Timba has left 138 comments

Timba comments on Colombia coffee growers get aid to boost output

Consumption is primarily in the U.S. International prices are set in the commodity markets. Colomian coffee is mostly mid market quality. Despite record world supplies, prices still went up.

Timba comments on Where to buy exotic fruit in medellin, like mangostinos (mangosteens)

Tasty but expensive here in the east.

Timba comments on Colombia: Latin America’s Hidden Gem for Investors

By most standards, I believe Chile is the best run latin country. ...........and as a friend of mines says, Colombia is only a bullet away from chaos.

Timba comments on is this a scam?

I think I have read something similar, the scam is to get deposits.

Timba comments on Beware thefts on buses in Armenia

I was going to take a bus in Armenia but my friends disuaded me as I had luggage. The problem is that luggage often gets stolen from buses. The route to Cali also has robberies occasionally. I took a taxi instead. On the way, I did notice the presence of smaller buses, a little larger than a van. Those would be ideal.

Timba comments on flights from toronto to barranquilla

You should cross over through Buffalo and take a flight from JFK. buffalo to NYC can be had for about $200 return. Your options from JFK are better than from Toronto.

Timba comments on Do I need a license to export/import?

Ya, will be interested in how this turns out. FYI, Colombia is supposedly one of the least transparent countries when it comes to bureacracy.

Timba comments on Coffee from Colombia to USA

Not too bad for roasted coffee. The suggested quantity for coffee is 2 tablespoons per 6 ounces of water. Otherwise you overextract and get bitterness in the coffee. I thought you were buying green beans ? Price varies greating depending on wholesale or retail but the wholesale (volume) price is about $1.50 per pound for green coffee, plus cost of getting it to the U.S.

Timba comments on ok... I have a slight moral dilemna here...

I don't get it, what is the dilemna ?

Timba comments on Coffee from Colombia to USA

The joke about blends is that they put in enough good coffee to hide the taste of the bad coffee. How much are you paying for the coffee ? I want to know compared what you could buy it for in the U.S. FYI If you drink 7 cups of coffee a day you will use up a pound of coffee in a week. 52 lbs or about 25 kilos will get you through the year.

Timba comments on Coffee from Colombia to USA

Don't know what it was about. I guess he looked suspicious, but yes, he did have lots of coffee. I was talking to him in the lounge waiting for the flight when they pulled him. After they pulled him, they made a few passes with dogs. In the end, nothing.

Timba comments on Coffee from Colombia to USA

I was in Bogota airport when they came and got an american guy and took him to be searched. They searched him and his carryon. When I saw him again, he said that they even pulled his luggage off the plane and went through it in front of him.

Timba comments on Coffee from Colombia to USA

Old info on cup of excellence. The highest price is for Panamanian Esmeralda at about $130 per pound. Bemoka is just a brand. Coffee is a crop, it changes every year. If you are going to get the same taste out of different crops ......well, you have to eliminate anything outstanding and head down the ladder toward mediocrity and market like hell.

Timba comments on Coffee from Colombia to USA

You need to do more work. You can buy as much green coffee in the U.S. as you want. You have more freakin' coffee warehoused in Miami than you can count. If you are going to bring that much coffee and try to keep the flavour, you have to keep it odour free and at proper temperature and moisture. FYI Roasted coffee is at peak for a few weeks. Flavour may not in fact peak until a few days after roasting. 12 hours after grinding ? try 20 minutes.

Timba comments on Coffee from Colombia to USA

Holy crap........I see tourists taking coffee back to the U.S. all the time BUT the best Colombian coffee is already in the U.S. In fact there is probably more roasted Colombian coffee available in the U.S. than there is in Colombia. The quality is also much higher in the U.S. as all the chit is kept for the locals. That said, gree coffee is duty free....but as an individual, you have to get by the biohazard inspection they now have.

Timba comments on Colombia SIM cards expire?

If you have an unofficial, unregistered sim card, you take your chances. I was told that if you have an official, registered sim, it will be good. You will lose any minutes you had, with a period of inactivity.

Timba comments on Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador and Venezuela surpass Colombia in kidnappings for ransom

I thought Mexico was always #1 for that ?

Timba comments on Looking to set up a nephew in business in Bogota

Does he have a business plan ? Are you checking his business plan ? ...just to make sure he has an idea of what he is doing and you are not flushing the money.

Timba comments on Newborn Baby Dumped In Trash DEAD; Colombian Street Justice in ACTION.

Those 3 pills....are they called "the morning after pills" ?

Timba comments on Opening Restaurant In Medellin. Taking Poll Of PBHrs Of whats needed in Medellin.

Another 2 cents worth. I guess you will have to decide if you are going to be a destination restaurant or locate in a high traffic area where cost will be a factor. Spanish foods tend to be tasty and not on the spicey side. You could try convincing the Paisas that it is ''high class' as that seems to get their attention.

