Blog Archive: July 2023

Top 7 Best Selling Intel Core i9 13th generation laptops

31 July, 2023 | Laptop Reviews | 319 seen

Laptops with Intel Core i9 13th gen processors, code name Raptor Lake, have been around for a while already. First launched on October 2022, the Intel Core i9 is popular among gaming and business laptops.

In this article, I've listed the top 7 best-selling laptops with Intel Core i9 13th-generation processors. 

A quick note: This article contains affiliate links to Amazon.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a purchase on the 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 are updated daily. For actual prices please refer to the product page on Amazon.

• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Graphics: Packed for pure performance with up to 140W TGP.Operating Temperature : 0°C (32˚F) to 40°C (104˚F).
• 13th Gen Intel Core i9 13950HX Processor: From full-blown AAA gaming to full-…

Jomardi X Park And Rafting

26 July, 2023 | Outdoor Activities | 131 seen

"X Park" run by “Jomardi” Rafting Club is located nearby Tvalivi village on the left side of Pshavis Aragvi River at 900 meters above sea level.

I have been familiar with the Jomardi Rafting Club since 2011 when I took my first rafting ride here in Georgia.

At the start of June 2023, my better part had a birthday, and we agreed to celebrate it together with the office employees by having a rafting ride. Great for party, great for team building. 

For getting here we organized a van from Tbilisi for up to 24 persons. Mamuka from Jomardi helped to find us a driver with a van and sent the driver to Vake, right to the office. The transfer fee was GEL 350 for both directions. 

The price for a rafting ride was GEL 80 per person. We bought some fish and meat in Tbilisi. There are several grilling areas available on spot.

There is a very nice camping area organized on-site, featuring gazebos, and even a cafeteria.

A rope park, zip lines, and an obstacle course are just a few of the activities available at X Park

There are easy, medium, and difficult aerial rope routes. Children as young as 6 can walk…

The Ultimate Israel Itinerary: Exploring Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Eilat, and Tel Aviv

25 July, 2023 | Travel guides | 21 seen

We decided to head to Israel for New Year's Eve of 2023, where we spent short, about a week-long trip to the Holy Land, exploring the cities of, Jerusalem, and Bethlehem, basking in the sun at Herod's place in Eilat, and then returning to Tel Aviv. The trip was an unforgettable experience, and we are excited to share our journey with you.

We arrived to Israel from Tbilisi, Georgia by El AL arways, landing at Ben Gurion airport, from which we took a train to Jerusalem, the train ride was shot about 25 minutes and in no matter of time we checked in at our airbnb on Be'er Sheva street in Jereusalem. Paying about $350 for a 2-night stay 

In Jerusalem we visited the Western Wall and Mahane Yehuda Market, we also visited Bethlehem, located in the Palestinian territories, just a short drive from Jerusalem. I jsut caught a random street taxi and bargained paying about USD 100 for a trip back and forth inside the Palestianian authority.

The city is famous for being the birthplace of Jesus Christ, and we visited the Church of the Nativity, which is built on the site where Jesus was born. We were humbled by the experience of being in such a significant…

DIY Frame House in Latvia: Walls and Rafters Completed

21 July, 2023 | Frame House | 64 seen

At the end of June 2023, we traveled to Latvia for about two weeks, during which I continued work with our frame house and installed both walls and rafters.

In this article, I'm sharing notes and photos from the construction. 

It was a huge surprise when arriving on site I saw a lot of overgrown grass.

It was just a few months ago, we come to Latvia to install this foundation on the grounds crews.

The Cost-Saving Way to Build a Frame House in Latvia: Our DIY Project (Screw Foundation Piles)

Just like in the Spring, I ordered wood from PATA Saldus, here is delivered wood both for walls and roof and also slats

I made the first frames myself, using just a hand saw and a drill. I thought I will be able to lift these walls up alone, but turned out heavier than expected. 

With the help of neighbors (Mamma Santa) - I was able to lift up these walls.

It was Summer Solstice evening and my mom come to visit us from Riga.

Once the walls were finished, it was time to think about how to get a top of the construction and install rafters for the roof

Installing inner wall

I had…

Summer Solstice 2023

20 July, 2023 | | 46 seen

In case you wondered how we celebrated Summer's Solstice 2023  - we celebrated it at our rural country house some 25 km from Liepåja in Latvia. Having a lot of fun.

I invited my mom to join us for the little party. Just four of us.

