stevens has left 109 comments

stevens comments on overstayed 180 days

I stupidly assumed they'd given me three months but no, I found out at the airport that oops I'd only been given one and I was averstayed roughly three weeks. I don't remember exactly, but GIB's figure must be right because they charged me 90 bucks (had to be in Colombian money) and let me go on my way. It's a good thing I'd gone to the airport extra early because this took about 45 minutes. I feel very lucky. They could have been hardasses about it. Muy amable

stevens comments on Honestly: I JUST WANT TO PARTY IN COLOMBIA

I've never been to the Smithsonian so I don't know what their collection or presentation of pre-Colombian gold is like, but I felt I got my money's worth at the Bogota Museo de Oro. I took my electronic dictionary and tried to understand what the explanations said. I got into conversation with a Colombiana who helped me a great deal and I learned a lot about the various tribes, which is why I went. The final room was spectacular. It's round and they close the door, turn off the lights, and the room revolves as a round display of sevaral levels in the floor becomes lit. Everybody in the room was obviously impressed.

stevens comments on Irritated!!!!

Bolero, etc. Puhleeeeze. If you want to see great Latin art, go to Mexico. The city of Oaxaca has dozens of artists with more inspiration.
But more importantly, something that bugs me is the ignorance about Asia. When I say I live in Japan or that I like Thailand, the most common response is to pin their eyes back to make squinty eyes, and they say ooh, los chinos will eat anything. No, they won't. Thai and Japanese cuisine are two of the best in the world, better than Colombia's, although Colombia's isn't bad. And it's the Chinese that will eat anything, not the Japanese or Thais. Mind you, it's the same response as in Central America, but it's just so ignorant. I guess I'm sensitive to that because my nationality is accused of that so often (American).
Also, at first, I was pleased to find so much national and local pride in Colombia, but when they adamantly say that Colombia is 'better' than some country they know nothing about, it gets old fast. (Except Argentina - they seem to have a healthy admiration for that country.)

In my month in Medellin I made friends with an older man who said I could stay at his exwife's apartment. Of course it was understood that I would pay, but I had to back out when I found out they were expecting 50,000 a night. Even in Poblado I think that's too much and I felt used. I found a room in another nice apartment with a couple other foreigners for half that that was closer to Parque Lleras.

I try to treat people individually and not assume, but as a foreigner in Colombia I sometimes got, "Oh, you think that way because you are a gringo." Actually that's probably more true than I care to admit and is a very threatening concept for some people because we all like to think we are the way we are because of the choices we've made in life. It's also something I like about traveling - being confronted with this and being made to think about who the hell I am.

Gringas are sluts - Come on, if a Colombiano has three girlfriends and one of them is married, what does that make

stevens comments on Region for DVDs in Colombia???

Zepp It's another brilliant idea form the U.S. The thinking is that pirate DVDs are tolerated to such an extent in various foreign countries that they seriously cut into Hollywood's revenues. So they divided the world into regions. North America, for example, is region 1. I guess they think the average Colombian or Thai is going to go to Tower Records and buy a DVD for 80,000 pesos or the equivalent.
What sucks is that it means I can't always get what I want legally. For example, I wanted to buy Groundhog Day from Amazon. The region 1 version comes with lots of extras and subtitle options and is about 15 or 20 dollars. But it won't play in machines here in Japan becasue Japan is in a different region so all the players sold here are set at the factory not to read stuff from other regions. The version of Groundhog Day available in Japan costs over 50 dollars, is missing all the extra features, and doesn't have the subtitle options I want.
So what did I do? I asked around and found a place in Akihabara (the electronic goods marketplace in Tokyo) that sells "region free" machines. It's made by JVC and the box had been opened outside the factory and the machine was altered to read all DVDs. So I can watch American DVDs. Could, that is. Recently, Hollywood has been adding a new type of beefed up encoding to selected movies that my machine can't read. But there is always another countermeasure. Just type region free into your web search engine and you'll see how many solutions there are.
But if you are buying pirate DVDs, put each one into a machine and make sure it works before you buy it. I did that in Bali last year and about one in ten was a dud. It's even warse with parite DVDs on the street in Colombia. About half of the ones I bought don't play at all. And the ones that do play lack most if not all of the basic DVD funtions and are fuzzy because they were filmed off of movie theater screens. Good parites are copied disk to disk.

