caslug has written 44 posts
COL tourism news from CS Monitor
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0509/p06s01-woam.html
couple of things stands out..
1) foreign visitors to Colombia has jumped 65 percent since 2002, to 925,000 last year, according to Carlos Alberto Zarruk, Colombia's deputy minister for business development, who oversees tourism.
2) The Lonely Planet travel guides, for instance, picked Colombia as one of the 10 top travel hotspots for 2006.
"The security situation has changed, and perhaps more ...
COL helping reduce the trade imbalance with china
With all the increase in trade from China to latin america. and the increase in wealth in asia from economic growth. i was wondering when drugs would flow the other way, because logistic channels to china/asia are getting easier to tap into..
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12703108/
If they caught this one shipment, then you can bet many more shipment got thru. It'll be interesting to track the price of coke in china to see if the price goes up or down in the coming ...
legalizing drugs...In mexico..
Is the US next??? Nothing will piss off Uncle Sam like having neighbors(CAD/MEX) allowing legal consumption of drugs. Because it's much easier/closer for americans to visit CAD/MEX, than it is to visit Amsterdam.
Is personal drug use still illegal in COL? I thought it was decriminalized for a while then criminalize again. ...
hollywood and colombia
Here I was at a sunday matinee for my weekly movie experience, watching this week new release "The Sentinel". It was about a mole in the US secret service. Part of the mystery was would is behind the mole, in one scene, one of the character is accused of being the mole in the pay of the "baranquilla cartel"...
I thought, WTF? these days we got crazy N. Korean w/ Nukes, Islamic Terrorist, disgruntle democrats, Chavez, etc., as potential villians. Why choose COL? a country that m ...
yahoo hotzone article on COL(paras)
http://hotzone.yahoo.com/b/hotzone/blogs3693
English teaching jobs in COL!.. BUT only for Cannucks!
If you're CAN and interest checkout the link and apply.
Good luck!
http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/index.cgi?read=10520
single mothers in COL..
I was talking with my friend the other day, and she mention that she has a sister that has a 3 yr old boy with an exboyfriend, no suprise. As i we were talking more, i wanted to know why so many women here are single and have kids, i mean, why don´t they a) make the guys use protection or b) get injection(birth control). She was saying in her sister´s case, the boyfriend told the sister NOT to get injection...
BECAUSE..GET THIS! The boyfriend say, HE´LL GET THE INJECTION!!! ...
Photos from the Medellin light parade
Here´s the first batch of fotos..
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/binh_hoang/album?.dir=/966c
Racism discussion at a COL university BY COL students
On Monday i sat in a graduate class at the university of antiuqia, the students were future COL teachers, they all spoke english. Each week they had different discussion on social issues in COL, to prepare them for teaching. Since this is a graduate class these people were in the mid twenties or ealy thirties. This week discussion was racism in COL, primarily how col blacks(afrocholombian) and indio are perceived and treated. As the only foreigner, i was invited by the professor to share my ...
exciting weekend in MEDELLIN!
Last weekend started normal enough, i had dinner with some friends, we went to a chinese restaurant in laurles near the exito. The food was good, the portion was generous, and the price was cheap, about 40k for 4. Then we head to a gay bar near cr 70, the bar scene in COL is a little different than in the states. People don´t hit on other people, guys just came into the bar to drink and talk, not dance or meet other people. I was suprise that no one wanted to dance! And they were blasting ...
casino in COL..
Yesterday night i was at Caribe Casino in Medellin, while waiting for one of the blackjack table to open up, i wandered up to the second floor, which is the texas hold em and VIP room. It´s nice up there! They have almonds for the guest to eat AND they make you fresh jugos as comp drinks! They havea couch area with big screen TV for your gf or wife to sit and wait while you gamble(lose). I was shocked to see a 25k minimum blackjack table, with players putting 50k to 100k per hand!
Search: 1 or 2 BR apt, Medellin, starting Dec
I'm looking at Estadio, Sur Americana, or Floresta because it's close to metro stations. Unfurnish but i'll take a look at furnish if the price is not astronomical. I was talking with some COL friends that are renting in that area, i'm told the going rate is 400-500k/month for 2 bd apartment, with utilites running about 100-130k/month.
