GUIDE

This again, is a person that was recommended by another poster, I thought I’d pass it on to you if you are thinking about using his services. Note, I did not use a guide this trip and found it manageable with my high school Spanish.

“All he charged me was $30 a night plus I took care of drinks for chicas (Ramon, himself, doesn’t drink alcohol) and cab fare. If any of you need a reliable guide for chica-hunting in Cali, here is Ramon’s contact info-
ballesteros@usa.com, tele- 5133458. Heís a good guy and won’t rip you off.”


THE NON-WORKING GIRLS

Maybe its me, but I only scored 1x with a non-pro. It was easy meeting the non-working girls and many girls loved to talk and shoot the breeze, but it did not appear as though they were terribly interested in doing the wild thing with a stranger. I have more luck in ASIA. But then again, I wasn’t actively targeting them this trip, but I can see how the non-pros are there if you have the patience and persistence. Also, I noted earlier that I met an American who "scores" through the many matrimonial services offered in CALI. I saw some pics and some of the girls were very pretty. Definitely "good girls" that require some maintenance.

MALLS

A lot of socializing takes place at these wonderful outdoor malls like Unicentro (South Cali) or ChipeChape (Northern Cali). Very modern with all the hippest stores. Lots of security guards around. Unicentro has a great Casino with slots and table games. Lots of beauties to admire. On weekends or most nights, there are dozens of kiosks that are cafes-bars where all the younger people hangout. Pretty cool.

DIALING CELLPHONES AND INTERNET

Colombia has to be the least connected place as far as internet is concerned. ChipeChape had a great internet cafe called MATRIX with decent speed, but other than that, not too much around and if you did find one, the connection was unreliable and slow.

Remember when you dial the cellphones that you need to dial "03310...or 03315..." depending on the service. Most girls will give you 315 xxx xxx or 310 xxx xxxx, and it took me awhile to figure out how to call them from here. Also, you can't just use any landphone to call a cell phone, which is kind of weird, you need to use another cellphone or the hotel operator has to do something before you can access.

PARTING THOUGHTS.

As I said, CALI is a fresh experience and there are some stunners here and there for the taking. Although it won’t rank as my favorite destination, I will go out of my way to come back here for the girls and the passionate sex. Very few, or non existent competition from other mongers, really appeals to me and means no competition for the hotties like in RIO. The cost for everything was incredibly good, for instance, a nice filet mignon dinner for under $10.00. My favorite restaurant was actually a franchise called Lenos & Carbon found in all the malls, great food, some of the best steaks I’ve had, but I was condemned to eating only medium steaks because I couldn’t figure out the word for medium well done.

It’s a nice diversion from SAN JOSE, where it’s wall to wall Mongers and mercenary type girls demanding $100.00 or more.

Merlin,

After reading the report from start to finish and looking over all of the photos, I'd have to say this is the best report I've ever read on this board. Chock full of up-to-date on-the-ground info it is an incredible guide.

You have set the bar high, my friend.

I'm almost sorry my Thai trip is in May and Colombia is in July, not the other way around. Almost.

You can be sure that I'll print out several copies of this report to take with me - thanks so much for opening up Cali.

WS

WS, I'm always thankful that respected vets such as yourself got something out of this report. I really enjoyed putting it together and really appreciated the complete change in scenary and girls of Colombia. LOS is still my favorite, but I was craving a bit of bootie, evidenced by the numerous pics of such. I hope others won't have to re-invent the wheel too much in CALI, and in all fairness, a lot of this info is already posted in this site and others. As I noted before, we have a lot in common in that we just LOOOOVVVEEE women! Of all shapes, sizes and stripes. Like anything else, variety keeps things fresh and in perspective.

Merlin, for medium well-done say this in Spanish:
termino medio pasado, hopefully it will be cooked to your liking next time?

Hey, Thanks Sf4dfish, I was thinking about posting a question on the SA thread but was embarassed to do so and was too proud to buy a dictionary. I kept saying "Mediano Bien" and they actually nodded as if they knew what I was saying.

Merlin, your welcome. The way you wrote your post, any fellow hombre (in the know) should help one another out.

You asking for mediano bien, got you your medium good, as asked!

I've been to ChipeChape once before, and to Lenos & Carbon.

I too, love the Colombianas! When are you going back? I've been to Bogota, Cartagena, Medellin, and of course once to Cali;-) I try to hobby there once a year, even though Brasil is my favorite destination. The Miss Colombia beauty pageant is in CTG in November. sf4dfish

Sf4dfish, I'm very interested in checking out Medellin and Cartagena next as I hear the girls are even prettier than in CALI! But Alas, I have commitments to SEA in the near future, but rest assured I'll be scheming to get out to Colombia as soon as possible. What I would do to be able to be in Cartagena in November! I'd be interested in your thoughts on those two destinations.