Timba comments on Opening Restaurant In Medellin. Taking Poll Of PBHrs Of whats needed in Medellin.

From what I have seen, Chinese restaurants have become fairly popular. Don't know if the Colombian palate can handle hot(spicey) foods. Where are you going to get the good meat, cheese, olives ? Are going to import them ?

Timba comments on Future of Colombian Economy. Thoughts?

Green unroasted coffee is selling at $1.41 per pound on the futures market. Safeway must be getting one big discount to ship, roast, grind, package and reship again to sell for $3.20

Timba comments on Colombia as a Model for Latin America

What MiamiMike said...Chile is the most transparent and (North American like) for doing business. Pinochet might have been a bastard, but name a country in South and Central America that wasnt brutal. (Costa Rica excepted)

Timba comments on Colombia as a Model for Latin America

I believe the Latin model is Chile.

Timba comments on consulting services in Colombia

As a friend of mine said, in North America signing a contract is the finality of negotiations. In South America, it is only the beginning.

Timba comments on IMPORT IRON ORE

Holy cow!! 62% purity ? That is more than twice the percentage found. Why don't you check out Chile ? ...or better yet, buy commodity contracts and take delivery.

Timba comments on Looking for investment partner for Cali real estate.

Well, what is the projected rate of return on the capital ? I can get 4% risk free in government paper.

Timba comments on Canadian Customs agent among 8 arrested in smuggling bust...

Did you see 60 minutes about 4/5 weeks ago. The counterfeiting of high end italian goods was so rampant and massive that the cargo was stored openly on the docks for long periods of time as they had no where else to put it. Everybody got a cut.

Timba comments on Canadian Customs agent among 8 arrested in smuggling bust...

One of the reasons is that they check less than 5% of all cargo coming into the country.

Timba comments on Canadian Customs agent among 8 arrested in smuggling bust...

Canada catches about the same as other countries, about 1%

Timba comments on FARC Frees 8 Hostages

The 8 were afro-Colombians. They were river taxi drivers who had no money and who's families had no money to pay ransom.

Timba comments on Canadian Customs agent among 8 arrested in smuggling bust...

They should have involved the Indians and just sent it through the reserve.

Timba comments on Colombia's May exports up 25.7 pct year-on-year

Saw a program where alot of latinos (professional and business class) were returning home rather than stay in the U.S. due to immigration issues, the currency and the growing opportunities in the country they had left.

Timba comments on Colombia's May exports up 25.7 pct year-on-year

The number is misleading without further breakdown. ie....did the number and volume of products(finished goods) increase or the value due to 1. currency 2. price of commodities ?

Timba comments on Big Export for Colombia----Coal

Where does it say open pit ? Reality check. The U.S. has the largest coal reserves in the world.

Timba comments on Buy Colombian!

I am not saying that Ikea sources all its furniture from Colombia but, Ikea sources from a furniture company headquartered in Bogota. I had discussions with one of the owners.

Timba comments on Buy Colombian!

Colombian furniture is heavy and clunky because the masses want cheap and durable. You want Colombian furniture in North America ? Go to IKEA

Timba comments on Buy Colombian!

According to the UN, doing business is difficult in Latin America due to the lack of transparency. The exception is chile.

Timba comments on The hostage story is not the whole truth

It is (political) theatre for the masses

Timba comments on Iran To Build $200 Million USD Hydroelectric Dam For Nicaragua; Bush Adm Alarmed

STEP 1: Get control of your money back from the privately owned Federal Reserve. Why does the U.S. government pay a private entity to print and loan it money ?

Timba comments on peso dropping fast now-whats going on?

politics

Timba comments on Import Duty Lists

Canada has a free trade agreement with Colombia. As long as it is not a restricted good and you have a certificate of origin, you are good to go.

Timba comments on Import Duty Lists

I believe there were preferential tariffs on certain goods. I do not have access to that list of goods at the moment.

Timba comments on the flower industry in Colombia

The Colombian flower industry has now been destroyed by the African flower industry (that and the strong peso)

Timba comments on Import Duty Lists

Harmonized tariff codes are international. The U.S. has no free trade deal with Colombia......at least not yet.

Timba comments on The Festival of Flowers in Medellin

Prices everywhere are up and it is hard to get a taxi. The horse parade is crazy, though.

Timba comments on Colombian Department Store Wage

I don't think they would be making much more than 20,000COP per day.

Timba comments on Peñol / Guatape

Tilapia

Timba comments on Is this true?

If you had looked at a map, Barranquilla is on the Carribean coast, which means it is hot and humid all the time. I have not been in BAQ, but have heard that it was a dirty industrial town, though everytime I am in Miami airport, all the hot Colombianas are flying to BAQ

Timba comments on How to Hedge Currency Risk if You Retire Abroad

Lets see, I want to retire and get some investment advice. Why not ask on a Colombian forum ?