I rode from Ipiales to Cali, Colombia via the Fronteras/Bolivariana bus.  The coach was very nice and clean in contrast to the buses I rode in Ecuador.  The ride was long, much longer than the 8 or 9 hour estimate that I was given.  We left Ipiales at 11:30 a.m., to arrive at 11:30 p.m. in Cali.  I was uncertain about the taxis when I got to the terminal so I spoke to two very nice Colombian Nacional Police officers that helped me arrange a ride.  They called the hostel and confirmed the location and directions and then gave that information to a cab driver and confirmed the amount I should pay for the ride.  The Colombian Police were so nice and helpful and I very much appreciated their assistance.  

The quaint and lovely hostel I found online - Casa Agua Canela was definitely not so lovely in person.  As the cab was driving along I became concerned as I saw that residential neighborhood was rather downtrodden and the Cali image that came to mind was more of Compton, California.   I had prepaid a deposit of $5.00 USD using www.bookhostels.com, but I accept the loss and I assume that the person I corresponded with via email; Esperanza Trujillo, gets lots of $5 deposits but never sees the travelers.

Cuando estabamos en vuelo nos comunican que devemos hacer escala en Cali por que en ese momento se estaba desatando una fuerte tormenta sobre Bogota y el avion no podia llegar hasta alli.

Luego de 2 horas de espera e insertidumbre, cambiamos de avion y salimos finalmente hacia Bogota.

Well I have so much to share, but i will share little by little all the adventures, experiences, good, bad, etc. of my Vacation.

First, never fly with your pet if they have to go in Cargo area.  I had to take my dog Zorro to Colombia since I didn't have anyone to watch him and you can't trust those pet caring camps. My poor Zorro had to fly from MIAMI to BOGOTA and BOGOTA to CALI.  Thanks to the Airline. Even though I had made my reservations months and I mean months ago, the day before my trip I get call from the Airline advising that I couldn't fly out on the scheduled direct flight, but that I would have to take a connecting one and you can imagine that was HELL.  Story short don't take your pet.  After all the hell we made it to Cali, Colombia.  The family waiting with smiles on their faces for our arrival and that just wiped out all the bad things that were experience hours before.

Day 1:

Yummy Lunch- "Empanadas" "Chorizos" "Papa Consinadas" y "Jugos de Frutas".  Then I relaxed and I was joing by more family and just caught up on old and new things.  Dinner- "Sopa de Tortilla"

The rest of the days were spend relaxing, enjoying great foods, spending time with the family, and visiting new places, which I will share more as the days come.

Want to get some shopping done or in the mood to grab a bite to eat or maybe just enjoy a movie. Palmeto has basically everything, restaurants, retail stores, bars, a movie theather and much much more.

Looking for a great, yummy and tasty burger, then check out Mr. Burger. They have the best burgers in town. Also, there is much more great food on the menu to choose from, wheather your in the mood for a hot dog, grilled chicken sandwichs, etc..

Looking for some typical colombian dishes. You can check out this restaurant which is located inside the Palmeto Mall in the 2nd Floor, which you will find along the other restaurants. In Lenos & Carbon you can you can get un "Chuso de Pollo o Carne" "Churrasco" *Colombian Churrasco* "Picada" *is a combination of different meats, mixed with french fries, platanitos, etc*.

Everytime I make it down to Cali, Colombia I make sure I make time to go horse back riding and I have tried different places before, but this place just did it's job. The cost of the guided tour is 28.000 pesos (about $16.00) per person for an almost 3hr tour. You get to experience the open areas of the country and you pass through the rivers. It's just great great great. You won't regret it. If you need to look it up the complete name is "Academia De Equitacion El Rincon De La Z"

Most of us like chicken, cooked in any way. But I'm a big fan of Rotisserie Juicy Chicken. This restaurant did the job. Fresh Rotisserie chicken taken out of the Rotisserie. You can also enjoy sides that can be order "papa cocinada", "yuca", "papitas fritas", "ensaladas" etc. There is of course other items in the menu that can be order other than chicken, but if Rotisserie Chicken your looking for this is the restaurant for you.

I am on my way. Off to another ecovillage near Popayan. I met someone from there at Llamado de la Montana. I’ll be there maybe one week before I have to leave the country heading to Ecuador before my visa is up.

