mrjojo:
Insightful, Thank you..
"Blackest" I meant the place where you felt uncomfortable . I have been in some countries and it just felt all eyes were on me

I generally don't dwell on race. So I don't have a place where I would say I felt "uncomfortable."

However, Argentina has had the most subtle passive racial vibe. I'm still in Argentina, and have been here many months, out of my own free will. So it's not that "uncomfortable."

Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam, as well. However, in HCM, it's usually around the Bui Vien area, where there are many jobless Africans and Nigerians roaming around, doing nothing. Just "hustling."

Locals try their best to avoid them, so if you look anything like them, they try to give you the cold shoulder. Except they realize you're American, British or something.

Gerrard59:

Interesting. I have always thought Bahamas and Barbados are richer than Bermuda.

Bermuda is actually the richest predominantly black "nation" in the world. And also in the top 1-2 bracket for highest per capita GDP worldwide. For reference, the US is around 7. Nigeria is 145.

megatran:


Thank you for the info shared. I will like to know your opinion on these countries looking at it from the perspective of a Nigerian male digital nomad with just a Nigerian passport looking to relocate and based on the points listed below.

Thailand, South Africa and Philippines.

- Cost of living.
- Racial Discrimination.
- Ease of dating and finding love.
- Ease of finding work.
- Ease of business and investments.
- Availability of tourist sites and adventure

Honestly, like I said in my original post, I can't get into "relocation" questions. If you have questions about living in these places temporarily, while being a digital nomad, then great. However, since you're asking questions like "ease of finding work," I don't know.

A digital nomad does not look for work at their destination. Their work and source of income is primarily web-based, so it shouldn't matter if you're in New York or Somalia. Just to give you a general sense, I'll give answers, from a general perspective.


Thailand:

- Cost of living: Depending on your individual standards, accommodation and cost of living is not bad in Thailand. Bangkok would be the most expensive. If you're on a low budget, you can find an OK studio apartment, for as low as $250/month. It won't be great, but it'll be OK.
- Racial Discrimination - You likely won't face direct racism, but there'll be subtle hints, like occasional selective poor service.
- Ease of dating and finding love - You can find love anywhere in the world. It all depends on you.
- Ease of finding work - No idea.
- Ease of business and investments - No idea.
- Availability of tourist sites and adventure - There are a ton of good tourist and adventure escapes.


South Africa:

- Cost of living - SA is certainly not cheap. If you're on a low budget, you're better off going to Thailand.
- Racial Discrimination - Well, it's SA.
- Ease of dating and finding love - Should be easy for most normal guys.
- Ease of finding work - No idea, but since they're English speakers and there are many Nigerians, you might find something. Just make sure it's legal. Lots of Nigerians into illegal activities out there.
- Ease of business and investments - No idea.
- Availability of tourist sites and adventure - There are many tourist and safari things to do in SA.


Phils:

- Cost of living: Manila can be a bit expensive, if you want a nice place.
- Racial Discrimination: Not really an issue, but too many Nigerians causing problems in Manila, so people are wary of blacks.
- Ease of dating and finding love: Mostly easy, for normal guys.
- Ease of finding work - No idea.
- Ease of business and investments. No idea. Although, foreigners are not allowed to own land or property in the Phils.
- Availability of tourist sites and adventure: There are many island destinations, like Boracay

mrjojo:
Really interesting thread.

1. If you are to choose three countries to permanently settle now, which would it be and why? In descending order please.

2. Which country have you felt the "blackest"

3. Say you want to start a physical business today,which 2 countries would Make the list

4. Which country passport would you gladly give up your American citizenship for

1. I assume the US is exempt from your question, so I'd consider:

a. Colombia: I love the general vibe in Colombia and feel at home there. The food is also good in the coastal cities. In Medellin though, the food is bland and tasteless. Paisas can't cook.

b. Rio de Janeiro: Rio is the perfect blend of urban city, beach city and incredible natural landscape settings. I love Brazilian people and get along great with them, everywhere I meet them in the world.

c. Argentina: While I'm not a big fan of Argentine people, I'm a big fan of Buenos Aires, as a city. It's beautiful and the cost of living is great (if you're American, or earn in dollars).

2. I'm not sure what this question means, to feel the "blackest."

3. I would consider Colombia for something like Real Estate investments. Airbnbs, commercial properties and the likes. Mainly because of its proximity to the US, and favorable import laws. Unlike places like Argentina, Costa Rica etc, where importation carries large taxes.

