Panda has left 37 comments

Panda comments on What Do Americans Think of Colombians?

Sorry I didn't read all the comments, so this might sound a bit out of context but relating to the one comment about people being bad for not being proud of their heritage I have to say that in my case I am from Colombia and have no problem saying so when someone asks me but am I proud of it? well I really am not (i don't really care much about the country actually) Does the fact that I can't stand vallenato and that I don't see the big deal on having coastline on 2 oceans make me a bad person?

Panda comments on Medellin robbery update!

That’s the Colombian attitude: Pretend that no matter whatever bad thing happens to you if you complain or feel distressed is not because the society in this country sucks big time but because you are like "quinciañera virgen a gritar por un simple robo." And the Colombia for cold blood people that you talk about might be the country you wish for you and your family but most of us are tired of it and would like to change but as long as there are narrow minded people like jack jason I am afraid this country will never fulfill its potential and be safe.

Panda comments on Medellin robbery update!

OK, I admit I took it too far. I guess I was very frustrated and kind of disapointed. Maybe it is the same here as everywhere else. The nasty people are a minority. I just happened to come accross a lot of jerks whenever I come to Medellin. Sorry to anyone who got offended.

Panda comments on Medellin robbery update!

this is to jack jason: you are right I am un pobre HP and you must be a very rico triple HP

Panda comments on leaving Colombia

Thank you guys very much for your help. As Kat said I am a Colombian citizen with residence in the UK, hence all my Colombian documents. The 2 bastards were waiting for us at my family´s home and as we were getting off the car they just came out of nowhere with guns and started threatening everyone. I would like to point out that it wasn´t my car, it was my sister´s and 6 months ago something very similar happened and they took my other sister´s car and a couple of months later a friend that was visiting fell too and lost her car. We think it was the same people and as the saying goes: Tenemos ladron propio. We live in barrio San Pablo off the carrera 65 near the Holaya Herrera airport and the area is infested with thieves. I can´t wait to get the hell out of here. I don´t really know where the goverment and the media get their figures to say that Colombia is safer now, when we went to the CTI the queue was massive and had to wait several hours to be seen. I talked to several people on the queue and everyone had had or knew someone that had been through the same. If you visit Medellin be very careful and watch every step. The people from Medellin have a reputation of being kind and friendly but a big percentage of the population are bunch of rats.

Panda comments on Colombia Attracts Record Number Of Foreign Visitors In '07

whatever the governent and the media says, Colombia is still very dangerous. I am Colombian and got to visit every now and then and every time i go I want to stay less and less to the point that I won´t be going back at all. If you visit Colombia, watch out for your personal belongings because the place is full of thieves and the Police couldn´t care less and they don´t even pretend they do.

Panda comments on Can anyone help with flight info please

Thanks very much you guys, this is very useful info.

Panda comments on Panda

Hello everybody!

Panda comments on Help, I need to find a ticket to Cali for December

try flying to Caracas from there you can get a good deal to anywhere in Colombia. Good luck

Panda comments on

WTF? to Dongringo what is this? a website about Colombia full of gringos bitching about it? Dongringo, you just don't demand respect, you know. If people don't like Bush, tough and if you get offended by that we colombians couldn't care less. Now, though I want you to understand something: STOP blaming Colombia for drugs production. The majority of us have absolutely nothing to do with that filth and are plain law abiding citizens who try to make an honest living, is just a very small percentage of the population that do it, and we don't deserve to be blamed for that. The last thing we need is some idiot to come insult us because we don't like that puppet that you have as a leader.

Panda comments on Just curious

thanks for your reply but... ...as I said I am Colombian and I know what people are like over there. I also have found that quaility in many other people from several other countries around the world. What I am interested in is to know what really makes Colombia such an special destination that someone from overseas would choose to live there for good.
thank you

Panda comments on

are you kidding me? First let me make 2 points clear:
1. I am not against the U.S or its people.
2. I am not a Chavez simnpatizer nor do I approve of his actions.

I just happen to have a very objective negative opinion about George W Bush as an individual and also the whole political machine he is part of.
I think the world would be a better place if it's only superpower was led by a more capable person and care more about people than money.

