Sunday 24 April 2011

FuFu Travel - Exploring Colombia I

Few steps more to Colombian territory!

Rumichaca, Colombia

05/02/2011

FuFu Exploring Latin America
Colombia - Part One | 6th Jan - 22th Feb 2011

I am an Alien here in Latin America! Why? Because everywhere i go, the local would definitely staring at me for more than 30seconds, from top to down, down to top. Some of them would just passed by, some of them will said 'Japones? or Chino?', while the rest of them would smile at me just like this Colombian guy. Very few Asian people travel to Colombia as what i had been told. For those who had seen me before here in Colombia could considered or grouped as one of the luckiest people in Colombia. Or no? lol

Rumichaca, Colombia

05/02/2011
Before my turn to get the stamp from the officer and the policeman was not around, i secretly and quickly snapped this picture!

Rumichaca, Colombia

05/02/2011

Dinner!!

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
Dinner!

From Rumichaca to Cali, Colombia

05/02/2011
Dinner!

From Rumichaca to Cali, Colombia

05/02/2011
Eating cookies while watching the sunset.

From Rumichaca to Cali, Colombia

05/02/2011
Not bad right?

From Rumichaca to Cali, Colombia

05/02/2011
Police's immediate-check!

From Rumichaca to Cali, Colombia

05/02/2011
Arrived Cali at 6am in the morning.

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
Stev from Peru, showed this lady (from Cali) who was also travelling together from Quito, the address i wanted to go. She was very friendly and took the piece of paper and asked the taxi driver how much it would cost to my destination. She found out it was incredibly expensive and tried to negotiate with a taxi driver. Later a staff of the terminal asked me to go to other taxi stand to take a meter taxi. This lady was about to go with me, she was worrying about me since i am a foreigner and she was the local. I told her it would be alright and we walked in different direction after saying 'adios' to each other.

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011

This taxi driver didnt know the whereabouts of my destination! Yet he asked me to get into his taxi. After that, he asked another taxi driver about the address i showed him. I thought he would know where to bring me to. But, he was lost again. Had been asking 3 persons until arriving my destination! Of course it took longer time and it costed Colombian Peso 25,000 (nearly RM50, USD 15). My friend's mother told me don't pay mre than USD 5. So i only paid the driver USD 5. AHe, at first was requesting me to pay more, but then i told him 'maximo 9,000 Peso', only then he kept his mouth shut! He thought i didn't know the price!!!

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
First brunch in Cali, Colombia. After taking a hot shower and a quick nap, Maria's mother made this at 12pm. Lasagna with potatos and a cheese bun with juice.

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
Maria's mother told me that i had to be extra careful when walking around the downtown, because it's Sunday, shops closed and less people would be on the street. Only those 'ugly people' as what she described would be seen everywhere in the downtown.

Hence, i was trying to cover myself, not to be spotted out looking like an Asian (be it Japanese, Chinese, Korean or Malaysia) with a cap and glasses. Yet i looked like a tourist still! Because the retro glasses is blue!!!

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
With a cap, should be alright? Nope, the cap is eye-catching too.

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
Without cap and glasses? Obviously they would know i am from Asian (Japan, Korea, China or Malaysia!). What should i do then?

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
I got frustrated! I gave up! The most valuable thing i am going to bring along was my camera. Thus i wore a jacket and always kept my camera on the right under the armpit after taking a picture. Cannot lose my camera again! I was ready to go out btw.

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
Maria's mother drew me a simple map to get to the bus stop. Gotta walk down the hill to the main street!

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
The area i was staying in Cali is a nice and safe residential area.

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
Took the bus to the downtown.

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
Exactly as what Maria's mother described, the downtown was empty! I felt so unsafe, unsecured and uncomfortable to walk around. Damn this was my first time to have such feeling. Even Napoli, Italy, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Manila, Phillipines, and other so-called dangerous cities, i had never had such feeling. Sorry, honestly speaking, Cali gave me a bad impression.

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
The downtown was not that dirty last Sunday. But i saw many darker (precisely black) people wandering around the downtown. Not a discrimination not i am racist, but they really made me feel uncomfortable to walk around the downtown. I didn't even really willing to take my camera out. Even if i did so, i would rapidly keep my camera inside the bag and leave the place. Because i didnt want to get my camera stolen or grabbed again. Also MAria's mother told me, the people would just grabbed the camera while you were taking picture.

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
I did'nt know two darker Colombian were actually following me after taking and checking this picture couple of second later. Immediately i went to the bus station 2 blocks away from where i was standing. Thanksfully, at every bus station in Cali, there would always have 2 policemen standing at the entrance, and one inside the station with a security guard. Now you would know the security problem here in Colombia.

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
I walked to this church along the main street where the buses comes and goes.

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011

Gotta pray for a safe journey here in Colombia.

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
Later, i saw a park. Walked to the river. And spotted several policemen here and there at the park.


Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
At every bridge, you would see at least one policeman standing there. I am curious about the number of policemen in Colombia, seriously!

