You would think that the worst winter can bring is cold and darkness. Yet if you can escape from it - say, to relaxing hot bath, everything becomes much easier. In Georgia, luckily, there is plenty of sun even in the winter; coldness is mild; and snow/rain - pretty rare as well. However. Recently one of my biggest challenges every morning/evening has become... taking shower. Fellow 'Tbilisians' will know what I mean: during "rush hours" water can be simply too cold even on maximum, it can be turning off all the time; water temperature changing up and down is not unusual either. As I was explained, this is because water is heated with gas, and in winter everyone is using much more gas - to heat the rooms, to cook, etc. Looking on the bright side, contrast shower is considered a healthy thing - and really I haven't been ill this year!
Still, it is also stressful when hot water disappears just after you have got all soapy (been there.....). So we have worked some strategies how to avoid it and enjoy water procedures without big interruptions. Effective 75%.
To start with, turn on the water and leave it for a while. Temperature will get steady and you will know if it is worth to get under water - or to wait for the better times.
Ask for help. If someone will be nearby to check if the gas works properly, in case it turns off you at least won't need to get out of the bathroom to turn it on again.
At least in our home water temperature can be regulated both by the tap, and at the gas heater - one can put the flames higher or lower. Therefore, everyone regulates it only at the gas heater and DOES NOT TOUCH the tap. Keep it on maximum and hope for the best.
The taps in the bathroom and in the kitchen are somehow connected. Nobody should open water tap in the kitchen while you're showering - it will reduce pressure in the bathroom, and temperature might drop as well.
Consider taking shower when people do not use much gas - early in the morning or late at night (after 11pm). It's just safer.
And finally, our latest discovery - if you leave the window in the kitchen (where the gas heater is) open, there is less chance that gas will turn off.
Sounds ridiculous? oh well...some time ago I wouldn't have thought I would ever need such strategies. But if you are there...you just live and learn, and be creative.
"Do not try to slide into a tree or anything like that... it just won't work". <...> "If you want to have sore muscles or look like a moron - sure, go ahead, use your arms for turning." Such and more "youtube" advice followed me this weekend, on my first snowboarding trip. Here in Georgia winter sports are very popular (and easy to practice). You just get into car/marshrutka/taxi/plane - depending on your social status, wallet depth, destination and will for comfort. Oh sorry - will for comfort is quite a commonality here in Georgia, so just consider your abilities and get ready.
"Nebandykit stabdyti čiuoždami į medį ar dar ką nors... tokie metodai neveikia" <...>; "Jei norit skaudančių raumenų ir atrodyt kaip avinai - pirmyn, naudokitės rankomis posūkiuose". Tokie ir panašūs "youtube" pamokų patarimai mane išlydėjo į pirmąjį nuotykį su snieglente šį savaitgalį. Čia Gruzijoje žiemos sportu užsiimėti labai populiaru - ir lengva. Tereikia įšokti į mašiną/mikriuką/taksi/lėktuvą - priklausomai nuo jųsų statuso, piniginės gylio, vietos kur važiuojate ir komforto troškimo. Nors tiesa - komforto čia Gruzijoje nori visi, tad geriau tiesiog pasverti galimybes ir pasiruošti įdomiam savaitgaliui.
There are 4 winter resorts: Gudauri (up to 3 hours from Tbilisi; pretty steep hills; a bit expensive,but it's not necessary to stay overnight), Mestia (new and very far away, in the West-North mountains; president goes there), Bakuriani (kind of family place, beginner-friendly, but could work for more advanced skiers/snowboarders too. 4-5 hour drive, so you'll definitely need to stay there overnight) and - Betania.
Gruzijoje yra keturi žiemos kurortai: Gudauris (apie 3 val kelio nuo Tbilisio; gana statūs šlaitai; šiek tiek brangėlesnis, bet norint sutaupyti nebūtina apsistoti ten pernakt), Mestija (naujas kurortas toli šalies šiaurės-vakaruose; čia ir gali prireikti lėktuvo - prezidentas ten dažnai keliauja, kiek rodo TV), Bakuriani (šeimyniškas kurortas, tinkantis ir pradedantiesiems, ir labiau patyrusiems slidininkams/snieglentininkams. Apie 4-5val kelio nuo Tbilisio, tad greičiausiai teks apsistoti čia bent vienai nakčiai), ir galiausiai - Betanija.