4. There is no passport superior to the US passport. Sure, there are several countries with higher visa-free access than the US passport, but the reality is none of them get afforded the same respect, around the world. I won't trade that respect for the few extra random countries those passports can visit. Mostly war-torn African or former Soviet Union countries. So the answer is, absolutely none.

gimakon2:


Look at what Jealousy is doing to you. Just imagine the nonsense you write. Is this supposed to be a sensible question or are you one of those people who like to derail threads and write so much nonsense to prove a point on Nairaland? Because it is really obvious this is a very super stupid question, coming from a very stupid person. I dont know about the others but to me its a very stupid question. He should take permission and tell you the job he does before he goes where he goes to, or because of you he should not post on the internet or what exactly? Or he should state the job he does before he posts a thread on Nairaland for your favors? Don't you have hands too to work and make money and tour the world like him? You need set abi pair of glasses to see where he wrote he works remotely? or what is your problem exactly?

How una day even reason sef?

I didn't answer his question, because it was obviously not well-intentioned. If he asked it genuinely, I would've given an answer.

Although, I'll add you might've been a little too harsh on him . It was just one of those thinly-veiled, off-handed accusatory questions Nigerians like to ask. At this point in my life, I see such questions for what they are and quietly move on. I no get power for internet battles.

----
So dopedan and gimakon2, I would appreciate if you both ended the argument where you left it, as it has already gone out of hand. This thread is meant to be positive.

Justwise & DisGuy, please hide the argument comments, as they clutter the thread and have devolved into threats of physical harm.

Originalsly:
Getting around in the various countries .... what's your go to? ... public transportation?... taxi? ... bikes?.... or you be the adventurous trekking type?? Do you avoid crowded areas?... or you the type that ehmmm .... dive into crowds to immerse yourself in the culture? How well do you blend in and not stick out as a tourist? I hear you on the Caribbean ... but consider Jamaica and Trinidad. Back to food .... I guess you have a strong stomach... have you ever got ehmmm the runnings after eating?... if yes... what meal gave prompted the flushout? Which two countries you haven't yet visited that are tops on your list?

Damn, dude. Those are a lot of questions. So this might be long.

My default transportation in a city is Uber, and in Asia, I use Grab. I only use taxis when these aren't available. Taxi drivers in most developing countries are dishonest, so I'd rather not deal with them. In a few countries, like Argentina, taxis are cheaper than ride hailing apps. Argentina's Uber seems to be on surge pricing about 90% of the time, but it's obviously a false surge used to overcharge people.

I don't do public transportation at all. I don't see the point. In some cases, I might take the subway a few times, in places like South Korea or Bangkok. In rural parts of Asia, I'll take a tuktuk (keke napep's Asian cousin), as that's what's available most times.

I and my fiancee also walk long distances. Sometimes for hours, not to save money or as a means of transport, but to fully take in the city, on foot. So much you'll never see while in a car.

No, I don't avoid crowded areas. We were in the middle of the millions of people you saw celebrating the world cup, in Buenos Aires.

You will always stick out as a tourist, except you're in a place where there are enough locals of your race, and you speak the language. In Brazil and Colombia, most people immediately identify me as American, but sometimes they might ask if I'm local. I speak decent enough Spanish to give a local doubts, before the conversation progresses and they know I'm not a native Spanish speaker.

So say I walk into a store and ask for something, the person might not immediately figure I'm a foreigner. Similar for Portuguese in Brazil, as I speak basic Portuguese. Spanish and Portuguese are very similar on paper, though they can sound quite different. If you learn Spanish, you can easily hack Portuguese. Duolingo app is your friend.

I have a really strong stomach. Honestly, the only time I've had an extremely weak stomach was a time I visited Naija, in 2011. Literally anything I ate sent me straight to number 2. Not sure why.

Other than that, my stomach has held up rock solid everywhere. In Asia, I used to love trying out street food. Never had an issue that I can remember. I've eaten all kinds of weird stuff, from roasted scorpions to fried worms and stuff. I'll add pics of some.

Two top countries I haven't visited on my list are Japan and Australia. While I was in Ulsan, in South Korea for some months, Fukuoka, Japan was just a 2-hour boat ride across the water. I kept procrastinating on the trip every weekend, till I left the area. While leaving Korea, I decided to move to Osaka, Japan, but somehow my buddies in Thailand convinced me to come back, so I did. I'll still hit up Japan at some point.

For Australia, I'm not that intrigued by it, my main motivation is so I can cross off all habitable continents on the list. I've spent time on 5 out of 6 continents, except Australia (Oceania). Some years ago, when I was in Bali, Indonesia, I booked a 3-day trip to Melbourne, Australia. I just wanted to go party for a few days and cross it off the list. I usually don't do short trips like that, but the plan was to spend 3 days there and return to Bali, Indonesia.

On the day of the trip, I wasn't feeling, and had a fever. Before that point, I hadn't been sick in 10 years. I dragged myself to the airport, wondering if it was worth the trouble. I handed my passport at the airport, and the guy asked where my visa to Australia was. I said I didn't need a visa. He said I did. Well, it turned out I somehow mixed up that info, and Americans do need to process a visa for Australia.

