Don't mind the news Mum, I'm off to Colombia!: Photos 21 to 38

Colombia has long been reputed as one of the most violent countries on earth. Where great coffee, left-wing guerrilla groups, drug barons, syndicated crime and kidnaps are rife. Where back in 2000, two crazy English backpackers were kidnapped attempting to cross the Darien Gap from Panama to Colombia and held hostage by FARC guerrillas. Where in 2003, one Brit and four Israeli backpackers were held hostage for 102 days after they were kidnapped on a trek to the Lost City near Taganga. Where as at 2000, 2/3 of the world’s kidnappings occurred. Yet, the longer I stayed on the gringo trail - the more tantalising a destination it became. I heard stories of the coffee, breathtaking mountains, green fertile countryside and a Caribbean playground with some of the cheapest scuba diving in the world. Somewhere around Costa Rica, I Skyped Mum and Dad to tell them I was headed to Colombia. Sure it was no place for the nervous traveller, but it seemed like a memorable place to celebrate my 30th birthday.

I copped a lot of negativity about my decision to go to Colombia, not from Mum and Dad, who’ve never tried to interfere with

Full Text Entry: Don't mind the news Mum, I'm off to Colombia!

Are you too full of yourself or is it me being over-sensitive about bragging and boasting? Colombia is a normal country, not an adventure or as you like to put it; a challenging destination. So get off your horse(not your face) and get back to your mum.

Hi Cockholster - I look forward to reading your blog on Columbia then! Though, seems you don't have the gumption to provide a link to your blog ... E

Thank you so much for writing about your experiences so enthusiastically and positively! Hooked on Africa, I'd been toying with the idea of adding Colombia into a possible future South American tour, but had been stalled a little by the negative press, but you remind me that there is so much more to every country than the only-bad-news-is-good-news headlines in the western press. Carry on having fun!

''...is it me being over-sensitive about bragging and boasting?'' Yes, I think it is. Mel

Great read - thanks :-)

I believe the correct spelling is Colombia. Also, the last I checked, Brazil's population was reaching 200 million, hardly making Colombia the largest country in South America.

another bloody good yarn there El. It sounds like u r keepen on keepen on. Sounds like the coffee parts were good, not quite sure how u did it with out the wisdom and insight i gave in mexico but well done. Keep em coming

Fair call.

Great read about a country i have simply ruled out in the past through the fear of it being too dangerous. Nice to see a pic with you guys still together from the Ragga tour Belize. I am sorry to say i've been stuck behind my desk back in the UK since that time.. Boo!!

Great journal! I think this just might have convinced me to add Colombia to my South America trip. Thanks!

Great piece there El, some of the other ballbags on this forum must have nothing else to do with their time rather than lambast ye for turning out a sterling article, Cockholster yer a knob! Makes me wonder if the cock ever gets out of it's holster or does it stay sheathed while you sit up late at night on your computer??

Another genius blog Maynes, & I'm very glad to see you're still enjoying plenty of cheese, coffee & champagne! Some things never change. & the Colombia slogan!? Gold!

The dude that wrote criticizing this girl's blog must be a Venezuelan who are known to sabotage blogs about Colombia and write negative stuff on Youtube, just because they're so used to looking down on their neighbors to validate themselves. It's her experience how dare this loser make a comment like that?

Are you too full of yourself or is it me being over-sensitive about bragging and boasting? Colombia is a normal country, not an adventure or as you like to put it; a challenging destination. So get off your horse(not your face) and get back to your mum.

Hi Cockholster - I look forward to reading your blog on Columbia then! Though, seems you don't have the gumption to provide a link to your blog ... E

Thank you so much for writing about your experiences so enthusiastically and positively! Hooked on Africa, I'd been toying with the idea of adding Colombia into a possible future South American tour, but had been stalled a little by the negative press, but you remind me that there is so much more to every country than the only-bad-news-is-good-news headlines in the western press. Carry on having fun!

''...is it me being over-sensitive about bragging and boasting?'' Yes, I think it is. Mel

Great read - thanks :-)

I believe the correct spelling is Colombia. Also, the last I checked, Brazil's population was reaching 200 million, hardly making Colombia the largest country in South America.

another bloody good yarn there El. It sounds like u r keepen on keepen on. Sounds like the coffee parts were good, not quite sure how u did it with out the wisdom and insight i gave in mexico but well done. Keep em coming

Fair call.

Great read about a country i have simply ruled out in the past through the fear of it being too dangerous. Nice to see a pic with you guys still together from the Ragga tour Belize. I am sorry to say i've been stuck behind my desk back in the UK since that time.. Boo!!

Great journal! I think this just might have convinced me to add Colombia to my South America trip. Thanks!

Great piece there El, some of the other ballbags on this forum must have nothing else to do with their time rather than lambast ye for turning out a sterling article, Cockholster yer a knob! Makes me wonder if the cock ever gets out of it's holster or does it stay sheathed while you sit up late at night on your computer??

Another genius blog Maynes, & I'm very glad to see you're still enjoying plenty of cheese, coffee & champagne! Some things never change. & the Colombia slogan!? Gold!

The dude that wrote criticizing this girl's blog must be a Venezuelan who are known to sabotage blogs about Colombia and write negative stuff on Youtube, just because they're so used to looking down on their neighbors to validate themselves. It's her experience how dare this loser make a comment like that?