Georgia – A Place To Explore

I never heard of Georgia (country) until two years back, when I saw my friends posting their pictures of the place. I get intrigued and asked Google, and yeah I found it. It is not that state in US but a country located at the junction of Europe and Asia.

With a series of conversations I had with random people who had been in Georgia and got to see the place, I have encountered that their feedbacks were contradicting. Well, I do understand that people do have their own set of standards, but somehow it made me think twice. Until one day, I just felt so drained and wanted to go somewhere to relax and unwind. So I started browsing the internet to search for good travel offers and there I found Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, having affordable tour packages. I considered to have it a try and eventually decided to see and discover it for myself.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

Favorably, I am a resident of a GCC country, so I do not need a visa to enter Georgia. My passport got easily stamped upon presenting my valid resident card.

There was no hassle for me to acquire a Georgian visa and fulfill the requirements. For those citizens and residents of countries who are not included on the list, you could obtain a visa through the e-visa portal.

PLANNING

Since few Georgians speak English, it was a must for me to have a tourist guide. I was choosing between acquiring a tour package with hotel accommodations and tours, or just book hotels and local tour guides on my own. After doing all the calculations, I found the latter to be cheaper so I started planning for my tour itineraries.

With the help of TripAdvisor, I was able to find a local tour guide who would do private tours on the routes that I have chosen. I just paid $50 for an advanced payment through Western Union to secure my booking on the date and route that I specified, and the remaining amount was given after the tour in their local currency GEL (Georgian Lari).

Normally, the tours will include the driver-guide, the car, and petrol, pick up and drop off, and the entrance tickets. The food is not included in the package but that would not really matter since food is cheap in Georgia and you have a variety to choose from. However, if you are interested in other activities, like in my case, I wanted to try paragliding, I just prepared some extra money for that.

For the accommodation, I just booked thru Booking.com which is very convenient. I usually find it easy for me to select hotels on the location I prefer by using the site. If you are planning to stay in Tbilisi for your stay in Georgia, I suggest you choose the area near the old town of Tbilisi where you could experience and learn more about the place.

ARRIVAL

Doing a lot of research really helps, avoiding all the unnecessary expenses and delays. At first, I preferred to take the train to the hotel, but then, I will be arriving very early in the morning and the train schedule is limited.

Taking the bus was not an option then, though it is economical, because I wanted to reach the hotel quick, to take a nap and get some energy for the whole day. So, I just decided to take a cab, not the airport taxi because the price is triple, but those regular ones queueing next to it. By the way, taxis in Georgia do not have a meter, so better ask first how much before getting inside the cab, or else you might end up paying more. Also, do not expect taxi drivers to speak English. So what I did, I printed a copy of my booking with the name and address of the hotel written in both English and Georgian. That would solve the language barrier. From the airport to the hotel which is near the old town, I was just charged 40 GEL.

TBILISI

Walking through the cobbled streets, while catching a glimpse of the old town of Tbilisi, I fell in deep admiration. The town with its architectural design and style dated centuries old reflected the richness of its early civilization and the mix influence of both the west and the east; the old churches in every corner which still stand firm, mirrored how the people upheld their doctrines up to the present time. Meandering through the narrow streets, while passing by the balconied houses made of bricks, I always found a wonderful view to capture a lot of photographs.

Climbing up the Narikala Fortress and Mother of Georgia gave me a spectacular view overlooking the city. If walking is not your thing, you could also enjoy the cable car to reach the place. Mtatsminda Mountain would also reward you with stunning panorama which you could reach by the Funicular railway.

THE COUNTRYSIDE

Navigating away from the heart of the city, have immersed me with nature, with its magnificent landscapes and sceneries. The long, serpentine road which is a bit rough in some areas was worth to be tackled, for it is surrounded by the raw beauty of nature.

MTSHKETA

Around 20 km away from Tbilisi, I found a monastery called Jvari located atop a hill which has surprised me with a mesmerizing view overseeing the city of Mtshketa. Mtshketa was the center of trade in ancient times and because of that had once become the capital of the Kingdom of Iberia (Eastern Georgia).