I looked online on my phone, and saw I could have the evisa processed in about 30 minutes, for about $60. At that point, I was too sick to care, so I grabbed my passport and told them adios! Ordered a Grab and went back home. The flight was non-refundable, so I lost the money paid for it. I didn't care, I just wanted to go and sleep. Luckily, I was able to get a refund on the 3-day hotel I booked.


Attached pics:

1. Eating random insects and bugs on the streets of Bangkok, on Khaosan road. From this particular selection, I only ate the scorpions shown and the fat fried worms.

2. Eating ostrich at a restaurant in Manila, Philippines

3. Eating octopus at a restaurant in Quito, Ecuador. This octopus dish was about $70.

4. This is the restaurant we had this particular octopus, in Quito. They specialize in octopus dishes.

I've had many other unconventional meals. Squids, blue marlins, alligators and more.

Christianity was introduced to sub-Saharan Africans by the West.

Any and all forms of celebrating it is the Western way.

Gerrard59:

The women with those booties in Bali, are they the natives? I understand mainland Indonesia is radically different from Bali, but I am surprised considering Asian women don't naturally have big yanshes

Yes, the big booty Asians in Bali are Indonesian. And yes, some of them have booties like Latinas and black girls. I was intrigued by it.

Considering Indonesia has an indigenous native black population in its West Papua province, I imagine those genes have mixed in with the general population. So booty traits are in the gene pool .

West Papua should really be part of the country Papua New Guinea, but it's a province of Indonesia. I met a few black people from West Papua, in Bali. They invited me to have a nice drink with them, and told me a lot about Papua. The guy, who was the son of West Papua's Senate Leader invited me to Papua, with the promise of free accommodation and all kinds of hosting, if I came. I never made it there though.

Gerrard59:

I noticed you have not been to the likes of Bahamas, Barbados or Bermuda, I for throw some questions.

Nah, I haven't done much traveling in that region, as I find it a bit unappealing. I have met many people from these countries though. These places are mostly tourist traps, with nothing much to offer outside of the resorts. Bermuda (which isn't an actual country), is the most prosperous one, with a strong financial industry. Met many Bermudians in the US, as they visit often. Bermuda is really just a self-governing British territory.

Welcomme:
Ever had any experience with transgenders in Thailand? A friend that travelled there narrated a nasty experience be had with one...

Not sure what you mean by experience, but there are transgender people everywhere in Thailand. They're called "ladyboys" in most of South East Asia. Majority (not all) of Thailand's ladyboys are prostitutes, so not sure how your friend got into a situation with one.

In any nightlife area in Thailand, you'll find many ladyboys hustling for customers. They target guys who are either gay, too drunk to tell the difference, or too drunk to care. To the untrained eye, Thai ladyboys are hard to distinguish from actual females. That's because Thai men are typically very skinny and a bit feminine to begin with. So when they get on female hormone therapy, they can look convincing.

You can generally tell if they're close to you, or speak. In nightlife areas, they're also very aggressive in trying to get the attention of guys walking by. They might try to hold your hand or something. In which case, you have to very politely tell them to get lost.

Thailand as a country is generally accepting of them, and legally recognizes them. So they're not really seen as a bad thing by most of the locals. Although they still deal with some discrimination.

Gerrard59:


Thanks a lot for answering my previous questions. So to the bold, how is the booty in Brazil and all of South America? And how do you compare the economy or economic activities in South America vs East/South East Asia? I understand East Asia is richer than South America, but desire to read about your observations.

I think Brazilian girls are overrated, in all aspects they're famous for. Both beauty and booty. After living in Brazil for nearly a year, that's my opinion.

Too many girls with body implants, and too many obese females. This is odd, because most men in Rio, for instance are in athletic shape. It's one of those places where the men look far better than the women. There are obese men, but not nearly as many.


When a girl does have a nice natural booty, it's glorious, but you don't see that every day. Brazil recently went through an economic boom, which lifted many out of poverty and into the lower and upper middle class. Naija people would say "this person don fat up," to mean they've made some money and can now afford enough food to get fat on. That's Brazil right now.

There are still tons of people living in poverty, but those who have made it out are very keen on fast food. So they're competing with the US for obesity now.

As far as comparing South America and SE Asia for economic activities, I'd say they're similar. Many of them are "emerging" economies. So they're facing similar trends and trajectories. Many people moving out of poverty and into the middle class. However, poverty is still a big problem in both regions.

Since we're comparing SE Asia and South America, if you ever wondered what country in SE Asia (or Asia) you can find natural booties similar to South America, it's without a doubt Bali, Indonesia . I was pleasantly surprised.


Attached Pics:

Both on Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro. The obesity issue is observable.

Ilamina:
How did you like canada?

Canada is nice. Although, like l said in the original post, I'm not as intrigued by these types of countries. As they're too similar to the US. So it feels like I just went down the street.

I spent time in Toronto, and for the most part it felt like I was still at home. Similar architecture, identical demographics of people, nearly identical accents, nearly identical societal cultures and norms. USD accepted everywhere, so spending the same currency.

