Currently a huge problem. Have friends living in the Quinta Etapa high rises. They can't get a refrigerator repairman to come out from Haceb or even independants. It's so hot there recently you wouldn't catch me dead there. Or maybe you might!
Be careful. Been hearing a lot about it for awhile now.
It is all true about Bello. I speak daily (video whatsapp) to a few girls whom I have known for a few years and they tell me that they don't go out after dark and they have never seen it so dangerous, drug gang territory mainly. They suggest not for me to pick them up at there houses but rather they take a taxi and I pick them up at the Niquia metro, the same when I drop them off.
Be careful. Been hearing a lot about it for awhile now.
Currently a huge problem. Have friends living in the Quinta Etapa high rises. They can't get a refrigerator repairman to come out from Haceb or even independants. It's so hot there recently you wouldn't catch me dead there. Or maybe you might!
...Many members tend to maintain that North American women, who have rejected them, are ugly while Colombian women, who deal with them largely for financial reason, are beautiful. They believe that they visit Colombia because it is a wonderful place, rather than seeing that they just like the rampant prostitution and strong currency. They would vehemently oppose and attack any realistic and alternative picture. Similarly, the members tend to over-estimate that their financial ability makes them sexually attractive while they underestimate the impact of their appearance. Ignorance is a bliss, especially when people reinforce it each other.
Those same guys say they come to Colombia because they love Latinas.
Have a friend a supreme monger who mongers all over the world. His #1 place to monger is the USA about 70% of the time as there are more hot chicks from all cultures there than just about any other country. The USA has more hot Latinas than Colombia. But he still mongers part time in the Caribbean and Medellin. Why? Because he has a boat docked in the Caribbean and he loves to sail around. He has an apartment in Medellin but he's only at it a few times a year. Why is the US his #1 monger destination? Because he's filthy rich. Just like every monger coming here on vacation. Back home they are the average Joe. Myself included of course. But at least I see the reality.
Face it if you're rolling in money you don't need to go to a 3rd world country to get laid. When's the last time you saw some corporate tycoon sluming in Bangkok or Costa Rica looking for pussy? They have babes spreading their legs begging them to come over and fuck. It's all about the Benjamins.
For the regular Joes coming here for a week or two on vacation it doesn't matter what you do or what you have back home or what your game is or isn't, in the eyes of these poor girls where the income disparity is drastic you're the corporate tycoon more or less.
Because almost all members on the forum are mongers, they are 1) different from general (Western) adult population and 2) more homogeneous, in terms of cognitive mechanism, intellect and perception. As the result, the members tend to share illusion and bias, and often refuse to recognize a distinction between the reality and the world they imagine. Just like everybody else, the members tend to over-evaluate what they have and they can do while they under-estimate or dismiss what they don't have. Many members tend to maintain that North American women, who have rejected them, are ugly while Colombian women, who deal with them largely for financial reason, are beautiful. They believe that they visit Colombia because it is a wonderful place, rather than seeing that they just like the rampant prostitution and strong currency. They would vehemently oppose and attack any realistic and alternative picture. Similarly, the members tend to over-estimate that their financial ability makes them sexually attractive while they underestimate the impact of their appearance. Ignorance is a bliss, especially when people reinforce it each other.
I concur. And might add that while some mongers acknowledge the dangers and use it to their benefit to heighten self awareness, the others prefer to hide their heads in the proverbial sand.
Its possible that admitting the truth might be so frightening they might actually think twice about what they are doing.
Some mongers may also be addicted to the local drug culture, that anything that might discourage this risky behavior is dismissed immediately.
Self preservation gets put on lower priority when bingeing toward that sexual release or chemical high.
Just like everybody else, the members tend to over-evaluate what they have and they can do while they under-estimate or dismiss what they don't have. Many members tend to maintain that North American women, who have rejected them, are ugly while Colombian women, who deal with them largely for financial reason, are beautiful. They believe that they visit Colombia because it is a wonderful place, rather than seeing that they just like the rampant prostitution and strong currency. They would vehemently oppose and attack any realistic and alternative picture. Similarly, the members tend to over-estimate that their financial ability makes them sexually attractive while they underestimate the impact of their appearance. Ignorance is a bliss, especially when people reinforce it each other.
Excellent post! Self awareness and honesty are very important.
I use uber unless I am in too much of a hurry to wait for one to arrive. I find it reassuring and convenient to not have to have cash and to know the GPS route. Uber records the route and driver so there is an audit trail. The downside as I mentioned is there is normally a longer wait to get an uber. Uber is usually a bit cheaper than taxis but taxis are so cheap to begin with that makes little difference.
Leaving the hotel in Bogota at 4:30am yesterday morning I called an Uber which would be 28K to the airport. He was going to arrive in 18 minutes and was coming from the airport! So I cancelled it and asked the hotel to call a taxi for me since the streets downtown were deserted and there was not one to be found. I asked the clerk how much it would cost and she said she did not know. The driver came quickly and as he put my bag in the trunk I asked him how much it would cost. 25K. That and from the airport to the hotel in Cali are the only times I used a taxi. The rest was Uber.