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
I really didn't want to walk around the city, so i decided to take the bus to the north, south and outskirts of the city.

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
It's one of my reason to travel here in Latin America. The bus system in Cali is very good, just functioning well like the subway or metro. Buses will snaking through the city on the specific bus lane. One single-trip bus fare is Colombian Peso 1500 (nearly RM3, USD 0.85).

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
No food and drink!

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
One good thing taking the bus was i could see how the city looks like since it changed significantly. This picture was taken at a residential area, see, all houses are fenced up till the roof.

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
I found this scene looks similar in my hometown.

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
Couldn't imagine i had spent two and a half hours travelling in the bus. I saw a special fair when the bus stopped at XXX. I hoffed off since it was close to Maria's house.

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
The city really had nothing to see on Sunday. I headed back. And dinner was served on the table after i had finished my shower.

Tamal, a typical food in Cali, made of masa (a starchy dough, often corn-based), which is steamed or boiled in a leaf wrapper. The wrapping is discarded before eating. This amal was filled with meats and cheese. Bread with butter and creamy cheese .Colombian coffee. What a typical Colombian dinner!!! YUMMY.

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011
This tamal was really good! Would be better if eaten with chilli sauce! lol

Cali, Colombia

06/02/2011

Sunday 17 April 2011

FuFu Travel - Exploring Ecuador V

After breakfast, Estefan and me went to the Embassy of Colombia to triple confirm if a Malaysian needs to apply visa to enter Colombia, since the staff asked me to check about the visa stuff when we called to reserve a seat to Cali, Colombia the night before.

Result : A Malaysian Passport holder doesn't need to apply visa to Colombia.
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011

FuFu Exploring Latin America
Ecuador - Part Five | 29th Jan - 5th Feb 2011

After that, Estefan left to his workshop and i started my own adventure around the city. Here is the financial district of Quito, in between of the Carolina Park.
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Carolina Park is one of the largest parks in Quito.
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Here you can see many high-rise buildings.
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Estefan told me that Ecuadorian's ceviche is very different with what i had tried in Qrequipa, Peru. Hence i gave it a try when i spotted a stall selling ceviche de chochos.

Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Ceviche de chochos (beans, grilled corns and platano's chips with onion and many toppings). USD 0.80. Very salty. But will be nice if the sauce is not that strong. Chochos are the white beans you can see from the pictures.

Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Yeah the airport is very near.
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
There's a Japanese pavilion for no reason.
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
The park is really HUGE. Everywhere you go, definitely you would find different landscape. GOOD.
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Continued my walking to the downtown.
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Street performance. Also a common view in Latin America. Just within 30seconds when the light is RED, a guy would perform at the zebra line and after that a partner of him will collect money from the drivers.
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Clear! Precise! Easy!
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Avenida Rio Amazonas has a very nice pedestrian walk path, sharing with cyclist.
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Came to Colon, where you can find all sort of restaurants, bars and clubs.
Colon, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Colon, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Colon, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Colon, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Colon, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Colon, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Estefan highly recommended National Museum - Central Bank of Ecuador. No pictures allowed inside the museum, so i took one at the entrance. Many nice collections of pottery, ceramics, shells, money made by gold and copper, etc. It's FOC.

Casa de la Cultura, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Casa de la Cultura, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Took bus to Ejido Park from Casa de la Culture.
Casa de la Cultura, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Basically, the city doesn't have that many private car. What makes the traffic worse is the number of taxi!!! Obviously, if you ever go to Quito or other major cities here in Latin America, you will realise that taxi plays a very important role carrying people here and there. Probably, it is affordable and comfortable than taking public transportation.

Parque Ejido, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
The bus i wanna take had arrived! The bus here is quite organised. Enter in the front and get off at the back. Well it is only for Metrobus because local buses that snaking through the city is very flexible. I mean you can get into the bus from every point you are standing and get off the bus anywhere by just yelling at the bus driver.

Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Another nice park close to the downtown.
Parque Ejido, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Parque Ejido, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Parque Ejido, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
The elderly people will gather at the park playing chess, cards, etc. Also they will play volleyball at the park. lol
Parque Ejido, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Parque Ejido, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Pollo + papas + chorizo (chicken + potatos + sausage), USD 1.25. Love the chicken!!!!
Parque Ejido, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Parque Ejido, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
A station of the trolley bus! One single fare trip is USD 0.25. Pretty cheap! And the trolley bus is always packed with people. Upper-middle class people definitely wouldnt like to be trapped inside the bus and choose taxi or driving their own cars moving around. It's not easy to plan a transportation system that could cater all needs.