Other than that, it was a fun city. Had a close friend who l was visiting in Toronto, so that was great too. I was in Vancouver briefly, on a more recent visit.

Next time I'm in Canada, I'll definitely visit Montreal, for a different vibe, as that's French Canada. So the language, architecture and general culture is more French-influenced than British.

jjxxx:


Good day bro. Pls wat do u have to say about qatar because i got a job offer from an oil ans gas company there. Kindly detail me on the pros and cons of the country as well as weather conditions.

Congrats on the job offer, but I don't have any real experience with Qatar. As I said in that list, I didn't leave the airport in Qatar.

Only thing I was surprised to notice is a lot of the airport workers were black African immigrants. I didn't expect to see that many of them.
Overall, Qatar is one of the richest countries in the world. So if you have a legitimate offer and don't mind living in a muslim society, take it.

odinga1of:


Bro how do we get this girls online and later catapult to serious relationship Brazil, Colombia and Panama city girls?

Do they fansy long distance relationship from your observations?


Note: am talking about my real face( and what's their perceptions about Nigeria boys/men in the above south American countries?

I can't offer you any deep insight, as I have never been into online dating.

That said, Nigerians do have a reputation around the world, of being internet fraudsters. So while you can certainly develop a genuine connection with a Latina online, there will be some initial skepticism, because you live in Nigeria.

Also, most Latinas speak only Spanish, so you can only communicate using Google Translate. Phone calls and video calls will be a dead end. So depending on what your real intentions are, it's up to you to decide if you want to engage it or not.

Gerrard59:
Since you asked, what do you think it will be like touring South America for sex tourism? What about the Caribbeans? Guesstimated amount to budget and the best time of the year to visit (activities, weather etc)?

Haha, I didn't "ask" about "sex tourism." Booty and sex tourism aren't necessarily referring to the same scenario.
I'm not a sex tourist, I'm a world traveler, but I'm sure I have most of the answers you're looking for. So I'll oblige.

Depending what your definition of sex tourism is, South America is generally open to that. In the sense, Latinas are generally social and receptive. Ideally, you have yourself well put together, have decent looks and social skills. Social skills like being able to hold an interesting conversation, without being awkward. And more importantly, being a good dancer.

Dancing is a big part of LatAm culture. Being only able to dance to hip hop and raggaeton might not cut it. Salsa, bacchata, merengue and the likes come into play. You certainly don't have to be a pro at these regional dances, but should be able to move smoothly to them. Good thing is most black people have rhythm on the dance floor, so hopefully you do too. Personally, I love to dance and will dance to anything.

The biggest superpower you can bring to LatAm is Spanish skills. Knowing how to speak even a little Spanish puts you ahead of most people. This opens the doors much wider to access girls you otherwise can't access, because of a communication barrier. English skills among locals varies from country to country, but in some cases, it's almost non-existent. So you'd struggle without Spanish skills.

This is very important, because most foreign guys end up with prostitutes, because they're the only ones with the patience to deal with google translate conversations. Simply because they're being paid. So except you don't mind being one of those guys, install Duolingo on your phone and get some basic Spanish skills. It's not as hard as you might think. I started learning in 2014.

If on the other hand, you're only interested in just paying girls for their time, prostitution is legal in nearly all of South America. Some of the main cities foreigners go for that kind of stuff are Cartagena, Bogota, Medellin (all in Colombia), Sosua (Dominican Republic - Caribbean). And to an extent. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

For weather, many South American countries (other than Argentina) have relatively stable weather year-round. Although Buenos Aires gets really cold winters (without snow). So you should be more concerned about "high season" vs "low season." These are times where there are tons of tourists, or not. However, high season comes with significantly higher prices on all expenses.

Gerrard59:
Also, what has been your experience regarding the "black nod" when you visited places with fewer blacks, especially in East Asia and South East Asia and, maybe now, Argentina? What was the experience like?

Also, during your travelling experiences, what are the fundamental differences between a black African and an African American or blacks from European countries? How do you differentiate which from which before converation (if it ever occurs)? Like, you see a black person across the road, how are you able to judge whether this person is from Africa or a western country or the Caribbeans?

The "black nod" happens pretty much everywhere in the world. Especially between African Americans. It's less common among native Africans. The fewer blacks there are, the more you notice it. That hasn't been my experience in Argentina and Uruguay though. Almost never happens, as the blacks are nearly all native Africans.

I can generally guess a black person's origin, with about 80% accuracy, before speaking to them. African Americans typically look a bit different in general appearance and skin tone, from black Africans and people of the West Indies (Caribbeans), for two main reasons. African Americans are typically overweight, and the average African American is genetically about 25% Caucasian. So that introduces physical traits a bit different from a 100% black person. A third tell-tale is the dress style.

These things become easier to spot, the more you interact with a variety of people. Same way you can probably guess between an Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa man. A foreigner can't perceive that distinction the way you can.