I was in Colombia (Cali and Bogota) from the 25th to the 30th. The only time I used an ATM was at the airport on arrival to take out 600K. I only used cash for the initial taxi, final taxi, at 3 mom and pop places to eat that did not take cards, and for entrance fee to a club that me and one of my chicks went to. (I did pay for the drinks with a card though.) Everywhere I went I used my American Express Platinum except for 2 places that did not take Amex (that club and 1 restaurant). At those 2 places I used my Schwab debit card. All non-pro chicks so I still have half of the money I took out left.
Many members tend to maintain that North American women, who have rejected them, are ugly while Colombian women, who deal with them largely for financial reason, are beautiful.
Whenever I travel and am with a woman from Colombia or wherever else, they talk about how beautiful American women are. Come to this board and I think I am from a different America than other people.
They believe that they visit Colombia because it is a wonderful place, rather than seeing that they just like the rampant prostitution and strong currency.
They do not believe the first part; they just don't want to admit the second part. When people ask why I live in Thailand I tell them because it is hot and cheap. That goes for the place as well as the women.
All is well on the mongering scene in Medellin. Been doing a lot of facial shots lately. Girls have been great starting off with BBBJs and providing other extras without asking for a tip. I usually will tip 20 mil however for service that exceeds my expectations. Happy Hunting!
Why do people on this forum always get so touchy when someone says Medellin is dangerous (even to tourists)? It's the truth.
Because almost all members on the forum are mongers, they are 1) different from general (Western) adult population and 2) more homogeneous, in terms of cognitive mechanism, intellect and perception. As the result, the members tend to share illusion and bias, and often refuse to recognize a distinction between the reality and the world they imagine. Just like everybody else, the members tend to over-evaluate what they have and they can do while they under-estimate or dismiss what they don't have. Many members tend to maintain that North American women, who have rejected them, are ugly while Colombian women, who deal with them largely for financial reason, are beautiful. They believe that they visit Colombia because it is a wonderful place, rather than seeing that they just like the rampant prostitution and strong currency. They would vehemently oppose and attack any realistic and alternative picture. Similarly, the members tend to over-estimate that their financial ability makes them sexually attractive while they underestimate the impact of their appearance. Ignorance is a bliss, especially when people reinforce it each other.
I use uber unless I am in too much of a hurry to wait for one to arrive. I find it reassuring and convenient to not have to have cash and to know the GPS route. Uber records the route and driver so there is an audit trail. The downside as I mentioned is there is normally a longer wait to get an uber. Uber is usually a bit cheaper than taxis but taxis are so cheap to begin with that makes little difference.
Be careful about hailing a taxi on the streets around Parque Lleras. I usually use the Easy Taxi app (now changed to Cabify) or the Uber app to order a ride. Within the last year, I have encountered dishonest taxi drivers that I hailed off the streets around Parque Lleras. They either have a fast meter or turn their meter off and claim it doesn't work. If they turn the meter off, I get out and don't pay them anything. It's usually harder to notice the fast meters. Easy Taxi creates a record, so drivers tend to be honest.
Because the fear comes from Xenophobia. I have been to many different parts of Medellin (I also used to live in Manhattan) and I have always felt safe in Medellin by exercising the exact same precautions I would exercise in any large US city. Don't be an idiot and you'll be fine in MDE, be an idiot and you might get in trouble there or Bangkok or New Haven or Johannesburg or Paris or Moscow.
Exactly.
I remember seeing a guy on Avenida Poblado. He had just come out of an ATM, was holding a big stack of cash in his hands counting it in the middle of the sidewalk, while yelling at the bus to find out if it went to El Centro. I felt like robbing him myself just to protect him from his own stupidity.
Why do people on this forum always get so touchy when someone says Medellin is dangerous (even to tourists)? I
Because the fear comes from Xenophobia. I have been to many different parts of Medellin (I also used to live in Manhattan) and I have always felt safe in Medellin by exercising the exact same precautions I would exercise in any large US city. Don't be an idiot and you'll be fine in MDE, be an idiot and you might get in trouble there or Bangkok or New Haven or Johannesburg or Paris or Moscow.
Laureles and El Poblado are areas with a lot of tourists, Starbucks, KFC, etc. It is safe to hail a cab in those areas, use Uber or walk around at night, however, use your common sense because people get robbed and so on in those areas as well. If you are walking around by yourself at night you are always more of a target. Move with a purpose at night and the taxis are inexpensive for gringos so don't be afraid to use them. The cabs are metered.
Be careful about hailing a taxi on the streets around Parque Lleras. I usually use the Easy Taxi app (now changed to Cabify) or the Uber app to order a ride. Within the last year, I have encountered dishonest taxi drivers that I hailed off the streets around Parque Lleras. They either have a fast meter or turn their meter off and claim it doesn't work. If they turn the meter off, I get out and don't pay them anything. It's usually harder to notice the fast meters. Easy Taxi creates a record, so drivers tend to be honest.
I don't use drugs or Facebook / tindr / other apps with providers. I know for a fact that there are ne'er do wells who target foreigners. There are certain precautions guys can take to lower the risk. Guys can also search for 'crime in Medellin' to get a feel for the risk profile. For the inexperienced or worried, casas are a safe option. You can run many searches for Medellin crime but you won't find reports about guys getting victimized in casas. You will find reports of bad sessions or unattractive girls but YMMV as the saying goes.