Merlin,

I agree that this is one of the best reports full of great information. It's all about sharing information. It's funny that one dude from another site I'm on kept bitching and complaining about my various reports. Saying that I was going to cause every dick head and his brother to visit Cali. I just don't see that happening. First of all, you MUST be able to speak some Spanish to have a good time. Another is that many guys are scared shitless to go to Colombia (even though they have no real reason to if they use common sense).

I really loved Colombia. It's NOT a beautiful city (Cali) but the people are just so friendly. I agreed with just about everything you posted in the report.

Especially the things about the non-pro girls. Guys have to understand about these non-pros. Many are virtuous girls. Even if they are not so innocent it seemed to me they go out of their way to make you realize they aren't some slut. It takes time to cultivate a relationship with a hottie non-pro. As I mentioned before, there is a reason they are slaving away at a normal job making $150- $200 a month instead of per night. I've been talking to my non-pro girl every night on the phone and I'm super excited to see her in Peru in 2 weeks.

I'm also very interested in traveling around to Medellin, Cartagena, Bogota and smaller cities like Armenia and some others. Must be the explorer in me. Ha, ha. I just ordered about 9 books on Amazon.com about the history of Colombia and intersted in learning more about the country.

Merlin, kudos! Excellent report. I'd nominate it for best and most informative report of the month. Congrats and glad you had a good time.

Thanks for the thumbs up GF and also for being the inspiration for my trip to CALI. I genuinely had a blast in CALI, and I'm also in daily contact with Julie and another non-pro. I get the suspicion that their taking things a bit too quickly for my comfort, but hey, incredibly sweet girls that gave me their all when I was with them.

I'm going to be very interested in your experiences in Medellin, Bogota, and other places. Hope you post lots of pics and info.

You're absolutely right that the floodgates of mongers will never get opened up in CALI b/c of the language thing and the damned paranoia. It'll always be a secret haven for the few open minded and adventurous hobbyiest IMO.

I am looking into flights into Cali out of LAX and was wondering if anyone had information on a good travel agent for South American flights in San Diego.

Blazers,

Not sure if anyone flies direct from LAX to Cali. American will fly from Miami or you can try Avianca from LAX. They have a stop in Bogota though. Very easy trip though.

http://www.avianca.us/default.asp?chapter=2

800-284-2622

Good luck!

Blazers, if you make it to Cali I might well follow in your footsteps in a couple of months...

Colombia still scares me greatly though.

I look forward to reading about your adventures.

Blazers, I think COPA (Panamanian) and AVIANCA are your best bests, check out their websites. I didn't find any carriers flying directly to CALI, COPA has a hub in Panama City and AVIANCA goes through Bogota. If you look at some Spanish papers, there are some discounters/consolidators that specialize in Central and South America that may have some great deals.

Xen, I think the PI, RIO, TJ or even CR, was more scary to be honest with you. Not one single incident of concern in CALI during my week there, whereas I've had incidents or saw incidents of crime in PI, RIO, TJ and CR. The only time I was a bit concerned was when I started winning big at Carribean Stud Poker at the CASINO and all these tough looking guys who were seated next to me started eyeing me and my winnings. But I had no problems taking my winnings and bailing afterwards, at 3AM. North CALI is safe IMO, I was walking around in the streets at night by myself. All the taxis I took were ok as well.

Yep, I agree with Merlin. CR was a craphole and had more seedy people. Rio's Copacabana you have more of a shot at having something happen to you. TJ is..well TJ. In MY HUMBLE OPINION.

I'm NOT saying Cali is a totally safe place. I'm just saying in 10 days I had absolutely no problems and couldn't see how if you are not being an ugly American or stupid something happening. I also walked around very late at night by myself. It was funny that this local dude from WSG read my report and he knew exactly the area I was walking in.

Honestly, I felt safer in Cali than walking around Copacabana late at night.

IMHO, TJ is the most dangerous mongering destination in the world. Your chances of day to day crime are much higher than in other destinations. Some people talk about Rio but we hear about muggings all the time in TJ but rarely in Rio.
I just checked priceline and they have deals from LAX to Cali for $649 including tax. There is a agency here that concentrates on Central and South America that I will try out as well. I used them for my ticket to Costa Rica that I cancelled and received a partil refund. I still want to go t CR as it can be a short trip for me. The other idea is to combine the CR/Cali trip as Merlin did.

