impact on the total portfolio for Mintos has decreased from 27.7% in December 2017 to 23.3 % in December 2018. And I'm glad. The reason is simple:

• My investment portfolio started just in 2017
• I have diversified it in Stocks, mutual fund, crypto, cash and peer to peer lending

A diversified portfolio helps. Never put all eggs in one basket, as they say. 

23.3% seems to be a kind of save level to be exposed in peer to peer lending, but in fact, I would love to limit this number to 20% in 2019, meanwhile by increasing total amount lent via peer to peer lending.

Despite being just second in size Mintos, have been the top earner in terms of dividend income (loan repayment) in 2018, in a passive income earning me EUR 591.14 or EUR 1.61 daily. Dividend income from the Baltic stocks earned me  €386.56 or EUR 1.06 daily. 

Learn more: Dividend Income

About interest earned on mintos.com

During the past 24 months, I've invested in total EUR 3,988.81 and have made a profit from interest payments  EUR 902.55. That would be to about 30% yield over the past two years. In 2017 the yield was 7.94%, while in 2018 I  managed to get it 14.82%. This number is higher than average excepted around ~11-12% annual rate because I keep investing about a half of the amount in Georgian Lari loans (they come offer 16%-17% yield, but for a long time in 2018 were at 18%)

Monthly income from Mintos.com 2017-2018

Unfortunately, because of I keep investing both in EUR and GEL currencies and because of currency exchange rates, the total value for my investment if converted back to EUR currency at the end of 2018, equals just to EUR 3,861.06, which is a negative -3.2% value growth.  Be cautious when investing in international currencies.

Mintos.com contributes regularly to my dividend income with little over than EUR 40/mo, and I'm looking to increase interest earned here to about EUR 50, during 2019.

Withdrawing money and paying taxes

During 2018 I have withdrawn money from Mintos.com peer to peer marketplace several times, to finance new purchases on Nasdaq Baltics or NY stock exchanges  I most times money arrived at the bank account in one-two working days. 

Withdrawing funds from Mintos.com

Now, from money earned on Mintos.com platform I should pay taxes, luckily the platform offers simple tax guidance for the citizens of Latvia, Germany, and other countries.

Tax reports for private individuals - residents of Estonia, Germany, and Latvia are available. Tax reports for 2018 for Germany and Estonia will be available from January 11, 2019. For investors from other countries, a general tax report template is available. To receive your tax report, please select your country of residence and it will be sent to your email shortly. Due to various accounting standards applied by legal entities, there is no specific report for legal entities. Please consult with your accountant on how income generated through Mintos should be recognized and how taxes should be calculated.

I requested my Tax Report, which was shortly emailed, and for 2018 seems I need to pay a tax from EUR 235.22 and GEL 1086.55 . According to the Latvian Tax system I might have to pay 23% income tax. Which would mean I've to pay in tax EUR 54 and  GEL 250.  As I'm not a tax advisor, I cannot comment much on here, for further questions and your situation please consult your tax advisor!

About Auto Invest

Despite Auto Invest works like a charm, in 2018 I've disabled it and now I'm doing all investments manually, as I like to keep a hand on the pulse.  

Auto investing on Mintos.com platform

Auto Invest automatically implements your chosen investment strategy. After you have entered your investment criteria, Auto Invest will automatically invest in suitable loans. You can access Auto Invest at any time and follow your portfolio activity in real time to make sure it is working according to your investment goals. Auto Invest is a very efficient tool for saving time spent on investing activities. It also allows you to access newly placed loans in the system before manually-made investments.

You can pause or cancel Auto Invest at any time.

Once you have confirmed your investment criteria, Auto Invest will review loan listings and invest funds in loans that meet your preferences. Auto Invest will continue to automatically analyze and invest in suitable new loans as soon as they are listed. If you change any Auto Invest setting, all available loan listings will be rechecked to make sure they meet your investment criteria.  

HP ProBook 450 G5 (2RS04EA) Laptop Review

23 January, 2019 | Gadget Reviews | 61 seen

At the end of 2018 I got a new laptop - HP ProBook 450 G5 - in today's gadget review article series I will write down my humble observations. In short - gosh it feels so good owning a ProBook from HP.

I bought this laptop at local ALTA OK store in Tbilisi, Georgia, just shortly before Christmas shopping craze in December 2018. Paid about USD 750 for this model. The sales price for Intel Core i5 8GB HP ProBook 450 G5 on Amazon is about $770. 

This laptop will retire my older Asus X552M Laptop. That said, after about a 3-year pause, while using ASUS manufactured laptop, I'm returning back to HP laptops. For about 8 years I was using the HP Compaq 6510b model, I loved that model so much that even replaced broken hinges. The fun thing, despite that the older HP Compaq 6510b is now more than 12 years old, it still works. Amazing. That's why I really love HP laptops.  They just last like forever.

17 Best HP Laptops You Can Buy Online - Amazon.com

Please note this article contains links to Amazon by clicking on links on this page and by making a purchase on Amazon site, I might earn an affiliate income from that at no cost to you.

HP ProBook 450 G5 unpacked

My HP ProBook comes with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and Full HF (1920 pixels) screen resolution. 