WIZGUY69:


How is the level of development compared to South America cities?

Mexico City is pretty developed in the city center. The infrastructure reduces in quality, the farther away you move from the center.

Compared to South American cities, it's similar to most major ones. Though certainly not better than most.


Pics:

1. The center of Mex. City.

2. Typical less fancy part of the historic area in Mex. City.

3. Palatial government buildings in the historic center of Mex. City.

4. A nice restaurant we ate, inside a real cave, in Teotihuacan. 50 mins outside Mex. City.

Tuxpera:

Where did you meet the most beautiful ladies? The ones that stand out like billboard standard

Beauty is very subjective, so it depends what you find beautiful. Across different continents, these ones stood out, for different reasons:

1. Girls in Seoul, South Korea are probably what you're referring to as "billboard standard" . I spent 3 months in S. Korea.
I found them very beautiful in a typical "model" kinda way. Unlike most Asians, people in South Korea are tall. So, tall and very slim girls with beautiful faces all over Seoul. Well dressed and very conscious about their appearance.

This doesn't apply to all of South Korea though. Girls on the coast, in cities like Ulsan (where I also stayed) are the opposite. Conventionally unattractive, overweight and little care about their appearance.

2. Ethiopia: I think Ethiopian girls are some of the most beautiful in Africa. Particularly Habeshas. Pretty faces, with very slim but curvy bodies.

3. Colombia: The average girl you find walking around looks nice. Maybe not a beauty queen, but the gene pool is generally good-looking. Better-looking than the average girl in Brazil (in my opinion).

Tuxpera:

Which Latin American country did you see the highest number of fast/luxury cars?

In Latin America, it was Panama City, I believe

ferhyntorlah:


Please can you talk about your time and experience in "Mehico"?

Many have this belief that the country is run by cartels, which I believe it isn't so.

Mexico was cool. Was there for 3 months. Spent most of that time in the capital, Mexico City, and some time in the Cancun - Playa del Carmen area. Mexico City has a pretty large metropolitan area, so very spread out.

Cartels certainly have a notable presence in Mexico. As long as you don't get involved with drugs or try to flirt with random women in bars cartel members hang out, you'll be fine. Otherwise, you might find yourself in a ditch somewhere. Especially if you venture far out of the capital.

The police in Mexico City are also notorious for trying to extort foreigners in the streets. They tried me once at midnight, making completely fabricated accusations. Just like Naija police. I laughed in their face, told them in Spanish that I know exactly what they're doing, and they're not getting 1 peso. I showed them the US embassy number and told them I'm calling, so they can show them whatever they say they have.

They had to beg me not to call, and continue on my way.

Anyway, Mexico City was fun. Got to experience "Dia del Muerto" festivities. It means "Day of the Dead." It happens between Oct. 30th and Nov. 6th. It's a massive traditional ceremony in honor of dead relatives. The main event is a huge parade in downtown Mexico City. People dress in different costumes, like skeletons and dead people. Very colorful event and tradition.

If you've seen the animated movie called Coco, it shows elements of this ceremony. I'm happy we got to experience Mexico at that time.

Food is pretty good in Mexico, especially if you like tacos. I don't mind tacos, but not a huge fan either.

Teotihuacan, about 50 mins outside the city was also interesting. Two large ancient pyramids (pyramid of the Sun and the Moon) and several small ones. We climbed to the top of most of them.

Playa del Carmen was a nice little beach town. The water there isn't very great, as there's often heavy algae bloom, but luckily, it was fine when we were there. Did some parasailing and other cool stuff.

Overall, Mexico was a pleasant experience.


Attached Pics (in order):

1 & 2. Parade at the Dia del Muerto festival in Mexico City.

3. View from a para-sail, over Playa del Carmen beach. We are in the air, attached to that speed boat with the long belt you see.

4. On the beach at Playa del Carmen. If anyone is wondering if the person on the right is a lady with her tits out, you're correct. PDC is a "topless beach." Like every such beach, whether in Miami or Europe, some girls walk around topless. And yes, there are many kids with families.

By the way, questions do not only have to be about serious stuff. It could be almost anything you're curious about. Whether socioeconomic issues in Brazil, or the booty in Brazil . Don't let my sometimes formal tone make you hold back on curiosities.

As long as it's not about how to get visas and the likes (which I can't help with).

Originalsly:


Not going to quote the whole thing .... but you covered some stuff I never read or heard about ... their coldness and aloofness. From living in the US you no doubt are aware of what lies beneath the surface. I know there are countries with very small Black populations .... but they are something else. I hail you for visiting ... or how else can we get the goings on from a Black perspective? You said sooo much in your response.

Thanks. I generally prefer to experience things for myself, before drawing my conclusions.

Studymore123:


Where did you live in Panama and what was your experience in the city and Panama as a country?

