VanMan has left 46 comments

VanMan comments on Are Colombians Racist?

i tried to wash the yellow off but all i see is red, not white "Reality is, in all countries, people prefer white to negro. In Colombia they want to whiten their blood lines and have babies with blue eyes. This is the prevailing attitude in all countries around the world, except maybe for Mid and South Africa."

Yes, damn. I've been trying to white myself forever and it never works. I tried using white-out but it smells and is crusty. I tried paint, well similar result. I tried scrubbing my yellow skin off but all i see is red not white.

Someone help me get white!!!

VanMan comments on Are Colombians Racist?

racism, not so much. Classism, oh yes. During my trip there, I did get a feeling that black people in general are more poorer. Which, of course doesn't correlate black = poor, or all poor people are black. Something I noticed and I asked several colombians from different cities about. What is more relevant is classism. How much money and stature one has, either through power, but mostly through money. I find Colombians look down on people being poor rather than being black.

My friend calls his girlfriend 'negra' when they are doing their cute-love-vomit gagging-sweet-talk. So, yes it is used in an endearing way. The history of why they do - i don't know.

VanMan comments on Observations from recent 20 day trip

i agree My spanish was crappy but i had TONS of fun. Didn't hurt I had a couple of people that did speak english. I agree about Medellin. If the security increases this will be a great place for commercial and industry and foreign investment.

VanMan comments on fresh fruit in colombia

ok let's get back to fruit:)
Ok ok everyone loves sex (especially me) but this is about fruit haha. How about fruits that are expensive and popular? ie: Blueberries, peaches? strawberries? ANy others?

Thanks for the information so far!!!

VanMan comments on Un saludo from Medellin

rich basturd:) damn i need that kinda of money. Dontains are accepted.

VanMan comments on i need some help from anyone who is willing to answer some questions about Colombia

class is in It looks like a grade 4-6 paper on Colombia.

To answer a few of your questions:

the currency they use is dinero.

THe music they play is confusing to me because I don't understand Spanish so I would say bad music.

What I like least about Colombia was the Arepas and Beans. I don't like either. Arepas (sp) are bland and Beans make me go toot toot too much.

What I like most about Colombia are some of the hotties I made out with.
Is there a lot of Poverty? Well I went to a restaurant and it cost me 10 dollars canadian to buy a beer (seriously). Is that poor?

Things to do in Colombia: Have sex. Eat. Sleep.

The method of transportation is horsepower and sometime in the future warp drives. Or was that in star wars?

Hope that helps you out Christine.

VanMan comments on So what about the women??

girls cheat, in north america, in colombia, in china Girls cheat everywhere. But from my experience in Colombia...4 of us, two girls and my buddy, drinking. We started making out only to have one boyfriend call a girl and the other boyfriend show up! hahaha. man. BTW: these were girls went to a very expensive university. So, poor, rich, they all do it. Just like the men. Men cheat everywhere. Women cheat everywhere.

It all depends on the person. Some cheat, some don't. Maybe this is why i hate marriage or commitment. But, my internal problems are different and for a very long thread hahaha.

VanMan comments on Candeleria area in Bogota

the area I really like it. There are a LOT of students. Lots of bars/pubs, restaurants, and people. I didn't feel unsafe there. I was out and about until the wee hours of the morning sometimes (not recommended). On the weekends that area is crazy packed.

VanMan comments on Bogota Cartagena Villavicencio Colombia Isla Del Rosario

capachos
It was capachos...we were drinking at a restaurant on the Wednesday until 11:30pm or so and then headed to Capachos around midnight. Fortunately one of the people I was with is a local and knows the people there and got us in without waiting in line.

Yeah it's a small town and unfortunately that is what is going to happen to villao. I hear the real estate prices are going through the roof there now...