stevens comments on Saudi Prince remains Free on Drug Smuggling Charges(2 tons of coke from colombia)

And I thought the Saudis were too lazy to get working on what they're going to do for money when the oil party ends.
BTW, is Bin Laden involved in the drug trade?

stevens comments on investing in Colombia

I'd day that Colombia has a great deal of country risk. I think I-ve stolen this from another poster, but things are safer now because of Uribe, who is a strongman and very popular. But as happens in politics, he could be voted out in favor of the exact opposite, and the security situation could worsen again, hitting property values. Argentina, on the ohter hand, is in a clear uptrend. Since the crash, the Arg. peso has appreciated 25% against the dollar (but then so have most other currencies over the past two or three years)and real estate values are going up and are still way depressed. Argentina, or specifically Buenos Aires, will always have tourists because, as I-ve heard, it is an extremely interesting place, something to do every night.
Take my comments with a grain of salt because I-m not that knowledgable about either place, but carefully acertaining the big picture has helped me do quite well in real estate in Nicaragua over the last two years. Suerte. On the other hand, someone I know who has researched the Medellin market much more than me says wait six months and then maybe prices will have come down because of a glut and therefore a good time to buy.

stevens comments on Juanes Guitar Tabs

Your on!! We can call ourselves the Babe, the ugly guy, and whatever Dwight wants to go by.

stevens comments on Casa Kiwi Hostel in Medellin

PBH accounts Lionheart once posted that there are ways to trace PBH members if they get too out of line. I really hope one of the moderators does this to clear up this nonsense. Surely they can at least trace a post back to the originating country. All of my posts on this site came from Japan until January 26th this year, when I left for Colombia. Tomorrow night I'll be in Atlanta and the next day back in Tokyo, so Paul, please follow up on this. Insist that they trace my posts. Of course, they'll just find out that we are different people and you will be faced with the reality that not everybody oves the way you run your hostel. And I assure you that I don't have my sister post for me like you do. Talk about cheesy. I'm sure everybody is getting tired of this.
As I said, everybody at the hostel when I was there felt the same way about the constant noise so it's no surprise to me that more people have spoken up. I just did a search of the post for Bonzi and read his post and , surprise, he got fed up with the noise, too. I can see it now. Months from now when more people have complained you'll be claiming that I have 20 or 30 PBH accounts.
I don't know what transpired between you and Jan, but I know that he is a nice and honorable person, which is why you arroused his sense of decency with your lies about me. So nice try, but you're not going to get away with it. Jan, if you're reading this, why don't you post in your native language just to prove I couldn't be you? Thanks. Then everyone will know we are who we say we are. Or post something in your excellent Spanish, because everyone knows my Spanish isn't very good yet.

Caligula - "You don’t have to be a engineering a V-2 Rocket to notice a pattern." The only pattern I see is one liar, Paul, and some gullible readers like yourself. And you're not going to be doing any posting online from Casa Kiwi - that's just another lie.


Paul - You call me a hypocrite for coming to your party and dancing with some girls "very, very late" and then complaining about the noise? Of course I tried to enjoy myself - what the hell else could any of us do? I went up to my room at 3 in the morning. I agree that that's very very late. So how would you describe 8? BTW, I don't consider a ratio of two girls to every guy a great party. You flatter yourself.

stevens comments on Casa Kiwi Hostel in Medellin

Paul One other thing, you say I don't belong in Colombia but were obviouslydisappointed when I moved out, which makes you a liar.

