Used to spicy food but have started enjoying the Colombian food..and realised that Colombian food is not all that bland..try the salasas with picqiente green chillies..I have gotten adjusted to the two meals a day habit... heavy breakfast and a early dinner and a lite snck at nite.
Getting addicted to the Colombian coffee..where does the Chai ( Indian tea con leche and spices)
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| Roamnce rises when the rain falls |
go..donot know yet ?
I will take with me the tastes of the arrepas,enpanada, papa de rellana, choruso,pollo asados, bendeja paisa, trichuchas ,palatain fritos, bunelos, suncocho ,mote and the ajiuako soup--- the lulo juice, panela lemon drink and marraquirra and Champus juices amongst a variety of delicioso juices..
I stayed with couch surfers, friends`s ( from Canada`)friends and families and youth hostels.
Last nite was a blast farewell party in Bogota at Clovis`s place, More than eighteen n ewly made friends, drank, ate and danced together.I was humbled.
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| Carnaval, Barranquilla, 4 days ( and nights) of fantasy, sheer joy |
I enjoyed every bit of the Colombian landscape...from the deep down snorkelling in the atlantic occean to the trekking 6000 plus feet high altitude in the Piedra blanca mountain in the
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| Enjoying a swin enroute the Lost city..6 days trip |
Quindon state...Crossing small rios along with altura mountains to Ciudad Perdida... to the boat ride in the widest river in the world..The Amazon... Enjoyed learning salsa and dancing in the nite clubs of Cali and
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| All smiles, old and the young at the Carnaval, Barranquilla |
watching the worry free happy Carnavalists in the streets of Barranquilla ... drinking , gossiping and dancing till the wee hours
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Community preparations for the
Ayahuasaca congregation tonite
In the Amazonia jungle |
..and experiencing hallucination with Ayahuaska drink in the deep jungles of Amazonias . Visiting the heroic and tragic history in the national museos in Bogota .. was amazed to see so much gold jewelery in the Orro Museo ..the designs will challenge any modern designer..
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| Flowers in full bloom , Bari Chura |
Colombia is third growing economy in South America.
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| Snorkelling in Parque Tyrone |
But as a naive observer, I see it growing faster..the universities and the schools are full of students with big ambitions and dreams.
Worlds second largest exporter of flowers...famous for its Emeralds,textiles,plastics,ferro alloys and of course the Colombian coffee..enjoyed all over the wrold..The transportation systems may beat any of the developed nation`s..the highways, the transmillion bus system in urban centres are very well designed and constructed.No wonder HSBC bank's economic perspective for Colombia by 2050 as playing a vital role in the global economy.
Colombia`s national parks are full of natural beauty, trails, hikes,lakes, rivers, moutains and are complimented with facilities with well trained guides.
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Hopes of good days ahead
despite despair and poverty |
We are always striving to achieve higher goals. Colombia is not any different. The present Goevernment is fighting hard to get rid of its dark sides..the smuggling, the mafia, the drug lords, the guerrilas, the poverty,
the orpahaned children, the displaced indegenious people... but which nations does not have problems?
Perhaps the saddest part, which I found very alarming is the highest rate of divorces inspite of the fact that very few people get married as compared to other countries...1.5% per 1000.
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| A colonial heritage home in Cali, the salsa capital of South America |
Most of the people I made friends with, happened to be single moms, single dads, step fathers, step mothers in law, step sister, step grandfather and so on... .. And the remarried couples have children from other marriages either living with them or with their ex partners. It is hard for everyone especially for the children. Perhaps they have accepted this new relationships . I attended some family get togethers where all these ex`s and steps were enjoying together. The challenge to the institution of marriage`s survival predominates.No efforts seem to be initiated either by the church or the Governemnt.
I am indebted and very thankful to all my couchsurfers, my hosts and the new friends who made my trip a very enjoyable one.I take back with me the sweet memories of great times we spent together. I am indebted to you all...Sandra,
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Fernando,the great host
but a better cook, Meddelin |
Tatiana,Diana, Ivon, Mary,Chistian,
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The ever happy Taitana, Bogota
Nothing less tha a bottle wl do |
Vallentina, Xio,Idalba, Clovis, Lina, Sergio, Ivon S, Nicolous, Johana,Adireana, David, Guillermo,Gloria,
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Eager to learn and teach ,
Vallentina, Bogota |
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Eager to help and please,
Christian and Mary, Bogota |
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Lina, teaching me salasa,
Of course in Cali, where else? |
Oliver,Dora, Fernando and Fernando and parents,Linita, Soffy,
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Johana,the most organised , displined host,
Barranquilla, caranaval
looking after 8 guest at one tine |
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Idalba, Bogota
Diana,my host from Belize days.
now hosted me in Cajmarca |
Adriana,Pueblos, Carolina, Favio,Luisa E, Nancy,
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My best friend and a great host,
Clovis, Bogota |
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Idalba and me in the farm house party,
Pereira |
Luisa,Bernardo, Hugo family, Michael, Adan,
Norabala, Melida, Mariam...
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Ccarolina, the doctor and Ruby her mom,
wonderful hosts in Pereira |
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| Lina, my host in Cali |
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| David and mom in Buccarmanga |
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| Ivon and Sergio, Buccaramanga |
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| Gloria and Oliver, Cartagena |
God bless you all !
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Sandra and Tati, my on going hosts
from Belize to Bogota.
They encouraged me to visit Colombia. |
Vivo Colombia !!!
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