VanMan comments on Bogota Cartagena Villavicencio Colombia Isla Del Rosario

villao
I did a 2 day trip to Villao during holy week and went to the big ass nite club on the Wednesday of Holy Week. TOok a bus there and back and didn't feel unsafe. During holy week there was a LOT of traffic so unless guerillas are going to stop all the traffic - i wasn't worried. there was army posted every 15 mins or something and every toll bridge had a small group of them. I heard that a few years back many people wouldn't have done what I did, but now with the new tunnels and the army posted, it's very safe. I felt very safe.

All i did for 2 days in villao was drink with some friends - so i was drunk about 60% of my time there.

Ciao for now.

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

from one canadian to another
Hmm......well, i'm not a widower with 2 kids but....

1) if your wife is still always on your mind, maybe you should wait a little longer maybe?

2)internet dating? uhm...maybe meet them first than you can communicate through email/web/microphone/web-cam

3)you're a bit too sappy (but that's my taste)

5)i think you just need to find a "friend" in Colombia, wherever you plan to go (I recommend Bogota / Medellin) someone you think you can trust and can take out around town...you'll meet women in restaurants, bars, church,etc easily (like in any other country)

6)hopefully you're not butt ugly and boring and always sappy and uninteresting - if you are good luck in any country:)

VanMan comments on Banking in Medellin / Opening a account

us account Well the u.s., account is not based in Colombia but actually in Panama,cayman islands etc. if you had a lot of money (which i dont) you can open up a u.s. account and transfer to pesos when the u.s. dollar is high.

VanMan comments on Banking in Medellin / Opening a account

creating a bank account
Well, I can only tell you from my experience. I went to Bancolombia, toa branch that was outside of downtown. I was told I could get a u.s. dollar account there. Wrong. Found out that I could get a peso account there if I had a foreigner ID from DAS. I went to the branch in the North talked to the manager (beautiful tall amazon blonde from medellin) regarding the u.s. dollar account. well, i could get it, but it required me to deposit a minimum of $5000 in u.s. funds. well, i'm poor so what i should do is get a foreigner id and come back and get a peso account. i can wire money from canada and if its under 10,000 i should be ok thats what she said.

any other opinions, comments on this?

VanMan comments on mariachis

vallaneto band actually they were a vallaneto(sp) band and not mariachis dressed up in those black outfits. Two nites in a row of that after getting drink with some friends is too funny.

VanMan comments on mariachis

urbanite
well for me...I love cities and I really do prefer mde and bogota. I didnt like viyao as much...things move way too slowly there for my taste. Plus in mde you can drive to rionegro and feel like you're in the country (though its a bit more expensive).

VanMan comments on mariachis

dont recommend though I dont recommend 'tourists' do the things that i've done and gone to the places that i have gone. i know some places it doesnt mater who you go with, but i went with people i trust and enough of them (and who a person trust well that is a choice everyone has to make), i really enjoyed seeing the places that i haev seen. i consider my self pretty 'streeet smart' if you like and well physically can usually take care of my self, but i dont go fighting people with guns.

so yes it hink colombia is a dangerous place, a veryt dangerous place, especailly if one doesnt know spanish and the good and bad areas.

so idont recommend to anyone to do what i did. i would never goto the rural parts of colombia and i would never take a bus on non heavy miliarized roads. i stick to the cities and most of my time is spent in the nicer parts of the cities.

so use your head and make your own decisions aas to where and what not to do or go.But if you plan to take risks like the above people said...you may get bitten and bitten harsh.

VanMan comments on mariachis

i agree No I was worried and cautious. but we weere in a large group of people. i know it wasnt the smartest thing to do and the other people mostly live in the area as students (couple were family friends). But after picking uop the bana-something musicians and started walking away from the druggie areas it was much better. we were mostly around the student housing areas. I lways had my eye out and we werent drunk out of our mind. its being in any big ass city, ie chicago, nyc...at night (if you dont count the farc situation) and going to the not so nice areas.if you read my posts i still dont consider colombia to be disneylandish. thats after being here for almost a month. i dont like obogta as much as medellin and small towns ... well the government and businesses are too intertwined for my taste.

though, i have to say i've been to south bogota many times and northern medellin a few times and though i was always on heightened alert watching everyone around me and my people....

