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La Guajira Peninsula: Desert Landscapes in Northern Colombia
Blog: GoBackpacking - 16 August 2011
La Guajira Peninsula is a desert environment along the coast of northern Colombia.---------Join Travel Blog Success today and learn to build a better travel blog. Membership includes 27 tutorials, 12 expert audio interviews, private support forum, and much more.
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Photo of the Day: Hummingbird
Blog: Two Backpackers - 6 August 2011
The beautiful glowing green hummingbird was seen flying around bird feeders in near Salento, Colombia during our hike through Valle de Cocora. Related posts:Photo of the Day: Electric Green Humming Bird Photo of the Day: Wax Palms of Valle de Cocora, Colombia Discover Salento, Colombia © Jason for 2 Backpackers, 2011. | FOLLOW US ON [...]
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5 Safety Tips for Taking Taxis in Latin America
Blog: GoBackpacking - 23 June 2011
5 universal safety tips for taking taxis in Latin America.---------Join Travel Blog Success today and learn to build a better travel blog. Membership includes 27 tutorials, 12 expert audio interviews, private support forum, and much more.
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Anatomy Of An Armed Robbery in South America
Blog: GoBackpacking - 21 June 2011
A detailed account of being robbed in Medellin, Colombia.---------Join Travel Blog Success today and learn to build a better travel blog. Membership includes 27 tutorials, 12 expert audio interviews, private support forum, and much more.
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La Cueva del Esplendor: Horseback Riding in Jardin
Blog: GoBackpacking - 17 June 2011
Horseback riding to La Cueva del Esplendor ("Cave of Splendor") outside Jardin, Colombia.---------Join Travel Blog Success today and learn to build a better travel blog. Membership includes 27 tutorials, 12 expert audio interviews, private support forum, and much more.
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Medellin Living 2011: The First 3 Months in Review
Blog: GoBackpacking - 31 May 2011
A recap of my first 3 months of 2011 living in Medellin, Colombia.---------Join Travel Blog Success today and learn to build a better travel blog. Membership includes 27 tutorials, 12 expert audio interviews, private support forum, and much more.
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Update from the Field: Unsung Heroes, Community Alliances + and Mission Statements Made Reality
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 30 May 2011
Compiled by Kate Bennett, KF15, Ecuador This week in the field fellows across the world explore the factors that make microfinance and its successes a reality. In Kenya, we meet the actors who reach out to borrowers everyday, at any and all degrees of their own discomfort. In Nicaragua, we discover that high aspirations can [...]
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Fear of Travel – Don’t Let It Stop You From Seeing the World
Blog: GoBackpacking - 24 May 2011
Tips for tackling the fear of travel in its most common forms.---------Join Travel Blog Success today and learn to build a better travel blog. Membership includes 27 tutorials, 12 expert audio interviews, private support forum, and much more.
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The Pros and Cons of Microfinance – A View From The Field (Part 2)
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 24 May 2011
This is the second of a three-part article on ‘The Pros and Cons of Microfinance - A View From The Field’. The first part concentrated on the pros. The second will focus on the cons. Most of the cons described below demonstrate one thing; microfinance assists on a micro level but is unable to affect macro-level influences. The latter are the main reason that people are impoverished in the first place.
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The Pros and Cons of Microfinance – A View From The Field (Part 1)
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 23 May 2011
The article will be published in 3 parts. The first will concentrate on the pros of microfinance, the second on the cons, and the third on what I perceive to be the best conditions for successful microfinance.
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Update from the Field: Personal Connections, Supply and Demand + A Culinary Excursion
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 23 May 2011
Compiled by Kathrin Gerner, KF15, Togo As the 14th class passes the baton to the 15th class, the Kiva fellows are sharing their final thoughts and first impressions. Be inspired by the personal connections Kiva creates between lenders and borrowers in Nepal and Sierra Leone. Find out how a phenomenal harvest can prevent farmers in Nicaragua from repaying their loans. Discover the creative ways of assessing credit worthiness used in Uganda and around the globe. Sample local customs and cuisine, while reading about the Day of the Child in Mexico and taking a culinary excursion in Liberia.
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Video Blog: Interactuar – A Quite Amazing Organisation
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 19 May 2011
By Nick Hamilton, KF14 I have just come to the end of a 3-month Kiva Fellowship with Interactuar, Kiva's Field Partner in the state of Antioquia, Colombia. I was blown away by this organisation. 'The Google of Microfinance Institutions,' I kept thinking to myself.
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Coffee Junkies in Colombia
Blog: Two Backpackers - 25 April 2011
Peter and Dalene of Hecktic Travels share facts of the preconceived notion that while traveling in Colombia you can expect great coffee. The Best Colombian Coffee Good coffee is synonymous with Colombia and for that reason, we couldn’t wait to get there. We visualized Juan Valdez walking casually beside his donkey, an amiable smile on his [...]