Panama was a shorter stay. I don't categorize any stays under 1 month as "lived." However, we stayed 2 blocks from Avenida Balboa.

Avenida Vasco Nunez de Balboa is where you see in the "main road" shots of my Panama pics posted earlier. The one attached to this post, which I already posted before, was taken from my balcony.

I gave a few general thoughts on Panama City earlier. So you'll have to refer to that, except you have more specific questions.

Gerrard59:


How does the average Argentine cope with runaway inflation? I understand it is South America's Zimbabwe and Lebanon (Venezuela is a different kettle of fish)?

Inflation in Argentina is really bad. Prices on everyday items are about 2x higher than they were in February.
The inflation rate at that point was about 50%, but between then and now, it's up over 90%. So it's hardcore.

Unfortunately, wages do not go up as quick as prices. So many people struggle. The average monthly income in Buenos Aires is somewhere around $350-450/month. Highly skilled professionals in tech will obviously make much more, but that's the average.

Salaries get adjusted for inflation, but it's still a major problem. Regardless, people in Buenos Aires seem to live relatively well.

Another aspect is the "blue dollar" issue. This is the equivalent of Naija's "black market." There's significant shortage of dollars here, exactly like Nigeria. So there's an official rate and the blue dollar rate. These days, the unofficial street rate typically trends about 2x the official rate.
Right now, it's 173 ARS/$ official. About $310-335 unofficial.

So if you have access to dollars, or are American, with your income in dollars, this works to your advantage.
I basically get almost everything at around half price, simply by using the unofficial rate, which Western Union also offers.

An illustration, to make it clear:

A burger combo meal at Burger King costs about 1700 ARS here. If I use my US bank card to pay at the counter, it will naturally use the official rate. All card and ATM transactions will. So I'll be charged about $10.

On the other hand, if I exchange dollars with the guys on the street or send myself a Western Union cash transfer, I'll get the "blue dollar" rate, around 330/$.

So now, the previously $10 burger becomes $5.15.

For this reason, other than the first week in Argentina, I never use my card at a POS or ATM. Cash only, and Western Union is my "ATM."
50% off sale on nearly everything.. nationwide

I say "nearly," because many imported things are priced based on the blue dollar. So no exchange rate arbitrage on those.

NumeroUno7:
Hello sir... I have always nursed the intention of migrating to the USA but the visa lottery ban on Nigeria since 2014 has been tough to take.
I spoke with a friend in Liberia about the possibility of coming there to get a Liberian passport so as to help me migrate from Liberia to USA and this friend told me a lot which showed its accessible as long as I have money to spend (5kusd) at least for birth certificate, passport, immigration processing and my accommodation/feeding in Liberia till everything is sorted out.
My question: is this true or am I on the verge of been scammed?

I apologize, but I can't answer any visa-related questions. I don't know.

ferhyntorlah:


Thanks for your response. You really take your time to explain things in details.

After reading this, i think I will choose Uruguay over Argentina then if I'm to visit, lol.

Honestly, other than the people, Buenos Aires is a much nicer and bigger city. BA = 15+ million people. Montevideo = 1.3 million.

I'd recommend visiting both, if you're in the area. Getting to Colonia, Uruguay from Buenos Aires takes 1 hour by boat. Then a 3-hour bus ride to Montevideo, if you want to enjoy the rural scenery along the way.

Or you could take a 1-hour flight, direct from Buenos Aires to Montevideo. Many people visit Argentina and only visit Uruguay for a day-trip to Colonia, and return the same day.

ferhyntorlah:


I can only imagine the massive overnight celebration that took place. What a time to be in Argentina to witness this feat.

Absolutely! Lots of partying in the streets, with hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of people flooding the streets.

ferhyntorlah:

My question: have you met or come across any black Argentine? I read that the Argentines greatly reduced the black population by sending the men to war front so they could be killed, thus erasing black existence from their history.

As a black person, what has been your perception of the Argentines towards you thus far? Your view may change my mind as I kinda view then as anti black, so reading from you may change that.
Thanks!

The black population in Argentina is very small, compared to other South American countries. Less than 1% of the population.
It's rare to see black people, and when you do, they're foreigners. Usually Senegalese or other African immigrants.

My relationship with Argentina is a bit of a love-hate relationship. I love the city and it's beautiful well preserved historical architecture and parks. However, the people can be a bit odd. There is certainly what's called "passive racism" in Argentina. Meaning you won't experience any overt racism, but you will get the sense that you're being ignored sometimes.

That said, this doesn't only happen to black people. Even my white friends who have visited Argentina experienced the same cold unfriendly treatment and bad service. Argentines are notorious for being cold and aloof, in general. So as long as you know that before visiting here, you'll be fine.

In Uruguay, which is just a 1-hour boat ride away from Buenos Aires, the people are so much warmer and more courteous. Several Uruguayans I spoke with in Uruguay made fun of Argentines, telling me how Uruguayans are more friendly than Argentines.

