Lintel Installation & First Coffee Break

15 January, 2017 | Home Remodeling | 11 seen

If you have been following my blog and in particular home remodeling series you are already familiar with our construction works at our rural country house we started back in 2015. 

In the Summer 2016 we started another major reconstruction project - demolished old log walls for bricklaying new aerated concrete walls, I have been documenting most of the construction works on blog. In today's home remodeling series  - installing a lintel and enjoying first coffee break at upcoming bathroom (we are building a bathroom here).

I bought a special lintel to install over window opening - I had to hire two guys today to help me install it over. It wasn't so bad after all - we might get along by two people, but three is better (if you don't have special equipment)

Lintel installed over window opening

Walls from AAC blocks

It's not only about installing a lintel today, we added the supporting corner beam. It's just a matter of few more aac blocks and nice finishing and roof at this part of house will be fixed again, as for the last couple of days it was supported just by vertical supporting beams.

…

Privet iz Batuma

14 January, 2017 | Restaurant reviews | 16 seen

Privet iz Batuma, literally meaning Hi from Batumi, if translated from Russian is just another cool cafe located in Georgian seaside resort city Batumi.

Despite the name, giving a feeling you will be returned to the times of Imperial Russia, cuisine served here is quite modern, I managed to order shaslik with French fries, while my better part even got some American style lemonade. Eclectic, thus cool.

Interior at Privet iz Batumi

Yes, quite 19th century.

Mcvadi with French fries

Quite a touristic meal, thus well prepared and pretty affordable. 

Another Day, Another Wall

12 January, 2017 | Home Remodeling | 9 seen

Today was another lovely day to excel a little bit as a constructor. Today we continued to construct walls from aac blocks.

It's fun, easy, like everyone could do this. As long as you keep it all leveled.

See part 1 Remove a Wall to Finish Foundation Concreting and part 2 Constructing Wall From AAC blocks + Finishing Foundation Concreting Works for Bathroom

Bricklaying aac blocks

Today we are going to finish the end wall and construct four rows on front wall. We are building a bathroom here.

Bathroom from inside

Can't wait to install sinks and mirrors here.

View toward house from garden

Today we did another great thing - planned a place for a window. Admit - really lovely bathroom we will have one day!

Georgian Enamel Souvenir Shop in Batumi

11 January, 2017 | Shopping Venues | 14 seen

I tried hard, but couldn't locate precise location or name of this Georgian enamel souvenir shop in Batumi. What I know, most probably it's located on Zviad Gamsakhurdia street in Batumi, in the Goodwill shop area.

Why I believe it's worth to mention this shop? It's very good souvenir shop filled with interesting Georgian enamel art. We bought here lovely ashtrays and decided to return here one for time to buy some cool Georgian interior elements for our rural house.

Georgian enamel dish

They glove in dark- I was especially invited to the dark room, and yes I can confirm these plates glove in the dark. Cool.

Georgian souvenir shop in Georgia

Wide selection of interesting enamel and interior elements.Sad I cannot recall the name of this place. Would love if you would help me - leave me a comment!

Anker Hostel in Oslo

10 January, 2017 | Hotel reviews | 14 seen

Think hostels are cheap? Think twice.

Anker hostel officially is the most expensive hostel I have stayed so far, and there is no surprise about that. Located in Oslo, one of the most expensive cities in the World (yes, I know one of the best salaries as well), you should expect to pay about USD 100 for a hotel and remember - linens are not included. You can get linen for additional about USD 10 price.

We were returning from Malaga to Riga, through Oslo, and had to spend one night in Norway. We booked cheapest available property in Oslo a day before, still sunbathing near Malaga. Arrived here from Moss Airport, Rygge by a very expensive coach (about 70 EUR per person round-trip). Anker hostel is not located far from Oslo Bus terminal and we didn't find any problems locating it. 

Anker Hostel is 800 m from Oslo Central Station and the main shopping street, Karl Johan. It offers good-value accommodation in Oslo city centre. Most rooms have access to a kitchenette.

We got our room in 7th floor, with, as what I think, nice view towards Oslo city

View towards Oslo from Anker hostel

Grunerlokka is a great…

Constructing Wall From AAC blocks + Finishing Foundation Concreting Works for Bathroom

9 January, 2017 | Home Remodeling | 13 seen

In today's home remodeling series we are continuing to build bathroom from scratch.

The other day we removed walls and finished foundation concreting works for one part of house, today we re going to start construct first wall and finish foundation works for another wall, yes still some wall demolition works involved for today.

