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

8 comments:

小雪 said...

那位女生很热心.
在外地搭德士,你还敢讲价钱,厉害.
嗯,相机真的要保护好,自己的安全也很重要啦.

Che-Cheh said...

The city looks lifeless. Why are the colors of your photos so dull in your city picture? Is Colombia that dull?

thepinaysolobackpacker said...

hi Fufu! =) I've been to Malaysia a few weeks ago and I really adore your country and it's people! Love it there!
I wish I can travel the world like you soon!

Matt said...

Fufu - once you graduate and start to work, do you think you'll get the travel bug out of you? I hope not...

pusangkalye said...

I watched this amazing video about CHARIOTS OF THE GODS--Ancient Aliens this evening and immediately thought of you....
Latin AMerica has such an extensive line up of historic-archeological wonders that puzzles me too. you are lucky to be there indeed.

pusangkalye said...

here's the link--- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qtjI8eGtvM --

Ivan Liaw said...

感 觉 就 像 洋 人 来 我 们 本 地 的 小 镇, 全 部 人 都 把 你 当 怪 物 般 来 看 。

你 应 该 吊 个 牌 子 讲 你 是 大 马 人 嘛 ~

哈 哈 !

Nick Chan said...

you are very brave to go to such place. it looks a bit like asia though.