stevens comments on Pirate DVDs in Bogota

I contacted one on the places in Cali that you recommended, cypher, but I don't have tie to wait for them to send me the DVDs, but I'll remember it for next time. However, I did find a little shop on Avenida Jiminez in Bogota that has good quality DVDs. Not a great selection, but they have a DVD player and onitor so youcan see what youare getting. I got four Spanish ovies that have subtitles in English and Spanish, and a few Hollywood movies that have bilingual subtitles, and the quality is good. Theyhave lots of salsa and Vallenato DVDs, too.
It's open every dayfrom 9 to 7. Calle 13 No 12-22 TEL:608 81 77

stevens comments on Casa Kiwi Hostel in Medellin

Paul it wasn't just that one night, but since you brought it up you said the party would stop at 3. I'm sure you don't remember me coming down at 6.40 am to ask you to stop it because you were completely out of it, as were your three friends, all that remained. You stopped the music then, but not the voices, which kept on until 8. I'm sure you don't remember any of that, but the other guests do, I assure you. But that's not why I posted. I'd forgiven you for that. the problem is that you get up earlier than your guests and make noise, and your house isn't set up for that, at least not the room I was in or the other private rooms. Everyone who was their while Iwas there coplained about the noise,yournoise, every morning,and I have heard the same from another exguest.
I'm disappointed that you feel you have to try to smear my character because of one negative review. Look out everybody. Just criticize Paul and it could be you. If you were so concerned about what happened in the park, you would have at least asked me about it. I know where you got your info, from a street vendor who doesn't understand a word of English, and the conversation I had with that little punk was entirely in English. And I assure you, if I'd wanted to hit him, he'd still be hurting. Basically, he was laughing at me and all Americans because our country made his daddy rich, but he wouldn't say what his daddy does. He also went on the attack because it is easy for Americans to get visas to Colombia. He wouldn't give me the repect of listening tome at all. He was very insulting but I only lost my temper when he called me aggresive. Anyway, the PBH readers can make up their own minds but the Palm Tree is still the only real hostel in town.

stevens comments on Casa Kiwi Hostel in Medellin

I stayed there and never got a good night's sleep because the owner likes to party and then get up early and yap on the phone. It's not just me. Everyone else staying there felt the same way.

stevens comments on Juanes Guitar Tabs

Baby girl, I'm going to keep my day job, too.

stevens comments on Juanes Guitar Tabs

Tab is short for tablature and since I can't read music and often don't know which particular voicing an artist is using, the tab just says hey put your fingers here, here and here. For tabs posted on the internet, quality varies wildly, but sometimes you find a really good one.

stevens comments on done jack

You're about as funny as a heart attack, until you try to talk tough.
Then you are funny. You're a wanker because you love to dish it out but can't take it.

stevens comments on Total mariachi disaster: What a fool I am

DW ¨´burnt bridges don't even carry the dead.¨´
That's a helluva quote. Thanks.

stevens comments on done jack

Uh, OK, wanker is offensive, but let's keep it in the context of this thread, in which you have been highly offensive to Nicas, Ticas and Americans. Oh, and your life isn't their faults, either, wanker.

stevens comments on Juanes Guitar Tabs

I love the acsending guitar lick he does in that song. It's almost classical, which shows his special ability to mix styles

stevens comments on done jack

Your life is your fault, not your parents'. Being a lazy wanker has nothing to do with how much money your parents have.

stevens comments on el santo papa...

Soul Searcher It's not just that Elmo makes me laugh. It's that when people like you say something judgemental and mean to him, he always responds not with rancor or defensiveness, but with humility and acceptance of the slightest bit of truth in the accusation. Uh oh, now that I've made him sound so good he's probably going to come back with something really gross.

stevens comments on el santo papa...

GIB (Maybe one keeps me Holy and the other keeps me humble? It could be they need each other? )
Me, too, GIB. My character flaws keep me humble and force me back into action and to a higher power time and time again. I'm so selfish that if I was perfect I'd never make an effort to help others. It's because I need help that I help. I was raised to believe that my thoughts were evil, that thinking something was just as bad as doing it, but that was a long time ago. Now I believe that although I can't think my way into right living, I can live my way into right thinking. Peace

Elmo - Yes, you are vulgar and you go too far. But I look forward to your posts. No one else on this site makes me laugh like you do.
Soul Searcher - Your moniker, combined with your comment above, only show what a self righteous bobo you are.

stevens comments on Total mariachi disaster: What a fool I am

Widowerin Canada Do you chat about your deceased wife to your internet prospects? I bet you do, every time. Of course you shouldn't forget your wife, but there's only room for two in the bed so somehow you've got to find a place for your deceased other than your sleeve. I think you need more time. And surely your dear deceased wouldn't expect you to carry around her banner into the next relationship. In other words, although the butterfly quote obviously carries profound meaning for you and reminds you of something very special that some people never even experience, it simply sounds lame the way you are using it. You can keep it (and all your memories of her)in a quieter place without being emotionally 'unfaithful' to her.