VanMan comments on I LOVE MEDELLIN!!!

medellin I've been here in Medellin for almost a week and I must agree with Perisa dude. Wow, oh Wow, oh Wow. It is nothing you can compare to (except California perhaps). My new nickname for it is Silicon Valley...and Medellin doesn't have many software companies. Haha. We were at Lleras Park (Triada) having drinks at the BodyTech restaurant. Bodytech is something else...WOW WOW WOW. Working out there...well, let's say there is much inspiration. I have not only been staying in Envigado and El Poblado, but I have also been to the far north of Medellin and taken the cable cars up to the hills...and I have been to the far south of Bogota (Bolivar Ciudad, oh the smell...) as well as its north. The contrast of rich and poor is something to see, my friends.

I have much more to say...I am behind on my travel log. Later.

VanMan comments on fast food

if that line was funny... wow, man, is that an original joke that you just made? It is so funny that I forgot laugh and well I`ll try...ha ha. nope it{s really not funny. ah well. better luck next time.

VanMan comments on fast food

my short term experiences on food
Hmmmmm...well I haven`t been here that long (this weird keyboard is freaking me out) and from what I get about the food....

the comidas rapidas...are ok but it seems like the locals I was with didn`t like to eat at them...and they said they rarely eat at the street vendors (if ever). We ate at some restaurant tonight it was funny, a couple of guys came to us, obviously high on coke (I can tell the signs) asking for a colombian potato and got shooed away from us by security at this outside restaurant with tables. The set meals seem good, but are very cheap, nothing tasty really they said. Just to eat, ya know.

Find that there are many places to spend money here (5-10 dollars a drink in la zona rosa? come on!!!) but its hard to make a lot of money.

VanMan comments on Inbound call charges on Col cell phones?

why not ask her? why not ask your friend? She should know about her cellphone plan, no?

VanMan comments on Are Colombians changing?

the ... the math skills of the chinese, the discipline of the japanese, the grit of russians, the carefree ways of the caribbean.......

boy what a great stereotype of every culture. hahaha. so funny.

VanMan comments on Going to Col. in a couple of weeks. Excited and scared!

hotel rooms Fortunately, I have long-term friends in Bogota and Medellin and I will be staying with them. I am so excited. I will be travelling with people most of the time and I might go out on my own once or twice, but I doubt my friend's families will allow me to do that.

VanMan comments on PBH and the people on here

bogota map Oh and the map someone posted about Bogota (which I dloaded) was great! Even one of my Colombian friends was surprised that I was able to find such a detailed map because he couldn't (digital map).

VanMan comments on Marijuana industry booming in Canada

beavers and igloos
What I like to do is stay in my igloo. It protects me from the 5 feet tall Beavers.

VanMan comments on Added New Pictures to my gallery

great pictures from el poblado
I really enjoy the El Poblado shots.

VanMan comments on Rosy stories about Colombia

rosy-ness I have never said that Colombia is a place that can't be visited by tourists, vistors for a long period of time, or people who plan to move/live there for an extended or indefinite amount of time.

I do plan to have a rosy time in Colombia and I will probably write some rosy stories once I come back. But, to state yes, I DO appreciate both sides of the coin. Rosy points of view and not-so-rosy points of view.

The rosy-ness one.

p.s. Also, one of my best friend is from Colombia originally and our friendship and my relationship with his family is very very rosy.

VanMan

VanMan comments on Marijuana industry booming in Canada

us - cdn relations
Yes, the canadian economy is heavily reliant on u.s. laws and regulations. That is the benefit and consequences of linking our economy almost 1:1 with the u.s.'s. Their influence is tremendous. I believe there are lobbying groups from the u.s. that try to influence the canadian parliament (these groups are not part of the u.s. govt officially). ie: people against gay marriage (you'd figure with all these politicians kids being gay, the politicians would think 'hey maybe there are really gay people in the world') or people against pot. I also believe they should regulate one of the oldest women's occupation: prostitution (Not that I attend their services=) ). How many call girl services are there already in the Toronto/Vancouver area? Legalize it and stop the prostitutes (or many of them) from having to stand on a corner (it makes a neighbourhood look so horrible) and have Johns driving around like the desparate vultures they are. Create red light districts. Anyways I am going on a tangent...

p.s. I'm glad to see the Canadian media in the past 10 years take independence from U.S. media. It's nice to see. Go CBC hahaha.

