Preview: Los Llanos Orientals and What's to Come

Hey everyone, this is going to be short because the last blog entry I attempted to write didn't save correctly and my internet briefly went out. It has happened to all of us and it is frustrating because all of us hate wasting time. Sorry but this is the shorter (a little bit frustrated) version:

I just got back from an incredible trip over the past few weeks in the llanos orientales (eastern plains) of Colombia. Diego and I (check out his website at: http://dsblox.com/) have proudly hitchhiked over 960km/600mi across this region of the country (100% of our time in Meta done completely by hitchhiking). We have tons of photos to share with you and the rest of the world but we have a bit of a dilemma, over 80% of our photos are on different computers throughout the llanos. You see, before I went to Puerto Berrío, Antioquia to celebrate Christmas with my girlfriend I realized that I had left my 4GB memory card in my computer. Without sufficient funds I had to settle for a 1GB memory card which sounds good until one takes hundreds of photos at 8mega-pixels and video; it fills up fast. Therefore, Diego and I had to upload them onto other peoples' computers and put them into Diego's dropbox (basically an online hard-drive). We are still waiting for all of the photos to upload.

So hang tight everyone, it very well could be a few weeks until a few months before I receive all of the photos we had taken of this forgotten region of Colombia. Remember that blogs regarding Puerto Berrío, Ibagué, our trip through the llanos (Meta, Casanare, & Arauca), and working in the llanos will be posted in the upcoming weeks.

Here is the route we took over the course of one month (click to enlarge photo):

(BLACK = Diego & I / BLUE = Me solo)

In other updates, Diego and I are talking about redesigning this blog to give it a cleaner look and create my own website. I have a lot of thinking to do because I don't even know why I have a blog in the first place so imagine how I would feel having a website to deal with (it costs money). If the website paid for itself maybe.

That is all for now, I have a lot of work, studying and visa renewal to take care of in the upcoming weeks. Take care and please keep in touch.

Un abrazo de oso (a bear hug)

Attentively,

-Kevin Post

Best of My Photos July 2009 (Couchsurfing)

I don't take too many photos on a day to day basis but the ones that I do take are fun (to some degree with a strange sense of humor). Sorry for not posting beautiful scenery, nice shots of Colombian architecture, me doing outdoor activities or any other shots that will make you say, "WOW!". Nevertheless, enjoy! Note: ALL of these photos are activities with Couchsurfers of Colombia (Armenia and Ibagué). Also, keep in mind that I am NOT a professional photographer and don't claim to be, so be easy on the criticisms ;)

P.S. These photos (and more that I am unable to publish on this blog due to "moonage" and "gooch" because it could upset the advertisers on the blog) can also be found on my couchsurfing page. Mom, Dad, and family I hope that you guys are still proud of me after seeing these photos and are able to share them with strangers NO problem.

JULY 2009 (ordered chronologically):

Armenia, Quindío, Colombia (Armenia is a city in West-Central Colombia; I am not talking about the Eurasian country which borders Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran and Georgia...NO NOT THE STATE!!!).


Shot of some Couchsurfers and friends in Armenia, Colombia.
















This made me laugh so hard. My host Camilo gave me no explanation as to why there were random English words and phrases (sometimes spelled incorrectly and/or all around incorrect) written in permanent marker on his shower.


These next three photos don't make sense on their own, they need to been seen in a sequence in order to make (somewhat) sense as to what we were doing. P.S. I hadn't slept in nearly two days when this photo was taken; everything was silly.





I LOVE the contrast!


Now, I am no photographer and I wouldn't consider this portfolio worthy by any means. I just like how it turned out. Juanita and the girls having a good time.


Being "emo" in Armenia. It was funny at the time I swear...


These next five photos, although creepy, are quite good. Mom and Dad, you should be proud! I call it the "La conclusión de mi finde en Armenia" Collection ("The conclusion of my weekend in Armenia" Collection).






These next photos show the dangers of smoking and looking "bacano" (cool). Here are the stages of nicotine addiction (feel free to post these in your local Nicotine Addiction Recovery Groups):



Juanita:



Ibagué , Tolima, Colombia

CSI (Couch Surfing Ibagué)!!!


No comment.


This one definitely needs an explanation. You see, I don't drink alcohol (except for some red wine on very special occasions) so I thought that I could substitute beer for tea. However, the only tea available was strawberry tea; man did I feel like a sissy man.


How to be sophisticated and drunk at the same time!


Someone told me that I looked like one of the characters on the 1984 film "The Karate Kid"; I have no idea what they are talking about.


This is how I ward off bears (and beautiful Colombian women).


One of the few regular photos taken of me during my two days in Ibagué.


I took a shot of aguardiente because of pier pressure by CSI. I don't know how or why you guys like this stuff, honestly. Note: I was the wealthiest person there, with the exception of Paul, because I didn't pay for nor consume alcohol.


This is what sober is (imagine if I did drink).


No comment.


CSI (when everyone started feeling those drinks).


The drinks get stronger...


I don't quite remember what we were doing the moment this photo was taken. I guess we were excited to see so much liquor at once (three days with a total of five hours of sleep in Ibagué).


I don't need to drink, look what I do while sober with sleep deprivation!


I was representing...Michigan?


Gotta love the checkered scarf all white long sleeve shirt with flute in hand combo!


Mom, Dad, this is all that I had learned while in the Middle East.


I don't know if you've read up on your South American history lately, but this is Simon Bolívar. He is the man who led his army to victory defeating the Spaniards liberating what is present day Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Panama; the guy is without a doubt a true hero in these parts. Anyway, my drunk friends thought it would be good idea to climb his statue outside the capital building at 4A.M.

Seconds after this photo was taken two men with knives ran behind two guys relatively close to us and robbed everything they had right in front of our eyes (while physically beating them). We ran with the guitar and camera but our poor helpless drunk friends were stuck on top of the statue. Luckily, the thieves couldn't reach our dear Ibagué friends due to the height of the statue and probably because our friend's pants were down (if you would like to see some "moon" pictures as well as others from this night click here: http://www.couchsurfing.org/image_gallery.html?id=22AOQOU&folder=186376



Thanks for taking the time to look and read about the Best of My Photos for July 2009 Couchsurfing Edition. I hope that I have inspired you to join Couchsurfing as well as visit Armenia and Ibagué.

More photos to come (that goes without saying).

Take care, until next time.

Attn,

-Kevin Post