LEISURE

Caribbean Calypso
www.mumbaimirror.com/leisure

MumbaiMirror

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2010

38

Those who go off the beaten track, write for us.

Going off track

TRAVEL

Colombia, no longer challenged by strife, is a fantastic destination to soak in the sun, sip some sinful coffee and dance the night away with the friendly locals
Kaushal Karkhanis leisure.mirror@indiatimes.com
roads cut through mountains of endless greens. Of course, the presence of army guards every 500 meters or so is a bit unnerving yet reassuring. From Ipiales to Pasto, all the way up to the 'white city' of Popayan - it's one incredibly beautiful journey.

GETTING THERE

There are no direct flights to Colombia from India. You could fly into Bogota via Sao Paulo (Brasil) or the land route from Ecuador/Venezuela or by boat, from North West Brasil.

or a long time, Colombia was held back by civil wars and insurgencies and it was considered dangerous to enter the then drug mafia controlled land. In recent times, the government has ensured that much of the country is safe and Colombia is fast emerging as one of the top travel destinations, given its rich diversity, culture and natural beauty. With temperate to hot climate, this equatorial country is a Latin paradise. Amazing beaches, rainforests, colonial towns, buzzing nightlife with a wild salsa scene, excellent trekking and adventure options Colombia has something for everyone. From the vibrant capital, Bogota, to the salsa capital, Cali, the country is well worth any risk that you may be warned about. I found out what the scene was really like, backpacking from South to North and back.

KAUSHAL KARKHANIS

POPAYAN, MEDELLIN & BOGOTA ARCHITECTURAL MLANGE

IPIALES TO PASTO - GREEN ANDEAN HIGHS

Much of the older buildings and architecture across Colombia is Colonial Spanish, with lots of color, definition and liberal use of space - the lanes, houses and streets full of color and life. In stark contrast is the city of Popayan in the South, the 'white city' where exteriors of almost all the buildings are completely whitewashed. I particularly liked the city of Medellin for its blend of the old and ultra-modern. The Botero park with its unique black bronze sculptures of fat people and animals is intriguing. A superfast and state of the art metro connects the city and even extends into a (no extra charge) ropeway ride - beat that.

COSTS:

The fishing village Taganga

which is zesty and is grown mainly in the Zona Cafetaria region in the South West. This is perhaps the best place to start a Colombian expedition. Armenia is one of the larger cities and a trading hub - by night it transforms into salsa paradise with quaint salsotecas attracting the city's most beautiful people. Nearby, Salento and Valle de Cocora offer the almost magical vistas of towering wax palm trees which are probably 100 ft. each.

Pint of beer : 2,000 pesos (Rs 40) (cerveja) Budget Hostel : 20,000 pesos (Rs 400) 40,000 pesos (Rs 800) Hotel : 50,000 pesos (Rs 1,000) - 250,000 pesos (Rs 5,000) On the Web : Colombia Tourism www.colombia.travel

El Cabo on the northern coast

ZONA CAFETARIA - THE LAND OF COFFEE

AY CARIBE!

In the south, the first thing that greets you is the lush, expansive greens of the Andes. Long, twisted

One of the biggest producers of coffee, Colombia is known for the finest beans, the narino variant,

CALI - SALSA & STREET CULTURE

If South America is about salsa, Cali is the capital of salsa. Every street and every club is a salsa hotspot at dusk. This is also the best place in the world where youd consider learning the sensuous dance form. By day, Cali has much to offer, from interesting parks and installations to museums to state-of-theart gyms - these are abundant here, given that the ratio of perfect bodies per sq ft of people is one of the largest you'd ever come across.

No Latin dream is complete without the sultry Caribbean vibe. The northern coast is where the magic of the blues and greens begins! Cartagena offers a great blend of colonial charm, salsa culture, gastronomy and shopping. Santa Marta & Baranquilla are local getaways for Colombians. Parque Nacional Tayrona - A protected national park, no vehicles are allowed in this blissful, sunkissed region. Taganga, an old fishing village is now home to the best diving schools in the region - also the best value for money in this part of the world. Nearby, the Playa Grande

Salsa street party at Cali

beach is a delight for those who prefer a lazy beach or safer snorkeling.

A FOODIE'S PARADISE

Typical Colombian cuisine, the 'bandeja paisa' is a wholesome meal. A bowl of chicken soup, rice and fritters, salad and boiled veggies plus a steak of chicken (pollo asado/ frito). Combine this with a Postobon - the local cola or a cerveja (beer) and you're in foodie haven.

Bandeja paisa, a typical and wholesome Colombian meal

A glimpse of the charming Colombian architecture in Cartagena