If anyone knows of places for rent or owners looking to rent directly, pls post or PM me. I'll pay at the minimum 1st/last month plus deposit, i ...
cali travelblog
I justed arrived in Cali this week.*staying at Pete's) I'll post about my observation that stands out, again hopefully this enlighten and entertain. On the flight down i meet two colombian, one gal and one guy returning from visiting the US to cali. The girl was very hot(ex-model) but dress down, so she didn't stand out as much. She was visiting her COL husband who was living and working in Orlando. They have a 2 yr daughter, they met in Cali, she spoke VERY good english, goes to school. What wa ...
cali travel blog
I justed arrived in Cali this week. I'll post about my observation that stands out, again hopefully this enlighten and entertain. On the flight down i meet two colombian, one gal and one guy returning from visiting the US to cali. The girl was very hot(ex-model) but dress down, so she didn't stand out as much. She was visiting her COL husband who was living and working in Orlando. They have a 2 yr daughter, they met in Cali, she spoke VERY good english, goes to school. What was interesting ...
another dang article on COL hotties!!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4295124.stm
"Chloe Rutter Jensen and Nick Morgan, lecturers at the Los Andes University in Bogota, have written a book called Parallel Catwalks: Scenes of the Aesthetics and Power in Beauty Pageants.
Even prisons hold beauty pageants in Colombia. Nick Morgan believes that, because it is a chauvinist society, women want to draw attention to themselves and get ahead in society by looking good.
"The whole iss ...
HIGH SPEED internet hookup
What i'm looking for is to use my vonnage phone and internet in an apartment in MED. OK, i search the forum and got some decent conflicting answer. Pete posted a while back his internet hookup is $198USD/MO! for unlimited. Is it that high?? I was budgeting 40-50USD/mo, but i was told that was NOT for unlimited, maybe 80-90hrs/mo. What's the pricing plan down there for highspeed hookup?
ALso, if they go with a monthly hour limit, do they whe your vonnage phone is hook into the ...
TV dating show in COL(justed aired) with chicas and gringos
Found this on the planetlove board. It a dating show between gringos and colombianas, sponsor by a marriage agency.
The gringos were asked why they were looking for colombianas and the colombianas were asked why they were looking for foriegner. The show provided tranlsator for both parties.
"Posted by LatinIntro on 09/06/2005
We had a great Labor Day tour. I hope to post some pictures in the next few weeks. The TV show was also a great success. One of the particip ...
Newsweek article on Plan Colombia (a failure of sorts)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9025208/site/newsweek/
While many critics site the failure as a) no drop in prices of Cocaine in USA & b) Coca growth is NOT effected at all!
Most Critic acknowledge the secondary "benefit" of Plan Colombia, or as Newsweek put it's
..The lion's share of the U.S. aid earmarked for Plan Colombia has gone to the national police and the armed forces in the shape of helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, other equipment and training ...
Idiots guide to Medellin..fr one idiot helping another! :-)
This is my observation fr spending 3 1/2 weeks in Medellin for the fereia and colombia moda.. It's really tailor toward people who never visit medellin but are thinking of going. I made it condense, but if anyone has questions feel free to ask. I'm NOT an expert on MEDELLIN, i DONT live there(other posters do so that will know more).
Safety
Medellin is FAIRLY(PRETTY) SAFE for the average foreign tourist as long as he/she doesn't do anything stupid or ignore loc ...
just got back fr COLOMBIA MODA!!!
LOTS OF MODELS! GOT FOTOS!! I was walking around and at one of the booth they did a small catwalk with 3 models wearing bras&panties. So i stopped (as did most people) and started taking fotos.
On the business side, it does look like there is oppt to sell stuff to COL fashion industry at least on a small scale. I ll post fotos later today.. ...
GOT FOTOS!!! FR PARQUE DE CAFE!!!
Finally had a chance to post my fotos fr my trip earlier in the week. The park is SPECTACULAR!!! Go there on the weekday, you feel you have the WHOLE park to yourself(obviously the park NOT making money, but it good for us tourist), because there not alot of tourist during the week, it was quiet and and tranquil. You feel like charlie going on a private tour to chocolate factory. I would walk to an attraction, and the attraction would run just for me. I went on the train ride and the train ...
riding the bus in COL..
I arrived in Cali on the bus yesterday. My trip started in Medellin to Pereria(4 1/2 hrs), staying in Pereria for 2 days, then from Pereria to Cali(3 1/2 hrs). These were on EXPRESS or DIRECTO buses, which you pay a little more for. If i was ridding on regular bus, it take lot longer. I been riding many bus so i ll give my observation.