Panda comments on

oops! Sorry i brought that up. it was an impulse i guess. there is something about talking about mad world leaders that i can't help but make a comment about good old Junior.
And the fact that he makes us all have a good laugh in a regular basis doesn't make up for his atrocious policies. in fact there is an idea: Junior to become a stand up comedian after leaving the white house, and Chavez could join in on stage and have the whole "you are a donkey, Mr Danger" act.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we are up for a treat!

Panda comments on

Chavez is plain evil.... ...but doesn't even come close in the scale of evil to George Bush.
It's a shame that it is always innocent law abiding citizens who have to pay the price of the actions of these clowns!

Panda comments on A must see. Costeños arguing!

AWESOME! At last a clip that shows our lovely country the way it is!

Panda comments on Dems Have Different Plans for 'Plan Colombia'

US goverment as bad as Colombian Average Colombian citizens are the ones that are the most tired of having these drug dealers giving us a bad name and i think it is not bullshit to say the US are partly to blame. Don't make it look like your country are just trying to give a friendly hand down here, only the most naive would believe that. I am not blaming the US my friend. I am only saying that their actions just make everything worse and therefore they should accept they got it wrong and try a different system: get out of other countries and worry about your own people first.
I give you something to think about: if the US was all about helping other countries, it should start by stop fueling wars abroad and dumping thousands of tons of carbon emissions in the air and doing nothing about it.

Panda comments on Dems Have Different Plans for 'Plan Colombia'

They are all the same! Democrats or Republicans...all the same crap. I say, stop trying to take advantage of every single country that you can in the world and mind your own damn bussines. Some people out there in Michigan could use some of that money that you use spreading poison in Colombia to get out of living under the poverty line. Also teach your own people not to take drugs and to stop feeding unscrupulous drug barons in Colombia and as they loose their no1 customer in the world, they'll get out of bussines in no time.
when will America realise that in all their so called drugs on terror, drugs, etc... the biggest loosers will eventualy be noone but themselves.

Panda comments on things Colombia has to teach us

among other things... if you just go to the palacio shopping center and all others around the area in Medellin you should be able to get all brands of trainers and clothing. and while you are out there check out 3 playstation games in el diamante for 5000 pesos(£1.20)

Panda comments on things Colombia has to teach us

Clowns Another great idea would be to have clowns outside the restaurants in London's west end advertising the menu. Also it would be great if Bus drivers let 2 school kids on the bus for half the fare as long as they get on through the rear doors. I wonder how people would react also if someone just starts washing their windscreens when they stop at the trafic lights down kensington high street. And wouldn't be great to be able to haggle in a san andresito in regents street with chavy sale attendants telling you how hot you look in those classy 5 colour nike trainers?

Panda comments on This is quite sad to read some threats written in english

we are alll the same some colombians are very patriotic and get offended very easily when something negative is said about the country(even if it is a fact). I assume they are the very people who when they go abroad all they do is say how unimpressed they are and how everything is much better back home. don't get me wrong, i am a colombian and i think my country is not that bad(or is it?) but i also think that the fact that people from other contries go to visit or even to settle down in Colombia can only benefit the country. Yes, their dollars are most welcomed, as are our pesos, pounds, euros and yens when in the U.S
what really is messing up the world now is division and silly patriotism and failure to accept that in the end we are all the same.

Panda comments on Sending parcel to Colombia

Awesome! thanks everyone for this much valued information.

Panda comments on Colombians vacationing abroad: where can they?

show them the money!!! lots of money = VISA
no money = NO VISA!!!!

Panda comments on

are you serious? i think your so called friend hates your guts...santo domingo savio???? not even a local would go there unless absolutely necessary. and if you go by yourself to caldas speaking no spanish, chances are you'll get lost.

Panda comments on

wrap yourself!!! although Caldas is very close to Medellin the weather is different. quite cold in Paisa standards. it is a good option to visit because despite its closenes to Medellin it is a rather rural area where you can see very tipical colombian country people.
As in every place in colombia there is this huge social gap. you will be able to see luxury beyond believe as well as the most humble of colombian homes. it all depends who you hang out with.
have fun!!!

