carter has left 348 comments

found my visa on that colhouston website let you know about it later

I know a lot of people owning businesses in Colombia on this visa. When I applyed for the visa in Venezuela I had to prove that I already owned my business ie DIAN, Camera Commercial etc

Im not sure if were getting the same info because this visa has been granted to people I know in Ecuador, Venezuala and Denmark all based on the idea that we have businesses.

A have also been told that I am not able to get residence til after 5 years on a Temporal visa. Its seems everyone has there own version.

I find it hard to believe that I could never get residence if i owned a business here.

Just to make one thing clear, he suggested that you get a work visa to work for the company you own???????

so you can own your own company on a work visa and draw a salary?

send me a reply to my email address if thats ok

Shaun

can you send me your email address macondohostal at hotmail.com

shaun lots of thanks

thanks Miguel The Temporal visa does allow you to own and run your own business. This is what Ive been using for the past year to run my business. i went to merida requesting the visa for business purposes and showing the camera commercial, DIAN and starting balance of my business.

Didn´t have any problem getting it and my business is restricted in no way other than the fact I need to get ity extended each year.

I was sure if there was any other benefit in getting a business visa

Shaun

carter comments on Planning on a visit to Bucaramanga

just an add on to Zuans comments Bucaramanga is also blessed with some beautiful surrounding towns which are also safe to travel to.

A good place to take the lady is Barichara a colonial town 30 minutes from San Giul and 2.5 hours from Bucaramanga.

San Gil which is where I live and a one gringo town is a place to visit if your into activities like rafting, caving, paragliding, walking to waterfalls etc.

All towns in the area have ferias (festivals) so try and find out when each is on as they are a good time to visit. Especially if your a big drinker. The people here are very friendly and love a drink outside which we have the perfect weather for.

If you plan on visiting any towns let me know and I´ll give you any advice you need.

carter comments on I'm tecno's girlfriend & I'm german !!! should I move to Colombia?

do what all the other foriegners do in Colombia Party like crazy and if you ever get out of bed in time teach an English class

carter comments on Good Itinerary

Caslug surely your not saying that a weekend in Medellin is better than a weekend in a small town like San Gil.

You don´t know how to party.

carter comments on Good Itinerary

depends what your interested but thats the pretty stock standard trail.

I recommend atleast one small town, have a look at
Salento
San Gil
Barichara or
Villa de Leyva

as possible sites

if you have any questions let me know

carter comments on Chicas Aguila 2006

I just asked the local tienda and they gave me free posters.

they ussully have a new one each month

carter comments on Homeless in Colombia Finding a Way

Credit is the norm in my local tienda I do find that Colombians tend to pay back money to those in stores etc but think that I being a foriegner don´t really need the money so don´t pay me back.

that said I payed my friends University fees at the start of the 2nd semester and since the start of holidays he has worked hard and paid me back yesterday.

carter comments on Homeless in Colombia Finding a Way

POCO sorry I wasn´t talking about those with down syndrome or mentally retarded they do get well looked after in the town I live in.

I meant those with psychiatric problems who live in the streets.

I apologise if my post suggested that Colombian families don´t look after those members of there families with physical or mental disabilities.

carter comments on Homeless in Colombia Finding a Way

Sounds like the problem is that people think that handing out money is the only way to address the situation.

I think more people in this country need to invest more time into the homeless issue. In my town I find that the homeless (or should I say the poor because they may have a hut somewhere but no money to eat) get well looked after in regards to the fact that most restaurants give out free meals.

Besides why bother with a house when the weather is so nice and you can sleep by the river.

The one problem I find here is that the people have little time for people with mental illness. They are thought of as druggies, locos or just rude. But this is a problem in a lot of western countries Ive lived in as well.

The cities in the world that I have seen that are best dealing with there homeless problems are the ones with well organised volounteer groups and people willing to put in time. Obviously there are many other factors including the size of the problem, government etc.

I find one problem in Bogota is that people are scared of the homless, actually now that I think of it people in bogota are scared of everything.

carter comments on Story about drugs & breast implants

I feel sorry for your niece I would even go visit her next time Im in the city if she needs it. But please do not generalise about people in a country you know nothing about.

