Jan 31st:
I finally got to sleep in. I woke up around lunch time, changed rooms (they only had one room left for New Year's Eve and it wasn't the room I was currently in) and walked downstairs for some sushi. I was able to talk at great lengths with a Canadian (Punjabi) Indian woman named Anureet and thoroughly enjoyed discussing differences in cultures; this was a continuation of the conversation with my previous roommate Vedant from bocas. As I live near one of the largest populations of Indians outside of India in fremont, I have appreciated getting to know many Indian friends and learning a lot about their culture which, takes some time due to how extensive it is. There are so many different types of cultures in the world, let alone just the various differences within India, and due to proximity and friendships i have been learning a lot. Speaking with Anureet was very enjoyable, we really got along nicely and she did a great job explaining things, before I knew it we had talked for hours and I had to get shopping /begin my day. I wanted to get a button up shirt for New Years but they said everything would be closed, laundry was closed also, and at this point I was pretty much out of clothes. I found a little mall that was open until 7 pm and took a taxi there. The mall was kind of like a Walmart; I tried on numerous things but I just couldn't bring myself to get anything as the clothes didn't feel right. Eventually I found a basic white short sleeved button up that wasn't too bad and paid fifteen dollars for it; I tried looking for some conditioner etc, but I didn't see anything that looked usable.
I caught a taxi back to the hostel, saw Andrew and Lloyd sitting outside and chatted with them a bit. The night was moving along quickly and eventually I went back to my room and changed. Anureet made her way over with her friends and we all got to know each other - eventually splitting up and going to different places. I was pretty tired and fell asleep shortly after New Years, thoroughly enjoying my evening and talking with my mom a bit.
New Year's Day I was able to pack everything up, shower, check out, and grab breakfast. Andrew and Lloyd happened to walk by and we caught up before I left for my flight. The hostel set me up pretty well for a cheap taxi to the airport- the city has a system where people gather and combine groups to share the fare. Before I knew it I was on my way to bogota.
Once I landed in bogota, I got a taxi to the hostel; the recommended price was 27,000 for the taxi ride (according to the hostel website from the airport) but my taxi ride was 50,000 - still less than $20. I didn't have any energy to complain and just paid the 50k pesos. I checked into the hostel and got a private room, I didn't feel like doing anything in bogota after the New Year's Eve celebration. I met a Canadian woman living in Ecuador named Urooba when I was checking in and she invited me to take a taxi with her and share the fare in the morning, and that she was going out with a group to a nice restaurant for dinner - this was exactly what I wanted to do.
I got everything set up in my room, took a taxi to the Zona rosa district (similar to the poblado district in medellin, it is the tourist area and the safest), and walked around checking things out. It looked very safe, very modern, much more western than anything I saw in medellin, I found a mall with luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton (spelling) and other big names, deciding to check out the McDonald's and see if there were any differences I got a 4piece chicken nuggets kids meal. I gave the toy to a boy behind me, and waited about 15 minutes before I said something to the workers, they had forgot about me. Within a couple minutes I had my kids meal and thought it was delicious; the meal was more expensive than I thought it would be at around $4 - the same price for a home cooked breakfast. I thought the food was amazing, I really enjoyed the ketchup, but I had to save space for dinner. I also saw a lot of security guards / police / military - not sure how to tell their uniforms apart so I am not sure which they were- some kind of law enforcement, and a couple of them had to be 16 years old... way too young to be 18, which made me curious what the age to join the police or military was in Colombia. I also noticed that every currency note I got was brand new- the opposite of medellin which was usually very old.
After walking around the mall, I walked over to the restaurant I was going to meet the group at- "Andres Carne de Res"- a five story restaurant with a 75 page menu. The service was ok, the food was also just ok, but the conversation was interesting. A 17 year old girl sat next to me but I didn't figure out she was 17 until halfway through the dinner; it really surprised me. We really got into conversation and I was very confused on my thoughts about a 17 year old traveling around staying at hostels, she said she was very into peace and love- very much a hippy, and I kept thinking that was odd for her age. Never the less other than the age factor making me question whether or not I would ever want my daughter traveling around that young, the conversation was very thought provoking - at one point I just apologized because my brain was still in medellin on New Year's Eve... I still had my other group of friends on my mind and that magical city, yet here I was in bogota somehow talking to another interesting person. She was traveling with her sister, who didn't really look like her, and I kept asking if they were messing with me. Also at the table was an African american lady who had traveled the world over and was very well spoken, I really appreciated her advice on different places - best places - worst places - and racist places. I got some ideas on where to travel and what to expect, one thing that surprised me was her explanation of Thailand: it photographed well but it's covered in garbage and disgusting. Famous, beautiful beaches will take an amazing photograph but just to the side there will be a huge pile of garbage she said. She also said Cambodia was disgusting - the beaches were landfills. She had an MBA and was a logistical expert- I could tell. We talked about school and I was so happy she knew exactly what I was talking about when I discussed my English class being arbitrary- this is a bit off topic but English class really annoyed me, the more work I put into an essay the more it seemed the teacher had no idea what I was writing about- and to get an a I had to just not try very hard- what a weird concept for me.... to do what someone else wants and not do my best simply to get a grade.
