I know that I am always stressing out good conditions for motorcycling in Colombia. Going on wild rides, on the other hand, is more an exception than a rule. But it does happen. I already wrote about an amazing night ride that I enjoyed, survived, or simply found myself in.

But this was something completely different.

Do you remember me mentioning my friend Patryk from Cali? He was the backbone of every adventurous endeavor while I was exploring Cali. We hit the road together again. He wanted me to see more of the area, and I am always for some more diving into the greenery of valleys and mountains.

On our way, we bumped into a situation: a full truck stuck in the mud just next to the equally muddy road. Patryk saw no other solution but to help people out of their misery, so we did. Anywhere else, the situation would appear to be hopeless, so I would expect the driver just to pull over the truck and wait for the tow truck. But here life seems to operate in rather different ways: it is important to give your absolute best. And when you reach it, you top it and go even beyond. It is this extra effort that makes amazing things happen to people here. Whether you are pulling yourself out of the mud or just having a blast of a good time!

It was just a glimpse of everyday Colombia.

We continued our journey towards Alto de Letras. It is a mountain pass in the Central Cordillera in the Andean Region. It is situated close to Manizales, in the Caldas department. It is famous for numerous cycling races. It goes up to 12,000 feet, and I couldn’t even make it up the hill because the sand was just too loose or the dirt was just too loose, and I could just spin it.

People who actively discover and challenge themselves on various motorcycling adventures are acquainted with Alto de Letras. Many call it the world’s longest climb, a cycling paradise, and a giant among the mountain passes. To go for it is not only to take a long, long climb. There are different routes, so one may choose whether to go for 20km distance or all 81km distance with 4,000m latitude in one piece. But the thing is to come a few days earlier, to acclimatize (which may be handy since you are about to ride through different climates: from hot tropical to the alpine glacier), and prepare yourself for a fascinating green view of the northern Andes steppes.

Of course, I was amazed by the views from Manizales to here. The weather was a bit cloudy but sunny. Wherever you direct your view, you’ll meet wonderful sights. I feel so privileged to be at places like this, completely and utterly dazzled by nature.

Later, a couple of friends and I went for a hike. A nice walk on the backside of the hills. I felt a strange mix of cold and humid. It’s like half of a breeze is cold and every other half of a breeze is hot and humid. It is so because of the impact of volcano proximity to these heights. One by one, the hike became a concert out in the open.

I just wanted to share this with you. not always, and not everything is just right or perfect. But you do manage to pull off a good day out of zero expectations.

Thank you for being here. To experience some of the truly the greenest colors of nature – please visit my YouTube channel here:

Colombia Safety Issues

It is true, and I underline this especially if you are coming from the US, that there are certain misconceptions about the country carefully built upon in the media, mainly the movie industry.

Yes, this country did have many drugs, gangs, and danger issues to deal with. And yes, the first Colombian person that you can think of will almost always be Pablo Escobar. Yes, recommendations that our government officials provide us within our countries are stressing out the safety issue when it comes to Colombia.

It was in 2010 when Colombia reduced cocaine production by more than 60% and allowed Peru to take over the title of the world’s greatest coca producer. The country also held the world’s highest rates of kidnapping, as a means to fund guerrilla groups, but this also changed over passing time due to the professionalization of the official army. Corruption, especially administrative corruption, on the other hand, is something different. It has proven to be ineradicable, and the effects of scandals involving foreign companies are shaking public life still.

But staying here, and meeting people of various backgrounds, I’ve learned more. I’ve learned that the matters of Escobar and his legacy are matters of the past. I’ve learned that people are working and trying hard to build up the country, and connect all of its parts and people. I’ve learned that people used to live in fear and ghettos, but now are not. I’ve learned that people were afraid to go out in the streets, and now the streets of almost every town I’ve seen are crowded with people walking, spending their time of leisure, or selling things in the streets.

Living here for some time made me feel grateful for making this very choice and coming to Colombia. People have shown me nothing less than friendship and respect.

Surely, even I would recommend that you do not visit some parts of the city alone or after sunset. But being careful like this is not only a Colombian thing. I believe that being this mindful is a matter of going out in almost any foreign town, Colombian, American, or European.

According to the 2018 Numbeo Crime Index, Bogota and Medellin, the two largest cities in Colombia, are a great deal safer than many US cities. Although you may feel safe to wander about any city, it is wise not to do so during the night. Some of the national statistics show that tourists are safe from violent crimes, but anyone really can be the subject of armed robberies and petty crimes.

Being a tourist, a person always wishes to relax, enjoy himself/herself, allowing a bit more freedom than usual, especially if pursuing a journey to a country of a completely different, unknown culture. But bear one thing in your mind: what is wise “to do or not to do” back home usually is the same to do or avoid when being abroad. So be smart and stay safe!