You're exactly right about TJ Blazers, of the many places I've been to (colombia & Cambodia, etc), TJ is the only place I ever got mugged, by the police in fact. I also witnessed a choke hold mugging in Zona Rosa as well.

I think it's a good idea to stop over in Costa Rica for a few days and then to CALI, really gives you a perspective on how great CALI and the girls are compared to CR in terms of hobbying.

Blazers,

Do let us know how your trip goes. Just my personal opinion but I'd avoid Costa Rica entirely. Unless you plan to go do some eco-touring and see some beautiful areas. There is NOTHING you will get in San Jose that you can't get in Cali for a lot cheaper. While I did have some good sessions in San Jose the girls weren't all that. Both cities are ugly for sure but if you have to be in an ugly city why not spend it with a hottie??

I think Costa Rica is the most over rated hobbying destination based on posts I've read. If you're going down that way anyway you might just want to hit Cali and maybe hit another city like Medellin. All the hotties in CR are from Colombia anyway. Why not save yourself some time and go right to the source?

I never felt threatened in Rio. I do walk around alone very late at night and nothing happened to me. I didn't have any problems in TJ either although it's a seedy place and I can see where you can get in trouble there. The police looked a bit shady.

Definitely hit Cali Blazers. Good luck.

GF is 100% correct in that CR is not the best hobby destination, but it's still kind of fun for me, especially in light of the stunning eco-tourism stuff, incredible volcanoes to visit, and the excellent fishing. Right now, there are a bunch of college kids on spring break whooping it up big time with pool parties and wet-t-shirt contests, etc at some of the resorts near the Coast. In San Jose, the inventory of gals changes each time I'm there, and I saw some stunners at the Del Rey this time around. It's kind of cool b/c you have so much variety at the Del Rey (Dominicans, Nicas, Ticas, Colombianas). Also, this last trip, there were not so many punters around like in my earlier trips.

Merlin,

Definitely. However, I doubt most guys going doing there are hitting the eco-tourism type stuff. The only ecology they are seeing is the female type. Still, maybe I hit San Jose on a horrible weekend. My buddy wants to go back down sometime so maybe I'll give it another chance.

I will say that it's a very easy trip. Non-stop direct flight makes it a very easy destination. You're right there is a lot of variety. Unfortunately when I went all the Dominicans, Nicas, Ticas and Colombianas weren't that great.

Blazers,

If you went into the same sort of neighborhoods in Rio as you do in TJ you would quickly change your tune about the dangers of the respective cities. You are comparing fresh peaches and rotten week old bananas and then rightly observing that there are more flies on the rotten bananas.

In Rio we hang out in neighborhoods like Copacabana and Ipanema where the millionaires play and the beachs make the worlds top 10 list year after year. A condo one block off Ipanema Beach goes for $1,000,000 USD !!! Even so taxi do not stop at intersections starting a few blocks off from Atlantica Ave late at night for fear of being highjacked. This time last year the drug lords where tossing hand grenades into Rio Sul shopping Mall just to let the cops know who is boss.

In Tj we talk about our $20 rooms next to the slums where the biggest threat is getting shook down by those ratsbellies in blue for $50. There aren't any beachs that don't stink and no Million dollar condos ( I know Ben goes to TJ, but one millionaire doesn't count ) Everybody in TJ just stares across that open cesspool they call a river at the towers of SanDiego and resents the people who live there ... a few of them commute every day to mow lawns and clean swimming pools. There aren't any Shopping Malls like Rio Sul ... people with enough money to buy the sort of things they sell there go to San Diego.

If you make Rio be sure and visit Vila Mimosa, which is Rio's equivalent to the Alley, and then tell us which is the roughest town.

My personal experience is out of over 100 days in TJ I have the CD's stole out of my car in the paid and guarded parking lot and been shook down by the Police twice, all late at night. 23 days in Rio and I was mugged in broad daylight right on Copacabana Beach. Rio is the only place I have visited in the entire world where someone actually threw shit on my shoes and then wanted me to hire them to clean it off.

McDIJJ

P.S. Please don't go to the same sort of neighborhoods in Rio that you do in TJ. I rather enjoy your posting style and though I have never attended a Web/Wake I wouldn't want yours to be the first.

P.S.

Blazers, Merlin;

You guys are both experienced world travelers and more than capable of taking care of yourselves ... just don't play down the dangers of SA OK?