Parque Ejido, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
The trolley bus system is duplicate model learnt from Curitiba, Brazil. Quito has a slightly better system because the trolley bus is an electric bus.
Ejido, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Early dinner of the day. Churrasco with eggs (main dish), avocado soup and fresh orange juice, USD1.50.
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Soup with avocado, potato, beans and corns. YUMMY.
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011

Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
San Fancisco Church.
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
San Fancisco Church, one of the most beautiful churches in Quito.
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Santo Domingo Church.
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Nice church!!!!!
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Heads of little kids can be commonly found in every church in Quito.
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011

Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Planned to go up this hill visiting the Virgin but the weather didnt allow me to do so. Also i couldnt find a way up there. So, i walked back to the downtown again.
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Thought must be the Chinese New Year decoration, because of the colour seen from afar. When i got closer, i saw hearts... ops Valentine's day is just around the corner.
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
San Francisco Church.
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
San Francisco Church.
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011

Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
4/02/2011
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Gorgeous!
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Centro, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
I think this is a very good way to educate the passengers.
Estaciao La Y, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
''Parada Actual : Colon, Siguiente Parada : La Y''

I personally like the announcement made in the trolley bus and metro bus in Quito. Clear! Because even i dont know Spanish, i somehow know they are telling this station is Colon, next station is La Y.

Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Vegetarian dinner. Once after the hot shower, food was served on the table. Didnt know Ecuadorian like vegetarian meat (made by corn flour) like Chinese too.
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
Fabricio's father was playing Ecuadorian guitar.
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
04/02/2011
With Fabricio's parents.
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
A comfy room. Thanks for hosting FuFu for 4nights in Quito!
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
Breakfast before going to take bus to Cali, Colombia. Ecuadorian coffee is really yummy!
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
A huge three-storey house!
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
Josue, Frabricio's youngerst brother. He had salsa class in the morning, so he couldnt send me off. But nice still we were in the car for couples of minutes.
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
Gonna miss Ecuador!
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
Yanara, Fabricio's sister. A nice girl.
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
Estefan, Fabricio's brother. He speaks very good English. Basically he was the one who told me everything about Quito.
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
I asked them to leave because the bus from Lima, eru would be arriving Quito an hour later. Before they left, i requested a picture together.
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
Happy because they sent me off. We could see each other sooner hopefully.
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
To kill the one hour, instead of sitting at the bus company, i had my own leisure stroll at Carolona Park.
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
The weather was really good.
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
I asked why this lovely neighbourhood is surrounded the airport. The people wont find it noisy since it is the international airport with numerous of planes getting off and landing. Estefan told me, well actually this neighbourhood is developed around the airport and the local people have used to it already. Anyway, none of my business, and it is good as i could enjoy seeing the plane landing at the park also.

Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
It is really packed of people cycling and jogging around the park.
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011

Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011

From the park, you also could see many high-rise buildings, this area is the financial district.
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
Basketball courts and football fields were all ocupied at 10:30am.
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011

See the black smoke from the diesel bus?
Parque Carolina, Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
Pedestrian first then handicapped people, cyclist, bus user and lastly private car. But the concept couldnt be injected into the citizens in Quito, well basically all over the world (exeption in some developed countries).

Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
Still waiting for the bus! Had nothing to do, and no one at the bus stop, so now you see this picture! lol
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
Ormeño, bringing passengers from Brazil, to Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela.
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
Finally the bus arrived an hour later.
Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador
05/02/2011
Lunch. Water : FOC, refilled at Fabricio's house. Bread : USD0.85.
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
Generally i dont eat more when travelling from one place to another place by bus.
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
At a small town an hour from Quito, Ecuador.
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
A very nice roundabout.
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
Panamericano Road!!!!
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
I will always request for a window seat, be it plane, train or bus. Because you can always enjoy how nicely the painting of the sky while travelling. Definitely one of my best ways to kill the time.
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
The bus driver was feeding the bus before feeding his stomach. And we were brought to an expensive restaurant. Lucky i had well prepared my own lunch, snacks and dinner!
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
Omeñeo, the international express bus, has a bad service! No movies for the first 8hrs, until a lady asked the driver to insert her DVD to the DVD player! Unless, we watched a nice movie (in Spanish) while having our dinner.

From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
Not a royal class bus though!! No TV. No Music. Toilet is dirty.
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
The currency is in US dollar. So is our petro considered cheap or expensive?
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
Snack time!
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
Platana chips with lemonade!
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia

05/02/2011
Ecuador has different landscape. Greener than those i have been seeing in Argentina, Chile and Peru.
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
The sun was hiding behind the cloud!
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
Stev, from Lima, Peru was headint o Cali too. He had never seen an Asian guy travelling alone and i was the first he met. He had no camera and asked me to snap this and gave me his contact to keep in touch. Yeah so the next time when i go back to Lima, Peru i would have another friend to take care of me.
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
The toilet in the northern part of Ecuador, close to Colombia, is very disgusting. Just like those bathroom you would see in the remote area of developing countries. One thing good is the mirror is clean enough for me to snap this picture! lol
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
If the weather was good, i guess this picture would be breathtaking.
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
Gonna leave Ecuador in ten minutes.
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
At the bridge heading to Colombian territory.
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011
Dinner, biscuits (USD1.25) and bread (USD0.30)!
From Quito (ASL : average 2850m), Ecuador to Cali, Colombia
05/02/2011