My Trip to Cali

NataliaV says on Feb 20, 2008, 10:22:

Glad to hear you enjoyed Cali. I love it there while there are many who hate it. But to each there own. And the luggage thing...happens everywhere you travel. You just have to pray that it won't happen to you again!

Simon says on Feb 20, 2008, 10:23:

I'm glad you had a good time in Cali! Thanks for sharing your experience!!

HERE'S SIMON!!!!

JumboBond007 says on Feb 20, 2008, 10:36:

Natalia V. Thanks. About luggage on the way back: CALI - MIAMI - ORLANDO - LONDON. I found my luggage in Miami 'babbage claim' area. I was not very happy, because they were supposed to transfer it to Orlando's flight. I managed to bring one of the staff, and they transferred it. If I had not told them, I wouldn't have received the luggage again. When going on London flight from Orlando, I had to ask them to check my luaggage ..........

JumboBond007 says on Feb 20, 2008, 10:36:

Simon. Your very welcome!

Monpirri says on Feb 20, 2008, 10:39:

Con: On my trip to Barranquilla our luggage did not arrive with us but rather three days later.
Pro: Avianca gave us about $80.00 USD for the inconvenience

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

NataliaV says on Feb 20, 2008, 10:41:

Gotcha Jumbo. That would have been a real pain had you not saw it there. My mother-in-law flew to St. Marteen for vacation and her luggage was lost. She had to wear her husbands shorts for most of the trip. She refused to buy new clothes cause the prices were ridiculous. They still can't find her luggage after six months!

JumboBond007 says on Feb 20, 2008, 10:42:

Monpiri. They gave me $800.000 peoso for the inconvenience, but the taxi driver was very greedy and wanted $110.000 peoso !!!!!

Next time make sure your luggage will be with you .............

Monpirri says on Feb 20, 2008, 10:46:

I don't get it, who gave you $800.00 pesos for the inconvenience?
We got from Avianca about $160.000 pesos or about $80.00 for each passenger. Our luggage arrived late, opened but secured, you know nowadays TSA check them.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 20, 2008, 10:46:

Jumbo, I paid 35 000 on taxi from Cali to the airport.
I'm glad you liked Cali and I agree, its best asset is its people. I have plenty more to say, but I need to think a little now. I looked at the pics from the tour website and was not impressed.

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

msaucey says on Feb 20, 2008, 11:02:

Jumbo, the good thing is that you did enjoy yourself.... Tours are always a crap shoot unless someone has recommended the service... Sadly, it does sound like the taxista totally ripped you off.... bastards!... I wonder why they didn't take you to the water park in Cali, we always go when we visit Cali....it's a good time..

As for delayed luggage, I think we've all experienced this phenomenon, I always take an extra day's clothes in my handbag, for just in case situations....

Well, now that you've got a better feel for Cali, you probably wont need to do the tours and you can do the PBH backpack way and hostel accomodations... probably be cheaper and less stressful...

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

JumboBond007 says on Feb 20, 2008, 11:20:

Msaucey ......... I did take an extra clothes, but only polo shirt, because I was wearing long-sleeved polo shirts from London. I expected to change during the flight, but I did not :)))

About next time, it depends on the girl I am corresponding with. I might bring cabin luggage instead, and buy shaving razor, shampoos, etc from shops in Colombia. You are right that I won't need to do the Tour.

Desideria ..... the pictures look too good to be true!! I felt sorry for 2 other guys. They haven't found their women yet. A guy gave them list of 30 girls to meet for appointment 3 weeks in advance, but they did not do anything at all until on the day of his arrival and managed to meet only 4 girls. I gave them only 6 girls 2 weeks in advance but they haven't done anything at all until I arrived. Their business services are VERY POOR. I wouldn't be very angry if I had not found anyone!!

Monpiri ... they checked everything in my luggage, but thankfully a beautiful lady wore gloves to do it. I wouldn't be happy if anyone checked my items with dirty hands. I have 6 samples of 'STUDIO F' ladies dresses !!!

JumboBond007 says on Feb 20, 2008, 11:21:

Monpiri....American Airlines gave me the money.

msaucey says on Feb 20, 2008, 11:24:

Yet another AA horror story in the last 2 days!... scary....

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

Monpirri says on Feb 20, 2008, 11:29:

Thanks Jumbo for sharing your story and for the explaining the doubt I had.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

msaucey says on Feb 20, 2008, 11:31:

on a similar note.... I'm curious what the success rate of these match ups are, is there any screening or is it an open door policy (meaning anyone can just walk in)....

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

JumboBond007 says on Feb 20, 2008, 11:39:

Monpiri........ your welcome :)))

Msaucey, did you mean about finding those girls. The girls can join anytime, but the men have to pay. I do not know about success rate, but there are some marriage, including one of the girls who attended the party. She has Australian husband and will join him in 5 months time ......

huskie says on Feb 20, 2008, 11:49:

I have never seen a website link like the one Jumbo posts, but I must say: what on earth draws these men to spend all that money for such tasteless endeavours? I agree Desi , those pictures are very tacky and the women are pretty ugly (my own words, not yours), we have better women than that in Colombia!
What a disgrace, something like that is all over the Internet UGGH
Jumbo: I am glad you enjoyed Colombia, it is a beautiful country.
Cheers

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds-"

Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 20, 2008, 12:06:

I was browsing these kind of websites a few years back when I first became aware of this form of business being conducted in Colombia. I must've gone through pics and profiles of a thousand girls and women in seven or eight different sites and I'm totally convinced that a handsome young Englishman like Jumbo has no need to pay to meet nice, pretty, classy girls in Cali; I'm sorry to say but the majority of those girls in those pictures looked like Aguablanca or my kitchen.

This post may not be around much longer as it's basically against our rules: do not discuss where you can find ladies and it has a link to a an agency. I haven't taken it off yet, because it does give us some insight to how foreign men are being fooled and lured by these shabby, shady establishments.

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

huskie says on Feb 20, 2008, 12:10:

Really? How disgusting....btw what is Aguablanca sounds like a ... and why your kitchen? what do you mean by that? LOL
Cheers

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds-"

msaucey says on Feb 20, 2008, 12:12:

Jumbo, all I can say is that your experience is a bit different from what I've really heard, then again, I haven't met anyone that goes on these types of trips.... Heck, I'm sure we can dig up a nice cousin somewhere to hook you up... Desi, just kidding!.....

But, seriously, I know trips can get expensive and maybe on this type of trip cost and quality come hand in hand....

Maybe we can keep the thread going if you edit some of the content of the OP....

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

huskie says on Feb 20, 2008, 12:14:

Oh I get it Desi, your kitchen
Cheers

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds-"

arthur brode says on Feb 20, 2008, 12:17:

Hey Jumbo,next time stay with me.You will save a lot of money and you can meet Chicas for free at the pool in the apartment building:)

http://www.calirentals.net/

Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 20, 2008, 12:21:

Aguablanca is the huge slums in Cali that is dangerous by night and day. I have nothing against poor people but I wouldn't explicitely travel to the other side of the globe and pay an agency to meet ugly men with no education, bad habits, greedy relatives and ulterior motives...can find those much closer home at no cost at all.

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

JumboBond007 says on Feb 21, 2008, 06:03:

Arthur Brode :) Yes, but the Tour included the Lodge anyway. Next time, I will :)))

MSaucey ... jajajaja !!!

Desideria. Well, they are much cheaper than Russian Dating Tour. It costs no less than US $3,000. Well I met 4 girls, but I like one of them. I will have to wait and see how we goes, otherwise I would feel waste money for the Tour!!