I'll have to strongly agree with Mcdijj here. Of over 500 visits to TJ and 2 to Brazil, I've only had one crime incident in TJ (not counting police shakedowns) However, I don't thing the crime risk should be minimized in either, and especially not in Brazil. Besides some hairy encounters I've read about from experienced Brazil travelers, I've also heard of a number of crime stories by the girls themselves. Also, the taxi drivers' fear is well known and documented and is a good indicator of the kind of risk the street can pose at night.

I'll walk through much of the TJ Zona at night.

In Brazil, I'd walk Help to Copacabana or Debret at night, but that's about it. The crimes I've heard described in Brazil have almost always been significantly more aggressive and violent than the choke-hold muggings common in TJ.

P.S. I've walked the area by the park near Del Rey and the street near Vips2/Molino Rojo in San Jose, CR despite the reported danger. I had no problem, but still would feel more comfortable walking TJ than those areas.

McDijj & D'Art, it was not intent to downplay the dangers of RIO, I did observe that I did not feel safe there. I did, however, agree that TJ is dangerous IMO based on my personal experience there. I don't go to TJ anymore, and when I did before my mugging, it was maybe 1x a month. But I've been reading more about crooked cops assaulting tourists, robbing them, and even raping one tourist. Moreover, I cannot tell you how traumatic it was to be mugged by two armed cops and to be driven around for a few hours hitting dozens of ATM machines. They held my wallet and ID, and would not let me leave until they found a working ATM in a desolate area, their verbal threats and aggressive mannerisms during this ordeal didn't help either. I realize this type of stuff happens often and very few of them end up as violent crimes, but whether reasonable or not, I feared for my safety the entire time.

IMO, I think an area where the cops, who are supposed to protect you, are to be feared more than the muggers, is a place I don't wish to be. I'm willing to take risks if the benefits are worth the risk, and I don't believe TJ offers up anything special for me. RIO, I would not hesitate to go again despite the dangers as the Terma experience warrants it.

"as the Terma experience warrants it" ... Oh, my God does it ever! I live 20 minutes south of the Canadian Border and TJ is a town I drive through on my way to some where warm. Nothing special there (of course while traveling I usually arrange to spend the night) When I want to go some where to Hobby I usually head for South East Asia ... but, ever since I did a double at Monte'Carlo I've not been back to Eden's

Eden is also a place I don't frequent anymore,if I want duplas, I save it for RIO, or even Cambodia. I would never pass up an opportunity to hit up RIO for the passionate sex and the incredible booties. The CALI girls were just as passionate in bed and just as beautiful IMO, and it's wide open as you can imagine.

I should have rephrased my response in that TJ's Zona Rojo is the most dangerous mongering spot in the world. I was also pulled over, handcuffed and robbed in broad daylight in Zona Rojo. My comments is that we always hear of police problems and muggings in TJ but never in other places.

Hmm. I just got back from TJ. Surprisingly one night I didn't even hobby or go in that area. I walked all around the city one day and night. I was curious what was up near that huge Mexican flag at the other end of the city so I walked all the way up that hill. Probably isn't the smartest thing to do at night but I wasn't too worried or nervous. There is a military compound with a alot of guys in uniforms standing around the gate when you walk past.

One of the officers did look at me like I was nuts to be walking up here alone at night. He asked if I was lost and I told him I was just walking around. Ha, ha. There were NO gringos up here. It's kind of interesting seeing the city from up there. There's also a big park on top of that hill.

The Zona Rojo is probably more dangerous than this area. Not sure. At least in that area there are more people. I think if you are careful in most cities you go to you won't experience crime. Good luck.

Man GF, you've got some balls, and I mean that in the most respectful way. TJ's zona Roja makes me uncomfortable, more so than when I was in Colombia because at least in Cali, the monger places were in a relatively quiet, safe area with each venue having lots of big, security guards. Again, it's a cost benefit analysis for me, if the West Bank of the Gaza strip had some stunners, I'd be willing to risk it anytime.

Hey Merlin,

Not sure if it's balls or stupidity. I've really just enjoyed exploring cities lately. It was interesting seeing the city from on top of that hill. I walked around Cali too at night and had no problems. I'm long overdue to get mugged on one of these trips. I think half the time the locals assume if I'm walking in that area I know what I'm doing. I don't walk around like I'm nervous. I think theives can pick up on your confidence level.

The other funny thing around that area during the day is there are all these shops with tons of electrical equipment. If you ever want to buy a chain saw or electrical generator in TJ I can recommend a few stores..ha, ha.

I also drove around the city quite a bit. I'd highly recommend you NOT take the other border crossing (other than the one near Centro). It took 2 hours to get across the border by car.