An Inconvenient Border: Where China Meets North Korea
| Documentaries | 4 seen
An Inconvenient Border: Where China Meets North Korea is a great documentary by ABC news I would highly recommend to all interested in North Korea / China.
Both North Korea and China has been on my radar for the last decade at least.
Bob Woodruff’s daring 880-mile journey along the China-North Korea border examines the delicate relationship between the two countries and the United States.
Watch it on YouTube
Traveling to Madrid? Here are Top 14 5-star Luxury Hotels in City Center
| Hotel reviews | 11 seen
After two great week-long travels to the regions of Catalonia (2014) and Andalusia (2016) in Spain, Madrid is planned as our next destination in Spain.
To prepare better I decided to explore what are our options, this time staying in the city center.
Planning a Trip to Spain: How to Get a Prepaid SIM Card in Spain
Madrid City Center is a great choice for travelers interested in tapas, architecture, and parks.
In today's article, I've listed top 14 5-star luxury hotels in Madrid, Spain
Disclosure: hotels listed below contain links to Booking.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a reservation on Booking.com site, I might earn an affiliate income, at no cost to you.
NH Collection Madrid Paseo del PradoLocated on Paseo del Prado Boulevard and offering wonderful views of the Neptune Fountains, NH Collection Madrid Paseo del Prado offers free WiFi, an on-site restaurant, and gym with city views.
Spacious, air-conditioned rooms feature a flat-screen TV and Nespresso coffee machine. Their Indian marble bathroom comes with a rain-…
Tbilisi Office 2.0.
| Living in Georgia | 12 seen
In October 2018, we changed not only apartments but also offices as well. In short, we moved from Agmanashabeli avenue to Vake district in Tbilisi.
There is a little change compared to previous years when trying to find a new office in Tbilisi. Let's say this, this time we got lucky. See: Renting an Office in Tbilisi
See pictures from the previous office here: Audio & Video Transcription Service by Caucasus Translations
Working space in the new Tbilisi office
The office is located on the tenth floor in a residential / office/aparthotel building in Vake
Interior at the new office
We bought furniture (shelf, table, and chairs) at local Jysk store, paying about $1,000 for it
Second room
It's planned to equip this space as a meeting room
View from the balcony
The dwelling house in the front kind of reminds me of the ones I have seen a lot in Turkey.
View from the balcony
As you can see, construction is booming in Tbilisi (at least in 2018). If I would have a spare couple of millions I would most probably invest…
TP-Link TL-WN725N 150Mbps Wireless N Nano USB Adapter Review
| Gadget Reviews | 14 seen
TP-Link is a popular brand in Georgia, and most probably in CIS region, manufacturing Wireless routers and wireless adapters (probably a lot of other useful gadgets as well).
I remember about 10 years ago I used a PCI WIFI adapter to have a WiFi functionality for a desktop PC.
Now, in 2018, when moving into a new office, I decided it would be cool to get rid of at least some of the wiring for or desktop computers. And here comes miniature, I would even say nano-sized TP-Link Wireless adapter
- Sleek miniature design so small that once plugged in, can be left in a Laptop’s USB port
- Speedy wireless transmission at up to 150Mbps ideal for video streaming or internet calls
- Advanced Security: Supports 64/128 WEP, WPA, PA2/WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK(TKIP/AES)
- Connect in no time with easy setup utility in 14 languages
I was amazed I even didn't have to run any installation, once plugged in the PC's USB port, it just worked out of the box
Office Computers Equipped with WIFI USB adapters
Audio & Video Transcription Service by Caucasus Translations
TL-WN725N in the box…
Tbilisi by night (New apartment version)
| Living in Georgia | 7 seen
It has been a while since I last time did a night photography (one of my favorite photography techniques).
The thing is, recently we moved in to a new apartment here in Tbilisi, which offers a very fantastic views towards Mtatsminda, TV tower and other..
Back in the night of October 21, 2018 I took out my tripod, put it on one out of three huge balconies and here you go:
Tbilisi by night - long exposure
What's really great, the next time I will want make those cool stripes I won't even need to leave my apt. Everything I can get from the balcony. Awesome.
See: Practicing Photography: Doing Night Shots - Tbilisi By Night
View towards mount Mtatsminda
Guess what? I now have the best spot in the city to make New Years fireworks photography. Ha.
- Old New Year's fireworks in Tbilisi
- Happy New Year! Fireworks Photography from Tbilisi 2018
View towards Tbilisi Railway station
Here I'm playing with long exposures, high ISO and wide aperture.
Old and New
King David tower in the background. Been documented for the last 5 years. See…
Growing Blog Audience to 200,000/mo users in next 365 days
| Blogging | 10 seen
Five years ago I started this blog with an experiment - Can you blog 365 days in a row? Now, five years later I know for sure, yes you can, you even can blog 5 X 365 days in a row. At least that what I just did.
