JFS has left 21 comments

JFS comments on Receiving Wire Tranfers from the US to a Bancolombia Account

Did a quick search... Banco de la Republica

Formularios e Instructivos

Go here to find more info...

JFS comments on Car buying links?

Also try www.tucarro.com.co www.tucarro.com.co

JFS comments on bus from bogota to pereira

I am in Pereira now ... and took the trip from Bogota recently. I actually took a night bus and had no issues at all.

The fare was about $40.000 COP and it took about 8 hours. Defenatly take Bolivariano as it goes from Terminal to Terminal (non-stop).

For more times/pricing info, visit their website:
Bolivariano's Site.

JFS comments on Laser hair removal

If Pereira is an option... I'd highly recommend "Unidad Dermatologica Laser." They've been around for a while and have a very professional and experienced team.

For more info, visit
UDL's site.

JFS comments on Internet services in Medellin

Banda Ancha en Medellin... http://www.laneros.com/showthread.php?t=34089&highlight=en+Medellin

JFS comments on Monthly internet costs?

GringoDeLo... I think Pereira has a population of about 1 to 1.5 Million people.

JFS comments on Monthly internet costs?

Broadband in Pereira... Lack of competition allows "Telefonica de Pereira" to charge pretty high prices for Broadband service...

Plan Down Up Monthly cost
Personal 12K 64 Kbps 64 Kbps $63,800
Personal 18K 128 Kbps 64 Kbps $69,000
Empresarial 18K 192 Kbps 128 Kbps $84,680
Basico 18K 192 Kbps 128 Kbps $84,680
Empresarial 24K 256 Kbps 128 Kbps $158,920
Corporativo 40K 512 Kbps 256 Kbps $295,800

--JFS

JFS comments on VOIP

I am using Vonage in Pereira Successfully MigueElCosteno,

I’ve had a Vonage Phone Adaptor (PAP2) in service in Pereira for a few months with satisfactory results.

One very important factor that needs to be taken into account is your available bandwidth (i.e. Download & Upload speeds). For Vonage and most VOIP services, the user must have AT LEAST 64K of bandwidth in EACH direction… preferably 128K or more.

To measure bandwidth, visit any of these free services:

http://www.dslreports.com/stest?loc=97
http://abeltronica.com/velocimetro/pt/?idioma=es&newlang=es

JFS comments on High speed Internet

You may find some info here... Banda Ancha en Medellin:
http://www.laneros.com/showthread.p...ght=en+Medellin

JFS comments on HIGH SPEED internet hookup

BAQ,It depends on who you BAQ,

It depends on who your provider was, what type of plan you had, and the UPLOAD bandwidth associated with the plans.

For example, a year or so ago, Verizon DSL offered a ~768kbps/256kbps as their PREMIUM service for ~$40

Today, they're offering two plans:
2) 768kbps/128kbps for ~$14.95/Month
2) 3000kbps/768kbps for ~$30/Month

Assuming you had a ~ 512kbps/256kbps in the states, the 512kbps/256kbps in Colombia should provide similar network performane.

JFS comments on Banda Ancha

Check Laneros.com Principe,

Here is a start:

http://www.laneros.com/search.php?searchid=289801

--JFS

JFS comments on Broadband Access in Pereira

I was able to get in contact with ETP Pereira... Here are the current (09/05/2005) plans available:

064 Kbps 63.800/Mes + 63.800 de instalacion
128 Kbps 69.000/Mes + 63.800 de instalacion
192 Kbps 84.680/Mes + 63.800 de instalacion
256 Kbps 158.920/Mes + 71.000 de instalacion
512 Kbps 295.800/Mes + 71.000 de instalacion

Note that if your area provides cable-modem service, you'd have to pay an additional $200.000 to have the xDSL service installed.

For more info, call ETP (Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Pereira)
(57)(6)324-4421 Ext 177 or (57)(6)324-7100

JFS comments on Banda Ancha en Pereira

Para Aquellos interesados... Porfin me pude comunicar con un representante de ETP y obtuve la siguiente informacion:

Paquetes xDLS disponibles en Pereira atravez de ETP:
064 Kbps $ 63.800/Mes + $63.800 de instalacion
128 Kbps $ 69.000/Mes + $63.800 de instalacion
192 Kbps $ 84.680/Mes + $63.800 de instalacion
256 Kbps $158.920/Mes + $71.000 de instalacion
512 Kbps $295.800/Mes + $71.000 de instalacion

Si el area residencial ofrece convertura atraves de cable-modem, la coneccion de xDSL requerira un cargo adicional de $200.000

Para mas informacion, pueden llamar a los telefonos:
(57)(6)324-4121 Linea 177
(57)(6)324-7100

JFS comments on Is anyone in Bogota interested in a VoIP phone adapter?

What is your broadband connection Speed (Up/Down)? Tx Trying to figure out what bandwidht I 'd need to obtain good voice quality. Thanks.

JFS comments on Problem

richj1011,

This info (Gathered/Posted by another PBH member a while back) might come in handy:

"Things to do in Cali

Dancing
Original old times salsa music:

- Juanchito (a city nearby cali with about 30 discoteques)
- La Pollera Colora (old fashoned disco)

Modern pop and rock music
- Baiao
- La Casa de la cerveza (located in Ciudad Jardin, Rancho de Jonas and north)
- Plaza norte (home for abut 7 disco and bars)
- Quest cafe bar. (My business !!!! a disco, bar and an internet caffe. located in Avenida Pasoancho and 67. Look

for a castle like house).