I think you´re trying to find someone to blame because you feel guilty about putting your niece in the position that she is in.

GIB - Thanks for proving my point No I have never been to Island but have visited Ireland on occasions and use to live on a big Island called Australia.

And please don´t start on this culturally diverse USA crap Im from Melbourne, have lived in Toronto and London and spent time in US cities including NY, LA and San Fransico.

I know which cities are more multi cultural and which ones have the greatest understanding of the cultures which exist in it and which expect others to assimilate.

I will say though that the US has a greater understanding of Latino culture than Australia

carter comments on Story about drugs & breast implants

Biggest rule when travelling on a plane (this and don´t say bom Never carry a package for someone else. They ask you this at the check in desk, very clearly to every customer.

Did you pack your own bags?
Are you carry anything for anyone else?

I took a package home for a Colombian friend once. I trust the person but still I went through the package thoroughly. then when checking my bags in I presented the package and said that it had been given to me by another person and that I had thoroughly searched it but there could be a 1% chance something is in it. They checked it again and said it was All clear.

Under no circumstances take a package for anyone and not search it your self and have authorities search it as well.

Im sorry this has happened to you and your family but don´t say that all Colombians are untrustworthy due to a few bad people.

That would be like me saying that all Americans are stupid because your niece did a stupid thing.

sorry GIB But from all my years of world travel I think the people in the US have been the most ignorant Ive met in regards to world issues.

I don´t mean to be bagging the US your education systems aims at educating students in other areas and you only have to look at what the countries achieved to see it obviously has many intelligent people.

My main point was to say how suprised I am about Colombians world knowledge. (Although they do still seem to think that Miami is the greatest place on earth, beats me)

ohhh and for your gringos yes I use to ride one everyday to work

Im surprised how good Colombians world knowledge is compared to people from the states. There was a girl here from the states the other day who was shocked at how good my English was, I told her i was Australian.

she then asked a dozen stupid q´s about riding kangaroos etc. before getting back to wanting to know who had taught me English.

after she walked away my Colombian friends (not highly educated and living in a small town)asked if all gringos were that stupid. I had to laugh because I think I have been asked more stupid questions in the states ten fold than any of the other countries Ive visited. (and thats alot)

carter comments on Colombia Trip

I don´t think its a bad thing excpeting to get robbed once or twice only a fool would come here thinking there is no chance that anything would happen to them and even though the chances are light at least if you do get robbed you put it behind you and keep travelling.

Pahlke, Im sending you aprivate message

carter comments on Crepes & Waffles and Single Mothers

tips included in bill I wouldn´t always trust tips that are included on the bill. I have a number of friends that tell me where they work the staff do not get the included tip. For example Carnes y Carnes (or whatever its called) in Chia. A tip of around 10% is included on the bill but doesn´t go to your waitress who is earning minimum wage. Its goes to the restaurant. the thing that suxs about this is that most people think they don´t need to tip because they are already paying one.

carter comments on Different routes to do the real travel, by road

nice one webmanco maybe GIB can edit it and have littl guerillas attacking the cars as they come through the mountains

GIB A useful note would be who these 4 gringos who have been kidnapped are?
what were they doing here?
Do they have both US and Colombian passports?
do they have family here?
are they military?
do they work for the Government or Oil companies?
where were they taken?

This would be helpful information for travellers here as what there interests in Colombia are make a huge difference to why they were taken and how safe it is for backpackers here.

Colombians don´t go to to Tyrona? Last time I went there it was so full they had a one out, one in policy. we waited in a line all day waiting for people to leave so we could enter.

In total there was 6 foriegners in the park but its hard to tell when a place is so full of colombians. As for the wealthy not going their most of the people we meet were students from wealthy families.

Platano never said it was a good thing that the paras ran the place. I am well aware of what they do and what peoples opinions of them are in this country.

But it is a very strong rumour that Paramilitaries recieve money from the lost city trek and from the running of Park Tyrona.

it was reported that they killed the people who committed the last crime there and then murdered the innocent people living with them.

Believe me Platano I have no support for this group.