bufalo has left 1115 comments

bufalo comments on Jardín Botánico y Mariposario

Everywhere??????? c'mon I'm sure you can find spots. - walk up the mountain in Calarca (where the towers are) beautiful scenery, aaaand you'll see more than the mariposario. - what about swimming in La Nubia.. - See any sloths in Filandia.. - Walk from Circasia to the Centenario (the BACK way of course!) oh, but eat lunch at "Kumis" first.. - So much to dooooooo

bufalo comments on Jardín Botánico y Mariposario

noooo never did, but'd like to, actually scratch that, I'd rather walk it to enjoy the view. Try riding in a pack with Colombians, they have no idea that you should look before you weave around and turn. Or they'll stop for no reason KNOWING there are people behind them. I dread going with certain members of my wife's family.....

bufalo comments on Moving to Colombia

I second! One of the things that bugs me about moving to the states is that I will now have to deal with this BS again. So glad to be rid of that when I moved out.

bufalo comments on What to bring?

I finally found Jack Daniels, bought some for when my dad came to visit. Not sure if you can find it in CTG

bufalo comments on New Theme Park near Armenia

I haven't heard much lately as well. There is an Exito that is still in the works though. They booted out all the people that lived in the area for construction.

bufalo comments on Jardín Botánico y Mariposario

No, haven't gone there but... not to be fecitious, but are you new in Armenia and do you go to the countryside much? There's plenty of biking to do. No I wouldn't go biking on the highways either, my wife's family wanted to go to Montenegro by bike (with like 10 kids too) but we never made it. Once went down 19th in the center all the way to the outskirts passing the cemetery. About 5 adults, 10 kids and some on rollerblades - it was an accident waiting to happen. we usually go to the end of Centenario and then the dirt road to "La Nubia". Nice views and my wife's family has two super-rustic farms there. Even have a baby seat on the back for our daugher. If you continue you'll come out in Boquia. Sunday morning there are lots of bike-riders in the center of Salento that come from Armenia too.

bufalo comments on Moving to Colombia

I think he meant it sarcastically (spelling?). As in Irish are from Europe and white in the states so called "Irish", where Colombians are from South America, not so pasty so they're called "spics" (and land in jail more frequently). It was a way of pointing out others stupidity (guess you missed it (or I'm completely off)).

bufalo comments on Jobs in Colombia

It can be tough collecting money too. I was the only one paid for several quarters because I opened my mouth about it, when they paid me, I stopped talking. The local teachers had to sweat it out though.

bufalo comments on Need Urgent Help

Holy crap! Is this the reeeeeeal jello biafra???

bufalo comments on Moving to Colombia

Rikito-----35K a year teaching English?????? Here in Colombia? Where? Definitely not Armenia, that's for sure otherwise I would have been living high on the hog for some time. The ONLY place that pays so-so for teachers here is Gimnasio Ingles and they don't even pay that well (most teachers don't stay their full contract). And I don't think it even gets close to 35K.

bufalo comments on Jardín Botánico y Mariposario

I've been living off and on in Armenia for about 5 years now. The parks for me are boring, allthough the butterflies are nice and my daughter went there for a school trip so when we went back she showed me all she learned. Too touristy for my tastes, besides, we see way more interesting things when we bike ride on the weekends. BUT if I had no idea of the local stuff and was only going to be here for a few day, then sure.

bufalo comments on Moving to Colombia

I wouldn't bother with a job, forget teaching english. Try your own business, only real way to go.

bufalo comments on sending package/suitcase FROM Colombia to NYC

Thanks, I am kicking myself for not have sent a bag or two with my parents, anyone going to the states from Armenia????? I'll try the freight people, I think Servientrega would be expensive but I'll give it a shot.

bufalo comments on Jardín Botánico y Mariposario

I actually luck out with TinyPic since I don't use it much. I use it, supposedly remember how to, and then the next time have no rememberance of how.

bufalo comments on New Theme Park near Armenia

I tend to doubt that the locals will benefit like "everybody" as you say. I do like your attitude, but trust me, talk to some contracted locals here in Armenia - they don't make much, the ones that will already have dough.

bufalo comments on New Theme Park near Armenia

I tend to doubt that the locals will benefit like "everybody" as you say. I do like your attitude, but trust me, talk to some contracted locals here in Armenia - they don't make much, the ones that will already have dough.

bufalo comments on Jardín Botánico y Mariposario

Is that the one in Calarcá? The butterflies are great, buuuuuuut, you'll see way more flora and fauna in the surrounding areas.

bufalo comments on $40,000 to invest, Hate Uk, Want to live in colombia, Barranquilla or Cartagena

the arepas comment was sarcasm. Although my mother-in-law does quite well for estrato 2. Depending on what you consicer "decent", yes you could buy for 20K. But that would only leave you with 20K left for your business and if you had to move back ot the UK if htings don't work out. I'd rent for that reason and also because the construction and neighbors here can be a bit shoddy, so you want to test the waters out first. My wife and I and daughter have been in Armenia off and on for 5 years, we have to move back to the US for my wife's residency and also since we're almot broke, at least we will be once we pay for the move and start looking for jobs - tough to do with being out of the US for 5 years. - think about it and plan well, don't get into our situation. And like miamimike or whoever above said - didn't happen to me, but see too many foreigners who fall into this trap - don't involve your wife's family and DON'T tell them that you have 40K.

bufalo comments on Shipping a box from Cali to the states!

