General Info

[FatClown]

Is Colombia still worth it? Probably not if you're a first time visitor, coming over Christmas, and trying to visit 3 or 4 cities in just over 2 weeks during a pandemic. Especially if you're only interest is to fuck as much as possible.

What preparations have you made? How's your Spanish? What's your budget? Are you interested in doing other things?

If you're experienced with a country, bouncing around the cities is easier. You've got your bearings in each place, you can hit the ground running and move on. But in an unknown city, where language might be a problem, some guys can do it, but most are going to lose a lot of time, just handling the basic logistics of getting from the airport, settling in and learning their way around.

There will still be women available. Poverty and prostitution are joined at the hip, and poverty doesn't take holidays off. There will be less options, especially for someone without connections, but they can be found.

Many mongering spots will be closed or have fewer girls working.

However, if you pick at most 2 cities for your vacation, start today to making connections and learning a little Spanish (if you don't already know it), it's worthwhile.

I am doing my research as we speak! My Spanish is nowhere near fluent, but it is mediocre. I took Spanish in high school, and I have visited Tijuana many times for mongering. I can shoot the shit a little bit with the girls, but often need to use google translate for a specific noun or verb. I can actually also read and write Spanish decently (fast talking or accents can throw me off, even if I would have understood it if it was written down).

This would basically be strictly a mongering trip. No sightseeing really, unless I got bored one day or need to do a couple of things for show (take a few pics to prove to friends and family that I did "something. " Oh also, my budget is fairly high. I am very much willing to pay a little extra for luxury or convenience instead of looking for the best deal (not a cheap charlie). That being said, I'm not trying to light money on fire also.

I have a few fellow monger friends that have already given me the rundown on Colombia, and I am doing a bunch of research right now. I was hoping to reach out to members on the board too for more specific information or to meet up (I just paid for the ISG membership). I would happily pay a experienced member (in beer or cash) on the board to guide me or wingman me for a bit in Colombia. But I definitely have friends I can reach out to, even while in Colombia, that would help me out. I will also be researching like a maniac all the way until my flight too.

I was planning to limit the number of cities I visited and only the big ones. I had planned a few days in Cartagena, most days in Medellin, and a few days in Bogota. I can likely cut it down to 2 cities if that is what is recommended. But which two? And how many days in each? It looks like I would have about 16 days in Colombia.

And for what it's worth, I am not new to mongering, just new to Colombia. I have been to Thailand / Philippines and know how it works there, and I have been to Tijuana even more than all other destinations. I think I can negotiate with freelancers well enough in Spanish, and I know the basic rules of mongering and not getting fucked over. My favorite past time is drinking / partying with hookers and eventually having sex with them. I do that with bar girls and freelancers both. I'll definitely do short time sometimes, but prefer a good connection and long time. And if it matters, I'm also young (32) and not actually fat at all. I'm fit, but I am still definitely a clown haha. I'm also not white, I'm really light brown skinned and have black hair.

From what I have read, the days right around Christmas (and on Christmas) would be super dead, but girls should likely be available all the other days. I very much understand that it wouldn't be the ideal time to go, but I am also horny. No mongering in almost a year now! I think I might still have to bite the bullet and take this trip, also because of holidays at work, this is the only time of year I can take a nice extended vacation.

I'm rambling a bunch, way too much information. Thanks for the help and let me know if you have additional input!

[JjBee62]

If anyone is feeling charitable, the craziness and tumult of 2020 have forced me to re-evaluate my life (like most of us). I have decided, post-Corona--maybe around 1 year from now, I want to move to Medellin--and live there for 1/2 of each year. Maybe eventually full time. But for now, 1/2 the year.

BUT, I have to make some $$$ while living there. Any ideas? Does anyone have any information about how to find / train for online / remote work options? Business ideas for Medellin? It seems like all 'local' jobs do not pay at all. So, the trick is to find ways to make money from a non-Colombian based company-while living there. Or figuring out some import / export way to make money-legally! Other friends who know Colombia tell me owning a business there is a nightmare. But, its got to work for someone??