The service was so slow that we didn't finish dinner until around 10-11, we caught two taxis back and split the fare. Once back at the hostel the owner was at the front desk and chased me down making sure I was a guest - he said he hadn't seen me before and just wanted to make sure- we ended up talking for a while about bogota. He was from Australia and lived in bogota for 9 years, married a local and was a citizen, had two kids and adopted two dogs but one died and the second one looked in rough shape- very old- he found them here when he bought the place. He explained that all the students were away for vacation and when they return it will be packed - that this was his favorite time of year but an unfortunate time for visitors as it feels empty and creepy. He said 6 out of the top 12 colleges in Latin America were within walking distance. He also said he traveled Asia extensively before coming to Latin America, and was surprised when he got to Colombia how much it fit in with who he was, I agreed - this place is weirdly fitting in with me too. He talked about how it was formed - by Europeans and how the culture was similar, unlike Asia where they had a strong culture long before ever seeing a European. He helped me with everything I needed to know - said he had to fill out a form by midnight and had to start on it... I said my good night - brushed my teeth and passed out super fast. I thought about joining the group downstairs to talk, but decided instead to just go to sleep. We had made plans to go up to Monserrat via cable cars at 9 am and I needed to get my laundry turned in at 8 am so I was the first one done: I had no clothes left and I had a flight at 4:45 pm.
The next day I woke up right on time: 7:40, got my laundry turned in, packed my stuff up, grabbed breakfast (omelette with fresh papaya, banana and hot chocolate), went to the ATM, checked out of my room, put my bag in their storage locker, and met the group for the cable cars. They hadn't eaten yet and grabbed snickers bars and pastries at the local convenience store on the way. We went up the cable cars, I met a New Zealand girl that told me she was working in cartegena for $500 a month teaching English and her two bedroom apartment was around $330 a month fully furnished (and cartegena is supposed to be more expensive than bogota and medellin because it's more touristy/beaches). I couldn't believe these prices. She also shared some experiences she gained working in the Amazon for a month. It was interesting to hear but I've spent enough time in jungles.
After the trip up to the top of Monserrat, I left the group and went to a spa to catch a massage. Worst massage ever. I was covered in some weird lotion - they even lotioned my hair, I didn't have my shower stuff and had to use theirs, it was all terrible, I took the advice of someone working the hostel desk but I have to say it was just terrible. None the less it came out to $15 and I got a taxi to the airport. Next time I write I will be in Lima, see you soon.
I finally got to sleep in. I woke up around lunch time, changed rooms (they only had one room left for New Year's Eve and it wasn't the room I was currently in) and walked downstairs for some sushi. I was able to talk at great lengths with a Canadian (Punjabi) Indian woman named Anureet and thoroughly enjoyed discussing differences in cultures; this was a continuation of the conversation with my previous roommate Vedant from bocas. As I live near one of the largest populations of Indians outside of India in fremont, I have appreciated getting to know many Indian friends and learning a lot about their culture which, takes some time due to how extensive it is. There are so many different types of cultures in the world, let alone just the various differences within India, and due to proximity and friendships i have been learning a lot. Speaking with Anureet was very enjoyable, we really got along nicely and she did a great job explaining things, before I knew it we had talked for hours and I had to get shopping /begin my day. I wanted to get a button up shirt for New Years but they said everything would be closed, laundry was closed also, and at this point I was pretty much out of clothes. I found a little mall that was open until 7 pm and took a taxi there. The mall was kind of like a Walmart; I tried on numerous things but I just couldn't bring myself to get anything as the clothes didn't feel right. Eventually I found a basic white short sleeved button up that wasn't too bad and paid fifteen dollars for it; I tried looking for some conditioner etc, but I didn't see anything that looked usable.
I caught a taxi back to the hostel, saw Andrew and Lloyd sitting outside and chatted with them a bit. The night was moving along quickly and eventually I went back to my room and changed. Anureet made her way over with her friends and we all got to know each other - eventually splitting up and going to different places. I was pretty tired and fell asleep shortly after New Years, thoroughly enjoying my evening and talking with my mom a bit.
New Year's Day I was able to pack everything up, shower, check out, and grab breakfast. Andrew and Lloyd happened to walk by and we caught up before I left for my flight. The hostel set me up pretty well for a cheap taxi to the airport- the city has a system where people gather and combine groups to share the fare. Before I knew it I was on my way to bogota.
Once I landed in bogota, I got a taxi to the hostel; the recommended price was 27,000 for the taxi ride (according to the hostel website from the airport) but my taxi ride was 50,000 - still less than $20. I didn't have any energy to complain and just paid the 50k pesos. I checked into the hostel and got a private room, I didn't feel like doing anything in bogota after the New Year's Eve celebration. I met a Canadian woman living in Ecuador named Urooba when I was checking in and she invited me to take a taxi with her and share the fare in the morning, and that she was going out with a group to a nice restaurant for dinner - this was exactly what I wanted to do.