I find this difference interesting, as Uruguayans and Argentines are ethnically very similar. Unlike most other South American countries, both these countries are made up of a majority purely European population. Over 80%. Mostly immigrants from Italy and Spain, who have only been here about 100 years. So most are the same as Europeans in Europe. In the same way blacks in Haiti and Jamaica are the same as West Africans.

Attached pics:

1 & 2: Celebrations in Buenos Aires yesterday, at the Obelisk (that big white structure, similar to the Washington Monument in the US)

3. View from a restaurant we go sometimes, in Puerto Maduro area of Buenos Aires

4. View of Palacio Salvo in Montevideo, Uruguay. We stayed 1 street away.

Lots of excitement on the streets of Buenos Aires right now

shegzhkn:


Lol, did you aquire the American accent by investing in accent reduction / speech pathologist or you came from a family of means and attended a good school in Nigeria ?

I come from a good and well-educated family. I also attended great schools in Nigeria, but more importantly, while I understood our native language, from hearing relatives speak it, I have never spoken it. My parents never spoke it to us at any point. So I have only spoken English, since I was born. When I became a teenager, I also spoke pidgin English with my friends most times, but that had much less of an impact on speech.

I'm happy I understand my native language, and can probably have a conversation in it, if I had to. However, since I never spoke it, it never influenced my speech patterns. When you have a somewhat neutral speaking voice, or the kind of voice some kids in Nigeria used to tell me "why you de speak phonneh," the transition to an American accent is seamless.

Especially when you already grew up fully understanding the nuances of American English, through cartoons, movies and music. No speech pathology needed. It's a natural process, over a long period of time in America. However, the necessary foundation has to be there, to begin with.

Gerrard59:


Interesting, absolutely interesting. As for Uruguay, that would be a fantastic place to own a big farm and live a very quiet life. You seem to be a muscular dude from your Indonesian narration. Na the reason I dey very particular on safety. I no get strength to fight.

Could you narrate your Singaporean experience? I really love that country. I met a Singaporean recently and she was stunned at my knowledge of the country. I am a die-hard Lee Kuan Yew fan.

As for East Asia being safe, I am not surprised. It is the reason I said apart from those ones.I am sure you did not see how a gun looked like while across East Asia. Singapore can be categorised as East Asia in demographics and political parlance due to the fact that Chinese dominate the city-state.

Singapore was great. I visited there with a friend (also American), while I was spending a few months in Malaysia. Clean and organized little country. It's a tiny place. Like if Abuja was a country. It's really expensive though. I was paying $20-25 per glass of whiskey+red bull mix.

Singapore also has a special place in my story, because about 4 years ago, that's where I met the beautiful person who is now my fiancee. She was also visiting Singapore.

ferhyntorlah:
Ramalot,

I'm enjoying your travel experiences across the globe.

You are truly a digital nomad!

Please keep it coming.

Gracias!

shegzhkn:
Op you fxck up gan.

You dey use the passport of the most advanced country to tour developing countries and you've got a developing country passport wey just dey waste away, he no too make sense now.

I wish Anthony Blinken revoke ur citizenship ASAP.

Na joke my guy enjoy.

Haha, no vex.

If only the green passport had any use. I only carry it in case I need to go somewhere in West Africa. It recently expired, and I called the Nigerian consulate here in Buenos Aires, to ask if I could renew. They said I had to go to Brazil to renew it. Typical Naija operation.

I don't really need it for now, so it's all good.

Gerrard59:


Apart from the bold, how do you gauge the safety in other parts of Asia you have visited? What about South America? How safe are the cities you have visited? Which is the safest city in South America from your experience?

I agree with your comments about the socioeconomic dynamics of black experiences.

To your questions, safety in Asia is generally good. Other than petty crime, you don't find much major crimes, even in South East Asia.
Hotspot tourist areas, like Legian Street in Bali, Indonesia is really bad for petty theft. My fiancee had her purse and phone stolen from her bag, right behind me. When walking on Legian Street, I always warned her to never walk behind me, because I know how it goes with the guys on that street. So she's always in front, so I can keep an eye on her, for her safety.

One day, she trailed behind me on a narrow sidewalk for literally 5 seconds, or less. Boom, someone opened her handbag, and took out her purse which had her phone and some cash. I turned around immediately I noticed her behind me, and pulled her in front of me, but it was too late. We didn't notice what happened in those 3-5 seconds, till we got about 5 minutes later.

I went back, found one of the guys who distracted us for a few seconds, as part of the plot, when that happened. I threatened him, and he kept denying. When he realized I would probably deck him, he confessed that he knows who took it, but the way it works on that street is if he snitches, they could kill him. I saw it was a waste of time, so I let him go.