So, any ideas? Thoughts? I figure I need to make about 3 k a month to live the lifestyle I would want to while there. I know people can live there for cheaper..

The people I know who are successfully living in Colombia all had the financial side taken care of before making the move. Either they had income from a pension, trust fund or investments, or had a job which was not location dependent. Going down there without that safety net in place almost guarantees your plan will fall apart.

I wouldn't recommend trying to start or run a business in Colombia until you've been living there for a couple of years, unless you've got enough money you can afford lots of expensive mistakes.

What skills do you have which can be sold over the internet? Computer programming, Web design, writing and consulting are all possibilities. Teaching English is an option, but you'll be competing with a lot of college students who are getting by on $500 a month.

I'd suggest finding something you can do remotely and get started doing it, while you're still doing whatever you're currently doing for money. Work it in your spare time and save the extra money. Prove to yourself you can earn enough to support your plan.

You're also going to need to decide where you'll spend the other 6 months. Are you planning on liquidating everything (property, furniture, car) and living out of a suitcase, or do you require the security of always having those things available to you?

I would also revise what you need to live the lifestyle you want. If you think you need $3 k per month, I suggest having at least $5 k per month, unless you're really good at sticking to a budget. If something comes up and you need an extra $3 k one month, it's a lot easier if you've been banking $2 k a month for the previous 6 months.

If your Spanish needs some work, you should take classes until you're able to converse easily. Another thing to consider, if being a full time resident is your goal is how to qualify for a visa which will let you earn residency.

[Questner]

Just a reminder for everyone planning on a trip soon, the land borders to remain closed until January 16,2021 and the sanitary emergency is on until February 28,2021.

[Mr Enternational]

I have decided, post-Corona--maybe around 1 year from now, I want to move to Medellin--and live there for 1/2 of each year.

BUT, I have to make some $$$ while living there. Any ideas? Does anyone have any information about how to find / train for online / remote work options?

This question is always asked about monger places. I want to go live there, but how can I make a living.

[John Gault]

What else are FOMC operations and treasury purchases? To me it is only the imported China deflation that has allowed the fed to get away with this non sense. We as a country need to take our medicine at some point, but alas there is no paul volker in the federal reserve, and there is no courage in the fed leadership, and certainly no political will to address. And BTW this is bipartisan, Trump was as guilty of it as anyone else. So we will test the limits of international tolerance for our malfeasance. Were are consistently over a trillion dollars annually in deficit now, and even if the Trump tax cuts were ALL rescinded we cover only a small fraction of that and yet risk a tax receipt sapping economic slowdown to boot, if we further raise taxes beyond the "fair share" Obama years, then I still don't think we get anywhere near to balancing the budget. A trillion dollars annually is a whole lotta taxes to collect.
Add to that the medicare and social security, baby boomer cliff we are entering now, and the demands of the progressives ie UBI, Green new deal, Student loan write offs, Slavery reparations, Medicare for all and on and on and we are in a truly sorry state financially.
This ain't politics at all, this is just the plain reality in front of us. We quite simply can't afford what we have already promised, far less promise more. The average voter doesn't understand that and the average politician doesn't have the desire or courage to explain it.

Once I saw that Biden was a winner I went heavy into gold. So far I'm down about $200 a oz. Go figure?

[Just Incognito]

If anyone is feeling charitable, the craziness and tumult of 2020 have forced me to re-evaluate my life (like most of us). I have decided, post-Corona--maybe around 1 year from now, I want to move to Medellin--and live there for 1/2 of each year. Maybe eventually full time. But for now, 1/2 the year.

BUT, I have to make some $$$ while living there. Any ideas? Does anyone have any information about how to find / train for online / remote work options? Business ideas for Medellin? It seems like all 'local' jobs do not pay at all. So, the trick is to find ways to make money from a non-Colombian based company-while living there. Or figuring out some import / export way to make money-legally! Other friends who know Colombia tell me owning a business there is a nightmare. But, its got to work for someone??

So, any ideas? Thoughts? I figure I need to make about 3 k a month to live the lifestyle I would want to while there. I know people can live there for cheaper.