Intel Core i5 laptops are a great and cheaper alternative to the more pricey Intel Core i7 laptops. Intel Core i5 laptops are popular among gaming laptop and business laptop users. Creative graphic designers, video animators, and photographers will enjoy these laptops as well

Now, this was the reason I chose to stick with Intel Core i5, as it costs about $150 less than Intel Core i7 model. As I have been using a much cheaper AMD processor-powered laptop in the past. Intel Core i5 seemed just the logical move. Paying little less, but tot sanctifying performance.

HP ProBook 450 G5

Full-featured, thin, and light, the HP ProBook 450 lets professionals stay productive in the office and on the go. Stylish design, linear precision, and subtle curvature plus optional Quad Core2 performance and long battery life make this ProBook essential for today’s workforce.

Ideal for professionals in corporate settings or small to medium businesses, wanting an affordable combination of innovation, essential security and multimedia capabilities

HP ProBooks are available with optional 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i33 or 8th Gen Core™ i5/i7 Quad Core™ processors2 and optional NVIDIA® GeForce® discrete graphics.

The HP ProBook 450 delivers stylish design to every business. An ultraslim chassis in a refined new natural silver finish includes a keyboard deck made of durable premium stamped aluminum.

Quickly transition to desktop productivity with a single cable that supports docking via USB-C™ which allows you to connect multiple external displays4, a power source, and a gigabit network connection through optional docks. Experience vivid audio engagement and an easy conferencing experience with the Skype for Business™ Certified HP ProBook 450 with HP Audio Boost, HP Noise Cancellation.

HP ProBook 450 G5 

What I really like about this laptop, I can upgrade it relatively cheap to 16GB RAM. But even now, out of the box, 8GB RAM gives excellent results while post-processing photography in Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop or rendering HD video in Adobe Premiere Pro.

The battery on average last about 6 hours.

2018 Blog Income & Traffic Review - Goals For 2019

22 January, 2019 | Blogging | 9 seen

2018  has just passed, and now it is the right time to take a look back on the previous year of blogging, and of course doubts -  take a quick glimpse of 2019.

In today's article, I will reveal data behind the blog scenes - both traffic and income for the whole year of 2018. But before we dig into the numbers, here is the brief background - blog now is more than five years old, and for the last five years it has gone a very long way,

Make sure to check out my previous yearly blogging reviews:

• 2017 - 2017 Blog Income & Traffic Review - Goals For 2018 / $24,920.47
• 2016 - Blog Traffic and Income Report 2016 - 635,048 Users / $18,586.41
• 2015 - Blog Traffic and Income Report for 2015 - 347,035 users / $9,819.71
• 2014 - Blog Income Report 2014  / $3,334.20

About blog traffic in 2018

• In total blog have reached 1,212,588 (that's more than a million) users in 2018
• On average it is 101,049 monthly users or
• 3,322 daily visitors

Blog traffic report 2018 (monthly view). Data source: Google Analytics

Compared to 2017, last year blog had about 15% growth. Having 100,000 users a month is nothing special anymore. I'm focused now on 200K. Growing Blog Audience to 200,000/mo users in next 365 days

Top 10 most popular articles

In total, I have written 411 articles in 2018, on average that is 1.12 article per day,  which is a slight increase if compared to 2017, but still lags behind my early blogging years when I averaged 428 - 479 articles in a year:

• 2017 - 386 articles,
• 2016 - 469 articles,
• 2015 - 479 articles
• 2014 - 428 articles. 

Top 10 articles (according to Google Analytics) generated 22.46% from total page views on the blog. Surprisingly but in previous years this ratio was much higher (about 40% from all page views were generated with just top 10 articles).

I actually like it - as it means there is a larger competition between articles.

In total there were 43 articles written in 2018 which got more than 1,000 pageviews. Which is really good. Or let's say this way - about 10% from what I have written in 2018, was so popular that attracted more than 1,000 pageviews.

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About Blog Income 2018

Combined income streams from affiliate marketing and display ads in 2018 made  $20,517.34, which is about -20% decrease if compared to 2017. Ouch.

• $20,517.34 is around $1,709 per month or
• $56.21 per day

Combined RPM from all revenue channels stands at $12.47  in 2018. Which unfortunately is again a 4 dollar decrease for every 1000 page views if compared to the previous year.

Back in 2016 blog got the highest RPM in its history - $20.50.If I managed to keep such RPM in 2018 that would mean that instead of $20,000 I would have made almost $32,000. Now the difference makes $12,000. Pretty cool, right? I don't feel comfortable RPM rate decreasing for the second year in a row. In 2019 I should figure how to get back at the $15 RPM levels at least. 

Goals / Forecasts for 2019

As usual, I will end report with some thoughts about future plans and forecast. But before that, let's see what I was forecasting a year ago:

As things are starting to slow down, I'm looking for about 30% increase both for traffic and income in 2018. I'm looking to reach 1,3 million user milestone, which makes about 108K users monthly. My financial goal is to reach - $32,500 income. That's about pulling $2,7K each month. From today's perspective - hard but doable!

I missed both goals for 2018. Boom. 

That makes me set goals for 2019 more carefully and even humble. - As things are slowing down for the second year in a row -, I'm looking on a humble 10% increase both for traffic and income in 2019. I'm looking to reach 1,4 million users in 2019.  My financial goal is to reach - $22, 000 income. That's about pulling $1,833 each month. From today's perspective - hard but doable!

