Pictures from a small town in Colombia.

No this place is not their version of Ikoyi, VI or GRA.
It is just the new side of the town and the town is a simple small town with a population less than that of Ado-Ekiti.
So even though this is their Ado-Ekiti level of city, it accommodates with the same fare as places like Ikoyi, VI, Abuja and such.
Maybe it lacks rail service but i can walk across the entire town in a few hours and there is a low population using extensive bus services and taxis.
What i like about this place in Colombia, is the mountain views and affordability. I can get a nice condominium in the high rise and live to the same standard and environs as Ikoyi or VI, but i will pay 50% or less than 50% of what Ikoyi and VI offerings want to charge. And that is a place fully furnished and set with kitchen utensils, beddings and more. Ready to move in and just start cooking, eating, sleeping, watching TV or using Wifi internet. Also it is always possible to get month to month rentals charging payments each month.

In addition to the lower cost, the value is even higher with constant tap water treated to potable condition, also cooking gas is piped to the house as is the water, so no need buy gas by the tank or canister. Same with constant electricity.
So i pay much less for much more and no Service fees to run a generator and maintain bore holes or refilling cooking gas from a supplier.
There are security guards and common area custodians in each high rise condominium building, and very easy traffic in town with such a low population at less than 350k residents.

This town is around 5000 feet of elevation and that means it has daily coolness similar to the colder days of Jos. Also nearly daily rainfall and mostly cloudy skies.

More pictures.

Other pictures.

At the mall or shopping centre. They have two major malls like this in town and then a number of smaller modern shopping centers with similar offerings.

Coffee farming of Colombia. Colombia has been famous for supplying coffee to the world.

So beautiful.i love Columbia especially their women

Wow nice, bro are you on vacation or you working

KendrickAyomide:
So beautiful.i love Columbia especially their women

Have you been there? Or what you have watched on “Narcos”

ferrariLaferrari:
Wow nice, bro are you on vacation or you working

Not working. Retired and taking it easy now. Easier for me to live in nice and more affordable parts of the world.
I rotate between countries like Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador and i will be in Suriname next month and will try a short visit to the neighboring Guayana. I am based in USA as my home and for any work i do. Work obligation is low for me at home and retirement allows me to spend more time in less costly countries like Colombia. USA is nice, but why stay there when my dollars buy more for me in Colombia and i can have money remaining to travel again.

And for those who think exchange rate is so important for the Naira, Colombia has exchange rate of 3200 to $1-usd.
Even republic of Benin known to be poor, has exchange rate of 584 to $1.
Yet Colombia manages very well in more ways than quality of living and development. Even with 3200 pesos to $1, Colombia offers very good value for what you spend here.
I like visiting Nigeria but it is always discouraging with the cost i pay for quality living, plus the difficulties and added costs that always follow.
If not for friends and Family, i would never consider going to Nigeria again.

azpekuliar:


Have you been there? Or what you have watched on “Narcos”

never been there o. From observations

Be careful of the cartels, don't be caught in the middle!

It looks nice with a serene tranquility to it. Clear blue skies - one of my favorites ! Beautiful. Enjoy your trip!

19naia:


Not working. Retired and taking it easy now. Easier for me to live in nice and more affordable parts of the world.
I rotate between countries like Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador and i will be in Suriname next month and will try a short visit to the neighboring Guayana. I am based in USA as my home and for any work i do. Work obligation is low for me at home and retirement allows me to spend more time in less costly countries like Colombia. USA is nice, but why stay there when my dollars buy more for me in Colombia and i can have money remaining to travel again.

And for those who think exchange rate is so important for the Naira, Colombia has exchange rate of 3200 to $1-usd.
Even republic of Benin known to be poor, has exchange rate of 584 to $1.
Yet Colombia manages very well in more ways than quality of living and development. Even with 3200 pesos to $1, Colombia offers very good value for what you spend here.
I like visiting Nigeria but it is always discouraging with the cost i pay for quality living, plus the difficulties and added costs that always follow.
If not for friends and Family, i would never consider going to Nigeria again.

Nice one bro and very thought provoking.
I'll like to do something like that after retirement too.
But wait o, what about the gang/drug warfare in Colombia and Mexico?
It does not bother you?