So, where are all the smart people at? I need help! LOL.

[Elvis 2008]

Back to politics I see, as in it's all about Trump, media conspiracies, whatever. Give us a break and let's move on.

The greatest story not being told is that America has gone from the largest importer of energy in the world to an exporter. From the American mongers point of view, this is great news. For the next 20 years, our dollars are going to buy a whole lot more pussy than the last 20 years.

Also, the surge in American oil production has led to unthinkable things happening like real peace in the Middle East.

Tell me Zeos, do you even know WTF I am talking about? To someone like me, this story is largely ignored or not given emphasis because the media is not going to report on or emphasize news that makes Trump and perennial media whipping boy Jared Kushner look good. To someone like you Zeos, who does not believe in media conspiracies, the only explanation is that the story of peace in the Middle East is not newsworthy or better yet is not happening at all.

[GeneHickman]

The developing nations currencies including Colombia don't form part of the USD index. Explanation is here: https://www.thebalance.com/is-the-fe...-money-3305842 When I said that dollars are not printed I meant there is no uncontrollable printing which happened in the past in many nations, is happening now in some. 'Now' means inevitably the US has chances to default one way or another unless the path changes.

What else are FOMC operations and treasury purchases? To me it is only the imported China deflation that has allowed the fed to get away with this non sense. We as a country need to take our medicine at some point, but alas there is no paul volker in the federal reserve, and there is no courage in the fed leadership, and certainly no political will to address. And BTW this is bipartisan, Trump was as guilty of it as anyone else. So we will test the limits of international tolerance for our malfeasance. Were are consistently over a trillion dollars annually in deficit now, and even if the Trump tax cuts were ALL rescinded we cover only a small fraction of that and yet risk a tax receipt sapping economic slowdown to boot, if we further raise taxes beyond the "fair share" Obama years, then I still don't think we get anywhere near to balancing the budget. A trillion dollars annually is a whole lotta taxes to collect.
Add to that the medicare and social security, baby boomer cliff we are entering now, and the demands of the progressives ie UBI, Green new deal, Student loan write offs, Slavery reparations, Medicare for all and on and on and we are in a truly sorry state financially.
This ain't politics at all, this is just the plain reality in front of us. We quite simply can't afford what we have already promised, far less promise more. The average voter doesn't understand that and the average politician doesn't have the desire or courage to explain it.

[Questner]

What do you mean that dollars are not printed? Care to explain?

To me if the federal reserve is buying up treasuries issues by the gov't which the gov't then spends, that's exactly what they are doing. I think the poster above's point is that he expects more of that with the incoming administration. If you look at the overall dollar index since Nov 4th its down about 3-4%. So thus far he is right and this may continue for a while till there is a new equilibrium.

The developing nations currencies including Colombia don't form part of the USD index. Explanation is here: https://www.thebalance.com/is-the-fe...-money-3305842 When I said that dollars are not printed I meant there is no uncontrollable printing which happened in the past in many nations, is happening now in some. 'Now' means inevitably the US has chances to default one way or another unless the path changes.

[Zeos1]

This is from the WSJ: The dollar hit its lowest levels against a basket of currencies in more than two years this weekand investors think it'll fall further.

The consensus view of a falling dollar is based on a big assumption: Covid-19 will be more or less conquered in the months ahead. Vaccines will allow economies around the world to return to normal within the next year, encouraging investors to step back from the relative safety of USA Assets and invest in stocks, bonds and currencies outside the USA.

End of quote.

The stronger dollar has made some international assets very attractive. I would also cynically point out that the media attempts to use Covid to destroy Trump are now almost over.

You had the vaccine announcement that just so happened to be after the election. Then you have this study:

When Briand looked at the 2020 data during that seasonal period, COVID-19-related deaths exceeded deaths from heart diseases. This was highly unusual since heart disease has always prevailed as the leading cause of deaths. However, when taking a closer look at the death numbers, she noted something strange. As Briand compared the number of deaths per cause during that period in 2020 to 2018, she noticed that instead of the expected drastic increase across all causes, there was a significant decrease in deaths due to heart disease. Even more surprising, as seen in the graph below, this sudden decline in deaths is observed for all other causes.