We bought this little Dacha last year for just EUR 5,000 and now we have a place where to come and celebrate at least Līgo once in a year.

I had to spend a good evening trimming grass tonight

Having a property puts on a lot of responsibility, and my biggest fight for years - grass.

Small but hearty Līgo

Jerusalem in December: A Must-Visit Destination for the New Year Holiday

18 July, 2023 | Travel guides | 22 seen

Jerusalem is a city steeped in history, culture, and religion, making it a fascinating destination to visit any time of the year. However, there is something particularly special about visiting Jerusalem in the weeks leading up to New Year's.

In this article, we'll explore some of the highlights of experiencing Jerusalem before New Year's eve. We arrivied to Jerusalem from Ben Gurion airport terminal and our discoveries could start. After booking nice apartment on Be'er Sveva street, we left exploring city, by visitng The Western Wall, Mahane Yehuda Market and even the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Later on we left Jerusalem for Eilat and returned back to Tel Aviv. 

One of the must-see attractions in Jerusalem is the Old City, which is home to some of the most significant religious sites in the world. Visitors can wander through the narrow alleyways and ancient buildings, taking in the sights and sounds of this historic area. Some of the highlights include the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Dome of the Rock. In the weeks leading up to New Year's, the Old City is decorated with festive lights,…

Vialand Amusement Park in Istanbul

13 July, 2023 | Tourism objects | 111 seen

Vialand Theme Park is a huge amusement park and shopping mall located in Istanbul, Turkey.

We visited this theme park at the end of May 2023, during our weekend trip to Istanbul. We paid a 240 USD entry fee for a family of three (also kids pay full fare).

After visiting the park I was left with the feeling that the price might be way too overpriced for the attractions we actually used.  As we were traveling with our 4-year-old daughter, we were using just the bare minimum. The total price of USD 240 for spending a few hours at this theme park. Well, it depends. The daughter was quite happy at least. and that is the most important thing!

For getting here, we used BiTaksi ride-sharing app, see: How to Get around Istanbul for cheap with this ride-sharing Taxi app. There are zillions of shops and dining options located at Vialand

On the Firday day, when we visited Vialand theme park, it was not overcrowded (as we thought before), in fact it seemed working on some 20% capacity.

There are quite a lot of options to choose from, but seems many are aimed for teenagers. Though there is plenty to do also for small kids.…

Hotel Baykal in Istanbul

12 July, 2023 | Hotel reviews | 30 seen

Hotel Baykal is located on the shores of Golden Horn in Unkapani, Istanbul.

This hotel is located about 3 km from the historical Sultanahmet area.  Free WiFi is accessible in all areas.

We booked Hotel Baykal for a 3-night stay at the end of May 2023 during our short trip to Istanbul. At the time of booking, we were just choosing the cheapest options available, and I have to say this was a bargain deal.

In total, we paid about USD 160 for our 3-day stay here, which is something really awesome. We could spend about $1,000 for a luxury stay, with access to swimming pools, a la carte restaurant, but this time we decided to save huge, and indeed this was quite a value deal.

For getting here from Sabiha Gocken airport I ordered airport shuttle for about EUR 60, directly at the airport, but you could use ride-sharin app like Bi-Taksi and save at least half of that, see: How to Get around Istanbul for cheap with this ride-sharing Taxi app

The rooms at Baykal Hotel feature a TV, wardrobe and heating. Each has a private bathroom. Some rooms also have sea views.

Located in a historic neighborhood with…

Ring in the New Year in Eilat: A Guide to the Top Attractions

11 July, 2023 | Travel guides | 37 seen

Eilat is a city in southern Israel that is well known for its sunny beaches and vibrant nightlife. The city is especially popular during the New Year's holiday season when visitors flock to the area to enjoy the warm weather and festive atmosphere. In this article, I'll explore some of the highlights of visiting Eilat around New Year's.

We come to Eilat, especially for New Year's Eve, and booked Herods Boutique hotel, paying about USD 750 for a 2-night stay. Might be a bit expensive, but the stay was awesome and it was New Year's Eve. We chose Israil Air to fly from Ben Gurion Airport to Ramon airport near Eilat for getting here, additonaly a taxi service form the airport. The domestic flight was about 1 hour. 

One of the main draws of Eilat is its stunning beaches. During the winter months, the water is still warm enough for swimming, and the beaches are less crowded than during the summer season. Some of the most popular beaches in Eilat include Coral Beach, Mosh's Beach, and Dolphin Reef. Visitors can relax on the sand, swim in the crystal-clear waters, or participate in water sports such as windsurfing or jet skiing.