Shopping centers
- Holguines Center. (Rigth in front of Unicentro. very much luxurious and host the Royal Pacific Hotel (the most

luxurious in town).
- Unicentro (south about 300 stores.)
- Chipichape (North about 250 stores and a casino)
- Cosmocentro (center South. cheap site)
- Pasarela (North - Only for computer stuff but also the biggest Casino in town)

Historical and not-to-forget places
- La Ermita (old style medieval church. Most famous church in town)
- San Antonio (old style church and sigthseeing place. Nice artisanry shops)
- Loma de la cruz (sigthseeing place and local artisanry shopping)
- Plaza de caicedo (historical city center. If you wanna feel the real Old Cali, don't leave without visiting the

place)
- Hacienda el Paraiso (historical beautiful rural house. Located 1 1/2 hours from cali). Famous for hosting the

love story of Efrain and Maria (Jorge Isaacs's La Maria book in 1800)
- Hacienda Piedechinche (historical rural house which stand for the sugar cane museum. Is located near a sugar

production center)
- Mirador de Belalcazar (city founders statue with a sigthseeing site. Not the best view but a very popular

place).
- Paseo Bolivar. (An open passage connecting La Ermita and the city mayor offices. Lots ol local folklore shops

in this area. You can get to the 6th avenue from here).
- 6th Avenue. (About 100 shops, discotheques and bars all around this avenue. Worldwide famous site)
- Menga P'acá. (Located near the exit to Menga (North). It's a complex including restaurants, disco's, bar's, a

skating place and a karts driving place).
- Pueblito Valluno. (old Cali's replica. Located in the way to Yumbo (new road to Yumbo). There are nice

restaurants, old fashioned food, old fashioned houses and a restaurant near the cauca river)
- Yaku. (A big place with lots of farms. You can get to find all the rural nimals in this place. There are pigs,

horses, chickens, ponys, sheeps and all kind of animals.)

Restaurants

- Sansai: Japanese food. Located in ciudad Jardin.
- Rio D'Enero / Rio D' Brazil: Rodizio restaurant. Located in Ciudad Jardin
- Tardes Caleñas: Restaurant and disco. very nice place.
- Tony Romas: Guess you know it. Worldwide famous for its ribs. Located in Dann Carlton Hotel
- ventanas al Mundo. Located in 43rd floor of the "Torre de Cali" building, the city highest. Great city view.
- El bochinche. You can't leave without visiting this restaurant. It's the most famous restaurant for after

dancing. Open 24 hours but most of the customers arrives at 2 - 3 AM after dancing at the discos. You must try

the local "lengua a la criolla" (onion seasoned Beef tongue). Located in the 13th st and 15.
- Leños y Carbon: Great steaks. Located in Unicentro and Chipichape.
- Simon Parrilla: All types of food. Located in Menga P'Acá complex. Nice tasting food.

if you want i can guide you in Cali. This is not a commercial service. I just like knowing people from all around

the world and get them to realy know how my city is. I want to help to make Cali a world known safe city!"

JFS comments on How to obtain Colombian Driver Licence (Pase)?

UPDATE I was able to obtain my Colombian Driver Licence with little to no hassel within a day.

Items required:
5. Original del recibo de pago de derechos del trámite respectivo, los cuales se cancelan en SETT.
80. Formulario "Hoja de datos licencia de conducción" diligenciado, suscrito por el conductor y por el solicitante (si el conductor no es quien hace la solicitud), con firma y huella. Este formulario es distribuido en forma gratuita en SETT.
87. Foto a color 3x4 fondo azul. Se debe registrar al respaldo de la foto el número del documento de identidad.
89. Grupo sanguíneo y factor (RH).
95. Saber leer y escribir.
96. Tener la edad exigida de acuerdo con el servicio (16 años servicio particular y 18 años servicio público).
84. Fotocopia de la cédula de ciudadanía o de la cédula de extranjería (o su equivalente expedido por el DAS) o del pasaporte.
85. Fotocopia simple de la Licencia de Conducción extranjera, vigente a la fecha.
94. Traducción al español de la Licencia de conducción dada por la representación diplomática del país de origen o del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Colombia, salvo si presenta copia de la Licencia de conducción con apostille del país de origen.
252. En cuyo caso podrá presentar traducción no oficial, y documento en que se determine la equivalencia de las categorías, excepto para España.
86. Examen médico y psicotécnico que demuestre aptitud física y mental para conducir, con fecha de expedición no mayor a 1 mes.

http://www.sett.com.co/rdc_documentos6.htm

JFS comments on Problem

Tell her you're gay... That should solve your problem ;)

JFS comments on pereira visit

Depends on what you like... If you're into dancing, I'd recommend a place called "Mango Viche" it is a huge club with great music (Latin, for the most part).

If you want to relax and just talk to the locals, there are some really good bars in the Circumbalar area. One that comes to mind is called "747." It is owned by a couple of local guys who are very hospitable and play a good variety of music.

JFS comments on My life story

JFS Visit Colombia and decide for yourself, you'll not be dissapointed.

I'd suggest you visit the "Zona Cafeterea," Cartagena & Medellin.

Good Luck!

JFS comments on How to obtain Colombian Driver Licence (Pase)?

Thanks Gator! Do you by any chance know if it can be obtained within the same day?

--JFS

JFS comments on Vonage VoIP Service over CableModem @ 128K/64K

Call Bridging Device Viewpoint,

Thank you for the information, I will make sure to bring a basic router along with a few Ethernet cables.

If you don't mind, could you please elaborate on the "Call Bridging Device to a local line in the house"?

Gracias!
--JFS