19naia:


Not working. Retired and taking it easy now. Easier for me to live in nice and more affordable parts of the world.
I rotate between countries like Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador and i will be in Suriname next month and will try a short visit to the neighboring Guayana. I am based in USA as my home and for any work i do. Work obligation is low for me at home and retirement allows me to spend more time in less costly countries like Colombia. USA is nice, but why stay there when my dollars buy more for me in Colombia and i can have money remaining to travel again.

And for those who think exchange rate is so important for the Naira, Colombia has exchange rate of 3200 to $1-usd.
Even republic of Benin known to be poor, has exchange rate of 584 to $1.
Yet Colombia manages very well in more ways than quality of living and development. Even with 3200 pesos to $1, Colombia offers very good value for what you spend here.
I like visiting Nigeria but it is always discouraging with the cost i pay for quality living, plus the difficulties and added costs that always follow.
If not for friends and Family, i would never consider going to Nigeria again.

Dahmmm the exchange rate so low and the good, serene and loving life is just superb.
It’s so good living ones retired life with peace, abundance and enjoyment. Lol
When i grow up and retire i wish to be like you or probably better.
Enjoy boss

Tell us the prospect of getting a decent job and work there!?

dayleke:



Nice one bro and very thought provoking.
I'll like to do something like that after retirement too.
But wait o, what about the gang/drug warfare in Colombia and Mexico?
It does not bother you?

All their drugs mostly end up in USA, and i lived many years in USA seeing drug addicts on the streets and having them beg from me for money to buy drugs and also the stealing they do. Also watching the news about drug gangs killing each other in the USA streets.
So i took caution while going to these countries, just like i take caution when i am at home in USA. I cannot just go anywhere at anytime and do anything, even in USA. Same in Mexico, Colombia and beyond.
But... After a few seasons staying in Mexico and a few in Colombia, i have not seen the streets plagued with drug addicts like i see in USA. And i have not seen any drug warfare events in places that i stay.
I stick to small towns like in the village. Always slow pace and none of those fast and dangerous types of personalities enjoy life there. They all prefer the big city where all the money is, and all the air pollution and stress. I stay away from big money scenes and do not hustle for money here as i bring my income from USA.
I do see armed military and police patrols all over Mexico and some in Colombia. While Mexico has gotten much worse with drug gangs, Colombia has gotten much better. Colombia is no longer ravaged by Pablo Escobar or the FARC who used to be the Boko Haram of Colombia. Now Colombia is dealing with ordinary street gang problems like other countries and then they have the gangs deep in the jungle growing cocaine and other narcotic plants. The jungle gangs have only been a problem for people who go into the jungle looking for them to report or interfere with them. And the military is always flying helicopters to search out their jungle farms and drug lab operations.

I simply stick to small quiet towns where drug gangs cannot make money nor find enough customer with money to spend. And also not easy for them to lay low in small towns where everyone knows everybody. Maybe some small towns, they are there in small numbers moving the drugs through to big cities or along the passage to USA and Europe. And they come and go quietly through with no interest in those towns.
And in USA, there is almost no small town or city i can go, without finding drug addiction problems on a significant scale.
I see more evidence of drug problems in USA and i see more people emulating drug gangsters lifestyle when i am in USA. Not in Mexico or Colombia.
Yes Mexico has more murder than USA or even Nigeria, but it is like with boko haram, nobody comes to Nigeria and moves to Sambisa forest. I don’t go to Mexico and move to places where the problems are. Colombia is much more peaceful than Mexico now.
Also, the drug gangs live by a code and they do not target foreigners who are the one’s bringing tourism dollars to the country.
All their violence is their local fights among one another. The number of foreigners from USA, Canada and Europe, is very high in Mexico, like in the millions. And the number who get killed every year, is less than the number who get killed per million in USA.
Less Americans killed in Mexico than are killed in USA every year. And i see more drug addict encounters in USA. So my chances of such danger, are lower in Mexico even with all the violence on Mexico. I simply stay away from problem areas and take caution who i mingle with and what activities i engage in.
I live simple and mostly keep to myself and allow others the right of way when i am walking in the streets.

