About WhoaNellie

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Some Forum Posts:

Colombia: ham radios:

I'd look at these links for radioaficionados in Colombia and get in touch with them. I think another ham posted a while back that he got a lot of help : http://www.lcra.org.co/ http://www.radioaficionados.sabanalarga.org/ http://ligaradio.co/

Colombia: For a 90-180 day trip what would you absolutely bring to COL:

I always bring a good interchangeable lens camera, as well as a small point and shoot. And because I'm a SWL I always bring a good, small shortwave receiver. I bring a laptop computer. I bring gifts to the family depending on what they need or have asked for. I bring usually two cards that work in the ATMs. Other than that, everything I really need is pretty much available in Colombia. No need to bring extra clothes, buy them there. Travel light, it really pays off in many ways.

Colombia: Can you drink the water in Colombia:

As I posted in the other thread, the water in Cali is just fine. They treat it well, my sister-in-law is a water quality analyst for Emcali, and in addition to her assurances we have test reports showing it is very good. Most of the rivers that feed the treatment plants are a mess, though. And the treatment plants are often shut down when it rains too much or too little, and service in one part of the city or another is often interrupted for all kinds of reasons. It's rare when a week or two goes by without a shutdown somewhere. Here's another article in addition to the one I posted in the other thread, that points out many of the problems but that concludes, when treated, the water is well within safe limits for all contaminants: http://www.elpais.com.co/cali/que-tan-buena-es-el-agua-que-consumen-los-calenos.html I have never had any qualms or problems drinking the water in Cali.

Colombia: What's A Gated Community?:

Not quite the same, the term conjunto cerrado is used to describe a closed community whether it be apartments or houses or condos, meaning they are enclosed by fence and/or gate(s) usually with security personnel 24/7 to control and monitor the entrance of people and vehicles... https://casas.mitula.com.co/searchRE/q-apartamentos-conjunto-cerrado-colombia https://www.google.com/search?q=colombia+conjunto+cerrado&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

Colombia: Expats who returned to US or Canada:

I would be wary of sanctifying the attitudes of Colombians, who are as fond of chismes as anyone - and who arguably care as much about outward appearances as any people in the world, witness the popularity of cosmetic surgery all over the country. Nevertheless most do have a "live and let live" attitude for the most part. Except of course for 50+ years there has been an exceptional amount of violence directed against precisely that, when some could not get what they wanted through democratic means...it's a country of great contradictions. It's easy for comparatively rich outsiders to ignore or not see many of the persistent problems. Often to some degree or another we gringos have a tendency to regard Colombians with a "noble savage" viewpoint, how they are intrinsically good and have not yet been corrupted by our decadent first-world values...

Colombia: uber demand:

Well, the taxistas in Cali sure don't like uber, they demand they be banned, along with the piratas...so there is enough demand to cut into their business, apparently. http://www.elpais.com.co/judicial/dos-agresiones-de-taxistas-a-conductores-de-uber-en-cali-en-menos-de-24-horas.html http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/cali/controlan-a-uber-en-cali-29675 You can search for colombia cali uber and get quite a few hits.

Colombia: Barking Dogs:

Most places in Cali, barking dogs and crowing roosters are not much of a problem, nor even in suburban Jamundí to the south of the city, as far as I have seen and heard. The barrio Ciudad Capri in Cali is even quieter than my peaceful neighborhood in the States - as long as it's not some holiday when you may be serenaded perhaps longer and louder than you wanted. But normally the only thing that I'd hear late at night and in the wee hours of the morning would be the gentle yet haunting calls of the Common Potoo... http://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Nyctibius-griseus?view=3

Colombia: Bus Luggage Limitations?:

Even on the big flotas there is a baggage limit, which may change during holiday season. Bolivariano has a limit of 15kg and/or 80cm volume (sic, cm is not a measure of volume but of length - maybe they mean 80cm x 80cm x 80cm, about 32"x32"x32"). You may be able to contact them ahead of time to arrange for larger/heavier: http://www.bolivariano.com.co/categorias/tags/equipaje

Colombia: Thinking of moving to Colombia:

There really isn't any "average" rent for a house with a hectare or two of land, except in the strict mathematical sense, like if someone makes 10,000 a year and someone else makes 990,000 their average salary is $500,000...which is not very useful information if you use it to describe how much each makes. It varies with the location. Closer to bigger cities is liable to be more costly, because lots of people want a country house but close to amenities. You can do searches for Colombia arriendo casa campestre or Colombia alquiler finca and the like and get lots of hits which will include working farms as well...

Colombia: Arriving Armenia Late April-Logistics:

Misjudged? Remember cccmedia's talking about a completely furnished 2 bedroom apt. with access to pool and jacuzzi, 24 hr security, wi-fi, 2 TVs with DirecTV for just a bit more than $800/month, and for a short-term rental to boot! Most places would want at least a 6 month lease, or more. See these links to compare unfurnished: https://www.fincaraiz.com.co/apartamentos/arriendo/armenia/ https://casas.trovit.com.co/arriendo-apartamento-armenia-quindio https://casas.mitula.com.co/casas/arriendo-apartamentos-armenia https://www.icasas.com.co/arriendo/apartamentos/armenia-quindio

Date Joined:

10/9/2015

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436

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