Top 20 Gaming Laptops with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB Graphics card

21 January, 2019 | Laptop Reviews | 520 seen

Gaming laptops with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB graphics card are one of the most optimal gaming laptops user choice - here budget meets performance. In contrast to PC's where you can extend your computer with a GPU, when choosing a laptop your options are more limited. See: Mining Ethereum With EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 (Single Fan), 6GB GDDR5 Review

Most of the best selling Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 laptops are powered with the latest 8th generation Intel Core i7 8750H processors, though there are a few Intel Core i5 models available as well. 

In today's article, I've listed top 20 gaming laptops with NVIDIA GeForce GTRX 1060 6 GB graphics card available for sale on Amazon.com

Update: Top 17 Gaming laptops with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU

A quick note: This article contains affiliate links to Amazon.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a purchase on Amazon site, I will earn an affiliate income at no cost to you. Prices for laptops listed on this page are retrieved using Amazon Product Advertising API and is updated daily. For actual prices please refer to the product page on Amazon.

Dell G3 15 3579 Gaming Laptops, Intel Core i5-8300H,8GB RAM DDR4,256GB SSD,15.6-inch FHD IPS, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with Max Q Design Technology, 6GB GDDR5 Video Memory

• 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8300H Processor (Quad-Core, 8MB Cache, up to 3. 9GHz w/ Turbo Boost)
• 8GB, DDR4, 256GB M. 2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with Max Q Design technology, 6GB GDDR5 video memory
• 15. 6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Anti-Glare LED-Backlit Display
• SD Card Reader and USB 3. 1, 3. 0, 2. 0 ; windows 10

List price: [amazon B07SZ9C5XK listpriceformattedprice] Buy this laptop on Amazon (Paid link)

Dell G3 15.6" Full HD Gaming Laptop, 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8300H, 8GB Memory, 1TB Hard Drive, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, Windows 10

• 8th Generation Intel Core i5 8300H Processor (Quad Core, 8MB Cache, 2.3GHz Base, up to 4.0 gigahertz w/Turbo Boost)
• 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 up to [32GB], (additional memory sold separately)
• NVIDIA GTX 1060 Graphics 6GB Max-Q, 1TB Hybrid Hard Drive+8GB Cache
• 15.6 inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, LED Backlit Display
• Windows 10 Home, Backlit Keyboard, Waves MaxxAudio Pro, Card Reader

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Dell Laptop - 7th Gen Intel Core i5, GTX 1060 6GB Graphics, 8GB Memory, 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD, 15.6", Matte Black

Next-level graphics: New NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics with Max-Q Design Technology and 6 GB GDDR5 video memory delivers clear, detailed gameplay.

• 7th Generation Intel Core i5-7300HQ Quad Core (6 MB Cache , up to 3.5 GHz)
• 8GB 2400MHz DDR4 up to [32GB], (additional memory sold separately)
• 128 GB (SSD) Boot + 1 TB 5400RPM SATA (HDD), No ODD. 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Anti-Glare LED-Backlit Display
• Height: .98 inch Width: 15.32 inch, Depth: 10.82 inch, FHD Non-Touch Weight: 5.82 Pounds, UHD Non-Touch Weight: 6.28 Pounds
• Be more productive. Windows 10 is the best for bringing ideas forward and getting things done

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Dell G3 17.3" Full HD Gaming Laptop, 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8300H, 8GB Memory, 128GB SSD+1TB Hard Drive, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, Windows 10

• Screen Size 17.3 inches
• Processor 2.3 GHz 68030
• RAM 8 GB RIMM
• Hard Drive 2 Solid state
• Graphics Coprocessor NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
• Chipset Brand Intel
• Card Description Integrated
• Graphics Card Ram Size 6 GB

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ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop FX504 15.6” 120Hz 3ms Full HD, Intel Core i7-8750H Processor, GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, 16GB DDR4, 256GB PCIe SSD + 1TB HDD, Gigabit WiFi, Windows 10 Home - FX504GM-ES74

The new ASUS FX504 adeptly handles modern AAA games while providing reliability and stability with powerful performance, 120hz gaming display, upgraded anti-dust cooling, a premium metal cover, and a 20-million keystroke-durability backlit keyboard.

• Windows 10 Home
• GeForce Fortnite Bundle – offer valid through May 22, 2019. For a limited time, purchase a ROG device with qualifying GTX graphics and get the GeForce FORTNITE COUNTERATTACK SET!
• 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8750H Processor (up to 3. 9GHz) and GeForce GTX 1060 6GB for superior gaming performance and multitasking
• Durability - Dual fans with anti-dust technology. Red-backlit keyboard rated for 20-million keystroke durability
• Portable 15. 6" laptop design with 0. 98" thin profile gaming laptop and weight of only 5. 07 lbs.
• 16GB DDR4 high-frequency 2666MHz RAM | 256GB PCIe NVMe M. 2 SSD + 1TB HDD
• Gigabit Wave 2 Wi-Fi. Up to 1. 73Gbps with 2x2 802. 11ac
• Power Input : 100 -240 V AC, 50/60 Hz universal