No people at road blocks always asking for money like in Nigeria, no agbero or police shaking me down every time i drive around.
Very little hawking of goods in the streets and not as much wild acts of desperation by people hustling the streets, like we see in Nigeria.
When you follow procedure and pay the basic fees, all business goes smoothly and nobody jamming the situation with problems used to delay and extort money from people.
Maybe on very rare occasions you see news of extortion incidents, but none of that rampant petty extortion played as a normal business culture there.

.

alfonso36:
Tell us the prospect of getting a decent job and work there!?

I am not familiar with the work scene here as i travel on tourist visa only. Not allowed to work even if i wanted, and also i can be charged with visa violation, just for exploring employment options while on a tourist visa stay.

But i am sure you have heard of the Venezuela crisis. Millions of Venezuelan people flooded into Colombia, Ecuador and Peru and they are working everywhere i go in Colombia and Ecuador.
It is causing problems in some places and already Peru has passed new laws to make it easy to expel foreigners and difficult to allow them in.

So right now, the immigration scene is stressed to a historical level and has found them taking international aide just to help them deal with the economic impact of Venezuelan people flooding into their country as refugees.

I cannot give employment advice with my lack of experience in working outside of USA. I go to USA for work.

But i can advise you about the immigration problems faced in this part of the continent. A serious problem with refugees from Venezuela looking for work. Also, they all speak Spanish language and all business here is conducted in Spanish.
So -to compete with desperate Venezuelan refugees needing work by the millions, and you not speaking Spanish? That is a serious undertaking.

19naia:


Not working. Retired and taking it easy now. Easier for me to live in nice and more affordable parts of the world.
I rotate between countries like Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador and i will be in Suriname next month and will try a short visit to the neighboring Guayana. I am based in USA as my home and for any work i do. Work obligation is low for me at home and retirement allows me to spend more time in less costly countries like Colombia. USA is nice, but why stay there when my dollars buy more for me in Colombia and i can have money remaining to travel again.

And for those who think exchange rate is so important for the Naira, Colombia has exchange rate of 3200 to $1-usd.
Even republic of Benin known to be poor, has exchange rate of 584 to $1.
Yet Colombia manages very well in more ways than quality of living and development. Even with 3200 pesos to $1, Colombia offers very good value for what you spend here.
I like visiting Nigeria but it is always discouraging with the cost i pay for quality living, plus the difficulties and added costs that always follow.
If not for friends and Family, i would never consider going to Nigeria again.

please don't forget to share pictures of those places when you visit them.. I am following you

PaulSimon2020:
Be careful of the cartels, don't be caught in the middle!

cartels are not active the way they used to be back in Pablo's days

Beautiful city!

Nche95:
cartels are not active the way they used to be back in Pablo's days

Yes. While Colombians have forgotten their past ways of troubles, and are making huge progress, the rest of the world who do not see their progress, only remember them by their past.

Funny how the news lavishly tells the world of their problem years and then says nothing when the newer years bring peace and prosperity.

The news just runs now to Venezuela to tell every one how bad it is in Venezuela and leaves people to never realize Colombia has Changed.

Same when i visited Nicaragua. Always warned about the war they had there. The war had been over since more than 10 years prior to my visit, but no news agency was wasting time to constantly tell the world how peaceful they had become in Nicaragua.

Nice one.

We’re somewhat similar.

Recently retired from the US too but I chose to setup base in Nigeria in a suburb. From here I’ve been touring safe areas of Africa, primarily West.

Lots of US retirees in South America. It’s hard to tell our locals how underdeveloped and backwards Nigeria is. And this is comparing ourself to basic countries like Rwanda, Ghana, Brazil, etc not even first world countries.

Happy trails.

What's the name of the town?

19naia and UnitedAlliance,

You guys rock!!!!
What else to do after working all dem years if not to travel and enjoy life.

But one question though if you don't mind.
Do you guys have family? As in immediate family, e.g, children and wives (spouses)?
I'm guessing the children have all grown and have a family of their own but what about the spouses?

Reason I asked is, do they accompany you on your trips or you go by yourselves?

Thank you.

19naia:
Pictures from a small town in Colombia.

Nice! I'm in world traveler mode these days too.
Been traveling for two years straight . I work location independently, so it doesn't matter where I am. My travel style is similar, in the sense I spend 1 -2 months in a place before moving on. Since we don't need visas for most countries, it makes traveling convenient.