I still don’t completely understand why I felt compelled to come to Colombia when now feel I need to move on. What was the reason for coming here? Did I really accomplish anything? I do know that my life has been touched by the people I’ve met at Aldeafeliz and Nashira and all the others along the way. I also know that I have traveled to one of the countries where there is so much bad media. Colombia has proven to be an amazingly beautiful country with equally amazing people. I feel I have been carried by angels this whole time. Come to think of it, it has been truly a unique experience. At each stop �" in Medellin, Bogota, Aldeafeliz, Nashira and Cali  - there has been people that I have shared so much, connected and have been cared for by them. The Director of this project has insisted I stay in her home, which is quite amazingly beautiful and grand, has made sure that I am chauffeured around and taken care of �" in each place I have been since I traveled here three months ago, I have been so well received and taken care of. 

This past weekend I said goodbye to the ladies of Nashira.  In this time I have really become close to many of them and I’m kinda sad to leave. Many of the ladies want me to come back �" quite sweet actually. Several said that they were just becoming accustomed to me. Oh yeah, I arrived on Saturday where there was a group of army guys �" not sure exactly what they were doing there, I understand that the equipment used to build the homes are being guarded as they are funded by the government �" I think. Not sure exactly, but sure know they were little hotties. Ah, such a hard life I have!

Back to what I was saying….. I hope that I can come back here after traveling a bit. The project is incredibly interesting and I would really like to see these women again and see how things are developing. I kinda feel I have become part of this here �" as I feel I became part of Aldeafeliz and the urban ag project in Bogota. I feel that there is so much potential here. I have all these ideas and this project is so fresh. In part I was really excited to keep working on it, but also part of me feels I need to move on, learn more, see more. There is a lot out there �" waiting.  I still think that there is potential to do a lot here both with Nashira and with the urban project, but I feel that if I stay here without seeing other opportunities I would be cheating myself out of a lot of experiences and a lot of knowledge.

I am not yet sure my exact plan. I know that I want to stop over in Ecuador and work with RGS for a bit and learn as much as I can from them about seed saving. I think I’ll still be going to Peru to work on a friend’s property and house near Cusco and maybe meet another friend who is supposed to travel there in April. I somehow feel my new destination is Argentina. Maybe I just pick a destination as far from me as possible as to create a new goal �" a new obsession. But, in reality there is one project in Santiago, Chile I want to see and maybe work with a bit. I have a friend that has moved there and I would like to see him and I have a friend that is supposed to move to Argentina in May. All this is so incredibly vague. I’m very nervous about it.

I think that is why I feel I have to go. I have to do what I’m afraid of. Years ago I dreamed of traveling through South America. I have a friend who told me of her experience traveling alone here. I thought that was the bravest thing I could ever do. For years I dreamed of doing the same. I think this is probably the boldest step I have taken. It started with first coming to one of the most ‘perceived’ dangerous countries in South America. This goes to show you that we create our own reality. I chose to seek out beautiful places and projects with beautiful people and that is exactly what I found. Although my Spanish is still horrid, being here at the ecovillage has really pushed me to learn rapidly. I’m still nervous to travel because of my very bad Spanish, but I feel a lot more confident.

Well, this is it. I begin the journey again on Wednesday. Not sure when I can write next. I will either be in Atlantida if I have access to the internet or Ecuador. Soon saying ciao to Colombia �" for now anyways.

Well I arrived in Cali last week and crashed the first night with the son of one of the ladies who lives at Aldeafeliz. So much has happened in one short week that I don't think I can hardly describe it all. I have spent some time between the ecovillage and their main office in Cali. The Ecovillage is definitely a different kind of ecovillage and a lot of work to do as far as ecological design and coordinating a sustainable planned community. 

Backtracking a little.... The experience at Aldeafeliz was awesome with the exception of finding one person living there more on the annoying side - other than that it was amazing. The land is beautiful beyond belief and the meeting or ecovillage convergeance was so incredible. From that meeting came so many opportunities to be involved with many different projects. Two I know I will be working with in the future.... in my heart I can feel it... not sure when, but it will happen. One of them is an amazing project in Venezuela, which I really want to be there before the new year. Me and my New Year in a new country thing....

Anyways, although there were so many choices, I decided to stick with the original plan and head to Cali and meet with Angela from the ecovillage. Thank god she speaks English or I would be completely lost. Right now I am staying at her place and come to town in the mornings and return with her in the evenings. 

So far, Cali is very different from Medellin and Bogota - much warmer - a totally different flare, smaller and not as madening. I met with my ex-boyfriend. That was an interesting experience. I spent two days with him and he showed me around the area where he lives. Felt good to resolve some things and spend time with him as a friend. My birthday was yesterday and it was such an interesting, but amazing experience. Throughout the day, things began to unfold, reveal themselves..... thoughts I have had and desires for this new year began to take shape throughout the day. It sounds very obscure. I can't really explain, but wait to see what happens as time goes on.