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Lenovo Legion Y520 Gaming Laptop - i7-7700HQ, 16GB RAM, 256GB PCIe SSD, NVIDIA GTX 1060 (6GB), FHD IPS 1920x1080

• 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ Quad Core Processor (6MB Cache, up to 3.8 GHz)
• 16GB DDR4 RAM / 256GB PCle Solid State Drive
• 6GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Graphics
• 15.6" Anti-glare LED Backlit Full HD (1920 x 1080) Display
• Backlit Keyboard / Wifi AC / Bluetooth / Windows 10

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Dell Inspiron 7000 4K/UHD Flagship 15.6" Gaming Laptop | Intel Core i7-7700HQ Quad-Core | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB | 32G | 512G SSD + 1T HDD | Thunderbolt Port | Backlit Keyboard | Windows 10

• Intel Core i7-7700HQ Quad-Core processor, 2.8 GHz can up to 3.8GHz, 32GB DDR4 SDRAM 2400MHz, 512G SSD + 1T HDD
• 15.6" 4K/UHD 3840 x 2160 ComfyView LED-backlit Display supporting Acer ColorBlast technology, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB GDDR5 VRAM
• Windows 10 Home (64-bit), 1" Thin, 5.86lbs Weight, Battery: 4-cell lithium-ion; Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack (1x 3.5mm jack)
• Webcam, Backlit Keyboard, 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, Media Reader, 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45)
• 1 x Thunderbolt 3, 3 x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 via Thunderbolt Port, 2 x Integrated Speaker, 2 x Integrated Microphone

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Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop, 15.6" FHD IPS w/ 144Hz Refresh Rate, Intel 6-Core i7-8750H, Overclockable GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, 16GB DDR4, 256GB NVMe SSD, Aeroblade Metal Fans PH315-51-78NP

Designed for those with a need to speed, the Predator Helios 300 gaming notebook combines powerful 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with high-performance NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics driven by the new NVIDIA Pascal architecture that is VR Ready. Two all-metal AeroBlade 3D Fans and stellar audio capabilities support intense gaming sessions while the sporting red accents and black chassis with geometric lines adds to the drama.

• 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8750H 6-Core Processor (Up to 4.1GHz) with Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Overclockable Graphics with 6 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM
• 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED-backlit IPS display (144Hz Refresh Rate, 300nit Brightness & 72% NTSC )
• 16GB DDR4 2666MHz DRAM Memory & 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD | Extra empty accessible slot for 2.5 inch hard drive or SSD
• Gigabit Wi-Fi |Backlit Keyboard | USB 3.1 (Type C) | Dual All-Metal AeroBlade 3D Fan Cooling | Metal Chassis
• PredatorSense gaming control panel, providing customization and control of gaming features, including system temperature, CPU fan speed and system fan speed.
• Up to 7-hours of battery life

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Razer Blade 15: World's Smallest 15.6" Gaming Laptop - 60Hz Full HD Thin Bezel - 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H 6 Core - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q - 16GB RAM - 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD - Windows 10

The Razer Blade is one of the smallest 15.6” gaming laptops, striking the perfect balance of power and portability. We’ve redesigned the laptop to offer more storage and connectivity in the precision crafted CNC aluminum chassis. The near-bezeless 15.6” Full HD display stretches edge-to-edge and is factory calibrated for accuracy, while the 8th gen Intel Core i7 6-Core processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q design graphics deliver amazing performance and frame rates.

• Activision Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 game codes - Offer valid 11/1/18– 4/30/18, while supplies last. See Product Description for additional information
• DISPLAY: 15.6” Full HD edge-to-edge display (4.9mm bezels), factory color calibrated
• GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q Design VR Ready graphics
• PROCESSOR: 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H 6 core processor
• DUAL STORAGE: 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD - For speed and capacity
• BUILD QUALITY: Thin and compact, durable CNC aluminum unibody (0.78” x 9.25” x 13.98”)
• MEMORY: 16GB Dual-Channel DDR-4-2667MHz, expandable to 32GB
• ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Gigabit Ethernet, 3x USB 3.1, Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C), HDMI, Mini Display Port

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Dell Inspiron 15 7588 - 15.6" FHD - i7-8750H - GTX 1060 - 8GB - 256GB SSD

• 8th Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8750H Processor (6-Core, 9MB Cache, up to 4.1GHz w/ Turbo Boost)
• NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GTX 1060 with NVIDIA(R) Max Q Design technology, 6GB GDDR5 video memory
• 256GB Solid State Drive
• 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Anti-Glare LED-Backlit Display
• 8GB RAM (2666MHZ)~ Windows 10 Home~Back Cover - Licorice Black~Backlit Keyboard

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OMEN by HP 15.6 Inch Gaming Laptop, i7-8750H Processor, GeForce GTX 1060, Anti-Glare FHD Display,16GB 2666MHZ RAM, 1TB HDD & 128GB PCIE SSD, Windows 10, (15-dc0030nr, Black), Metal Chassis, RGB Keys

