telling it as it is – the blog

All investigation on this topic led me to believe the city where Dalaine and I are staying at present, was the home of the most beautiful women in the World. After all, when Fromer and Lonely Plant both say it on numerous occasions in their travel guides that the city of Cali in Colombia is where to find the most beautiful women…. then you must sit up and take note.

I assumed that in terms of beauty it was based on outward appearance, maybe to include dress sense , sophistication, pose etc etc .  I don’t know where this piece of worthless  information came from being a  very happily married man  to the most beautiful wife in the world) but I suspect it has something to do with Colombia winning the Miss World and Miss Universe beauty contests on a number of occasions and from that a number of winners had come from this city where we are staying at present ( until we fly out tomorrow ).

Dalaine and I have enjoyed people watching , observing and just meeting people that God unbelievably puts in our path. For those without faith it could be called coincidence but we know it to be something much more profound than that.

Included in our stay in torrential rain, we have visited one of the worlds largest and best zoo’s ( Cali Zoo), then to what is considered  one of South America’s largest shopping Malls where we ate a very good lunch for USD4 each and went to watch Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz in a blockbuster Movie for USD 3 each.

In both cases the Mall and picture theatre were sparsely populated (4 adults and a child in a beautifully plush 500 seater movie theatre), where people were not buying in the Mall apart from people  like us buying lunch. Prices in Colombia anyway are no different to those in Europe and like Europe the sightseeing visitors with the possible exception of the Asian Tourist Markets are simply not shopping.

Anyway I digress!  Back to the beautiful women of Cali.

I was going to write a blog this morning that I believed the Beautiful Women Of Cali was a myth. There are beautiful women in Colombia but not just Cali. With some exceptions the women were ordinary in appearance. Then came an experience this morning that changed my whole way of thinking.

Dalaine and I always start our day with a time of prayer , and this morning was no different ….praying for protection, not only for ourselves  in this pristine but unpredictable and potentially highly volatile country, as well as for family and friends…and to come across people that we could learn from and  perhaps bring something into their lives.

I decided mid morning that I would attempt to climb a local land mark called the three crosses, a steep wooded climb of approx one hour each way ….something I really wasn’t looking forward to but in the interests of photography then it is something that has got to be done.

I was looking around to find the best way to make my way to the start of the climb, noting the conditions  (foggy) were not the best for taking long distant photographs with a point and shoot camera, when I noticed a group of high rise apartments being built….maybe I could ask to go up to the 20 something floor and hang over a balcony and take photographs for much the same result for a lot less effort.

Sadly despite my feeble attempt both in Pigeon English and faltering Spanish I was told No Permisimo which I knew  there was no way I was going to get my wish granted.

With my tail between my legs I retreated and continued walking looking for possible snippets of photo opportunities through trees , wires, houses  , only to start looking at the top of a residential apartment wishing and hoping that there was some way I was going to get to the top.There appeared to be no one around as this thought crossed my mind.

I didn’t see at the first interest a lady who asked ” was I looking for a photo opportunity ?” (or words to that effect). After a brief introduction and an explanation I met Claudia , a Colombian along with her husband Geoff and young son who live in Los Angeles California, their Boxer Dog and last but not least their lovely Mother ( and Grandmother) Patricia.After brief introductions and pleasantries we made our way to the top of the Apartment for the best views that one could ask for. Also a promise by Patricia who lives in Cali to send in the future photos of Cali that because of weather and time constraints have been impossible.

Not only that ,we found we had so much in common…..a similar faith, Claudia’s love of Photography ( she like my daughter Rachel is a professional Photographer )….her Mum Patricia  would love to build a Church to unite a small community that has drug and Alcohol problems…. ( the same passion that Dalaine and I have for Children less fortunate than most ) ….their desire one day to come to visit my Native New Zealand….and obviously a love of travel.

In the space of maybe  30 minutes I had found the beautiful women of Cali I had been looking for….two that opened their home( (and their roof) to a complete stranger. But I know that when I left these two ladies had planted in my heart that beauty is not only skin but heart deep. Excitedly I made my way back to share with Dalaine an experience that truly blessed me……and I know when we return to South America next time it will in all probability be via Los Angeles  (New York  and Andover) where in each place God has put little stop signs to visit the homes of Angels…….and friends that bring so much joy to our lives.

Sure the women of Cali with their high heels and designer clothes and Saucy Salsa moves show beauty on the outside that all of us admire (men) and envy ( women)….hopefully in a nice way….but as we grow older it is the ability to relate, talk, tell of past adventures and experiences, dream and share visions that are the important things in life.

If you are reading this and are beautiful only on the outside , make it a priority to include being beautiful all over…..especially on the inside.

I will write  again soon. Take great care of yourselves and the ones you love in your life.

Lindsay Walker

17th July 2010

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