The developments I can share and seem to have a fairly good mental grasp of relates to the developing possibilities of working with the ecovillage, but also maybe developing a working relationship with Change the World. There are two parts of my relationship with the ecovillage that are beginning to take shape. One aspect is the proposed possibility of me managing part of the project there. As of right now, it may be that a visa can be arranged and I may even be partly paid. The other aspect is a little more vague, but will be ironed out in time. The Association of Women has an office in Cali where there are two open terraces to begin designing an urban agricultural project there. On the same hand, I have been invited to begin working with a group in Bogota - also affiliated with Change the World who have several emerging urban agricultural projects there. I wait to see how things develop and have sent a proposal to both the ecovillage and Change the World on working on both these projects.

I am a little concerned about how I will continue to finance myself here, but also kinda feel certain these things will be worked out in time. Nevertheless, I am getting exactly what I wanted...... To expand my skills in permacutlure design, work on urban agriculture projects, learn Spanish and it looks like I will be getting a lot of hands on experience in the development of ecological products......

Not bad developments for being here one month...  There  is so much more depth to all of this.... I have this odd feeling,  I can't really explain. One very interesting thing is this spiritual connection.... It can be traced to the ceremony I conducted on the first day of the year and some other interesting spiritual experiences - one of which was playing the transformation game with Anita, Olgita and Huma at Aldeafeliz and my experience in the temascal.... These three experiences including my New Years ceremony and the strange spiritual experience on my birthday.... In sum, I began the new year with a series of mantras that would set the pace for my journey this year..... This is the year of spiritual connection and love... This is the year where I transcend to higher levels of knowing, connection and awareness. I was very clear of what this journey needed to be for me .... not only building a career, but growing as a person..... There is something in the air.... I'm not sure yet what it is....... But, it feels bigger than little ole me and bigger than my experience here.... I feel there are transformations happening everywhere..... We can only wait to see where the universe leads us.

Until next time.
Peace.

After years (!!!) of thinking and talking about it and after a long hiatus in my traveling ways (4 years since I came back from Asia), I've finally made up my mind and now I'm ready to do the trip of a lifetime. Now the time has come. I got fed up with my job and my life as it is and decided that in order to be happy again, I had to travel again.

I always wanted to see other countries in South America besides some parts of Ecuador, Peru and my own country (Colombia), I haven't visited any other countries in this vast and exciting continent.

So we have arrived to probably the most anticipated part of my trip through latin america... Colombia.  Before stepping foot in Colombia, like most people, I had doubts about the safety in the country that produces 80% of the worlds cocaine and is still the setting of a constant war between the military and the rebel groups.  Though rebel activity is somewhat at a low, just a few months ago some a dozen political hostages were executed by the largest militant group, the FARC rebels, which has an army of some 20,000 strong.  The night before I headed crossed into Colombia, i couldnt stop thinking about the potential dangers awaiting me in Colombia.

With my food poisoning completely gone, i woke up at 5 AM in Quito and was ready for Colombia.  First leg was a 5.5 hour bus ride to the border where we would have to do the customs dance before catching another bus into Colombia.  As always, there was a screaming baby on the bus.. but surprisingly, im becoming quite used to the sound.  This was the border crossing that Trey and I thought would be the most dangerous.  I wore the dirties clothes i had so as to try to look poor.  However, the border crossing porved to be the easiest and most relaxing of the entire trip.  We arrived at the border town of Tulcàn where a kid (who at most was 8 yrs old) was waiting for the internationals.  We followed him to the bus station where a man was waiting to take us through both Ecuadorian and Colombian customs offices and then to the bus station in Colombia.  The process was smooth and I felt safe the entire time!!  Something kind of strange did hhappen right after we left the bus station.  We pulled down a steet in a poor part of town and the drivers ran out of the bus into a random apartment.  The came running back out with giant containers rapped in garbage bags that the poceeded to load in the bottom of the bus.  The driver exhanged money with someone standing in the doorway and then got back on the bus and drove us away...  what could be in those packages? 

Not 10 minutes had passed on the bus when we recieved the first sign that we were in Colombia.  We came to a military checkpoint where about 20 soldiers with machine guns made us get off the bus for weapons inspections.  None of this bothered me however, because at least i knew that no one else on the bus was carrying a gun.  We would come accross a similar checkpoint before we would arrived to Cali. 