VanMan comments on Marijuana industry booming in Canada

decriminalizing pot
I believe they should legalize pot. Have an industry grow out and sell it and reduce the amount of bad pot, mixed pot (people who mix it with other chemicals) reduced. I'd work for a pot company. Imagine the hundreds of millions of money the government would collect in taxes! I don't do it regularly but during University from time to time...and once in awhile now when I get together with friends. Get rid of the criminal side of pot. Then they will only be able to sell hard drugs. Criminals dont' try to sell alcohol/smokes (much) because it is so easily caught. I belive it would reduce the crime that is associated with Pot.

Vive le Canada:)

VanMan comments on Scary news story about kidnapping

high violent crimes, not robberies is my point Well, ok maybe I wasn't clear, or maybe I tried to make my point across incorrectly. WHat I should say is, robberies occur everywhere. All around the world. But, I still do believe more robberies occur when there are economic downturns in economies and when huge gaps between people exist. It is human nature to "want more". When people give in to temptation (or whatever you wish to call it) they may steal. If you believe people in israel, sudan, etc don't steal, than I applaud your experiences. People in Canada, Japan, USA, etc as far as I know - steal. It happens. I *NEVER* said people are poor automatically stipulates they are robbers. I said, more poor people, usually an increase in robberies.

Now, that was not the point I was trying to emphasize with my post. What I was trying to convey with my message was, that I agree with GIB and many times on here people paint such a rosy picture of Colombia as if it was some disneyland. Colombia has a high high amount of killings/kidnappings and yes robberies. It is a fact. Many people on here refuse to believe it. It doesn't mean one can't live in such a place and not have any incidents happen to them. They may live there for years and never have anything happen to them. But, I'm sure they will hear of incidents happening to friends/acquaintences(sp).

VanMan comments on Scary news story about kidnapping

Colombian life, media, GIB Crap. I posted a 2 page reply.....and it didn't POST!!! ARGH!!!

Basically what I said was:

I have been reading this forum for the past 2 months and have read a few years of posts (boy that's a lot of reading).

1)Media gets things wrong. A local friend 's store in Canada, was robbed. The woman working there told him (he lives next door to it) and he ran out chased the guy (who was still holding the cash till) and kicked the shit outta him and the police came. THe local paper said it was another guy who saw the crime in action and ran down and beat the guy up. He was actually a very small man (compared to my 6"2 friend with 15 years of martials arts) who was just a by stander.

So the man that was killed, he could've been a drug dealer himself. He could've been just trying to do business. Maybe he didn't know those girls were prostitutes. Maybe he did. Who knows. The info comes from criminals and is not credible in my mind.

2) I am sick of the rosy picture people on here paint of Colombia. I really enjoy GIB's extra info. I get most of my info from Colombians (who were very well off, all professionals, doctors/engineers/business managers) who have RAN AWAY to Canada and seeked asylum. Many of their friends/families/relatives have been kidnapped/murdered. One was a neighbour 5 houses down from a friend who lived in NORTH Bogota. I also know some Colombian families that have emigrated recently and were not that well off back home.

3) Colombia is a very dangerous place. No where else are the crime rates that high (I mean Canada/usa/etc) and when I mean crime I am talking mostly of killings/kidnappings. Robberies occur everywhere and the more poor people the more robberies. If that happened here in Canada the government would declare martial law (like they did in Montreal when some lunatics held women hostage in a University in the 70s).

I have never been scared to drive through the highways of Canada (or the U.S.) and I have made many cross country trips by car by myself in CA and the USA.