 A few days ago construction materials arrived and today it was just a a matter of tools and two men power (I had a helping hands) to start some actual works for upcoming bathroom.

Ruberoid coating for hydro isolation 

Before bricklaying we must install a hydro insulation - ruberoid is glued with special mastic. 

Bricklaying first row of aac blocks

There is a special glue/mastic to keep blocks together, but here is the secret first row over ruberoid must be placed on lute.

Four rows of aac blocks

It's not recommenced to build higher that four rows per day (it's about 1.2 meters in height) to avoid block shifting while glue hardens.

Reinforcement

At top of the each row we used reinforcement from 5mm metal rods,…

Sputnik Hotel in Batumi

8 January, 2017 | Hotel reviews | 10 seen

I now have a new favorite hotel in Batumi - Sputnik hotel. 

Surrounded by a garden with tropical plants and trees, this 4-stars Sputnik Hotel & Spa Batumi is nestled in Batumi Hills with a stunning views of the city and black sea. Hotel boasts an outdoor pool and is just 12-minute drive from city centre. There is a restaurant, bars, swimming pool, terraces, and free WiFi at the property.

We stayed at Sputnik hotel for three nights at the end of November 2016, and paid about 300GEL (about USD 100),we got a lovely value deal at local Georgian Groupon clone site, but looking now on Booking the price doesn't seems much higher about $50. That's what I love about good (decent) hotels they are not expensive at all. 

For 100 USD we got a nice de lux room with a bath tube next to our king size bed, and yes that huge flat screen TV hanging over bed. Very cool experience. I must admit I did found some ideas for our rural country house.

De Lux room at Sputnik hotel

I had to make a panoramic photography to fit in all details (unfortunately I missed a bath) 

The elegant rooms at the Sputnik Hotel Batumi are…

Postcards from Oslo

7 January, 2017 | | 11 seen

Seems Postcards from series are one of the most featured at Piece of Life project, and there is no surprise about it, we travel a lot, and visit many interesting cities around the World. So did happened during our latest trip to Norway, what was meant to be just a night in Olso, between layover flights turned out to be a mini postcards from Oslo.

Skyscraper in Oslo

Why doesn't I feel surprised seeing Radisson Sas hotel among one of the tallest buildings in Oslo?

A typical day in Oslo

A channel

Oslo

Remove a Wall to Finish Foundation Concreting

6 January, 2017 | Home Remodeling | 5 seen

Some build home by pouring in foundation first, we started by replacing roof, removing walls and then pouring in foundation. Sounds intrigue? Continue reading to learn more.

In today's home remodeling series a day when we removed first wall and finished pouring in concrete for foundation for our upcoming bathroom. 

I had a handy hands today, Guntars, we started our cooperation already last year, he helped me a lot with roof replacement works. The plan for today was following, to demolish old log wall and pour in the final layer of foundation.

Removing first decks from the wall

It might sound as a complicated task,but in our case it was not, as most of the log and decks were rotten already a century ago. As you can see from picture above, Guntars is removing careless nailed decks from the part where use to been a door - well we didn't now that then, thus I had an idea, there have been a doors some time ago. By reading archives about our property I have learnt that there has been a huge fire in 1967, and half of the house has been burnt. Now we will uncover some details of the past.

Removed logs

We have an…

Chiatura Cable-ways Central Station

5 January, 2017 | Tourism objects | 21 seen

If you have a chance of visiting remote Georgian city Chiatura, make sure you take a free ride at one of the famous cable ways. Also don't forget to take your camera and make one of the interesting photos you will make in Georgia.

Some call them Stalin's cable cars, I prefer to call them - the rare chance to return to the year of 1954.

As I have been told, most of the cable cars have been in service in 1954, and most of them seems haven't been repaired ever since. I remember, few years ago a friend of mine sent me a preivev of Georgian documentary by Gabriel Razmadze Black Mulberry / Shavi tuta about miners in Chiatura, after watching that short, which was mainly concentrated on riding these cable cars in Chiatura, I had an ambivalent feelings regarding both to the documentary and to the Chiatura. Now, once I visited Chiatura by myself - one thing I know for sure - those old and neglected cable cars are great for independent shorts - I don't feel being a documentarist, but I felt it's time to convert my DSLR camera to a video camera and start filming shorts (well, not only in Chiatura, but shorts)

Old and neglected…

Oslo Bus Terminal

4 January, 2017 | Railway / Bus / Ferry | 27 seen

Oslo Bus Terminal was our second stop from our first time short trip to Norway,we arrived here from Moss Airport, Rygge, in June, 2016 and left back from the same terminal to airport in the next morning.