Trey and I have traveled over 130 hours in bus already, crossing beck and forth through the Andes over and over with fantastic scenery the entire way.  Not one strech however has been as amazing as travling though colombia.  We passed through green river valleys, rockey mountains, and think jungles in just a 10 hour period.  i have the admith though that I was scared for my life the entire time... not of the rebels that might kidnap me, but of our bus flying off of the road and to a 500 meter cliff.  Our driver must have sampled something from those strange packages he picked up, because he was driving down curvy one-lane roads like he was on crack, flying arround curves at about 50 mph.  i came pretty close to throwing up some empanadas at a couple moments. 

About 2 hours from Cali, night fell and Trey and i started to get scared because everyone has told us never to travel at night on this route.  i peered out my window the entire time into the darkness thinking what a leftist rebel might do to me.  in the end, we made it to Cali unscathed.  just before we pulled in the bus station, the drivers jumped out, unloaded those strange packages, and ran down an alley and left them somewhere... very strange, i thought. 

Cali is Colombias third largest city with a population of 2 million.  unforturnately we arrived on monday, so there was pretty much nothing to do in the city.  Trey and I tried to venture out somewhere around our hostel, but found out quickly that everyhing was closed.  on our way back, prostitutes and pimps approached us from all sides..  some of the prostitutes had really deep voices making me think that they might be men.  a dutch man that was staying in our hostel told us that one of the prostitutes punched him in the balls as he was walking by-- not exactly the best approach for attracting customers id say. 

we woke up in the morning early to go to Medellìn where we hope to stay for a few days.  since we have already passed the rebel territory, it should be easy traveling the rest of the way.   

I had to put a corny tittle like this just to make all of you all read, and, it looks like I got the job done because you are reading this now, arnt you???

We left Quito at 4am and traveled litterally all day pass the Ecuador-Colombia border untill we reached Cali. Actually, contrary to what I previously thought, this border crossing was by far the easiest that we have done, definitley not like our other experiences. There were so many military personal and police that anyone with the slightest idea of commiting a crime (or kidnapping a few gringos) would have to of been mad! So, we crossed the border with ease at about 11am, then continued our long bus ride north.

However, 5 mins after our bus took off, the driver pulled over at some random house on the side of the road. Some guy came out with a few packages wrapped in black plastic garbage bags and started laoding them into the bus. Afterwards, he handed the driver a wad of pesos. Hmmmmmmmm, maybe it was some of those good Ecuadorian bananas, or maybe even some of that Colombian coffee... maybe, but most likely it was Colombia´s #1 export instead.

I was nervous on the bus just for the fact that we were between the cities of Pasto and Cali, FARC territory, but to be honest, the landscape was so beutiful that I didnt even have time to think about danger. Yea, I was surprised, souther Colombia is absolutely amazing. You are constantly surrounded by rolling hills covered with tropical plants and palm trees, small towns and villages and rolling rivers that cut through the mountains creating deep vallies. For the rest of the 10hr ride, I didnt read, write or do anything else beside stare out the window. No wonder the guerillas chose this area to take over...

We arrived very late into Cali, at about 11:30pm, and went directly to our hostal to drop off our stuff. But, obviously, this was after our driver pulled over the side of the road again to unlaod those large packages. Bienvenido a Colombia! Upon entering, there were a few other backpackers sitting around, watching tv and drinking a few beers. We introduced ourselves and met a few travelers of fom Israel, England and Australia. After a few drinks, we decided to go out and check out the Cali bar scene.

Well, it was Monday night and there was absolutely nothing open. We walked a few more blocks, nothing. So, we decided to call it a rest night and go back to the hostal. However, walking back, we realized that there was something else going on in our neighborhood... transvestite prostitutes. Yea, around 1am, our entire neighborhood became packed with Colombian transvestite prostitutes... not exactly the party scene we were looking for.

We decided to pick up the pace and get back fast. But then, all of a sudden, we hear a deep low pitch voice from behind us, "Hey boys, wanna have some fun?" We turned around and there was a topless silicone injected male with hair down to her, I mean his, I mean... hell, I dont know, waste. HOLY GOD, NO, AS A MATTER OF FACT, I DONT WANT TO HAVE SOME FUN!!!!! I know that we have had some pretty scary experiences on this trip so far, but this was by far the most horrifying. I actually would had perfered a run in the FARC instead of these guys.

Suarez and I jetted out of there faster than you can say she-male. Finally, we got back, safe and sound, away from all the... the... ok, Ill be politically correct, "transvestites." This is probally the funniest thing that has happend on our trip so far.

Apart from that, from the little bit that we saw, Cali is a cool place. Its safe, clean, well developed and the people are extremely nice and helpfull. Most people think that Colombia is just some jungle with guerillas running around snorting coke, but its not. Its a great country with an amazing culture. Its crazy how the media can blow things way out of porportion. Also, well, you knew I was gonna say it, the women here are some of the most beutiful in the world. I think I might have to spend a little bit more time in this country.