In other words, the effect of COVID-19 on deaths in the USA Is considered problematic only when it increases the total number of deaths or the true death burden by a significant amount in addition to the expected deaths by other causes. Since the crude number of total deaths by all causes before and after COVID-19 has stayed the same, one can hardly say, in Briand's view, that COVID-19 deaths are concerning.

End of quotes.

This data only went from February 2020 to September 2020 and it could have easily been done prior to the election. Again I expect these numbers to be quoted ad nauseam once Trump gets out of office.

The inflation of Covid cases right before Biden gets in also seems to be timed such that when Biden does gets into office that we see a massive decrease.

Again, the libtards and Demorats will want to debate these points but money talks and BS walks. The famous quote that the market is a short term voting machine and long term it is weighing machine is truth. I would be stunned if the media fear porn does not lighten up once Biden gets into office.

The rise in the stock market, stronger COP are all saying investors are moving out of the dollar and into other places. The dollar will always go up when there is a crisis but eventually it comes down to fundamentals.

In that case, what is it going to take for investors long term to put money into Colombia once the voting machine is done and the weighing machine kicks in? Is Colombia an attractive to place to invest and produce goods and services? IMO the answer is hell no.

"In 2018, Colombia exported goods worth $41.8 billion around the world. Crude and coal are by far the largest export commodity in Colombia. They constitute about 57% of the total export value. Crude petroleum takes the larger share while coal and coke briquettes trail in second.

The oil markets will not be in balance for at least 10 years and more likely 20 years from now. Venezuela and Libya are producing next to nothing, and Iran's production has been halved. Official spare capacity is 10 million BPD and unofficial capacity is probably twice that.

The rest of Colombian exports (gold, flowers, coffee) cannot be increased to an extent to make a dent in the destruction of oil demand for at least 10 years, so the COP on a real basis will go nowhere but down once this viral bump is over.

What people are missing is that Colombia is not alone. The most prosperous third world nations for the most part have been driven by commodities and mostly oil. What they are going to have to do is raise interest rates to enough of an extent that investors are enticed into putting money into the economies of these nations. These higher interest rates will be devastating to the economy of these nations.

So even though we will see a short term bump, long term, the American monger will be in the pink for a long time. Colombia and a lot of other third world nations are going to be fucked for decades.

Back to politics I see, as in it's all about Trump, media conspiracies, whatever. Give us a break and let's move on.

[GeneHickman]

One of the views is delayed demand for USD in the developing markets. For now the dollars are not printed.

What do you mean that dollars are not printed? Care to explain?

To me if the federal reserve is buying up treasuries issues by the gov't which the gov't then spends, that's exactly what they are doing. I think the poster above's point is that he expects more of that with the incoming administration. If you look at the overall dollar index since Nov 4th its down about 3-4%. So thus far he is right and this may continue for a while till there is a new equilibrium.

[Questner]

I would be a first timer in Colombia. Vacation is most convenient around December 18th to January 3rd for me.

Sure it might not be the best time of year. But will it still be fun for a trip this length? I'm planning on booking flights anyway. I believe it would be "better than nothing" still. I am coming from the USA, so I'm also looking for a destination that is still open for tourists from here.

I was still planning on hitting the big cities if I went (mainly medellin but also few days in Cartagena and Bogota). Should I be going elsewhere (like Cali), even for my first time in Colombia?

I'm just trying to get a feel if it is worth going to Colombia at all. Remember I am starving since travel has been dead due to covid.

Any and all advice is much appreciated!

It's hard to comment on Colombia per se for you now, however don't go to Cali and Pacific region. Cartagena plus MDE or BOG is more than enough.

[Questner]

Whats the basis for a gradual strengthening of the dollar? I imagine the exact opposite as the government is probably going to be printing a lot of dollars to prop up / stimulate the economy.