• Play the latest games, including Fortnite, PUBG, and Overwatch, from anywhere—without sacrificing performance
• 8th Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8750H Processor, 6-Core, 2.2GHz up to 4.1GHz for superior gaming performance
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6 GB GDDR5 dedicated). VR READY. 15.6-inch diagonal FHD IPS anti-glare micro-edge WLED-backlit (1920 x 1080)
• 16 GB DDR4-2666 SDRAM (upgradable with 2 accessible memory slots). 128 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD. 1 TB 7200 RPM SATA HDD
• Dragon Red independent zone backlit keyboard w/ RGB lighting, full size directional arrow keys, and outlined WASD keys for instant recognition
• Battery life: Up to 6 hours and 15 minutes (mixed usage); up to 4 hours (video playback); up to 3 hours and 15 minutes (wireless streaming)
• Dimensions and weight (unpackaged): 14.17 inches (W) x 10.35 inches (D) x 1.02 inch (H); 5.56 pounds
• Operating system: Windows 10 Home

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Dell Gaming Laptop G5587-5859BLK-PUS G5 - 15.6" LED Anti-Glare Display - 8th Gen Intel i5 Processor - 8GB Memory - 128GB SSD+1TB HDD - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, Licorice

With NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with NVIDIA Max Q Design technology, 6GB GDDR5 video memory, gameplay is clear and detailed.

• 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8300H Processor (Quad-Core, 8MB Cache, up to 3.9GHz w/Turbo Boost)
• 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 up to [32GB], (additional memory sold separately)
• 128 GB (SSD) Boot + 1 TB 5400 RPM [SATA] HDD Storage
• 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Anti-Glare, LED-Backlit Display
• Be more productive. Windows 10 is the best for bringing ideas forward and getting things done
• 2-in-1 Media Card Reader
• 3 x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C

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ASUS TUF 17.3" FHD LED-Backlight Gaming Laptop | Intel Core i7-8750H Six-Core 2.2 GHz | Can Upto (32GB DDR4, 1TB PCIe SSD) | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB | Card Reader | Backlit Keyboard | Windows 10

• Choose RAM & HD Size (16GB/32GB DDR4, 512GB/1TB PCIe SSD), 17.3" FHD (1920 x 1080) LED-Backlit Display
• 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8750H Processor (6-Core, 9MB Cache, 2.2 GHz Up To 3.9GHz) , NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB GDDR5
• 802.11ac, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth, Card Reader (SD/MMC), Stereo Speakers, Webcam
• 1 X HDMI, 2 X USB 3.0 Type A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type A, 1 x Combo Headphone / Microphone Jack, RJ-45 Ethernet
• Windows 10 Home, 4-Cell Battery, 5.73 lbs, Backlit Keyboard, Black

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Premium Dell Inspiron 15 7577 Gaming 15.6" FHD IPS Laptop, Intel Quad-Core i5-7300HQ 8GB DDR4 256GB SSD 6GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 backlit keyboard MaxxAudio VR READY WLAN Thunderbolt Win 10

• 15.6 in Full HD IPS LED (1920 x 1080), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with 6 GB GDDR5 VRAM
• Intel Core i5-7300HQ 6MB cache, up to 3.50 GHz
• 8GB DDR4 SDRAM, 256GB SSD, 720p Video HD webcam
• 2 in 1 SD card reader,1 x Thunderbolt 3，3 x USB 3.1 Type-A，1 x HDMI 2.0, 1xHeadphone/Microphone Combo Jack, LAN (10/100/1000)
• Windows 10 Home 64-Bit, Backlight Keyboard

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Dell 2019 Flagship G3 17.3" Full HD IPS Gaming Laptop, Intel Quad-Core i5-8300H (> i7-7700HQ) 6GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Backlit Keyboard MaxxAudio Thunderbolt Win 10-up to 32GB DDR4 1TB SSD 2TB HDD

• Intel Quad-Core i5-8300H (> i7-7700HQ) Processor, 2.30GHz Base Frequency, up to 4.00GHz, 8 MB SmartCache
• Upgrade Your RAM HDD SSD from 8GB DDR4 128GB SSD None HDD to 32GB DDR4 1TB SSD 2TB HDD
• 17.3" Full HD ( 1920 x 1080 ) IPS Anti-Glare Display, 6GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Graphics Discrete
• 1 x Thunderbolt 3, 2 x USB 3.1, 1 x 2.0, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Headphone/microphone combo jack, 1 x Card Reader
• Windows 10 Home 64 bit, 720p HD Webcam, 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, Backlit Keyboard, Wave MaxxAudio Pro

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Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop, 15.6" Full HD IPS, Intel i7-7700HQ CPU, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, GeForce GTX 1060-6GB, VR Ready, Red Backlit KB, Metal Chassis, Windows 10 64-bit, G3-571-77QK

• Latest 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ Processor 2.8GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 3.8GHz | Windows 10 Home 64-bit
• Latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with 6 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM
• 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen IPS display, Red Backlit Keyboard
• 16GB DDR4 DRAM Memory & 256GB SSD | Extra empty expandable hard drive slot for 2.5" hard drives
• Up to 7-hours of battery life

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ASUS FX503 Gaming Laptop, 15.6” 120Hz Full HD, Intel i5-7300HQ Processor, GeForce GTX 1060, 8GB DDR4, 128GB M.2 SSD + 1TB HDD, Windows 10 Home - FX503VM-NS52

ASUS FX503 is the compact and powerful Windows 10 laptop that packs the latest Standard Voltage Intel Core processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10 Series graphics. A high capacity battery ensures you stay productive and entertained throughout the day, while the intelligent cooling system enables graphically-intense gaming sessions without throttling. And with its lightweight design, whether you need to multitask for work or school, kick back with movies or music, or game on the go — FX503 has the power to perform!