stevens comments on done jack

Quick, pack up our stuff and leave, tomorrow. Where? It doesn't matter. Just go. I finally left Medellin after a month of basically doing nothing and am in Manizales and it feels good to be in a new place.

stevens comments on jons journal 11

I enjoyed your post a lot, Jon. Thank you very much. I have just one word for you - Medellin. Museums, scenery, plenty to do day and night (well, at night on Thur. Friday and Saturday), along with very friendly people.

stevens comments on Is it "explain to me" or "explain me"

1 - Explain to me why you were late.
Tell me why you were late.

2 - Could you please explain the answer to this math problem?
Please tell me how you got this answer.

3 - Explain yourself right now!
- Explain why you have done such a stupid or unthoughtful thing.
You are in deep s**t. You've screwed up and have to come up with an explanation but I don't think I'm going to accept it.

4 - I can explain myself.
I have an excuse for my seemingly unacceptable behavior.

5 - I need to explain 'me'.
this should ony be used by full-of-themsleves Hollywood actors who refer to themselves in the third person, or authors of touchy-feely self-help books.

The Thorntree's Speaking in Tongues at www.lonelyplanet.com is an excellent place to get knowledgeable answers to language questions. there never seems to be a shortage of helpful posters.

stevens comments on Teaching in Medellín!

Huh? In what way did so many of your teachers let you down? Perhaps they are simply not mindreaders and you failed to communicate with them what you expected as miserably as you have in this post.

stevens comments on Colombia: Poor But Happy

I'll take her.

stevens comments on friday, march 11th, 2005. how was your day?

Lleras Park and Las Palmas in Medellin I slept until 11 because I went to a reggae concert and then Berlin (a bar) Thursday night. Washed my clothes and studied Spanish. In the evening went to Lleras Park with fellow hostelers. We were just soaking up the vibe and waiting for a while before going to Mangos when some friendly Colombians waved us over. We hung out with them and eventually went to a disco in Las Palmas with them. Stayed until 2 am. Made friends. Very very nice people. There is a party at my hostel tonight with two DJs. Don't pinch me. If this is a dream I don't want to wake up although I could use a nap.

stevens comments on Goodbye, Sonia

GIB You need to listen to a Tibetan talk about how China has demolished aver 90 percent of it's temples in an attempt to destroy it's culture. Or someone from Taiwan, where they have to constantly look over their shoulders towards China.

stevens comments on Colombia: Poor But Happy

Gandhi died owning only five possesions, things including his eating utensils and the robe on his back. He had deep joy, but witnesses also reported a profound sadness in his eyes. If I could have what he had I'd gladly gie up all my possessions, but we all now it's not that easy. It's an inner resource, a belief, the courage to act on one's convictions, or simply the knowledge that attitude determines attitude. Whatever it is, I kow that I only experience joy after sadness.

stevens comments on Colombia: Poor But Happy

oops, that was for you, Utopia Cowboy.

stevens comments on Colombia: Poor But Happy

so,um, er, Does your wife have a sister?

stevens comments on Indagación por artículo de 'National Geographic' que califica a Medellín como 'capital de la muerte'

Unfair I´ve justspent two full days walking around the central part of the city, the first day alone and the second day in a group of six hostelers. We walked from the Palm Tree Hostel to the top of that hill where they have a model pueblo. We walked all around the central part of the city, too. The only danger I felt was crossing ssome of the busy thoroughfares because our Swedish 'leader' wanted to walk. Now I'm staying a few blocks away from Parque Lleras and walked around the area alone until one in the morning. So it depends on where you are in the city, obviously. But NG blankets the whole city with its condemnaions. It says the people seize any opportunity to dance because they know their chances of dying violently are extremely high. Hm, silly me, I didn't realize Paisas are enjoying their lives out of desperation. It looks to me that they are just, well, enjoying life. Too bad the authors and editor can't relate to that.

stevens comments on 1 horsepower car in Bogotá

Hey thank Tinto I always wondered what the second world was. I thought maybe something like Argentina.

stevens comments on Colombia, old gizzard’s paradise.