Now, five years ago, when started this experiment I was looking to get a blog traffic of 6,000 users/mo at the end.
Here was my motivation five years ago:
The reason I'm asking this question is - when starting something new - it all seems so exciting, so adventurous. But then comes routine, especially for blogging thing - you see that results are not so great.
In the past five year's blog has attracted more than 3 million users and generated more than 4.2 million page views.
Blog traffic October 2013 - October 2018 (Data source: Google Analytics)
For the past five years, I have been writing every single day - that's more than 1800 days not missing an article (Ok, I missed two days back in 2014 actually) - consecutive writing has been my corner strategy.
Since the second half of 2017, the average blog's audience has been more than…
Top 17 5-star Luxury / Boutique Hotels in Manhattan, New York
| Hotel reviews | 8 seen
Get the celebrity treatment with world-class service at the finest 5-star luxury hotels in Manhattan, New York.
For a luxury stay at one of the 5-star hotels of Manhattan, you should be ready to spend starting ~ $250 per night up to $1,250. From my own experience, I have spent "just" $600 for a 4-night stay at INNSIDE New York NoMad Hotel back in 2017
In today's article I've listed top 17 5-star luxury hotels in Manhattan, New York
Disclosure: hotels listed below contain links to Booking.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a reservation on Booking.com site, I might earn an affiliate income, at no cost to you.
The Beekman, a Thompson HotelThe Beekman, a Thompson Hotel is located 500 m from the Brooklyn Bridge and the Westfield World Trade Center.
The rooms and suites boast custom beds, leather headboards, oak floors, craft cocktail tables and marble bathrooms.
The Beekman is architecturally distinguished by its 9-story atrium that has a pyramidal glass ceiling at the top. The upper stories of the atrium are bordered by balconies.…
Funicular Restaurant Complex
| Restaurant reviews | 54 seen
High above Tbilisi you will find the most stylish centre for food and drink in the city: the Funicular Restaurant Complex.
Without doubt, the Funicular Complex is one of the most important places in Tbilisi, with its significant long history dating back to 1905. I have been visiting this place on rare occasions, during trip to Mtatsminda mountain.
My first visit here, probably was back in 2014, during Latvia - Georgia business forum. Nowadays, Funicular Restaurant complex has become one of the most popular Tbilisi restaurants among city guests.
Panoramic views toward Tbilisi
The Funicular Complex includes 4 separates dining facilities: Chela (traditional Georgian), Puri Guliani (bakery), and the signature Restaurant Funicular and its Ball room. Ball room is perhaps the ultimate venue for a conference, wedding reception or party, with the facilities and service to match.
Goodies at Puri Guliani
With a brand new Funicular train going from Chonkadze Street, one can take a magnificent trip to the Funicular Complex and enjoy dinner with stunning panoramic views over Tbilisi.
Mtatsminda Park in Tbilisi
| Tourism objects | 47 seen
Mtatsminda Park is an amusement facility located atop on Mount Mtatsminda on a 770-meter height overlooking the Georgian capital Tbilisi.
It is the highest point in Tbilisi. Located on more than 100 hectares. Park has more than 100 years of history. Mtatsminda Park is the most popular theme park in Tbilisi. It is the best choice for fun and relaxation.
You can find various cafes, Souvenirs shops, child entertainment center, a wedding house, picnic zones, a Ferris Wheel at the edge of the mountain, offering splendid views over the city, funicular tram and other fun attractions on the venue.
Carousels in Mtatsminda park, Tbilisi
Fresh air, fascinating view of Tbilisi, fun rides, attractions, constant events, excellent customer service will let you relax, have fun and enjoy your free time with your friends and family members.
Views over Tbilisi
To use most of the park's attractions you should buy a special plastic card of Mtatsminda park at the cash desk in front of the entrance. The card can be used at rides and funicular. Each attraction cost some money, you should…
Tbilisi TV Tower
| Tourism objects | 25 seen
Tbilisi TV tower probably is the most visible construction in the city, located inMtatsminda I haven't heard though it would be opened for public.
Here is what we know about it:
Georgia Tbilisi TV Broadcasting Tower is a free-standing tower structure used for communications purposes. The tower is located in Tbilisi, Georgia and was built in 1972.
The preceding structure, built in 1955, was moved to the vicinity of the city of Gori.
Tbilisi TV tower
The tower is operated by "Georgian Teleradiocenter", that was established 1955. Communication systems on the tower include regular broadcast, MMDS, pager and cellular, commercial TV, and amateur radio repeater. The tower is 274.5 m (901 ft) high on a mountain at 719.2 m (2,360 feet) above sea level.
The present tower has been put on the list of the unique European TV towers.