• ASUS FX503 120 Hz Full HD Matte Display powered by discrete NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB graphics
• - 7th-generation Intel Core i5-7300HQ quad-core 2.5 GHz (6M Cache, Turbo to 3.5 GHz)
• - 128 GB M.2 SSD + 1 TB HDD for ideal balance of OS drive speeds and storage space, 8 GB DDR4 DRAM
• - Red-backlit gaming keyboard with anti-ghosting technology, 1.8 mm key travel distance, and N-Key Rollover
• - Slim 0.9" profile and lightweight 5.73 lbs body

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MSI GP63 Leopard VR Ready Gamer Notebook (Intel 8th Gen i7-8750H, 16GB RAM, 256GB NVMe SSD + 1TB HDD, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, 15.6" Full HD 120Hz 3ms, Windows 10 Home) Gaming Laptop Computer

• Processor: Intel Core i7-8750H Six Core Processor (9MB Cache, 2.2GHz-4.1GHz) 45W
• RAM: 16GB DDR4 2666MHz | Hard Drive: 256GB NVMe Solid State Drive + 1TB 7200rpm Hard Disk Drive
• Keyboard: Steel Series Full-color backlight with Anti-Ghost key+ silver lining | Operating System: Windows 10 Home x64
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB GDDR5 | Display: 15.6" Full HD 120Hz 3ms Wideview 94%NTSC Color Anti-Glare (1920 x 1080)
• ✔16GB RAM + 256GB NVMe SSD Upgrade | 3-Year XPC Limited Warranty (View warranty section below for more details)

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OMEN by HP 17-inch Gaming Laptop w/ 144Hz Anti-Glare G-Sync Display, i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB, 16GB 2666MHz RAM, 1TB HDD & 128 GB PCIE SSD, Windows 10 Home (17-an120nr, Black), Metal

• Processor: 8th Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8750H Processor, 6-Core, 2.2GHz up to 4.1GHz
• Video graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6 GB GDDR5 dedicated)
• Display: 17.3-inch diagonal FHD 144 Hz IPS anti-glare WLED-backlit (1920 x 1080)
• Memory: 16 GB DDR4-2666 SDRAM (upgradable with 2 accessible memory slots)
• Hard drive and solid-state drive: 1 TB 7200 RPM SATA hard drive + 128 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive
• Battery life: Up to 6 hours and 45 minutes (mixed usage); up to 5 hours (video playback); up to 4 hours and 15 minutes (wireless streaming)
• Dimensions and weight (unpackaged): 16.65 inches (W) x 11.97 inches (D) x 1.30 inch (H); 8.33 pounds
• Operating system: Windows 10 Home

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ASUS - TUF Gaming FX705GM 17.3" Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 - 512GB Solid State Drive - Black

• 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H mobile processor
• 17.3" Full HD display. The 1920 x 1080 resolution boasts impressive color and clarity. IPS technology for wide viewing angles. Energy-efficient LED backlight
• 16GB DDR4 RAM to smoothly run your graphics-heavy PC games and video-editing applications, as well as numerous programs and browser tabs all at once
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics acked by 3GB GDDR5 dedicated video memory for a fast, advanced GPU to fuel your games
• 512SB SSD (PCI-e). Save files fast and store more data. With massive amounts of storage and advanced communication power, PCI-e SSDs are great for major gaming applications, multiple servers, daily backups, and more

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Lenovo Legion Y7000 Gaming Laptop, 15.6" FHD IPS Anti-Glare Laptop (Intel Core i7-8750H Processor, Nvidia GTX 1060, 16 GB DDR4, 1 TB HDD + 128 GB PCIe SSD, Windows 10 Home) 81LF0001US, Black

This gaming laptop gives you exactly what you need for an exhilarating gaming experience that is perfectly balanced between performance and portability.

Its breathtakingly sleek aluminum design and latest generation specs guarantee you serious power when you are gaming.

Thermally optimized to run cooler and quieter with a full-sized white back-lit keyboard makes the Lenovo Legion Y7000 Laptop primed for those who demand gaming wherever life takes them.

• POWERFUL GAMING LAPTOP: The Lenovo Legion Y7000 gaming laptop comes with an Intel Core i7-8750H Processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Discrete Graphics, 16 GB DDR4 RAM, 1 TB HDD + 128GB PCIe SSD and more.
• PRACTICAL PORTABILITY: At 1.1 inch thin and only 5.2 pounds, the Legion Y7000 gaming laptop was redesigned to deliver the ideal balance between epic gaming performance and practical portability.
• FHD DISPLAY: Featuring bezels that are only 0.3 inches thin, the Y7000 Laptop rocks a 15.6" FHD display, 300 nits of brightness, and brings your games to life.
• BACKLIT KEYBOARD: Legion Y7000 is equipped with a full-sized, white backlit and high-response keyboard and number pad to your hands with 1.7 mm of key travel for the most ergonomic and comfortable gaming experience.
• 60 FPS AND BEYOND: Lenovo gaming laptop comes specced with the latest generation Intel processors, NVIDIA discrete graphics, DDR4 memory and more, all optimally cooled via a reengineered dual-channel cooling system.

