Hello dear readers, you ask me for a review about my experience recording the first episode

of DARK TOURIST in Columbia. In advance I would like to thank you for the wonderful
comments that I can read in my web page. So here you have a full review about everything
that I lived in Columbia.

Firstly, I would not say that Columbia is terrible, but it does have its challenges for foreign
people.

People are friendly - once you get to know them. People are not going to smile at you on
the street as a many people say.

May things are cheap in Columbia especially now that the dollar is strong, and the rate is
consistently and substantially over 3,000 pesos per USD. However, merchants, (local) bus
drivers, taxi drivers (especially), and some government officials will attempt to take
advantage of tourists - especially those who do not have a command of Spanish. ATM cards
do not work everywhere so always have cash. Unlike many other countries no one in
Colombia will accept US dollars.

Food is very subjective, in my personal opinion FOOD WAS TERRIBLE. I dislike nearly
everything dairy in Colombia and I do not like beef in Colombia, for the most part. The only
thing that I can save are soups and some of the fruits. Bread is usually horrible, AWFUL- they
use a different type of flour and the smell of it makes me want to vomit, but I know where
to go to get bread make from “Mexican” flour which is more like American/European flour,
and it is great! They consume a lot of fruit juice. Be careful because they love to drink fruit
juice mixed with milk. If you do not like this, always specify ’natural.’ In addition, natural fruit
juice will be diluted with water - always. Chinese and Italian restaurants will shock you. The
food does not resemble what you will get in the US, Italy, or China, trust me. It was a terrible
experience.

Street food ranges from good to bad in terms of safety. Actually, food safety is practically
non-existent in Colombia. They just do not understand this topic. Regarding street food,
realize what you see is only part of the process. The prep usually happens in someone’s
kitchen, and you have no idea how sanitary it is. Refrigeration is not as common for
businesses as in the US and it is often sub-par; they often store perishable foods in the
danger zone (between 40 and 140 degrees f). So beware of what you eat, you don’t want to
finish your trip in the hospital.

Many restaurant kitchens - especially Colombian chain restaurants - are spotless! However,
if you are serve-safe certified you will notice they cross contaminate often, they never wash
their hands, they eat and cook at the same time, etc. Mom and pop restaurant kitchens can
look terrifying. So, buyer beware. I have been sick many times since I have stayed there. I am
much more picky now.

Coffee is again, very subjective. The coffee sold to drink in Colombia is usually much lower
quality than the Colombian coffee you can buy in the US. The cooperatives export the best
coffee. Most Colombians drink instant coffee in their homes. Tinto is available in restaurants
and on the street. Some of this is brewed and some is instant. Tinto is strong coffee usually
with a lot of sugar - similar to Cuban coffee. You will not find specialty coffee in Colombia,
period. You usually only find coffee of the region you are in at the moment unless you are
in a touristy spot. So the myth that Colombia has the best coffee is totally a liar.

The roads are slow, small, and not well maintained except for the autopistas (highways). This,
however, is no different than some US locations. The driving is horrendous - Everywhere!
Use a combination of your best defensive driving skills and your best aggressive skills for
evasive maneuvers! There is no water in cities and sometimes the electricity goes out.

Drug is a big deal there, I don’t want to get in trouble doing comments about medellin and
this cancer (drugs) but the only thing that I want to say is DRUG IS A DANGEROUS THING
FOR EVERYONE, STAY WAY FROM DRUGS, life is so beautiful, practice any sports, STUDY,
keep you mind strong.

The police have always been very friendly with me. I generally respect police and their
authority, maybe they sense this. The police are ALL national. There aren’t separate police
forces for towns, cities, or departments (states) and they act and look like a small military
organization. They have a horrible reputation for corruption. I have approached police for
various reasons and have been stopped by police for various roadside checks and have
always had great interactions. Just be smart and use your good people skills including a
smile. Remember, you do not have the same rights and protections that you take for granted
in the US or New Zealand.

Do not come to Colombia looking for easy sex! This will likely land you in one type of trouble
or another. I know Colombia has this reputation, but it is much more dangerous for to try
this than you think. In addition, you should always respect the people and the place you visit.

Healthcare is not at the US or New Zealand standard. It is certainly adequate, but you are
not going to find the latest equipment and treatments unless you are in the one or two top
facilities in the country. You can get shots for many things in your local drogueria (pharmacy)
but be careful. You may notice, especially outside of Bogota and Medellin, the cloth cover
on a medical examination table in a drogueria has small blood stains. Use your judgement.
You can buy many, many prescription meds without a prescription in Colombia. Be certain
you know exactly what you are getting. They do not have the same computerized drug
interaction systems you will find in CVS / Walgreen's. In addition, the pharmacist can give
you a lot of information and advice about medication in Colombia. Be careful, they don’t
appear as knowledgeable as pharmicists to which you are likely accustom. Use the internet
and study before going to the pharmacy if you decide not to go the doctor. I have found
very bad advice, often.

In larger cities, especially if your Spanish is not good, there is a reputation for overcharging
tourists, especially gringos, for medical services. All doctors have some amount of English
but this does not mean there will be understanding. The English taught in Colombia is not
as good as the Spanish taught in the US. This is probably because there are many more
Spanish speakers in the US than there are English speakers in Colombia. They teach outdated
and sometimes confused English in schools as well (I have firsthand knowledge of this). Just
be careful to understand what they mean and to be sure you are understood when it comes
to medical things. They want to help; YOU just must ensure the communication is good. You
will also find Colombian doctors take more time with you and usually give more personal
care than most American doctors, at least in my experience.

If you can adjust to these types of things, you will have a wonderful time here in Columbia.
I love it.

That’s all

Thank you for Reading.

David.