Chriscan has left 921 comments

Chriscan comments on Where to Buy Coca leaves in Bogotá?

thanks for banging it into my thinck head.

Chriscan comments on Where to Buy Coca leaves in Bogotá?

Honestly, I'm really busy these days working full time and running a home business. (Partly why I'm not blessing PBH with my my annoying passive aggressive comments these days) I just want a place where I can buy young, fresh leaves. Dried leaves are yucky.

Chriscan comments on The "Costs" of Medical Care

The U.S is the only industrialized country in the world that doesn't consider medical care a basic human right.

Chriscan comments on Chavez changes tone, Colombia happy

A coup could make matters worse. He'd much prefer to fight than get voted out.

Chriscan comments on The "Costs" of Medical Care

Well, 3% less for cancer. In Canada you are likely to live 3.8% longer. Canada 81.2 years, USA, 78.1 years The cost of living in the United States is a shorter life than similar GDP/Capita countries. Health care in the U.S is great by world standards and slightly sub par by developed world standards. Administrative costs associated with private care much higher and doctors spend more time with paper work. One thing I hate about the debate is the use of the word socialist. I believe in markets but when it comes to roads, military, schools, the elderly and health, almost every county in the world has agreed that those are the things that government are for. There is some grand illusion out there that the U.S.A is less socialist than other countries. It's only health where the government plays a lesser role. Corporate tax breaks and hand outs are one of the biggest parts of American success - entirely socialist programs.

Chriscan comments on Realistic Budget?

That happy planet index is a bit misguided - it measures environmental footprint and mixes it with happiness. Developed countries had scores in the toilet and the title made it look like they were much less happy that the truth. Because it's so poorly done, it raises questions about data collection too. I read a report from the U of Michigan that put Colombia at #3. It mixed happiness and life satisfaction equally.

Chriscan comments on Taxi drivers income

Just remember that at different times of the day, days of the week or during certain events your shortcuts can be longer. That's what I mean by probability. Maybe there is an 18 wheeler backing in to unload every day at 5pm. Maybe there is an anual event slowing traffic a certian spot. A sporting event always changes the game. There is no limit to the amount of knowledge needed to find the fastest route. Usually the fastest way at night is way different than the fastest route during the day.

Chriscan comments on Taxi drivers income

Actually working hard is easier than not working hard in a cab. The time passes faster and it's fun to think about the probability of one route being faster than another. There never is a fastest route, only fastest probable routes. There are an infinite number of factors that can quickly turn the fastest route into the slowest. If you keep your mind engaged and give the best service, the day passes pretty quick. When I was a mailman, 6 hours of work was much harder than a 12 hour taxi shift because it was such mindless work. I'm really starting to think I should buy a cab. I love living in the moment.

Chriscan comments on BUYING A HOUSE IN SANTA MARTA

El Rodelero - gringo infested? I sure never saw many there. What's the name of that barrio on the other side of the highway? Lots of flooding. I was looking for a place there realised that I needed a canoe to get around. I ended up near CISE. Crime was a big problem. Day time break ins about once a month.

Chriscan comments on Chavez is lining up, but would the US public support another war effort

I have trouble believing anything will come of this. Now that I live in Bogota, I'm even more sensitive to hot air.

Chriscan comments on INTERNET PROVIDER

that tigo $35 a month deal has a 4gB monthly limit. I have the pay as you go package with them and it's7gB - still not enough. I had comcell but they ripped me off. I don't think that any cellular internet works on more than one computer at once. My comcell didn't. If you don't exceed your limits, the cellular internet is a great deal. Comcell said they didn't have limits but then I found out they limited my speed because I'm a heavy downloader. All of my TV and movies are downloaded. I would discourage anyone from comcel. I liked it at first but they did all kinds of sneaky things. Odd because their phone service is good.

Chriscan comments on Taxi drivers income

I really miss driving taxi. I wish I could give it a try here but my instincts tell me not to. I've had plenty of jobs in which other people tell me I have a good job but none were as good as cab driving. You get to see a lot and there is a good deal of freedom. I always envy my cab driver. Mind you I did it in one of the most beautiful spots in the world with tourists who were easy to entertain. I like how nobody repected me for being a cab driver and I always had to earn it. I hate it when people think I'm of some higher class down here because I'm white. Anyhow. You can't lump all of Colombia together. How much money is made can vary greatly from one city to the next. In Canada I worked nights because I made over twice as much as a day shift. I don;t know if its the same here. A big reason for that was tips. A day shift gets about 15% in tips at night it was 30-50%. You can also drive way faster at night.,

Chriscan comments on The Problem with Deleting Offensive Threads

I agree - I only know the semi-idiots; the full on idiots fly under the radar.