Another night on the same street, I was alone and 3 little drugged-out Indonesian guys tried to take my watch, but the one trying to remove it was moving slow, like a zombie. I grabbed him by the throat, then grabbed his friend by the shirt and threw him like a rag doll. He and the other one ran away. The one I had had to beg a bit, before I let him go.

These are the only petty thievery situations I remember experiencing in Asia. Overall, East Asia and South East Asia are much safer than Latin America.

South America has safe cities, and safe neighborhoods in otherwise unsafe cities. For instance, Rio de Janeiro has some of the most notorious favela hoods, but as long as you stay in Zona Sul, you'll be fine. Zona Sul is Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon and parts of Botafogo. We stayed in Zona Sul for nearly a year. There are tons of drugged-out homeless people in Zona Sul, but they don't really harass or bother people.

The safest cities in South America are Montevideo, Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Argentina (where I am now). We spent almost two months in Montevideo. Montevideo might be the most expensive city I've been in a long time. More expensive than the US, for everyday items.

It was worth the expense, as last October, I and my fiancee were invited to a small private event, to meet the President of Uruguay and a group of awesome people. I had heard about those other people since I was a kid, and even did speech presentation about them, when I was at the university. I was really more interested in meeting them, than the President. This event was one of the highlights of all my travels, and is a story for another day.

akwesenana:
Nice. Following. How's the weed culture all over the world like?

I don't smoke weed or cigarettes, but the weed culture varies a lot, from public use in some places, to places with death penalty. Though it's getting more legal status in many places.

In the US, more and more states are legalizing weed, for recreational use. Though I don't smoke, in the 2016 US Presidential election, I voted for legalizing recreational marijuana in my state, as it was on the ballot as well. It went through, and now we have recreational marijuana.

Same status as alcohol. Nearly half of US states now have recreational weed. Nearly 40 have medical marijuana. It's still illegal at the Federal level, but there is a push to legalize it at Federal level.

Around the world, Amsterdam in the Netherlands used to be the weed capital of the Western world, as it legalized it long ago. When I was in Amsterdam, people buy weed brownies at coffee shops, and smoke weed in some designated places.

In Asia, some South East Asian countries like Indonesia have a death penalty for drugs, including weed. This is funny, because you can't walk 10 steps in parts of Bali, like Legian Street, without being offered to buy drugs. I'm not exaggerating. Every 10 steps, someone is trying to sell you cocaine and other drugs.

In Thailand, weed just got legalized this year. So now, street vendors sell weed by the road side. In places like South Korea, Hong Kong and the likes, I didn't notice much of a weed culture. People are a little more conservative about such things, and will typically do it in secret.

In Latin America, people are more open about their weed habits. In Argentina, where I am now, you see cute young girls walking on the street, wrapping and smoking their weed. Sometimes riding a bicycle and smoking it. It's fully legal here.

People hang out at parks and smoke weed. Mature ladies too. I think I've noticed more females smoking weed here, than men.
So yeah, in a lot of places, weed is treated the same as alcohol.

odinga1of:

Bro nice thread you got. Your detailing everything with pictorial representation is unique.

Btw........ Medellin (That's Pablo Escobar town?) I hope those drug cartel and their errand kids don repent sha?

Thanks!

Medellin is a nice city, and the days of Pablo Escobar are long gone. There are no cartels roaming the streets and murdering people. There are dangerous militias in some rural areas, but most people don't go out there.

Like any major city, there is some crime, so you have to be careful, especially in some areas. In nicer areas, like Poblado, if you're a male foreigner, you have to be careful around girls we call "gringo hunters." They're girls who target foreigners they believe have money or valuables. They also target men who use dating apps, like Tinder.

The common plot is they hook up with guys (typically Western guys), on Tinder or around Parque Lleras. They get him to buy a drink or two, and when he's not paying attention, they slip a drug known as Scopolamine into his drink. He soon goes into a state of delirium and loses control of himself.

This puts the guy in a sort of zombie trance, where he's still functioning, but the girl is like the puppet-master. The girl takes him to an ATM and gets him to withdraw as much money as his bank will allow. Then she takes him to his hotel or apartment, where she takes his laptops, phones and all valuables.

She also gets all his bank cards, their PIN and all relevant info from him. Then leaves him at his place. Typically, he'll wake up later the next day and not remember anything at all from the previous night. This is actually the best-case scenario, because the unlucky guys get killed by accomplices she works with, or by an adverse reaction to the drug.

This is happening more and more frequently now. Three of my friends have had this happen to them. Two Americans, one Canadian. Luckily, none of them were killed.

Colombia is generally safe, as long as you stay away from drugs and prostitutes. Drugs and prostitution are actually legal in Colombia. Individuals are allowed to legally have 1 gram of cocaine on them, and 20 grams of weed, for personal consumption only. However, avoid engaging in these things, and you should be fine.

Especially since Colombian police behave like Nigerian police. In that, they will still extort money from foreigners, even if whatever they're doing is not illegal. They are always trying to get bribes from people on the streets.