country 28:Columbia

Entering Columbia was a relief but mind on high alert. The customs and immigrations were easy and straight forward. Don't get jealous on us having the true Columbia coffee. It pays to have it.

We decide not to go far on the first day of a new country. to get ourselves getting used to the culture and the numbers on the money.

S$1.00 = PESO$1500

Peru, Ecuodor and Columbia uses Gallon(US) for gasoline.

90minutes from the border, we are staying at Pasto. Nothing much special here but the expensive place that we had stayed after witnessing a robbery on the street.

i was with Hope Too and Sam just came out of a hostel checking out the price which we found it too expensive. She decided to walk 100 meters along the street to another hostel instead on climbing on and off Hope Too for a short distance. I started the engine and joined the 1 lane traffic.

Traffic light was red and i was behind a slow taxi. 3 teenagers, walking at their fast pace, with their eyes looking everywhere. one whisle to another accross the road and pointed something with his finger. then 2 of them walked behind Sam at a quick pace while Sam was holding her helmet on her hand, heads looking at the number of the shops without noticing who and what is happening around her. i was worried....

i could smell that danger is near her. Sam was their target.

One of them ran behind an old man, stretched his palms into the right front pocket of the old man from behind, got the wallet and ran away. the old man was behind Sam. Lucky Sam, had the old man as the victim instead of her.

we were riding at another latitude 0.

The old man fell down because of shock. the two teenagers had gun with them, shot at the air as a warning for anyone that tries to go after them. At this time the traffic light went green and i could see the two teenagers had ran across a policeman walking on the street. I stopped beside Sam and calm her down because she saw the 2 teenagers running away from the old man, which reminded her of the incident 2-3 nights ago when her mobile phone was snatched in Quito.

I decided to stop going around in this town and stay in the safest, but one of the most expensive lodging. Never a pain for the decision.

The hotel staff covered Hope Too from the rain.

we are at:

N 01deg 1.702'

W077deg 16.666'

Andrea and Saskia singing on the moment we left them.