One of the views is delayed demand for USD in the developing markets. For now the dollars are not printed.

[Kazeu]

What is your theory? There are numerous reasons why currencies fluctuate relative the USD; however, I don't think the success or failure of the vaccine is one of them. I think most forex traders are predicting a gradual strengthening of the dollar next year.

Whats the basis for a gradual strengthening of the dollar? I imagine the exact opposite as the government is probably going to be printing a lot of dollars to prop up / stimulate the economy.

[Elvis 2008]

What is your theory? There are numerous reasons why currencies fluctuate relative the USD; however, I don't think the success or failure of the vaccine is one of them. I think most forex traders are predicting a gradual strengthening of the dollar next year.

This is from the WSJ: The dollar hit its lowest levels against a basket of currencies in more than two years this week—and investors think it'll fall further.

The consensus view of a falling dollar is based on a big assumption: Covid-19 will be more or less conquered in the months ahead. Vaccines will allow economies around the world to return to normal within the next year, encouraging investors to step back from the relative safety of USA Assets and invest in stocks, bonds and currencies outside the USA.

End of quote.

The stronger dollar has made some international assets very attractive. I would also cynically point out that the media attempts to use Covid to destroy Trump are now almost over.

You had the vaccine announcement that just so happened to be after the election. Then you have this study:

When Briand looked at the 2020 data during that seasonal period, COVID-19-related deaths exceeded deaths from heart diseases. This was highly unusual since heart disease has always prevailed as the leading cause of deaths. However, when taking a closer look at the death numbers, she noted something strange. As Briand compared the number of deaths per cause during that period in 2020 to 2018, she noticed that instead of the expected drastic increase across all causes, there was a significant decrease in deaths due to heart disease. Even more surprising, as seen in the graph below, this sudden decline in deaths is observed for all other causes.

In other words, the effect of COVID-19 on deaths in the USA Is considered problematic only when it increases the total number of deaths or the true death burden by a significant amount in addition to the expected deaths by other causes. Since the crude number of total deaths by all causes before and after COVID-19 has stayed the same, one can hardly say, in Briand's view, that COVID-19 deaths are concerning.

End of quotes.

This data only went from February 2020 to September 2020 and it could have easily been done prior to the election. Again I expect these numbers to be quoted ad nauseam once Trump gets out of office.

The inflation of Covid cases right before Biden gets in also seems to be timed such that when Biden does gets into office that we see a massive decrease.

Again, the libtards and Demorats will want to debate these points but money talks and BS walks. The famous quote that the market is a short term voting machine and long term it is weighing machine is truth. I would be stunned if the media fear porn does not lighten up once Biden gets into office.

The rise in the stock market, stronger COP are all saying investors are moving out of the dollar and into other places. The dollar will always go up when there is a crisis but eventually it comes down to fundamentals.

In that case, what is it going to take for investors long term to put money into Colombia once the voting machine is done and the weighing machine kicks in? Is Colombia an attractive to place to invest and produce goods and services? IMO the answer is hell no.

"In 2018, Colombia exported goods worth $41.8 billion around the world. Crude and coal are by far the largest export commodity in Colombia. They constitute about 57% of the total export value. Crude petroleum takes the larger share while coal and coke briquettes trail in second.

The oil markets will not be in balance for at least 10 years and more likely 20 years from now. Venezuela and Libya are producing next to nothing, and Iran's production has been halved. Official spare capacity is 10 million BPD and unofficial capacity is probably twice that.

The rest of Colombian exports (gold, flowers, coffee) cannot be increased to an extent to make a dent in the destruction of oil demand for at least 10 years, so the COP on a real basis will go nowhere but down once this viral bump is over.

What people are missing is that Colombia is not alone. The most prosperous third world nations for the most part have been driven by commodities and mostly oil. What they are going to have to do is raise interest rates to enough of an extent that investors are enticed into putting money into the economies of these nations. These higher interest rates will be devastating to the economy of these nations.

So even though we will see a short term bump, long term, the American monger will be in the pink for a long time. Colombia and a lot of other third world nations are going to be fucked for decades.