I had trouble with both Avianca and Adpostal. I sent a letter THREE times from Armenia to Italy. The letter would get to Bogota where some aviancan idiot would look at the BACK of the envelope and see my return address in Armenia and send it back to me once again. It would show up about a month later. Third time it worked. The guys in Adpostal told me never to send anything of value with them, at least they were honest.

bufalo comments on Present safety situation in San Agustin and Tierradentro?

years ago my wife was stopped by the rebels, but that was yeeeears ago. From what I hear there are more foreigners living there than in Salento (although Salento has it infiltrators as well.....). My guess is it's fine.

bufalo comments on Is "dengue" "west nile virus"?

thanks for the clearup

bufalo comments on MotoTaxis now in Bogotá

The only place I took or would ever take a mototaxi is and was Leticia. People drive like human beings down there and there aren't many cars at all. Forget any other city.

bufalo comments on Malaria Pills for Leticia - where can I pick some up in Medellin?

"YELLOW FEVER: It is mandatory that each visitor carries his valid yellow fever vaccine certificate" mmmmmmm the ecolodge or the people that run Leticia because that's news to me. forget the eco crud and lodges, get with the natives already. (nothing against you personally, just how I feel when I "eco", it still comes down to being a business)

bufalo comments on Malaria Pills for Leticia - where can I pick some up in Medellin?

Lived there for 6 months, never took any Malaria pills. DON´T FORGET SUNBLOCK!!!!!!! very hard to itch your bug-bites if you're beet-red. How to get there? Only way in or out is plane or boat (OK, you can hike it from Tarapacá, but train a bit first.)

bufalo comments on For Sale:Apartment in Cali (includes all furniture/appliances)

does seem a biiiiiiiit high, but then again I don't like rents much. I paid $100 USD for the same in Montevideo so I ama bit spoiled.

bufalo comments on For Sale:Apartment in Cali (includes all furniture/appliances)

Yeah, I'd say cash only. From what I gather (probably wrong to a point) you couldn't even get a loan in the states for a place in Colombia. That much rent for an apartastudio????? Geez it's time to go.

bufalo comments on Message from GIB

Dunno, I'm very blonde, very blue-eyed and fooled many people for good portions of time. When hearing me speak a bit of English, some would even ask me if I studied at the Colombo. Difficult- but it can be done

bufalo comments on Message from GIB

holy crap hope all's OK. as far as wiping it down after, I heard they do something with powder or so to know what keys you pressed after you use the ATM. Maybe something with that

bufalo comments on Parque Tayrona Trail System

I think it should be left alone.... how many years have those trails existed without our help? Not you, but some dope wanted to turn them into mountainbike trails aways back.

bufalo comments on need a cheap cog/cali/MDE to NYC flight!!!

no not always, but in our cases it was at the time... but ya gotta keep checkin!!!!!

bufalo comments on need a cheap cog/cali/MDE to NYC flight!!!

I tried some of them out the other day, but nothing earth shattering. I'll keep checking everyday. I know what sloop said about round trippers, we always bout round trips because they were always cheaper. Avianca now sells one wayers, so when we move this time, we'll do that. My wife needs round trip for now.

bufalo comments on What happened to TDCrowson looking for Gloria????

He shot me an email saying he did - and that was it. I emailed him asking any other info, where was she, etc..... He appeared on my facebook page and when I looked at his it said he was just married. SOOOOOOOOOOO Did he find Gloria and marry her??? OR (juicy!) did he just get married and THEN found Gloria - youch! Either way, I just want to know if everything came out OK and if he finally met his daughter (which was the reason he needed to find Gloria).

bufalo comments on need a cheap cog/cali/MDE to NYC flight!!!

GREAT info, buuuuuut the original post? Any ideas where to get cheap flights?????

bufalo comments on Colombian holidays

Frank! Doing good, haven't skyped too much but all's well... Everyone here says it's dia del Trabajo

bufalo comments on What happened to TDCrowson looking for Gloria????

He posted every now and then looking for "gloria" a girl from Armenia I think his handle was "TDCrowson". I went all over the place looking for her, putting posters up, calling people with the same last name, etc. Would like to know what happened...

bufalo comments on need a cheap cog/cali/MDE to NYC flight!!!