On the other hand...life must go on no matter how many killings/kidnappings take place. The only thing that gets me is how desensitized some people get to the amount of violent crime (I can't fathom it, but I understand it). I think the country would be even more beautiful and great if the killing/kidnapping was even close to ...Chile's?

I will be visiting Colombia this month and I will be with my friends in Medellin and Bogota all the time, so I will feel safe. Because they would not take me to dangerous places. I stick out like a sore thumb. Will i take stupid risks? No. Will I be scared? Yes. Will I take precautions. Yes.

Is Colombia a beautiful country? Yes. Are the people great? Yes. Are the women beautiful? OH gawd yes. Are there a lot of bad people? Hell yeah. Are the killing and kidnapping rates extremely high? Yes, crazy high. Will it stop me from going? No. Also, before someone says something. The friends I will be with I have known for many years and know their parents/brothers/sisters. These aren't "friends" with quotes. They too are Canadians that are living in Colombia temporarily.

This post seems like I am shitting on Colombia and I am not. I just want people to know the facts from people (not ME!) that have lived there most of their lives and it coincides with what GringoInBogota says.

To any AUC FARC reading this, I am a bum, in every sense:).

VanMan comments on Easter in Bogota

people go out of town Where do the people go out of town to?

VanMan comments on Easter in Bogota

holy week so everythign will be closed? What about restaurants and pubs?

VanMan comments on Importing Clothing from Colombia to Australia

suppliers and making money
I'm not trying to stir things up (ok I am) but, if you have suppliers,brands, etc, shouldn't you know how much the supplier will be charging you for clothing and if they want to deal with you in pesos or dollars?

Gotcha.:)

VanMan comments on Going to Col. in a couple of weeks. Excited and scared!

chinese rest Hey Dwmte,

Thanks for the tip, I will tell my friend to take me there if it is possible. I am extremely excited to go, especially to Medellin. I love modern cities (i'm a Yuppie who likes big cities, what can I say...).

The weather in Canada (in my city) has been freeeeeezing this winter and i'm all ready for some warm winds (People weren't meant to live in this climate).

Does anyone know what the asian/chinese/japanese population is like in Bogota/Medellin (none,10 people,100 people)?

VanMan

VanMan comments on Going to Col. in a couple of weeks. Excited and scared!

previous forum posts kernow, I have read a lot of posts on Medellin and I wanted any additional anecdotes of anyone who hasn't posted their trip experiences (first time visitors). I am very open-minded and I feel safe because my I will be staying with my friends and them or their family members will take me around town (they all live in stratas 5 or 6, not that makes a big difference/deal) and I doubt they will take me to any "bad" places (strata 1, guerilla areas, etc). I don't plan to goto "a brothel and boast about my wealth" (which I have none of haha) like that italian journalist did (though he didn't deserved to get killed), which made him more prone to crime.

I will be staying mostly in Medellin with about a week of my time spent in Bogota. I'm looking forward to the food (prices seem very economical). When I said i'm "scared", yes I do mean i'm scared because of the high crime that is there (even in the higher stratas, crime follows money as another friend from Bogota who is in Canada likes to say...), but also of the fact I can't really speak Spanish, except babbling out a few words here and there "a que hora?" haha.

VanMan comments on Effective Police

crimes in Colombia compared to other countries Well comparing Colombia to other poorer nations is different. There aren't civil wars in effect and only Colombia is the #1 exporter of cocaine and a top exporter of heroin. Having the FARC, paramilitaries, and drugs around allows too much other crimes - kidnappings,etc. Yes, there are bombings in Spain, but I doubt you'd be scared to drive in the country side of Spain. That is all I think the above people are saying. I have 3 really good Colombia frieds (2 from Bogota, and 1 from Medellin) and saying it is not a safe place and their friends/relatives/etc have been kidnapped or killed - it is not common in other countries. How many people on this board (percentage) can say "hey i know personally X number of people that have been held up at gun/knife point, kidnapped, murdered".

My 1.5 cents.