Well, after one night in Cali, we decided to keep heading north. Next stop, Medallin, where we are now. Ill keep you posted in a few days, Bye!

ok this is gong to be interesting... I’m such a picky eater BUT I found great pictures and I can describe what it is. Try most things and don’t ask what it is until you decide if you like it. Otherwise you wont eat half the things... hahaha it is true! and maybe that's why I've tried so many different things! we do not eat bugs but all parts of the cow/chicken/pork are popular.

I'll start with what I looove and miss: My craving is always Manga biche, not MangO, ManGA! it is a different fruit. They look the same but Manga is a little bit sweeter. Biche means we eat it when is green- not ripe. This is only good with salt and lemon.  that reminds me, lemon is green- lime for Americans. I don’t know in the rest of the world but a lemon is dark green.

Restaurants I love are Crepes and Waffles. I’m getting hungry just thinking about this place! It is very simple. They have crepes filled with any ingredient(shrimp, chicken, mushrooms, cheese....) , the natural fruit juices are delicious, and the ice creams are huge and very good too. I also like pizza a lot in Colombia. Very thin crust, lots of mozzarella cheese and simple toppings. Most popular are ham and cheese, chicken, and Hawaiian. No black olives or anchovies YUCK!!! I guess you can order that but.... Names of pizzerias: Karens Pizza, Salerno, and Archies. Pizzerias are places to sit down. Usually family oriented restaurants.

Steak is good in Colombia but it doesn’t compare to Argentina, Brazil or Bolivia!!!  We get together a lot for BBQs. Usually that is what we eat if you get invited to go to a country house. Unless they want to make you some real Colombian food and they make one of the typical dishes.

Tropical fruits are delicious. We have so many varieties of fruits I dont think I've tried them all. My favorites are lulo, papaya, maracuya(passion fruit), and tangerines.  I also like "guayaba-manzana" which is a hybrid of guava when is green and green apple. You can eat this with salt a lemon. if not it would be a little sour.

Typical Colombian food, i only like the simple things. Like Arepas which are something like a white corn bread. No flavor if you don’t add cheese and butter. Also, bread is really good here!! I don’t know what they put on the flour!!! Pandebonos are typical from Cali but you can find them everywhere. It's something like a white cheese bread.  Since I live in Florida, there are many places where i can find all these bakery items. We have someone who makes arepas and he brings them home, so I don’t miss my arepas for breakfast.

Foods also vary by regions. As the weather gets colder, there are more soups, as you get closer to the ocean the typical dish is fried fish and coconut rice.  In Cali, the typical dish is the "Sancocho de Gallina" and maybe Tamales as well.

This is my hometown. I was born and raised here! I moved to the U.S when I was 18 and it was the toughest thing I ever had to do. I still miss my home.  I love this place!!!! I have been in the US for 7 years and my family is here BUT home is CALI. I didn’t go back for 4 years. I was afraid I was going to want to stay... and it did happen. When I went back I wanted to stay. I came back and started Grad school and it took me about 1 month to get used to my life in Florida again. I get a little home sick once in a while... After that first trip i went back 4 times in 8 months!

Cali is a city on the southwest side of Colombia. It's located in a Valley in between the Andes Mountains. There are more than 2 million people in the City. The weather is warm all year long with maybe some rainy or dry seasons caused by "El Nino and La Nina". The temperature varies from around 23-28C or 75-85F. It is hot but not humid and by the late afternoon the breeze goes down the mountains and it is just perfect. Some people say Cali is too hot for me is the perfect weather to meet you friends and have some coffee after work/school.

Cali is the "Salsa Capital" of Colombia. During the month of December is when you can see the true spirit of the City as everyone prepares for "La Feria".

Colombian's personalities change by the regions. It sounds funny but people from warm weather are nicer!! (not only because I'm from there). It is a different culture in cold cities. Society is more up-tight and close. People in warm weather dress more casual and the society is casual as well.

Most women in Cali look great. This is the capital of plastic surgery in Colombia. There are great surgeons here and anything that has to do with esthetics is huge. It is part of the city's economy now.  Even lasik is great here. It is about $700 dollars with the best doctor and the clinic is great.

Cali is known a as city with beautiful women, great parties, and friendly people. You will find all of that here. It is true. We like to go out and have a good time no matter what day it is. It doesn't mean that we need to dance all the time, you can have coffee, ice cream or just visit our friends. We do not care if our friends show up at the door before calling. We love to be social :)  this is true not only in Cali. Colombians like to socialize. Everything is an excuse to get together.