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Eluktronics N850EP6 15.6" Pro-X Gaming Laptop - Customize Your Own PC (Options up to Intel i7-8750H Hexa Core, Windows 10 Pro, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, 144Hz Display, 2TB PCIe SSD + 32GB DDR4 RAM)

• Optional 7th Gen Quad Core i7-7700HQ or Hexa Core i7-8750H Processor + Genuine Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit
• Up to 6GB GDDR5 VRAM Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Graphics & 32GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM
• Choose your display refresh rate - 60Hz for Daily Performance Users or 144Hz for Action-Ready Gamers (1920 x 1080)
• Select up to a 2TB Ultra Performance PCIe SSD to handle your operating system and up to 2TB Seagate FireCuda SSHD Hybrid Hard Drive
• Full Size RGB Color Backlit Keyboard, Gigabit LAN, 1 Year USA Based Warranty with lifetime technical support!

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CUK GP73 Leopard VR Ready Gamers Laptop (8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H, 16GB RAM, 500GB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, 17.3" Full HD 120Hz 3ms Display, Windows 10) Gaming Notebook Computer

Take on today's challenging, graphics-intensive games without missing a beat. GeForce GTX powered notebooks deliver the incredible speed and power of NVIDIA Pascal - the most advanced GPU Architecture ever created - for truly revolutionary gaming and VR performance.

• Processor: Intel Core i7-8750H Six Core Processor (9MB Cache, 2.2GHz-4.1GHz) 45W
• RAM: 16GB DDR4 2666MHz | Hard Drive: 500GB Solid State Drive
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB GDDR5 | Operating System: Windows 10 Home x64
• Wireless: 802.11 AC Wireless with Bluetooth 5 | Display: 17.3" Full HD 120Hz 3ms Wideview 94% NTSC Color Anti-Glare Display (1920 x 1080)
• 16GB RAM + 500GB SSD Upgrades | 3-Year CUK Limited Warranty (View warranty section below for more details)

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Dell Inspiron 15.6-inch 7000 Full HD Gaming Laptop, Intel Quad Core i5 Processor, 8GB Memory, 256GB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, Backlit Keyboard, Bluetooth, USB 3.1, Win 10, Matte Black

• Intel Quad Core i5-7300HQ mobile processor (2.5GHz, up to 3.5GHz, 6MB Cache),
• 8GB system memory for advanced multitasking, 256GB NVMe PCIe Solid State Drive (SSD),
• 6GB GDDR5 dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics, No Optical Drive
• 15.6" Full HD (1920x1080) Widescreen LED IPS display (Non-Touch), Backlit Keyboard,
• Windows 10 Home 64, USB 3.1, Bluetooth, Webcam, 4-cell Lithium-ion Battery, Black

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ASUS ROG STRIX Hero Edition Gaming Laptop, 15.6” IPS-Type Full HD, Intel Core i7-7700HQ Processor, GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, 16GB DDR4, 256GB M.2 SSD + 1TB Hybrid SSHD, RGB, Windows 10 Home – GL503VM-DB74

• Special design for MOBA gamers: slim 0.9” profile and lightweight 5.6 lbs body with dragonscale pattern. 15.6” 120Hz Full HD IPS-Type Panel designed for maximum contrast and clarity
• 7th-generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ quad-core 2.8GHz (Turbo to 3.8GHz) with discrete GeForce GTX 1060 6GB graphics. Dual-fan thermal design
• 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD + 1TB FireCuda SSHD for combination of fast OS drive speed and high capacity storage
• Aura RGB lighting keyboard with 4 isolated hotkeys, 1.8mm key travel, and anti-ghosting technology. 4 zones of lighting control. 20-million keystroke durability
• 802.11ac 2x2 Wi-Fi (up to 6x faster than traditional BGN); Bluetooth 4.1, 3x USB 3.0, 1x USB 3.1 (Type C), 1x USB 2.0, 1x HDMI, 1x Mini DisplayPort, 1x headphone/Mic jack, and 1x RJ45 LAN port
• Max Memory: 32 GB

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MSI GF62058 Intel - Core i7-8750H - 2.GHz - DDR4 SDRAM - RAM: 16 GB - 1 TB - 5

• 2.20GHz Intel Core i7-8750H six Core Processor
• 16GB DDR4 RAM | 256GB NVMe SSD + 1TB
• Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 with 6GB GDDR5
• Windows 10 Home

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Mosque in Kvemo Bolnisi

20 January, 2019 | Churches and Monasteries | 13 seen

There is not much information available online about Kvemo Bolnisi mosque in Georgia, except that the construction of the Mosque in Kvemo Bolnisi village started in 2005 and ended in 2007. The Mosque started functioning the same year. 

It was in the mid-December 2018, we were on a day trip to the Bolnisi (and surrounding area), after making stops at Bolnisi Sioni and Tsughrughasheni Church we discovered a green roof mosque. Unfortunately this time we didn't visit the mosque, instead, I took just a very long distance photo. 