The last one is where I went. It is practically on the outskirts of Tbilisi, very comfortable for one day trip. The place is usually full of families with kids, and beginning skiers and snowboarders (the so called "chainiks", as I was explained). Which is great, cause when you fall, you know you're not the only one.
Į paskutinįjį aš ir keliavau savęs išbandyti. Betanija yra praktiškai Tbilisio užmiestyje, tad labai patogu ten nuvažiuoti kad ir popietei praleisti. Kaip supratau, dažniausiai čia pilna šeimų su vaikais, taip pat pradedančiųjų slidininkų ir snieglentininkų (vadinamų "čainikais", kaip man buvo paaiškinta:). Ir tai tikrai puiku, nes ritantis nuo tos kalvos žemyn niekas nesijaučia vienišas - aplinkui daug tokių, bandančių išmokti išlaikyti pusiausvyrą ant sniego.
We rented our snowboards in the city - and that was very smart, cause we didn't need to queue for them at the place. And also we could get it cheaper for a better choice: 20 GEL per day for one snowboard + special boots, quite good deal.
Savo snieglentes nuomavomės mieste - ir labai gerai padarėme, nes atvažiavus nereikėjo stovėti ilgėliausių eilių prie nuomos punkto (kur neaišku kas bebuvo likę). O išvakarėse pavyko visai neblogai susitarti: dvidešimt larių (apie trisdešimt litų) dienai už snieglentę ir specialius batus. Su pritvirtinimais ir palinkėjimais.
I was pretty excited to get on the board - but fun thing was, our taxi drivers were just as excited for us! When one of them sent radio-greetings on the second day morning, I started thinking that it was totally worth it. It seems, skiing is quite usual in Georgia, and snowboarding arouses much more emotions.
Važiuodama nekantravau pirmą kartą užlipti ant snieglentės - bet įdomiausia, ir gan netikėta, kad mūsų taksi vairuotojai džiūgavo ne ką mažiau:) Kai antros dienos rytą gavome linkėjimų per taksi radiją nuo vakarykščio vairuotojo, pagalvojau, kad visai verta buvo. Panašu,kad slidinėjimas Gruzijoj įprastas ir nieko nenustebins, bet snieglentės sukelia kur kas daugiau emocijų.
And for the end - how it all looks like. Oh well.... I guess in the beginning it goes pretty much like this: Ir galiausiai - kaip visa tai atrodė iš tiesų. Hmmm..... pradžioje turbūt ėjosi maždaug šitaip:
No, I didn't try to jump. And I didn't fall THAT painfully. But I did fall... a lot...And it all felt like "oh my, oh my, Im going down the hill, and it's all so fast, NOW WHAT SHOULD I DOOOOO, STOOOOP!!!!" :)
Ne, aš šokinėti per tramplinus nebandžiau. Ir nekritau TAIP skausmingai. Bet tiesa, teko kristi.... ir ganėtinai nemažai...ir jausmas tai buvo maždaug "o varge, o varge, leidžiuosi žemyn, o koks greitis, O KĄ DABAR DARYYYYT??? KAIP SUSTOOOOOOOT???" :)
But luckily, the second day was much better from the start. I guess the whole body somehow adapts to the snowboard and starts to feel it - so hopefully, little by little advancing, snowboarding will become pure enjoyment.
Bet visa laimė, antra diena prasidėjo žymiai ramiau ir užtikrinčiau - tikriausiai kūnas tiesiog prisitaikė prie snieglentės, pasidarė lengiau jausti ir kontroliuoti savo judesius, išlaikyti pusiausvyrą - tad tikiuosi, pamažu tobulėjant snieglentė taps gyvenimo būdo dalis, kuria bus galima tiesiog mėgautis.