1) its DIRT CHEAP! from Medellin to Pereria EXPRESS, on a AC minibus, clean, comfortable seats, cost all of $22k peso(10 USD). From Pereria t ...
foto from the main feria parade last sunday..
The first few fotos were of the crowded who graciously allow me to cut threw them onto the street so i could take fotos. One guy even offer me a drink of arguadeinte, which i gracious took.. The first to march was the soldiers, as you can see they were a parade of the wounded. Seeing the wound go back really strikes home the reality that colombia is in a state of war and people are killed, wounded, and maimed.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/binh_hoang/album?.dir=/506d&.src=ph&.t ...
i´m in pereria NOW, what´s there to do??
I´m planning on going to parque de cafe tomorrow, but what to do during the evening(incl this one)? Where´s the zone where people go for drinks and eat. I´m staying next to Plaza de Bolivar...
FOTO of BOTANICAL GARDEN during Feria in Medellin..
For all you flower childs...
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/binh_hoang/album?.dir=/3cf1&.src=ph&.tok=phmX5aDBG6XJjyrw
fotos fr medellin first batch..
since i´ve received tremendous information and help, plus wonderful friendship from this site.. this is just my way of giving back..
enjoy..
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/binh_hoang/album?.dir=/a521&.src=ph&.tok=phjGkaDB3mTqzsq1
when i upload another batch i´ll bump the thread.. for you guys out there the fotos of babes from the horse parade is coming up in the next patch.. stay tune... ...
i am here in medellin and..
the weather is really nice, in the day it is about 75-80 degree at night it is 70 to 75. I am staying near the metro estation estadio(stadium) which is really convient to travel around. Was down in Central to see the Museu de Antiqua and Botero Plaza, walked all around centro. I have lots of fotos i can post but some reason i keep getting error message when i try.
Only complaint so far is the interen in MANY internet cafe is off&on, really slow.
Went to a meeti ...
question for all u gun enthusiast in Medellin or Cali..
Does anyone know of a shooting range i can go and practice at. One that has a instructor to teach me gun safety before going out on the range. My bro-in-law just took me shooting over weekend in San Diego. He was in the Corp for 20 years, so he was able to teach me basic safety for glock&colt45. But i want to try shooting AR15, HK or other assult rifle when i'm in COL, i figure the cost must be lot cheaper than shooting in the US. So i dont want to pay an arm/leg for any membership or other ...
comphrensive list of Hotel in EVERY COL CITY..
Here's a link that has hotels in COL, just type in the city and country and they'll list a whole slew of them..
http://www.laguiahotelera.com/guia_hotelera/home.aspx
Hey Moderator..Three's been Whole lot of deleting going on.. on this forum..
I notice in the past couple days, the power-that-be has delete lots of post.. One thing about a forum is the exchange of ideas and when you have POV being bandied back and forth, it helps break down misconception and sterotype MORE than creat news one. ALL the threads that cause much grief(to some poster) actually help bring lots of misconception/sterotype to light and by aruging back and forth, the general consensus reach was DISPELLING those NEGATIVE misconception/sterotype!
...
another film about colombia, BUT not about drugs!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8392168/
It's about a notorious serial killer! Once again, it's filmed in Ecuador.
Article on infideltity in COL by El tiempo..
Got this from another website(PL)
http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/vidadehoy/2005-06-27/ARTICULO-WEB-_NOTA_INTERIOR-2121687.html
8 out of 10 COL men CHEAT! After knowing several COL guys in COL, I have to say I'm NOT suprise...
But i wonder what percentage of expat "go native and do it like the locals.."
When i rome and all. I suspect it happen A LITTLE less than local COL.
Let the race begin.. ...
Different POV of Different English speaking sites on COLOMBIA..
I've been on PBH for almost a year now trying to understand COL better. I've also read Lonely Planet & Planet Love and some other sites. While i've never posted on the other two sites, i've lurked on them for some time. One thing i've notice is the different types of audience and view that each sites offers. I recommend for NON-COL to read as many sources possible to get a wider understanding on COL. While i know there are spanish langauge sites about S. America or Colombia, spanish-handica ...
Article fr Yahoo on demobilization of fighters in COL..
It's a good start, sounds like some of them are smart w/ their money. But another number that struck me is 12% unemployment and 60% living in poverty. Which means of course lots of people have jobs that only paid poverty wages and that the middle class is small.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050606/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/colombia_disarmed_fighters ...
how is the Tsunami story being reported in COL?