Mosque in Kvemo Bolnisi, Georgia

About 60% of the population in Bolnisi are Muslims 

There are two major Muslim groups in Georgia. The ethnic Georgian Muslims are Sunni Hanafi and are concentrated in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara of Georgia bordering Turkey. The ethnic Azerbaijani Muslims are predominantly Shia Ithna Ashariyah and are concentrated along the border with Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Islam in Georgia was introduced in 654 when an army sent by the Third Caliph of Islam, Uthman, conquered Eastern Georgia and established Muslim rule in Tbilisi. Currently, Muslims constitute approximately 9.9%of the Georgian population. According to other sources, Muslims constitute 10-11% of Georgia's population.

Borjomi Likani Hotel, SPA and Health Centre

18 January, 2019 | Hotel reviews | 30 seen

Luxury 5 star Hotel Borjomi Likani is located 177 km away from Tbilisi (the capital of Georgia) in the middle of the coniferous park in Borjomi city, famous of its naturally carbonated mineral water from springs in the Borjomi Gorge of central Georgia.

Hotel Borjomi Likani is located on the former territory of once popular Sanatorium of 4th department in Likani.

Guests from all over the USSR used to gather here to spend time with family and friends and receive the benefits of the Health procedures offered, due to the curative effect of the Borjomi water.

We stated at Hotel Borjomi Likani during the Christmas 2018 and paid EUR 112 /GEL 341 for one night stay at this hotel

6 Best Value Hotels in Borjomi, Georgia

Disclosure: this article contains 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

Room at hotel Borjomi Likani

The rooms offer air conditioning and a flat-screen TV. The bathrooms provide a hairdryer, bathrobes and slippers.

Small gym at Hotel Borjomi Likani

Guests can dine in the hotel’s restaurant or order room service and breakfasts in the room. Packed lunches and grocery delivery are provided upon request. Other facilities include a bar, concierge service, bicycle rental, 24-hour front desk and luggage storage. Tennis, squash, billiards and horse riding can be enjoyed on site or in the surroundings.

The famous Summer Palace of Russian royal Romanovs’ Family resided on the territory of the hotel is another reason for the guests to visit Borjomi Likani complex. 

How to block visitors from country NGINX + GeoIP Module

16 January, 2019 | Servers | 111 seen

There are a couple of reasons why website administrators consider blocking visitors from particular countries or regions accessing websites, the most common reason probably is hacking/hacking attempts. 

One really nasty way how website hackers act are, they inject malicious code into vulnerable websites and redirect legit audience to shady affiliate or black SEO websites. This method is also known as cloaking. 

By investigating NGINX access.log file we can determine 404 pages (hacking attempts) and with a simple manipulations filter our bad/spammy IP's

See this great guide from EasyEngine about Parsing access.log and error.logs using linux commands to learn more.

Now how to block country IP range with NGINX. Much of the written below is taken from this article: How to block visitors from a country on NGINX [ with GeoIP Module ]

Configure Nginx for blocking

open Nginx configuration file-

and place the following code at the start of http block

In this code will are setting a variable allowed_country which will be used to allow all the country except Russia and China (RU-Russia, CN-China) to access your site.

Now to apply these rules open your website server block file and place the following code inside server block

This will return a 444 HTTP error code for a blocked country. You can set other HTTP status code(404-not found or 403- access denied ) as well.

Reload/Restart Nginx

Now you need to reload or restart Nginx server to apply the changes.

Hope it helps!

"The Necessary War" - Documentary About WWI

15 January, 2019 | Documentaries | 10 seen

The Necessary War is a documentary about WWI, produced by BBC

In this documentary author answers on the question - what was the role of United Kingdom during WWI, and why did Britain enter on conflict with Germany over Belgium?

This year (2014) turns 100 years since WWI or how it was referred in the interwar period - The Great War escalated from the minor conflict in Balkans and took over all Europe for 4 years. 

Watch on YouTube

2019 Old New Year's Firework From Tbilisi

14 January, 2019 | | 8 seen

Here at Piece of Life and ReinisFischer.com we just love fireworks photography. It's one of the photo techniques I wanted to master first when learned secrets of successful photography.

My first experience with fireworks photography was a couple of years ago when I had a chance to visit St. Marks square in Venice during New Year's night. The result?  It was a very crowded event, but still, I managed to get at least something. After we returned from Venice back to Tbilisi I made a kind of lovely Old New Year's firework photography from our balcony. You can see the result here: Old New Year's fireworks in Tbilisi

I made one of my best fireworks photography a year ago from Tamar Mephe bridge in Tbilisi, see Happy New Year! Fireworks Photography from Tbilisi 2018

In 2019 we had another great reason to memorize these fireworks, our baby daughter turned 6-month old and we thought fireworks should be a good ending for such a great event. Here is the result:

Old New Year's fireworks 2019

One of the benefits of having an apt with a view.

• Tbilisi by day (New Apartment Version)
• Tbilisi by night (New apartment version)

Tbilisi by night

About Old New Year

The Old New Year or the Orthodox New Year is an informal traditional holiday, celebrated as the start of the New Year by the Julian calendar. In the 20th and 21st centuries, the Old New Year falls on January 14 in the Gregorian calendar.

The tradition of the Old New Year has been kept in Belarus, Uzbekistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina (mostly in Republika Srpska), Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Montenegro,Moldova, Ukraine (Malanka), Wales (as Hen Galan) and Switzerland (as alter Silvester).