Chriscan comments on What to pack for 1 month in Colombia in December?

I wouldn't bring anything. Clothes are so cheap and there are lots of styles available. You will have plenty of time to shop. When I first came to Colombia, I used a 20 litre pack. Travelling light is great, especially if you want to walk around and find the best hotel deal. I even had a tent hammock in that pack which I never used. Two things that I can't get in Colombia that I bring lots of is vitamin 12 tabs that dissolve in your mouth and deodorant that isn't antiperspirant.

Chriscan comments on Where to live in Bogota?

My house just sold and I have to move out from Chia. Too bad it was a pretty good size, fantastic location and only 250000 a month. I want to move to north Bogota 300000 for a 1 bedroom or 500000 max for a 2 bedroom. Alcala would be ideal.

Chriscan comments on No wonder British men are looking for Colombianitas

girls are girls I look at them individually. Brit girls don't tend to turn me on but I've met some absolutely fantastic ones. The regional differences in Colombia are great. I'm sure you could take some really nasty photos up on the coast. Those three with the made in China tits don't look to have much personality. The Brits at the top might have too much. It's all about find one (or many that suit you). I wouldn't be surprised if a night with the homely brit girls would be more fun than some girls from Bogota that just talk about what is wrong with all the other girls. The botox paralized faces tell lies that are harder to detect. British girls are less likely to just want you for your money - I'm safe from that though. Early in my relationship with my wife, she shut me up when I told her she just wanted any gringo with money. She told me "You don't have any money" Oh right.

Chriscan comments on Can I apply for a temporary residence visa to canada?

You first need to get a job to get a temporary residence in Canada. There are still lots of jobs up there but the difficulty will be getting hired from Colombia. It is possible as a student as well but I think you will be looking at several years to be approved for either. I've been waiting over a year for my wife's immigration, The Canadian Embassy in Bogota has pretty much come to a halt this year. I've just learned not to expect anything. I sure miss Canada - not that it's any better than Colombia but I have moulded a heluva good life up there in a way that isn't possible here. I sure wish I could creeping through he woods with a rife right now looking for food. I love the feeling of freshly frozen ground. The U.S has always been socialist - where do you think the roads, schools, prisons, police and military come from? Look at all of the cororate handouts which are nothing new by any means. Socialism is just another word that has been twisted by the american media making it's citizens sound much dumber than they are. The only thing more socialist in Canada than the U.S is healthcare. As a Canadian - thank god for that.

Chriscan comments on Medical system in Colombia. What can the US learn?

Ater living in Canada and Colombia - the u.s should look more at canada

Chriscan comments on pharmacies in colombia

You can usually talk your way around a prescription. I gave one pharmacy the name of my doctor in Canada and that was good enough. It seems that things are tightening up a little because there never used to be any mention of a prescription; maybe my Spanish wasn't good enough.

Chriscan comments on Goose Down in Colombia?

I see lots of North Face jackets around - I'm sure they have goose down. Down is the best. I have a huge down jacket that I use over my jacket when I rest or eat ski touring. It's impossible to get cold even in -40.

Chriscan comments on Bringing my Colombian Novia to Canada

Marry her to get into Colombia. The immigration process to Canada should take a good year if not more. You can cancel as a sponsor at any time until she is approved. There is if you only spent a week with her, it will probably end up in court if you don't stay with her in Colombia. You would probably win in court but your looking at 3-4 years I would guess.

Chriscan comments on Quick I'm going to DAS to get forums for my new Job what do I need?

does anyone know about the document I need to get to take to the MRE for something social - they gave me some guide at the MRE that is hard to read as it covers so many other things and is from the government.

Chriscan comments on Quick I'm going to DAS to get forums for my new Job what do I need?

My entire family are teachers and they tell me how hard the first year is. I didn't mean disrespect to teachers - quite the contrary. I could make a lot more as a teacher but I think that I would work more unpaid hours for my first year. I guess I have to go to another office and get a document to take to the MRE. I'm not sure if I should even bother or not. A DAS agent in Santa Marta said something about that I am already legally allowed to work and for them this change is not really a big deal. I already have a cedula - I should have mentioned that - I just have to change my profession from home maker to web content editor/SEO/Marketting Rep/Customer Service.