Colombia is one of my favorite places on this crazy planet though. I spent two months in Medellin in 2017, and loved it so much that on a whim, I jumped on a flight to Medellin again in 2018, and spent another two months in Colombia. Mostly in Medellin, but the last week in Cartagena.

It's funny how people reacted each time I told them I was in Colombia. "Oh lord! THE NARCOS... bla bla bla."
Sure, there's still a lot of drug trade in Colombia, but the violence of the Escobar era is all people seem to know.
It's like telling someone "don't go to Nigeria, because the Abacha regime is brutal." Well, that time has passed, buddy.

These days I'm doing the Asian circuit. I've been traveling slowly in Asia since December. I haven't been home to the US since then either (so much fun out here ).
In that time I've spent a month in Thailand, a month in Vietnam, then back to Thailand for another month. Then went to Malaysia for two months, as I needed a place to get away from all the partying and focus on work. I didn't like Malaysia, so it made it easier to focus (SO MANY shady Nigerians in Malaysia - fraud & prostitution - but I won't go into that. It was really sad to see though).

While in Malaysia, I visited Singapore briefly and went back to Malaysia. Then off to Indonesia for a month. After that, I spent a month in the Philippines, and left for Hong Kong. Only spent a week in Hong Kong, before leaving for South Korea where I am now. I'll be here for probably a month and half, before being on to the next destination.

So, what cities have you been in Colombia?

dayleke:
19naia and UnitedAlliance,

You guys rock!!!!
What else to do after working all dem years if not to travel and enjoy life.

But one question though if you don't mind.
Do you guys have family? As in immediate family, e.g, children and wives (spouses)?
I'm guessing the children have all grown and have a family of their own but what about the spouses?

Reason I asked is, do they accompany you on your trips or you go by yourselves?

Thank you.

I'm divorced and my children are in colleges. It's my time to actually be me and take risks. It's wonderful waking up in the morning and taking a few seconds to remember where I'm at. Having dual passports also helps. Being a Nigerian works well in certain situations and being an American works in certain situations.

"Everything we desire is on the other side of fear".

Please younger guys, take concrete actions today to prepare for your retirement. It comes faster than you know it. Don't be that well known local guy at the newspaper stand. The world is your oyster and it's waiting.

ramalot:


Nice! I'm in world traveler mode these days too.
Been traveling for two years straight . I work location independently, so it doesn't matter where I am. My travel style is similar, in the sense I spend 1 -2 months in a place before moving on. Since we don't need visas for most countries, it makes traveling convenient.

Colombia is one of my favorite places on this crazy planet though. I spent two months in Medellin in 2017, and loved it so much that on a whim, I jumped on a flight to Medellin again in 2018, and spent another two months in Colombia. Mostly in Medellin, but the last week in Cartagena.

It's funny how people reacted each time I told them I was in Colombia. "Oh lord! THE NARCOS... bla bla bla."
Sure, there's still a lot of drug trade in Colombia, but the violence of the Escobar era is all people seem to know.
It's like telling someone "don't go to Nigeria, because the Abacha regime is brutal." Well, that time has passed, buddy.

These days I'm doing the Asian circuit. I've been traveling slowly in Asia since December. I haven't been home to the US since then either (so much fun out here ).
In that time I've spent a month in Thailand, a month in Vietnam, then back to Thailand for another month. Then went to Malaysia for two months, as I needed a place to get away from all the partying and focus on work. I didn't like Malaysia, so it made it easier to focus (SO MANY shady Nigerians in Malaysia - fraud & prostitution - but I won't go into that. It was really sad to see though).

While in Malaysia, I visited Singapore briefly and went back to Malaysia. Then off to Indonesia for a month. After that, I spent a month in the Philippines, and left for Hong Kong. Only spent a week in Hong Kong, before leaving for South Korea where I am now. I'll be here for probably a month and half, before being on to the next destination.

So, what cities have you been in Colombia?

Nice one.

I have promised myself that I will not leave the African continent on a tour until I have visited all her capital cities.