Panda comments on Uribe to Bush: Stop Meddling

give us a break gringoinbogota gringo in bogota says: "It is free to take the money of the US but then it is OK to pick and choose what you want to hear for taking it" and "I recently came from another visit to a poor neighborhood in Bogota that still does not have water". Would you give us all a break and cut all that redneck bullshit out? yes, sure Uribe sucks, but your beloved Bush isn't much better, or is he that gives so much money to a poorer contry as colombia who supported them in that evil invasion of Irak that has killed so many innocent people and will give the rich in America so much money and power that they won't know what to do with it.
it is unnaceptable that there are towns with no water in Colombia, but i don't think you have the right to say anything about it after seeing the pictures of the aftermath of Katrina(massive riots and people fighting each other to death over a blanket, now that is something to make you proud of your "president"

Panda comments on Dumb questions about Colombia

been there! i was once asked by an english lady if colombia was somewhere in brazil. but why should she know? beautiful though Colombia is, it hasn't made anything remarkable to be recognized worldwide. however at least it hasn't invaded other country, killed its people and steal its goods(oil) whithout a UN approval.
there is nice people everywhere in the world, but most people in power in both colombia and the states are about the closest to evil it gets.

Panda comments on About Colombia

what's wrong with being poor anyway?????

Panda comments on Colombian Football

Because the reason you only see football on colombian news is because is the only sport colombians can play decently. we suck ass big time in almost any other sport ever invented.

Panda comments on Car Rental in Medellin

why bother with a car in medellin is better to be as free as possibble so you can just relax instead of finding a parking place. besides, taking a cab not only is cheap but also very easy and reliable.

Panda comments on Why Colombia? No...Really

i know what you mean dude... i've asked myself the same question several times. in colombia you grow up believing that going to live abroad itself is quite an acomplishment only to find out that there's loads of americans and europeans just loving the "easy-going" lifestyle in Colombia.
must be that not only do colombians that complain about the country realize that it is not so bad back home once they move to wealthier contries but also foreigners that visit Colombia discover all those wonders that locals take for granted.

Panda comments on Why do so many Colombians, choose to get the hell outta Colombia?

simply because... well, the reason for people you call "cachacos" migrate to other countries in a big scale is that having had the chance to get access to higher education and often get a degree or a diploma only to find that when you don't have influential friends to get that "dream job", the chances are that you'll be better off learning another language and getting a job in a country where it will be more appreciated and better paid.

Panda comments on transit visa (EU) for colombians

it depends... as a Colombian you won't need a transit visa to travel to any european union city as long as you don't leave the airport international area, which means you won't be able to go through imigration. if what you want is to travel by car you will indeed need a visa for the schengen country(ies) which may be to much hasle to get as well as very expensive.
my advice is that if you are not going to spend enough time in a schengen country, it is not worth it and you will be better off paying a bit more for your ticket to your final destination.
besides eastern europe is much cheaper as well as more welcoming.
good luck

Panda comments on Florence - Advice Please?

it might be disapointing apart from the fact that you wont find any fish and chips, heinz baked beans, fish and chips etc... bogota is a city as friendly and secure as London. have a good time and don't forget to take your coat(providing you'll be in Bogota all the time)

Panda comments on Advice on cheap ticket, Bogota to Europe?

tickets www.ebookers.com
www.cheapflights.com
www.opodo.com
www.expedia.com
www.travelocity.com
and even avianca has direct flights to madrid.
good luck dude!

Panda comments on Things to Do In San Andres??

Good choice San Andres is a great place to go, it's a paradise. first thing is to find out which Decameron you will be staying in because there is one that is whithin walking distance from the airport. once there take advantage of the awesome clean sandy beaches and haggle when locals sell you handcraft. renting a scooter to go around the island is a most and so it is the trip to the acuarium where you can swim around and see loads of fish(you can even touch them if you are real quick). Johny quay is also beautiful but is more a place to chill out and i recomend you have a coco loco with your lunch.
there is not much choice club wise but there are one ir two that are good value for money.
for the rest just lay on the beach and enjoy the beatiful scenery.
have fun!!!!!!

Panda comments on Marriage in Poland

thank you! hi Julivelez
thanks a lot for the information, i certainly has made things clear for me and will save an awefull lot of time.
catch you in poland!

Panda comments on Marriage in Poland

Thank you Hey Julivelez
First of all, thank you very much for the information given.
May I ask you another question? did it make any difference in terms of travelling around an living in other countries in the EU after you married in Poland?
Many thanks and God bless