Elmo An apocryphal quote

Sometimes a line is just a line.

Siggy Freud

stevens comments on medellin

I arrived here in Med. last night and have been walking around for about an hour and already I've goten more friendly smiles from more beautiful women than I'd get in a month of Sundays up north. Sure, go ahead and show her this, just to let her know what the competition is like. jeje

stevens comments on Colombia, old gizzard’s paradise.

Freud would probably have just given you cocaine like he did everyone else.
Or maybe he would have been jealous it wasn´t him.

stevens comments on Just a simple thought

I have enjoyed this thread very much It shows how intelligent and mature I can be if I keep learning
from many of you.

stevens comments on two days in Medellin

¨...the lady at hotel cordoba says that they don´t let foreigners stay there.¨ Geez, not here, too. Sounds just like Japan. uh, I don't mean to pry, but is there anything about your appearance that might be offputting to someone who is ´conservative´and parochial?

stevens comments on tonites plan

I actually got your acrynym, GIB. I did too!

stevens comments on Scary news story about kidnapping

DaveS Yes, Japan is incredibly safe, if you don't count rape. It's almost never reported. When I lived out in Chiba a gang was arrested when one of their victims finally reported them. She was their 76th victim but the first to report it.
Of course, if the perp is a foreigner the mediaand talking heads will milk it for weeks.

stevens comments on Top things to do/see in Colombia

Oh I see now. Scuba diving and harseback riding were just examples you gave and a lot of people pasted it as is.

stevens comments on Top things to do/see in Colombia

C'mon you guys, I sense some copycating in the adventure department.
I doubt all of you actually went diving in Taganga,
and I doubt that it's very good. I went diving on San Andres
and did see two rays and a snake in two dives but other than that it was barren. And they say Taganga is worse. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Mind you I'm spoiled because I'm used to diving in the Indian Ocean.
ColombianoX - A belated thanks for answering my question.

stevens comments on Two Weeks of Enlightenment

Nice post, but
Instant gratification wasn't invented in the U.S.

stevens comments on Salsa again!

Thanks Cowboy! She came to my Salsa class today and I finally felt I 'd gotten my money's worth. If you don't have a pareja the teacher leaves you alone doing to same basic four steps by yourself ad nauseum.

The disco was just small enough not to be overwhelmed by too many eyes watching, but everyone seemed to be too busy with his or her own pareja to worry about anyone else.

The key to dancing - look in her eyes and smile.

stevens comments on San Andres y Providencia

Aviatur is a big chain with many offices in Bogota. I've only dealt with them once but they were good and cheap and were recommended by someone on this site. When I was in San Andres recently it ws hard to book a flight to Providencia so you've got the right idea in booking ahead. Buen viaje

stevens comments on Salsa again!

I went to Avenida Sexta here in Cali last night with an amiga and I guess what - we danced and had a good time. I think I utilized three different turns but what's important is to be suave. I finally did it on the last dance - it felt like floating.
Sure I still don't have the footwork down, but IT DOESN'T MATTER.
Just do it!

stevens comments on Un Partido de Futbol

Kernow You know your stuff. Even my unpracticed eye picked up on the finishing problem, and my Swiss friend confirmed it for me. By the way, my name is Steve (officially Steven) and my middle and last initials are n and s, but I come from a long line of preachers and missionaries that came from England (on my father's side).
And now I have to fess up to something. When people guess that I'm English (rather than American) I love it. I, too, have seen too many loud and ignorant oafs from the States. Actually, that used to describe me pretty well, but Japan has taken off the rough edges.
Dreckly? That's a new one on me, but I get your drift. Thanks for the new word.
I hope Medellin winns, too because I'll be there in a few weeks.

stevens comments on need a little advice or help

I've never been in your situation, but maybe distance is the answer. In Japan the Japanese parents often don't thaw until the foreigner helps produce a grandchild. Whaddya think?

stevens comments on Payback Time

Desi Thanks for the reminder. I'm here on vacation but nine weeks is certainly long enough to develop a social conscience.