For more live and authentic experiences, continue exploring this blog, and do visit my YouTube channel! Thank you for your time!

Medellin to Manizales by Motorcycle

Some time ago, I was writing about my travel to Manizales in a blogpost named Flying From Medellin to Manizales Colombia was a Mini Adventure. There was little flying in that text and more on the culture of making business in the air traffic industry that resulted with my transport from one place to another. (Eventually.)

This time, it was different. I wasn’t flying, I was motorcycling, and it was more than a challenge!

This was a four-and-a-half ride. The road itself was wide and felt safe. But let me tell you – there were moments when I felt that the other participants in the traffic were on a quest and that their quest was strongly related to a specific dare towards their very existence in life in this planet! Speeding and overtaking at the areas where it wasn’t clear what – if anything – is heading towards you was just crazy and there is no better way to describe it!

I’d already mentioned that motorcycling culture here is rather developed and appreciated. People ride motorcycles both in and out of cities. It is a very important means of transport here. I’ve also read somewhere that in the past four years there had been more than 80,000 people motorcycling and being involved in some kind of traffic accident. This wasn’t an encouraging thing to know in advance, but I’ve learned from people here that the infrastructure in this part of the country has been improved greatly, roads were invested in, and indeed were new, wide, and felt safe to ride. Parts of the road were under construction, and I am sure that in a short while works will be completed.

It is good to know that one should plan a recreational ride on weekdays since on weekends and public holidays roads are just too crowded, and you might feel that just anything might happen. Plus the fact that it will take you forever to go the distance.

Now that I wrote about some practical and technical issues, I can tell you what is out there, waiting for you. What makes all the travel worthwhile is an amazing and picturesque landscape – nature at its finest. Your eyes will meet high mountains scenery, bananas and coffee plantations, wild and exotic forests, and amazing valleys.

Medellin and Manizales are some of the most exciting cities that I have had a chance to visit. Although it takes almost five hours to cross the distance by bike, there are not many big-city destinations to follow up. But what is out there are those things that I appreciate the most in this country: small towns, maybe several hundred inhabitants, people selling their goods in the most amazing small cafes or short-stops you’ll ever see, home-produced food, drinks, and coffee, next-to-the-road animals that you tend to see only in TV-channels. And the spectacle of a view at almost any place you decide to take a break.

There are several ways that you can go this same distance, and they all depend upon the fact if you are traveling by yourself or with your family. You can always take a flight, but there are also opportunities to rent a car, take a bus or rent a semi-private van. I would strongly recommend any options that provide you with an opportunity to stop and admire this unique scenery!

Thank you for being here so far! What was this ride like you can learn if you go to my YouTube channel. Just click here:

I made the video on the deep cleaning of my Honda XRE Motorcycle. Just for you. Now, just before arriving in Colombia, I’ve decided to continue my journey with a motorcycle. Everything I found out about the country and its roads was calling for that decision. I’ve spent some time riding across the country. First, I had Yamaha XTZ 125, and after 1,000 kilometers decided to sell it and buy Honda XRE 300. I wrote about all reasons behind it in this blog post.

Having a good motorcycle and keeping it that way also means that you need to take good care of it. Deep cleaning should be done on regular basis, and as detailed as possible. I feel my motorcycle not only as a means of transport but also as an irreplaceable part of my life out here.

I’ve been riding this moto around Caldas, Colombia, mostly off-road. It’s got dirt everywhere. It is not enough only to scrub it with water and soap. Your vehicle is carrying your life. Take good care of it. After doing this for…I don’t even know how many times I will write down some tips to remember.

DON’T:

! Don’t do the washing when your vehicle is still hot from use. Wait.
! Not only that I do not recommend high-pressure tools that you can find on every gas station or self-cleaning stop, but I urge you to forget about it if you don’t want to damage the surface and other parts of your motorcycle.
! Please do not use detergents, oils, wax, or any other product that is not designed especially for motorcycle maintenance. You don’t want to hurt your precious.

DO:

! First, rinse all the dirt with cold water. No hot or warm water – especially if you have a close encounter with salt on the road.
! Be careful about electrical parts.
! Use soft sponges and cloth.
! Use specific brushes for specific surfaces. Don’t mix.
! Use mild detergents.
! Make sure your headlights are not clouded after you finish.
! Take a lot of clean water to rinse the motorcycle.
! Dry all parts of the bike.
! Test the engine.
! Test the breaks. Give it some time.
! Take care of the drive chain with lubricating just after finishing the washing.
! Use a good paste wax for finishing it up.
! Yes, do repeat all with wheels.

You may visit my YouTube channel to see the whole process: what I used to do deep cleaning, how I did it, and approximately how much time did it take. Here is the video:

Thank you for being here!