VanMan comments on Putting military on all the roads will not stop crime

guns Well - this is getting completely off topic, but I don't think there's such a need to have guns. The more guns that are in Colombia the more chances of people using it for criminal activities. The only people that needs guns are : 1) police 2)military 3)hunters (hunting rifles). A 'hunter' doesn't need a semi-automatic weapon or hand gun. For those people who think having a gun makes you feel safer? example 1) Get into an ultrication with someone who has a knife, you pull out your gun, he gets scared off. That guy goes and gets a gun to rob the next person. 2) two people try to rob you (1 has a gun other has it concealed) and you pull out your gun, shoot one guy the other guy shoots you.

Sure glad you had your gun eh? Is your life worth the $50,$200,$500,$1000 you may lose of cash/material items? Guns are so prevalent in the United States...if you think carrying a gun will make you feel safer I suggested you to visit some areas of Detroit and Chicago with your gun and head held high.

If a person has a dispute and wants to 'kill someone' but really doesn't and has access to a gun, that person might go and just use that gun and then regret killing them, but only wanting to wound them (yes you could say the same thing about knives, but a knife doesnt have a trigger and you can stand at a distance to shoot a gun).

Though I am not Colombian, I suggest people who want to help out their country (Colombia,USA), join the police/military that helps protects the citizens.

Vigilante justice of the wild west was needed because there weren't enough law enforcement to police the wild west. Guns put into the constitution of the U.S. has created so many massacres from Waco to Columbine. There aren't bears trying to attack you in your house anymore, guns should be outlawed.

VanMan comments on Some sugestions for travel safety

hiding stuff
I like to swallow my belongings so no one has access to it until I go do a number *2*. I find it very secure this way.

For further travel trips, goto www.badtraveltrips.com

VanMan comments on This is despicable: The rich grab half of Colombia's poor fund

politicians
I beg to differ that *ALL* politicians are corrupt. I knew a native canadian member of parliament and he worked his ass off for his community. But, yeah I do hate corrupt people and politics is a 'boys club'. This is dispicable.

VanMan comments on technology jobs and a Canadian

U.S./CDN companies If anyone knows of any US/CDN companies that requires software consultants/software designers/architects to do work in Colombia please let me know...

VanMan comments on

tried and true nothing like a pretty picture to bring out the peanut gallery:)

VanMan comments on technology jobs and a Canadian

design work, spec writing, PM
- Right, that is the type of work I am looking more for. Design, specs, and consulting.

VanMan comments on technology jobs and a Canadian

the information
Thanks for the information so far. I will take into consideration what gringoinbogota and caslug have said.

Van

VanMan comments on representing poor people in this forum: why do most rich or people in the middle class feel superior than us?

being rich No I don't think you need to pretend you don't have money (if you are rich) for people to like you. I like you and I like your money even more. But, you may want to re-think your thoughts of calling yourself rich. You may think you're rich, but compared to someone else you may not be. *shrug*.

VanMan comments on representing poor people in this forum: why do most rich or people in the middle class feel superior than us?

poor, rich people in general Hey kat1, I think it's hard for "rich" people to think they're not arrogant or stuck up. People may act that way subconsciously and may not even know they are doing it. It's hard to tell yourself "Hey I'm an asshole, or i'm a bitch and I'm not really a nice person". It's easy to say "Hey I'm generous, and I hey I give to charity once/twice/three/etc times a year and I give to the guy at the corner of the street everytime I pass by him...I'm not stuck up!". Well, I've been up and down and back up the ladder in the economic terms of life and from my experiences PEOPLE in general (not all) have this sense of they are better than other people. Especially towards people who have less means in life. They are looked down upon. It's inconceivelable (honestly I haven't experienced the poverty levels Mr.s Gomez's has experienced) to understand what Mr.s Gomez's went through unless they have gone through it themself. It is similar to the whole Tsunami Aid. The Tsunami that occurred was horrendous, all the aid and funding that is being show is great, but was a natural disaster needed to help poor people in SouthEast Asia? What about the millions of people in India that have absolutely no money or some of the people in Africa. Anyways...I'm going on a tangent here. I think I've expressed my views:)