Five Year Blog Anniversary
| Blogging | 5 seen
Today, on October 10th, 2018, ReinisFischer.com website is celebrating its 5th birthday. Each blog anniversary is a huge milestone for me and the 5th birthday is no exception. What has started as a simple experiment has turned out to be a successful online business venture!
It was just yet another Autumn evening when back on October 10, 2013, I registered domain name www.ReinisFischer.com, but in fact, I started my blog some 7 days earlier on October 3rd, 2013.
I had my blog been set up and it already was filled with a few articles, before it was actually launched. Yes, such strange behavior probably can be explained that geeks do geek things, though I don't see a geek in me.
I started this blog thing with a goal - To blog 365 consecutive days and when I launched I was looking to reach about 6,000 monthly users by the end of my first blogging year. The fact is, after the first year of consecutive blogging I reached just 3,364 monthly users, what was just a half of my goal. Now 5 years later I'm reaching an audience of 100,000 and more users monthly. Amazing,though it has been a long road
…
Cafe Gardeni Tbilisi
| Restaurant reviews | 8 seen
Cafe Gardeni is located on D. Aghmanashebeli street in Tbilisi, just behind the Bank of Georgia building. I have been coming to this place for years just to enjoy a cup of Turkish coffee.
Over the years I have learned here are served great homemade dumplings, tasty ice cream and more.
The owner of this place is a very intellectual Armenian man KamoJan, we have been exchanging views over foreign policy, internal happenings and of course KamoJan knows all the best Armenian jokes.
Cafe Gardeni in Tbilisi
I know that KamoJan loves to experiment with tastes and he has a great mixture of splendid coffee varieties.
Tbilisoba 2018
| Living in Georgia | 15 seen
Tbilisoba or Tbilisi City Festival is an annual October festival which celebrates the diversity and history of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. If you are planning your first trip to Georgia - consider your trip here during the city festival and try local cuisine (horis mcvadi) and that awesome Georgian wine.
Tbilisoba 2018wase held on October 6-7 in the streets of ..you are right - Tbilisi. This year's Tbilisoba was special for us, as it was the first Tbilisoba we took with us our little baby girl. We went by foot from our apartment to the Rike Park and ending this walk at the right embankment of Mtkvari. My best finds this year was: mcvadi from farmers.
With the help of the Police, we caught a taxi and safely returned home. Tbilisoba definitely is kids and even infant friendly.
I made a lot of photos of our little cute one but missed regular photos (without our baby), here is one though:
Tbilisoba 2018
Tbilisoba was first held on October 28, 1979, and has since become an established tradition. The festival features open-air concerts of traditional…
Back to Georgia, Back to Gym
| Health & Wellness | 11 seen
It has been already 9 days since we have been relocated back to Georgia, and it has been already 5 days I have been back to the gym.
Now this time I returned 120.5kg... that's insane. A year ago my weight was about 102 kilos. On average I have gained 20 kilos in 2018. There are two simple reasons to explain this. First and most important - a newborn baby born. Second - I quit smoking about 4 months ago.
I believe both happenings have a huge impact on my total body weight. Now, I feel really happy holding little toddler on my hands and knowing she will raise a healthy girl free of tobacco smoke. Also, I feel it's time to get back into the shape.
I renewed my membership at Champions Academy (160GEL.mo) and 5 days later have already lost 2 kilos or have got down to 118.5 kg. Still, at least 18.5kilos to lose. I feel this is going to be a tough autumn/ winter season.
- How I Lost 4.4 Pounds In 5 days In The Gym
- Back to the Gym - Get Under 99kg Beard Challenge
My best result so far has been 97.2 kg on March 23rd, 2017. The worst so far has been recorded on October 1, 2018, at 120.5 kg.
Tip…
Actual Price Index at Tbilisi Market - October 2018
| Living in Georgia | 8 seen
Three years ago I launched a fun project - Actual Price Index at Tbilisi market, just to document price movements for veggies and fruits in the market, depending on the season. In total I have made two kinds of research for 2015 and 2016, see: Actual Price Index in Tbilisi Market (Georgia) - At Start of October 2015 and Actual Price Index at Tbilisi Market - March 2016
Now, today, three years later I once again decided to measure, how prices have changed in the past three years.
Here is my basket of goods I bought in Tbilisi market on October 1, 2018
Veggies from Tbilisi market
2018 2015 1 kg potatoes 1 0.7 1 bunch of spring onions 1 0.6 1 bunch of parsley 1 1 1 bunch of dills 1 1 1 bunch of radishes 2 1* 1 kg red pepper 2.5 5* 1 kg onions 2 1.3 1 kg washed carrots 2 2 1 watermelon (~6kg) 2,2 5 Churchkhela 1.5-2 - Walnuts 1kg 22 -*Prices are from 2016
As you can see there has been some inflation over the years, but also…
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