Chriscan comments on Quick I'm going to DAS to get forums for my new Job what do I need?

pretty bitter there - That was the first offer. I don't think they ever meant to work me more than 45 hours a week though I didn't talk to them for a couple of weeks after asking for more $ - maybe they cut a day off my week too. The pay isn't great but at least I'm not teaching. Yes, the DAS agent that told me that I had to go to DAS first had it all wrong. I already have a cedula - just have to change the profession.

Chriscan comments on Quick I'm going to DAS to get forums for my new Job what do I need?

All I have to say is ask 10 das agents the same question and you get 11 answers.

Chriscan comments on Canadians invading Colombia

Colombians don't see a difference between Canadians and Americans.

Chriscan comments on Jobs for Gringos in Colombia

I got the run around on a job in Santa Marta and moved to Bogota to find work. I got a job my first day in Bogota for an internet company to work on their English content. It doesn't pay great but it gets me by just fine. I guess I was lucky. I was really glad that I didn't have to teach English though. Getting a teaching job is easy but I can't imagine how hard the first 6 months must be.

Chriscan comments on random colombian beauty

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

Chriscan comments on

Of course the donkey isn't impressed what human man could compete with a donkey.

Chriscan comments on Fancy a few songs on the beach (El Rodadero)?

I have about 150 of the same photos. That's not to belittle yours, quite the contrary. I take them because it's such a great place. It;s nice to take the boat to Playa Blanca too though this guy is in El Rodelero a lot too.

Chriscan comments on

I don't like Chavez but I'm not so small to hate people for liking him. I'm really sick of Chavez bashers calling people names and discrediting their opinions just because they don't have the same political ideals. It seems like Telesur and Fox are inciting hate, polarizing the mentally weak beyond any concept of respect and decency.

Chriscan comments on What are the best living areas in Bogota for foreigners?

Entering central Chia

Chriscan comments on What are the best living areas in Bogota for foreigners?

I just moved to Chia. I absolutely love it. It takes me 35 min to get to work in north Bogota by buss and transmellenio. I like Bogota but it's a huge city and I just ain't city folk. I love how I live across from a luxurious mall but the landlord has chickens and cows in the yard. I think I got an exceptional deal on rent but it's a good sized 2 bedroom for 400000. We share it though, otherwise that would be to expensive for a poor person, no matter how happy they are. Chia is an odd mix of university students, higher class types mixxed with farmers. The central square is amazing though this isn't something any town can claim makes it special in Colombia.

Chriscan comments on Noam Chomsky: ''Hablar de soberanía colombiana es un chiste''

BTW driving cab in Banff is the best job one could have. I hope I can be back at it by next summer. There is so much better scenery than in my square office. I love how Canadian girls can go around in winter like that. Why can't they in Bogota? When I first got a digital camera, I took a bunch of pictures of taxi scarlets. http://www.wildbanffgirls.blogspot.com/

Chriscan comments on Noam Chomsky: ''Hablar de soberanía colombiana es un chiste''

Working in Bogota now in IT but I don't know why I should respond to such a childish remark. HAHA I actually read one of Chomsky's books while I was driving cab. So in a way, cab driving did make me qualified to comment. Sorry about your friends but change always has winners and losers. I'm sure that it could have been done a lot better but Chavez probably wanted to get even with the unions. What can you do with a madman. The same thing you do with someone who thinks that they are better than every single person who doesn't have an engineering degree.

Chriscan comments on Gringo looking for work, so what's new??

They might. My certificate is pretty mickey mouse.

Chriscan comments on cancelling return ticket home...

It's a little shameful but I canceled my ticket because I know I can borrow the money to get back from my Canadian boss and work it off as soon as I get back. I have no idea when I will go back either.

Chriscan comments on questions on 90 day requirement for marriage in Colombia

I think it took about 2-3 weeks in Canada. My marriage has exhausted my brain and it has trouble with exact numbers. BTW congratulations on starting the end of your life. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Chriscan comments on Avianca and Aerorepublica have a bit of a sale on at the moment

the domestic flights are a little cheaper with aires. The sale there ends at midnight.

Chriscan comments on Communist Uribe Haters at PBH

I see left wingnuts and right wingnuts here. I think Uribe's success has had a lot to do with social programs. He doesn't leave much room for soft lefties as he has improved education. If you don't believe in some socialism, who is to build the roads and schools. Sure Chavez is a bad leader but some here are so obsessed with bashing him over and over. It's not only redundant but when I see all of the hate filled comments, it appears quite psychotic.

