Georgia

Driving from airport to the city, one is struck by the resemblance to India. Unattractive, ill-maintained  apartment blocks, with clothes hanging out to dry in the balcony.

Entering the Old Tbilisi, with its old-style buildings and a castle on top of the hill overlooking the city, you feel relieved that now it has started resembling Europe. Not Western Europe though. Nowhere as posh.

Beware of air B&B in  Old Tbilisi. The apartment we stayed in was  in a street so dodgy and a building so ramshackle, we almost refused to go inside, thinking it was a mistake.

But even the ramshackle buildings, if they are painted, have a kind of antique charm.

Lots of resemblance to the old, old shawls of kotachi wadi, Mumbai.

The peace bridge looks like a metal hat which has been thrown across to straddle the two banks of Mtkavari river. It's modern look is in stark contrast to the quaint, antique heritage look of the buildings of old Tbilisi.

There is a scenic cable car ride which takes you up to a Fortress called Narikala, on top of a hill. You can get great views of Tbilisi from this hill top.

First time I ever saw a commercial establishment (operating out of a van) selling karak chai along side vodka (cha cha- the Georgian vodka made of grape skin.)

You can walk along the fortress to the statue of a formidable lady who holds a cup of wine in one hand to welcome friendly visitors and a sword to discourage enemies. This is the Mother of Georgia.

The local public transport consists of yellow coloured buses called Matrushkas.

Georgia is much cheaper than Dubai in almost all respects. feel happy.

You know it's a poor country by the number of old people who come up begging for money. That is something you have got unused to, after living in Dubai for some time. Makes you feel sad.

The main street is called Rustaveli, after a poet of yore. It has some pretty buildings, especially the Opera House, which is beautiful, symmetrical and well-maintained.

Expect to see many churches and monasteries as tourist spots. This is a very Christian country.

Food, thank heavens, is not as bland as continental European cuisine. But you will get tired of eating the very fattening khacapuri- manakeesh to you and me.

Interesting to see khinkali- savoury modaks filled with meat.

Most of the people wear black. They seem to like black.

The churches are pretty but old and austere compared to those in Western Europe. Think Sophia Hagia rather than Notre Dame.

There is a lovely street market called Dry Bazaar which is filled with the prettiest glass and ceramic ware, jewellery and Soviet memorabilia.

People speak some English but Russians speakers are better off.

Bollywood, as always, remains the bridge through which people try to connect to us Indians. here, we had an old lady saying, 'Mud ke na dekh, mud, mud ke'. Another old lady cried out, 'Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia'.

Driving outside Tbilisi, the countryside is pretty. There are trees which resemble cherry trees, with clouds of pink or white blossoms. These are plum trees, and the plums are used in Georgian cooking.

Two hours away, up in the mountains, is Gudauri- a ski resort. Here you can hire an instructor to teach you skiing for 50 Lari (that is 65 dirhams an hour).

There is a cable car/ski lift to take you high up in the mountains for some stunning snow views.

Snow boarding is much, much more difficult than sand boarding. Don't hire a snow board without also hiring an instructor.

If you are not skiing or snowboarding, there's nothing much to do in Gudauri and you may get bored.

You can hire a car and drive unto Kazbegi, if you are willing to spend the money.

The duty-free at the airport is nothing special.

Georgian wines and cha cha are apparently famous, if you want to buy souvenirs.

All in all, it's an interesting place to spend a few days.