I got everything set up in my room, took a taxi to the Zona rosa district (similar to the poblado district in medellin, it is the tourist area and the safest), and walked around checking things out. It looked very safe, very modern, much more western than anything I saw in medellin, I found a mall with luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton (spelling) and other big names, deciding to check out the McDonald's and see if there were any differences I got a 4piece chicken nuggets kids meal. I gave the toy to a boy behind me, and waited about 15 minutes before I said something to the workers, they had forgot about me. Within a couple minutes I had my kids meal and thought it was delicious; the meal was more expensive than I thought it would be at around $4 - the same price for a home cooked breakfast. I thought the food was amazing, I really enjoyed the ketchup, but I had to save space for dinner. I also saw a lot of security guards / police / military - not sure how to tell their uniforms apart so I am not sure which they were- some kind of law enforcement, and a couple of them had to be 16 years old... way too young to be 18, which made me curious what the age to join the police or military was in Colombia. I also noticed that every currency note I got was brand new- the opposite of medellin which was usually very old.
After walking around the mall, I walked over to the restaurant I was going to meet the group at- "Andres Carne de Res"- a five story restaurant with a 75 page menu. The service was ok, the food was also just ok, but the conversation was interesting. A 17 year old girl sat next to me but I didn't figure out she was 17 until halfway through the dinner; it really surprised me. We really got into conversation and I was very confused on my thoughts about a 17 year old traveling around staying at hostels, she said she was very into peace and love- very much a hippy, and I kept thinking that was odd for her age. Never the less other than the age factor making me question whether or not I would ever want my daughter traveling around that young, the conversation was very thought provoking - at one point I just apologized because my brain was still in medellin on New Year's Eve... I still had my other group of friends on my mind and that magical city, yet here I was in bogota somehow talking to another interesting person. She was traveling with her sister, who didn't really look like her, and I kept asking if they were messing with me. Also at the table was an African american lady who had traveled the world over and was very well spoken, I really appreciated her advice on different places - best places - worst places - and racist places. I got some ideas on where to travel and what to expect, one thing that surprised me was her explanation of Thailand: it photographed well but it's covered in garbage and disgusting. Famous, beautiful beaches will take an amazing photograph but just to the side there will be a huge pile of garbage she said. She also said Cambodia was disgusting - the beaches were landfills. She had an MBA and was a logistical expert- I could tell. We talked about school and I was so happy she knew exactly what I was talking about when I discussed my English class being arbitrary- this is a bit off topic but English class really annoyed me, the more work I put into an essay the more it seemed the teacher had no idea what I was writing about- and to get an a I had to just not try very hard- what a weird concept for me.... to do what someone else wants and not do my best simply to get a grade.
The service was so slow that we didn't finish dinner until around 10-11, we caught two taxis back and split the fare. Once back at the hostel the owner was at the front desk and chased me down making sure I was a guest - he said he hadn't seen me before and just wanted to make sure- we ended up talking for a while about bogota. He was from Australia and lived in bogota for 9 years, married a local and was a citizen, had two kids and adopted two dogs but one died and the second one looked in rough shape- very old- he found them here when he bought the place. He explained that all the students were away for vacation and when they return it will be packed - that this was his favorite time of year but an unfortunate time for visitors as it feels empty and creepy. He said 6 out of the top 12 colleges in Latin America were within walking distance. He also said he traveled Asia extensively before coming to Latin America, and was surprised when he got to Colombia how much it fit in with who he was, I agreed - this place is weirdly fitting in with me too. He talked about how it was formed - by Europeans and how the culture was similar, unlike Asia where they had a strong culture long before ever seeing a European. He helped me with everything I needed to know - said he had to fill out a form by midnight and had to start on it... I said my good night - brushed my teeth and passed out super fast. I thought about joining the group downstairs to talk, but decided instead to just go to sleep. We had made plans to go up to Monserrat via cable cars at 9 am and I needed to get my laundry turned in at 8 am so I was the first one done: I had no clothes left and I had a flight at 4:45 pm.
The next day I woke up right on time: 7:40, got my laundry turned in, packed my stuff up, grabbed breakfast (omelette with fresh papaya, banana and hot chocolate), went to the ATM, checked out of my room, put my bag in their storage locker, and met the group for the cable cars. They hadn't eaten yet and grabbed snickers bars and pastries at the local convenience store on the way. We went up the cable cars, I met a New Zealand girl that told me she was working in cartegena for $500 a month teaching English and her two bedroom apartment was around $330 a month fully furnished (and cartegena is supposed to be more expensive than bogota and medellin because it's more touristy/beaches). I couldn't believe these prices. She also shared some experiences she gained working in the Amazon for a month. It was interesting to hear but I've spent enough time in jungles.
After the trip up to the top of Monserrat, I left the group and went to a spa to catch a massage. Worst massage ever. I was covered in some weird lotion - they even lotioned my hair, I didn't have my shower stuff and had to use theirs, it was all terrible, I took the advice of someone working the hostel desk but I have to say it was just terrible. None the less it came out to $15 and I got a taxi to the airport. Next time I write I will be in Lima, see you soon.