Chriscan comments on Noam Chomsky: ''Hablar de soberanía colombiana es un chiste''

Where things get confusing with plan Colombia is that it is sold as a war on drugs. In that sense it is a huge failure considering the amount of money that is spent. For people living in Colombia, the fact that drug export numers have hardly changed doesn't matter. In a sense, it's good that drug money is still flowing into Colombia. What matters in Colombia is that security is greatly increased. So for Colombians it's a great success and that is what Mr Chomsky along with the vast majority of the world fails to see. It's not hard to tell who hasn't read any of Chomsky's stuff here. For sure he isn't anti - american. He often speaks of the good things and is constantly repeating that things are consistently getting better. what he sees is how much better things could be if law makers could just pull their heads out of their asses. I think that he is a little delusional about Venezuela at the moment but so are people who claim Chavez has done nothing positive. He probably has done more harm than good and his ego really gets in the way. It's unfortunate because one really positive thing is how he has reclaimed power from large multinational corporations.

Chriscan comments on gimmedub

OMG have you seen that the wait time went from 5 to 10 months in a 6 month period?

Chriscan comments on cancelling return ticket home...

Give me $700 to replace my laptop and I will. Tickets are just 1s and 0s now.

Chriscan comments on airline recommendations

I did LAX to BAQ and it was probably the best trip I did to Colombia. I will never fly AA again. They ripped me off in a big way. If you fly with them record every conversation you have with them. They basically stole about $800 from me.

Chriscan comments on Thinking about back packing South America!?!

What bothers me way more than people who spell Colombia wring is those whom are fussy about it.

Chriscan comments on Scandanavians - Don't you just love em!

aztec - both sides are guilty of that. CanadianAmerican - have you been outside Stockholm or Goteburg? The rest of the country is much different.

Chriscan comments on Scandanavians - Don't you just love em!

what a joke. like anyone in venezuela knows a damn thing about sweden. Life in Scandinavia is pretty good. Capitalism vs. socialism isn't necessarily right vs wrong. It's about what type of society you want to live in. I spent some time in sweden and dated an amazingly hot Swedish blonde who always finished 2 bottles of wine before the sun went down and she had an interesting way of voting. At the municipal level - socialist all the way. At the federal level capitalist. It makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Let the town worry about daycare, street people and what have you and let the feds make sure the economy rolls along.

Chriscan comments on Mil Carnes - Santa Marta

I passed that Mil carnes place over 1000 times, always wondering about it. There is good pizza in Ocean Mall. Travasvere or something. There is a great little pizza stand in Taganga. If soggy crust is an issue, you will love it. It's thin, crisp and less than half the price of pizza loca. It's a small red stand red, across from the main store on the beach, not too frar from the taxi stand. I like pepperoni and Neapolitan. Near there there are good burgers where there is a small patio with 3 or 4 wooden tables with wooden chairs with great burgers. Taganga might be dirty and torn up bt it's got some pretty decent food. Santa Marta sure isn't the best when it comes to dining. There is lots of good soup though because everyone is always hung over. I really find it odd how Taganga has such better food than El Rodelero.. Everything else is better in El Rodelero, why not the food? Hopefully one day I will be able to drop more than 5000 on a meal again. Now I'm in Chia with no money with so many fantastic restaurants teasing me in North Bogota. Ah, I just have a couple of weeks until the wife gets here and I can eat like a king in my castle. Poor but Royal.

Chriscan comments on Gringo looking for work, so what's new??

Thanks. I'm already in Chia. It's a pretty easy commute to work. The climate is so much better . People understand my Spanish and I understand theirs. I was thinking of moving closer to work but I love it here. It's nice to see cows and chickens out the living room window - I just isn't a big city guy. The rent is cheap, the house is nice. The commute really isn't too bad either. I like how open the people in Santa Marta were with each other but they don't really know how to approach a gringo or if they should. Around here, the culture is colder but I don't feel as much like I'm from another planet. I guess most of the gringos in Santa Marta are zombie backpackers and here they tend to participate in society more. I look forward to the odd vacation on the coast. You can't beat Santa Marta / Cartagena for a vacation.

Chriscan comments on Noam Chomsky visits Caracas

Politics has a lot to do with Language. The Canadian government just banned the words "child soldier" a couple of days ago. Enhanced interrogation, axis of evil, ungoverned spaces, enemy combatant, rendition, elected dictator, One needs an linguist to see through the wool that the government pulls over our eyes.