PBH / colombia (travelguide, pictures) / post

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-handicap speakers are limited to just a few sites on COL.. The views on those sites are not a true LOCAL view..

Lonely Planet.. Very diverse, talks about ALL of S. America, COL actually is not the top destination, Peru/Ecaudor/Brazil/Argentina are.. poster on there tend to be budget minded serious traveller(ie, 2 weeks or more travelling) most popular topics tend to be tourisism AND safety. Good reporting of tourist sites AND crime/safety from TOURIST POV. Downside i notice is while crime reporting on the LP is excellent, it does make one a little scare.. Prior to my trip on Lima, Peru i've read LP, from the post i read, there were lots of crime against tourist. But reading further i realize one of the reason is that most poster that reported crime were budgeted mind, they stayed in hostel more than nicer hotel. Obviously most hostels or other budget hotels are in "dicerer" areas, hence more potential for crime. While my budget allows me to avoid those areas hence, i run less chance of it happening.

Also i observed that LP has little or no argument, i suspect because posters on the board travel everywhere and don't really develop "loyalty" to one country that they need to defend or attack. Just a bunch of tourist passing thru form on country to another.

Planet Love.. Pretty narrow focus.. Males(US/CD), older, economically stable, slightly more mature searching for WIFE or have wife/gf in S.America. Overwhelmingly most of the S. American post refer to COL(cali more).. Popular subjects are Relationship(DUH!) with crime and business thrown in once in a while. Interestingly, the POV on relationship is very objective laying out both good/bad experience. There's no sugar coating of problems or sweeping stuff under the rug. And Suprisingly, not gringa/latina bashing, or lovefest on COL, that you get here on PBH at times. Good site for any NON-COL guy that what a POV from NON-COL MALES in relationship w/ COL Female. Example when they talked about crime, poster post their stories and that's it.. There's no trying sugarcoat nor is there attempts are blowing it out of proportion.

Now to PBH.. Very myopic(only about COL.. DUH!), nothing wrong with that. Posters here's are all over, COL to NON-COL. male, female, young to old, rich to poor, looking for all types of info(dating to tourist sites). Strong loyatly to COL..Tend to get into lots of debates because we have such a diverse group. I think having COL on this sites lends a different POV, while sometimes i don't agree with those view, nevertheless it's great to hear them. The popular subject on this site is (relationship/dating but from MALE AND FEMALE, COL AND NON COL POV), CRIME/SAFETY, & Places to go or stay in COL.. Of course since this site is about COL.. People her tend to be less objective at times from both spectrum(COL paradise to COL is dangerous), hence debates can get nasty.. This site more than the other two really requires readers to read between the lines to get balance view of things.

I found it interest that LP rarely ask about How to meet guy/girls.. While PBH we get those postings all the time yet PBH has rules against "dating questions", but that is SOO easily circumvented..

Conclusion, for newbie travellers i recommend reading LP AND PBH to get a balance view. While for GUYS wanting to get insight on relationship w/latinas i recommend PBH AND PL. Just my POV... Feel free to comment..

By caslug on Jun 17, 2005, 11:54 in Friendly Talkzone.

utopiacowboy says on Jun 17, 2005, 13:09:

There will be disagreements and arguments on PL but they don't tend to be about Colombia. On many issues I'd be much more likely to post on PL because there would be less chance I would get bashed. A lot of people send me email about stuff that they won't post on PBH because they don't want all the grief that comes with this site.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 17, 2005, 13:21:

too bad Peter's ColombiaExperts is languishing slowly but surely. I guess most of the posters have moved over to PBH. What did you think of late CaliGringo?
Cheers,
Desi

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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caslug says on Jun 17, 2005, 13:42:

one thing i wish PBH would have.. is to have a section on travel, inside that section there could base on city, inside the cities there could section for hotels, clubs, restaurants, tourist sites.. That way someone interest in visit Medellin can go to Travel/Medellin/Hotel and read up on hotel option. And maybe a crime/safety section too either general or inside city section.

Caligrino was primarily non-col poster, so there's it has a single/male/POV that sometimes can be like locker room/frat. Arguements can be very heated on certain subjects. Caligringo site ded help(for Cali) me find some good hotel and party spots. With PBH it's great for general discussion, but when we want specific travel info, we either have to do a search then wade thru tons of post or post a new one. Look how at couple of recent post on hotels in Cali or Medellin, if we had a travel section like many other sites. Those posters wouldn't have to post a repetive post, we get lots of repetive post(where to party, where to stay, etc.,) on this site.

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