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is the significant structure of Christianity found in Mtshketa. It is where the graves of the Georgian kings could be found and also the robe of Christ has been preserved in this Church.

GORI

One of the highlights in visiting this town is the museum of the former leader of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin. It features the small wooden hut where he was born and also his personal railway carriage which he used during his rule.

UPLISTSIKHE

Driving 14 km away from Gori, is an ancient city of Uplistsikhe which have put me in awe. It is a rock-hewn town where the complexities of its sculptures and style, and the uniqueness of its ornamentations are really remarkable. This age-old cave city is really interesting to explore and standing near the cliff have given me an amazing landscape looking over the valley and the river Mtkvari.

STEPANTSMINDA (formerly KAZBEGI)

From Tbilisi, Kazbegi is approximately 3-hour drive where the trip has rewarded me with a variety of fascinating sceneries. I never felt the areas where it was a bit bumpy and winding because my eyes were focused on the landscapes which never put me to sleep.

We passed by Ananuri fortress, which was a castle constructed for the Dukes of Aragvi in the 13th century. From there, I was able to get a fascinating perspective of the Zhinvali water reservoir. Few kilometers away from the complex, we stopped by an area just near the road where I was able to witness how two rivers which are of contrasting colors, black and white Aragvi, meet at one common point. And in another area, I was able to observe the massive limestone formation, called travertine, deposited for years with hot and cold mineral springs.

Driving forward, we reach the Gudauri ski resort but since I visited the place on a summer, skiing was not possible anymore. But luckily, I was still able to enjoy the snow in some areas and played with it for the first time (laughs). Next time, I will make it a point to schedule my trip in winter to experience skiing for real and also try the chairlift!

The highlight of my visit to Kazbegi is my first ever paragliding experience. It happened just a few distances from the “Monument of the Russian Georgian Friendship”. I did fly for around 30 minutes and the view of the Caucasus mountain ranges was really awesome!

The final destination of our journey is the Gergeti Trinity Church which is located on top of a mountain with an altitude of approximately 2170 meters. Getting there requires a four-wheel drive vehicle which I found it exciting.

However, if you have that endurance for trekking, then the Church is worth the climb. The road is narrow, rugged and steep, but when we reach the top, we were rewarded with breathtaking sceneries. The Church setting is indeed magnificent; I was able to have an amazing viewpoint of the village of Kazbegi and also Mount Kazbek, one of the highest peaks in the Caucasus Mountains. Gergeti Trinity Church was built in the 14th century, which was used as storage for precious Georgian relics during the Persian invasion!

HOW ABOUT GEORGIAN CUISINE?

Georgian food has satisfied my taste buds and the flavors of the dishes have kept me craving for more. Every bite is heavenly which I truly enjoyed. Georgian’s appetizing cuisine is one of the several reasons why my visit has become unforgettable. Once you have planned your holiday in Georgia, never leave without trying the following:

Khinkali

This is a Georgian dumpling made up of twisted dough stuffed with meat and mixture of spices. What makes this special among the other dumplings is the meat broth trapped within. There is a particular way of eating this not to lose that tasty broth. First, bite a tiny portion on its base then immediately gulp the juices inside before eating the filling.

Khachapuri

A bread filled with cheese with a variety of shapes and flavors, depending on its origin. The Adjarian Khachapuri is one of the most popular, which is oblong-shaped bread topped with butter and egg.

Pkhali

A vegetable salad, which could be made of beets, spinach, carrots or cabbage, combined with walnuts, garlic, onion, lemon, and herbs.

Lobio

This is a Georgian dish made with kidney beans, which has a lot of varieties, usually combined with onion, garlic, and coriander.

Churchkhela

A Georgian candy that is sausage-shaped, with concentrated fruit juice (usually grapes) as the main ingredient. It is a string of almonds, hazelnuts, or walnuts, dipped in fruit juices, which is allowed to solidify.

Shkmeruli

A Georgian recipe consisting of chicken which is cooked with milk and garlic sauce.

Ojakhuri

A popular type of Georgian family meal which is made of meat and fried potatoes.