Oslo Bus Terminal  is the main bus station serving Oslo, Norway. Owned by Vaterland AS it is located beside Oslo Central Station and serves local buses to Akershus as well as domestic and international coaches.

Oslo Bus Terminal

The station was built by the Akershus transit authority Stor-Oslo Lokaltrafikk as a bus station for their routes to Downtown Oslo. The station is five minutes walk from Oslo Central Station as well as the rapid transit station Jernbanetorget and the tram and city bus services at ground on Jernbanetorget. On the east side of the station is a tram station named Bussterminalen Grønland that allows the quickest transfers to the Ekeberg Line.

Foundation From Fibo Ceramsite Blocks

3 January, 2017 | Home Remodeling | 21 seen

It happened a a few weeks ago, when digging a trench around the existing foundation I discovered a missing foundation for one part of our rural house.

Back then I quickly realized I will use Fibo ceramsite blocks to boost construction works. 

The other day I poured in concrete footing, and today was the day to add first Fibo ceramsite blocks over footing

Hardened foundation footing

It rained for the last two days, I was a little bit worried, could too much rain could make some damage for footing, but it was just perfect - rock solid foundation footing to put Fiblo blocks over.

Fibo ceramsite blocks

I bought few at local DIY store and transported with our Honda CRV car. A reliable car is a must have.

Fibo clay blocks in foundation

Here is some technical background about Fibo blocks I used for foundation:

• Compression strength: 50 kg / cm ²

Now we are talking - soon, very soon we will start to remove walls and build our dream bathroom from scratch - amazing.

Postcards from Chiatura

2 January, 2017 | | 13 seen

Chiatura is an amazing and worth to explore city in the Imereti region, Georgia.

Famous because of manganese and iron ores. What makes this city special - cable cars, it's believed there are some 17 cable cars / lift systems in operation in Chiatura.

Chiatura have been on my travel list for a very long time already - first visited and documented in November 2016. Yes, we took a ride in those old and neglected, but awesome cable cars. Taking a ride in cable cars here is completely free (as of November 2016)

Soviet era monument in Chiatura

Amazing, charming and unique.

Old and neglected

Due to the steep sided river valley, production workers spent a large amount of time walking up from the town to the mines, there by reducing productivity. In 1954 an extensive cable car system was installed to transport workers around the valley and up to the mines. Still utilising the same infrastructure installed originally in the 1950s, today some 17 separate aerial lift cable car systems still exist around the town. Some of the most interesting lines are just outside the city and for those…

Road To Million Dollars in Saving Account

1 January, 2017 | Investments | 38 seen

I'm 31 now, I have a goal to save one million dollars by the time I will be 60. That's 29 years. That's $34,482.75 I should save each year, next 29 years in the row. That's a lot.

I currently make less than $20,000 per year, by US standard I'm the one who falls into the category - working poor. However, unlike my colleges in US, I live overseas (see living in Georgia) where standard of living in much much lower if compared to US , and in fact with funds I have here in Georgia I can afford pretty decent life style - travel a lot, spend evenings in fancy Tbilisi restaurants and even build a rural country house in other country.

I have some hopes for the bright future and I believe I could make about $45,000 per year in next 5 years (still sounds unrealistic today, let's say hard but doable).

I love challenges - more than three years ago this blog born as a challenge - can you blog 365 days in a row. It has been more than three years now and I still continue writing an article per day.

I always have loved photography, for years I was hanging around with my simple power and shoot…

Average Salary in Georgia 2016 - $ 389

31 December, 2016 | Living in Georgia | 19 seen

Average salary in the Republic of Georgia at the end of the second quarter (Q2) of 2016 was GEL 1035.98 equaling about USD 389.

For the simplicity of further written and calculated, here is the exchange rates I used from Bank of Georgia website on December 14, 2016.

• USD to GEL: 2.6599
• EUR to GEL: 2.8222

If measuring in actual increase that is a huge increase by more than GEL 200 from GEL 773 in 2013. If converted to US dollars that is a drop from $442 in 2013. The truth, as I believe, is somewhere in the middle. 

One thing haven't changed, thus -  inequality on how many receives male and female employees. For example, male employees in average received GEL 1172.9 at the end of Q2 2016, while their female colleague just GEL 746.2.

The biggest salaries in Georgia have been received in financial intermediation (GEL 1,964 / USD 738), construction (GEL 1,398 / USD 525) and public administration (GEL 1,377 / USD 517), while the lowest were set at agriculture, hunting and forestry (GEL 531 / USD 199), education (GEL 544 / USD 204…