Is it major story like here in the US? or is it like any other stories? What is the word on the street? In the US, you can't help but talk about it and there's a huge push for donations for all sides. I'm would think that the story gets airtime, but it's not a major story because COL is so far away and has little or no political or economic interest in those regions. BTW, i ask this to get observation from people living in COL now, i'm not trying to start a debate on if COL should or should ...
What the cheapest way to call US(non-VOIP) from COL for a business?..
I'm looking into what it takes to open a "telemarketing" call center in COL, hiring/training couple of telemarketers to call US based companies. Any gringos's here setup companies like that? I'm trying to figure out what the cost would be to run an operation like that. Is there phone plan that are under 10 cents/minute for business? Any info, advice, or suggestion would be appreciated. Also, what kind of business license would I need? I'm not selling anything in COL and i'm not importing o ...
Here's a website that list lots of hotel in CALI, pls comment on rate or experience
http://www.gentecontalento.org/CALI/turismo/hoteles.htm
I stayed at Aparta Hotel Del Rio, paid upwards of $100,000 peso/night, incls breakfast. They have several types of rooms the cheapest is the standard hotel room and they suites also available. Across the street from the police station and a block from Meyer's English Institute. The outside looks OK, BUT the rooms look like the hilton, i was very impressed and so will anyone you that visit you.
Also stayted ...
NEW Citibank Credit card that gets you to COL faster...
I just upgrade my regular Citibank AA(american airline) card to the WORLD AA Card because the new card uses LESS miles to get to COL. Normally, you have to use 30-35k miles to go from USA to CALI/BOG/MED, but with this credit card it saves you 5,000 miles per trip. It's worth it if you already have AA creditcard and are a AA frequent flyer. If you sign up for this card, you get a 10,000 mile bonus just for sign up.
South America 1st Quarter '05 Destinations
...
Here's another reason for Gringos to go to COL.. NOW!!!
As every american knows, our dollar has taken a beating in the foreign markets. But here's a ray of hope, albiet temporary:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041208/bs_nm/markets_forex_dc
Unfortunately I check today and we're getting $2460/dollar last weak is was $2490/dollars. Looks like it'll keep coming down, so better travel now rather than later, while our dollar has some strenght remainng. ...
Here's my fotos from my recent trip to BOGOTA!
Didn't want to wait to figure out how to post fotos on this board.
Ladies you can check out what young good COL guys are like(i'm sorry I don't have any of them in knickers, BUT They are in UNIFORM!)
Reina, as you can see they are young, good looking, and quiet friendly.
I'll post some more fotos later after I reduce size. of other areas and what some strata 4 & 5 look like.
www.picturetrail.com
username = caslug ...
Bogota vacatoin, observation slanted for newbies to BOG or COL
Just got back from 11 days in BOG, I spent two weeks in CALI back in June, so I wanted to experience the Big City scene in COL. Meet up w/ fellow poorbuthappy poster (Tone2) for a weekend, had a blast partying with him. This was my first time in BOG, this report is my own personal opinions and observation, if what I post is wrong, please feel free to correct the information. But please do it in a constructive way. No flaming please! Hopefuly this will provide information for people who have ...
HELP, Bogota & Rain, what to do?
I'm going to be in Bogota tomorrow. BUT i notice that for the next 4 -5 day forcast, it is raining!!! So what places do people recommend NOT to visit when it's raining, ie outdoor tourist site versus indoor. I plan to go to the muesums and such that are indoor. Is the nightlife(club, bars, restaurant, etc.,) a little slow due to the rain? Also, does Bogota have musicals? Like broadway? Or even opera? ...
Eye frame supplier in COL?
Does anyone know of eye glass frame supplier in Colombia for optometery shops? I have friends that are interested in checking out the supplies to see if it's makes senses to buy em in COL. Both brand names(armani's, calvin kleins, etc.,) AND non-brand names. Much appreciate if anyone has info(website, contact info, etc. ...
Has anyone done this? make money on peso/dollar exchange
BOGOTA, Colombia (Reuters) - Here's a good way to make a buck if you're in Colombia. Take some pesos to a money changer and swap them for dollars. Then jump on a plane to Miami, deposit the bucks in a bank, and return to Colombia.
Go to any ATM in Bogota, withdraw the funds in pesos, and .... presto! You've got 5 percent 10 percent more pesos than you had when you started.
For years people and some businesses here have legally exploited the availability of cheap c ...
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