But I can't wait to hit the Asias.

ramalot:


Nice! I'm in world traveler mode these days too.
Been traveling for two years straight . I work location independently, so it doesn't matter where I am. My travel style is similar, in the sense I spend 1 -2 months in a place before moving on. Since we don't need visas for most countries, it makes traveling convenient.

Colombia is one of my favorite places on this crazy planet though. I spent two months in Medellin in 2017, and loved it so much that on a whim, I jumped on a flight to Medellin again in 2018, and spent another two months in Colombia. Mostly in Medellin, but the last week in Cartagena.

It's funny how people reacted each time I told them I was in Colombia. "Oh lord! THE NARCOS... bla bla bla."
Sure, there's still a lot of drug trade in Colombia, but the violence of the Escobar era is all people seem to know.
It's like telling someone "don't go to Nigeria, because the Abacha regime is brutal." Well, that time has passed, buddy.

These days I'm doing the Asian circuit. I've been traveling slowly in Asia since December. I haven't been home to the US since then either (so much fun out here ).
In that time I've spent a month in Thailand, a month in Vietnam, then back to Thailand for another month. Then went to Malaysia for two months, as I needed a place to get away from all the partying and focus on work. I didn't like Malaysia, so it made it easier to focus (SO MANY shady Nigerians in Malaysia - fraud & prostitution - but I won't go into that. It was really sad to see though).

While in Malaysia, I visited Singapore briefly and went back to Malaysia. Then off to Indonesia for a month. After that, I spent a month in the Philippines, and left for Hong Kong. Only spent a week in Hong Kong, before leaving for South Korea where I am now. I'll be here for probably a month and half, before being on to the next destination.

So, what cities have you been in Colombia?

Wow so nice
Please how’s South Korea like, i promise vacating there someday

UnitedAlliance:


Nice one.

I have promised myself that I will not leave the African continent on a tour until I have visited all her capital cities.

But I can't wait to hit the Asias.

Honestly, I wouldn't recommend that. There are 54 countries in Africa, so that's a huge barrier on seeing the world.
Start with the major African cities, then visit other continents. Variety beats repetition in most cases.
Having a contrasting perspective adds value to things you experience. You experience them more completely.

For instance, if you've only ever been to Eastern Nigerian states like Anambra, Abia etc, and then visit Enugu, it's more of the same.
Sure, there are differences, but the similarities outweigh them. Leaving you with an underwhelming experience and little stimulation.
Now, if you leave the East and visit say Sokoto for the first time, the contrasting landscape, culture etc delivers a much richer experience to you.

I've been to countries in 5 out of the 6 livable continents (Antarctica isn't livable). Africa, North America, South America, Europe and Asia.
Only one left is the Australian continent. So when I visit anywhere new, I always have a contrasting perspective to view it with.

Random story:
In May, while I was in Indonesia, I decided to go spend a 3-day weekend in Australia, then return to Indonesia. Mainly so I can officially check it off my to-do list that I've seen all 6 livable continents - as Australia has never appealed to me much.
Anyway, I get to the airport in Denpasar, with a significant fever. I haven't had a fever or been sick for ten years before that, so I felt pretty bad. Counter check-in was required, and as I hand the airline agent my passport, he says "You need a visa to visit Australia."

I say "uhm, no I don't." Turns out I freaking did, but somehow never checked. Since I go almost everywhere without a visa, I took it for granted that Australia didn't require one. BIG FAIL on my part.

I could have instantly processed the visa right there on my phone, through an agency for $60, but I was too sick to care at this point.
On the bright side, I no longer had to take the trip with my fever, and happily went back to my hotel.
I lost the ticket, as it was non-refundable, but I was happier climbing into my bed than I would've been getting on the plane.

ferrariLaferrari:

Wow so nice
Please how’s South Korea like, i promise vacating there someday

I've only been here for three days, but so far it's been really nice in Seoul.
I am allowed to stay 3 months, without a visa, but I intend to spend only about 5 weeks.
At that point, I'll be in a better position to answer what it's really like.

ramalot:


I've only been here for three days, but so far it's been really nice in Seoul.
I am allowed to stay 3 months, without a visa, but I intend to spend only about 5 weeks.
At that point, I'll be in a better position to answer what it's really like.

Alright sir, we look forward to your answer.
Enjoy your stay sir