Another popular activity in…

Our frame house has suffered significant damage due to the strong winds

7 July, 2023 | Frame House | 34 seen

Over the past few weeks, I have been fully engrossed in the laborious task of constructing our frame house from the ground up. Unfortunately, amidst the hustle and bustle of the construction process, I have been remiss in updating our progress on this blog. However, I regret to inform you that our endeavors have taken a devastating blow.

This past weekend marked a significant milestone as we completed the roof installation and eagerly commenced the placement of the crosswind sheet. With each passing day, we inched closer to the realization of our dream home. Today, as I was in the midst of finalizing the order for the metal roofing, I received some profoundly disheartening news.

A tumultuous storm, characterized by gales reaching an astounding speed of 21 meters per second, ravaged Latvia earlier today, on July 3, 2023. Tragically, our house fell victim to the unrelenting wrath of this tempestuous weather event.

The forceful winds unleashed their fury upon our fledgling structure, causing considerable damage that exceeded our worst fears. The heart-wrenching sight that greeted me upon surveying the aftermath was nothing short of a…

Elia Monastery near Dedoplis Tskaro

6 July, 2023 | Churches and Monasteries | 44 seen

Elia monastery is located in Kakheti, in the southern part of Dedoplistskaro, on a double-peak limestone mountain. The Temple of Saint Ilia Tezbiteli is located on Mount Elia since the sixth century. Many people gather here every August 2, on the day of the great prophet, Saint Ilia Tezbiteli. They overnight on a double-peaked mountain and pray at the bottom of the Elia rock.

I first learned about this beautiful place from our German friend Ralph, during the Vashlovani trip back in Summer 2021. Back then we didn't made a stop here, just passed it by and saw from the distance.

It was back in Summer of 2023 when we actually visited this place and I had a chance to make a few close-ups with a drone and iPhone.

Archaeological excavations prove that the temple of St. Ilia Tezbiteli, existed in the VI century, but the exact date of its construction is unknown. Its restoration was possible in 2006.

The only written note was kept by Alexandre Dumas, who saw the rock of Elia during his trip to Caucasus and Georgia in 1858 and made a brief entry: “There is another mountain, which is located about six miles from the…

How To Get pre-paid unlimited internet in Turkey with eSIM

5 July, 2023 | Travel guides | 36 seen

Staying connected while traveling is crucial in today's digital age, and having access to mobile internet is essential for most people.

Turkey, with its rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes, is a popular destination for travelers from around the world. To ensure you stay connected during your trip, one convenient option is to use an eSIM (embedded SIM) for mobile internet. 

During our latest independent trip to Istanbul, I was exploring my options for getting a sim card with internet for my phone and was very happy to learn that there is actually eSIM available with prepaid unlimited internet for Turkey.

Instead of actually visiting some phone store, buying a sim card, and all that hassle, there is finally a service where you can get unlimited and prepaid internet in 5 minutes with the ease of a few clicks.

The service is called Holafly and cost only $19.00 for a 5-day usage with unlimited internet. See: International travel eSIM for Turkey

I was able to pay for this order by PayPal and got all the information on how to activate this service in my e-mail. in about 5 minutes it was all set and ready. 

For the…

The Top Beaches to Visit in Tel Aviv: Unwind and Relax by the Mediterranean Sea

4 July, 2023 | Travel guides | 42 seen

Tel Aviv is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Israel, known for its vibrant culture, nightlife, and beaches. With over 14 kilometers of coastline, Tel Aviv boasts some of the most beautiful and accessible beaches in the country.

During our latest trip to Israel I had a chance to spend a day in Tel Aviv's beaches and was left with that white envy feeling, how lucky Israelis are, having such nice beaches just in front of their city. Just amazing.

Coming back from the trip, I was reasearching more about Tel Aviv's beaches and here's a guide to the top beaches in Tel Aviv.

Frishman Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Tel Aviv. It's located near the city center and offers stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. The beach is well-equipped with showers, restrooms, sun loungers, and parasols, making it an ideal spot for families with kids. Frishman Beach also has a volleyball court and a fitness area, perfect for those looking to stay active during their beach day.

Gordon Beach is located in the heart of Tel Aviv and is a favorite among locals and tourists alike. The beach is wide…