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Update from the Field: Earth Day, Celebrations + Exceeding Expectations
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 25 April 2011
Compiled by Alexis Ditkowsky Kiva Fellows observed Earth Day by sharing projects initiated by their partner microfinance institutions and host countries and by celebrating Kiva.org's first batch of "Green Loans". The upbeat mood also extended to anniversary parties at MFIs in Jordan and Armenia, enthusiastic endorsements to travel to Colombia, and reporting on a great opportunity for Kiva clients in Mongolia. Fellows also visited with borrowers in the Philippines, South Africa, and Armenia, and took us on a typical commute in Mexico City.
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Andres Carne de Res Chia
Blog: Lost World Expedition - 23 April 2011
If you’ve been to Bogota and did not spend at least one evening at “Andres Carne de Res” your visit to Bogota was truly incomplete. Really, we are not exaggerating. We did not know what to think when every single person we met on our way to Bogota would say: “Do not miss Andres in [...]
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Colombia: Lose your perception of the past and come visit!
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 18 April 2011
Ever since I first visited Colombia in 2007 up until today I constantly get asked one question over and over: "is it safe in Colombia?" After spending nearly 4 months I almost laugh as I have had zero issues, yet I have to take a step back and think about my perception of the country before I first visited. What was "that" Colombia in my mind? How many Colombians could I name? Shakira, Pablo Escobar, and Juan Valdez--the third being a fictitious character I remember from the Colombian coffee commercials of my childhood. How about the rest of the country?
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Update from the Field: Trash, Delicious Treats + Community Outreach
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 18 April 2011
Compiled by Alexis Ditkowsky, KF14, South Africa Let’s take a moment to vicariously consume baked goods in Colombia, coffee in Nicaragua, tomatoes in Ukraine, and a traditional meal in Nepal.
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Hiking the Beautiful Valle de Cocora
Blog: Lost World Expedition - 14 April 2011
When I think of tall towering palm trees, I generally picture myself relaxing on a peaceful white sand beach, gazing at turquoise water and relaxing in the shade of a coconut palm. It is nice to think there would be a fruity drink with a little umbrella in my hand as well. The last place [...]
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Conflict Generated Displacement and Microfinance: Helping People Build a New Life
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 13 April 2011
Merys María Mejía Velasquez is always one of my favorite clients to see in the offices of Fundación Mario Santo Domingo (FMSD); I am always greeted with a huge and a warm welcome spewing with energy. Merys is a long time client of FMSD and has recently taken her first loan through Kiva to buy products to continue to expand her bakery. She enthusiastically attends the free workshops offered by FMSD and is constantly doing all she can to continue to grow her business.
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Horseback Riding and Tejo in Salento: A Guest Post
Blog: Lost World Expedition - 10 April 2011
This is our first guest post. We think this is a really great idea because it offers a different point of view and style from our writing and most importantly it means we don’t have to write a post This is good news for our lazy asses! Tom and Jenny are the first friends to take [...]
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Villa de Leyva is a Must! (Our humble opinion)
Blog: Lost World Expedition - 7 April 2011
A quick tour of our visit to Villa de Leyva, Colombia
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Update from the Field: April Fools, Terrible Coffee + Getting Attached
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 4 April 2011
Compiled by Alexis Ditkowsky, KF14, South Africa We hope you enjoyed our April Fools post on Friday! While we were entertaining ourselves pulling it all together, we also found the time to attend to some serious matters: coffee in Colombia is no joke (in a bad way), some borrowers are easier to locate than others, and oftentimes Fellows must say goodbye to people and places before they’re ready to.
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Special Update from the Field: Beaches, Safaris + Cambodian Glamour Shots
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 1 April 2011
Compiled by Alexis Ditkowsky, KF14, South Africa Kiva Fellows are nothing if not creative. We’ve gone to elaborate lengths to convince you that it can be hard to visit borrowers and that when we’re not trekking for miles, we’re doing elaborate calculations or dealing with databases and reporting. In truth, it’s all a front for an extended holiday from our regular lives. You thought our recent Carnival coverage represented a change of pace? Think again!
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Photo of the Day: Plaza Cisneros Medellin, Colombia
Blog: Two Backpackers - 30 March 2011
Check out Why Visit Colombia? Plaza Cisneros is located in central Medellin. It is a jungle of light posts 24 meters in height; there are 300 reflection mirrors (7 per each tower) and 170 grounded lights. These elements are mixed with bamboo and water fountains. It is considered an artificial jungle around bright space. [...]
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Photo of the Day: Plaza Cisneros Medellin, Colombia
Blog: Two Backpackers - 30 March 2011
Check out Why Visit Colombia? Plaza Cisneros is located in central Medellin. It is a jungle of light posts 24 meters in height; there are 300 reflection mirrors (7 per each tower) and 170 grounded lights. These elements are mixed with bamboo and water fountains. It is considered an artificial jungle around bright space. [...]