Sounds good, but we just need this flight.

bufalo comments on Colombian holidays

Aside from Christmas and New Years, no one knows what the holidays are in Colombia.

bufalo comments on need a cheap cog/cali/MDE to NYC flight!!!

Oh, never saw that.

bufalo comments on Eat As Much As You Want In Colombia And Lose Weight

I used to watch my weight, train daily, not drink, etc. in the US - then eat like a pig in Santa Marta and come back weighing less (and quite trim!) I must admit though, take a nice chug of tapwater from the coast, sure you'll be in the bathroom for 5 days, but will end up with the 6 pack-abs for a little while after!

bufalo comments on "Mí Tío" - now in postproduction/film in Salento

I think I sent the stuff to Monpirri, or at least one was through the PBH PM method.

bufalo comments on "Mí Tío" - now in postproduction/film in Salento

It was me about the copyrights, mostly about music and novelas - funny thing about the accents, I see it too. They are usually more obvious to me after I know where someone is from...

bufalo comments on "Mí Tío" - now in postproduction/film in Salento

Monpirri - I'm from the US, not Canada and of course I don't take what you say personally,never did never will, one of the reasons I read your posts. Aways back through PM's I told you about the idea and you related how you'd like to read the script. I sent it to you a few weeks back and even emailed you about a week ago - maybe I have your email wrong? Reason I did so was because the film doesn't show the negative and I know how much you'd dig that. Lauthra - ahh the long days, see if you lose as much weight as I did. M.T. I like certain aspects of theose films as well, but what I don't like is the WHY of them being made. I've met Victor Gaviria (actually again last week) - IMHO the guy DIGS the negative. Sure he may say he's against it, but I've seen the gleam in his eye when the violence is brought up. I've seen the same response with a lot of people. I've had several actors, producers, techies, even places I went to look for (no luck) for financing and it was almost the same - first they talked about how they hated Colombia being portrayed in film and how great it would be to make something without those things, THEN went on to ask (with the gleam!) about how cool it would be to have hit-men, drug use, blah, blah, blah. I'd stop them there and remind them about how they supposedly felt about Colombia's bad image, then gave a synopsis. Most were amazed about how: there can be a "story" that takes place in Colombia, not so much a "colombian story". Most loved the synopsis and I got all my actors for free, nobody A-list, but some have been in national novelas. All the sets were donated too, even the fire department, police, and civil defense unit let us use their space/people. I had trouble with some of those other movies because it just seemed to glorify the negative. If it's put there with a purpose, like you said an honest film, then fine I like that better, but I don't see those directors doing it to actually serve a purpose other than film sales. Showing the dark side is actually way easier.

bufalo comments on "Mí Tío" - now in postproduction/film in Salento

jejejejejeje! One of the reasons I wanted to do this film here is that it has nothing to do with: drugs, sicarios, prepagos, poor people, prostis, anything with the war, extortion, kidnapping, etc. Would like to have people think a bit beyond that stuff. (amazing how a few people were surprised that those elements aren't in a film in Colombia, and these are pros in the biz)

bufalo comments on "Mí Tío" - now in postproduction/film in Salento

Glad to hear that, good luck to him!

bufalo comments on "Mí Tío" - now in postproduction/film in Salento

That's true. A lot of stuff about the production was in my head too and I drove production crazy. Especially at 5:AM when I needed the stuff by 6.30 AM.... I'd love to just hand the tapes over to an editor, but no money nor time to do so. The editing is frustrating, we worked with one camera and the actors had trouble with continuity - one shot hands on hips, OOOPS! other angle hands are folded, etc... What are you editing?

bufalo comments on "Mí Tío" - now in postproduction/film in Salento

My job..... writer, executive producer, producer (with others as well), director, editor, & even acted in a quickie scene. I'd give a synopsis, but it'd be a bit wordy. I have one saved somewhere on my computer, I'll look for it.... thanks!

bufalo comments on "Mí Tío" - now in postproduction/film in Salento

......this is going to be more like months. The visuals are taking about three weeks (although I'm cutting time so maybe two). Then comes audio, color correction, transitions, music, titles...ugh!

bufalo comments on Spotty-grainy photo of one of the Tiger Paw Hostel rooms but...

seems cool (as in good, not cold) PS - lens cleaner!

bufalo comments on "Mí Tío" - now in postproduction/film in Salento

sure that happens. The first few days of my shoot I just wanted to go home and watch "Barney" with my daughter, then things took off well. I remember you (all of us actually) having a good time during your shoot. This story was the screenplay I worked on at night in the hotel (freezing, wrapped in a blanket in a room the size of a cell) after we spent the days on the Transmillenio. By the end, I had the whole system down pat. I have to go back next week (still didn't finish my dental work!) and I can't remember a lot.

bufalo comments on "Mí Tío" - now in postproduction/film in Salento

Still in Armenia, should've left January... How's the doc going? Did ou finish editing yet? Once finished, I have to look for distribution....