Post: #51

Interesting, as I just got my Brazil visa but have heard horror stories of late about the costs of everything being ridiculous. $12 lunches and the like. Colombia, despite market gains and property appreciation, I still think is a fair value from where it was a few years ago.

I heard from a good friend who I partied with a lot in Ukraine that Russia is money. I actually heard the opposite, that a lot of the negative shit isnt that bad and that the women there are actually quite different from the Russians in Ukraine. My buddy is a destroyer with chicks and he was telling me that girls were paying for him and had their own cash. He said a lot had their own jobs and were just down and super sexual. But you had to really get your location, ie place of your own, near the bars on lock down or it would be hard to connect anything.

I heard the Philippines is also a haven if you want to get away from some of the douche backpacker scene.

Post: #52

After spending several months in Rio, I've experienced a lot of it's culture. My best overall opinion is that you get polar opposites of reactions from girls. Meaning reactions are good or positive but always strong, not much down the middle. First, to explain the positive reactions, which occurred after initiating a greeting (day or night):
-Smiles
-Kisses on cheeks
-Asking me questions (where you from,etc.)
-Asking for my number
-Sensual touching on the arms
-Going in for a dance
-Talking to ear
-Kissing

Negative reactions from day or night approaches:
-Responding "I no speak english" while asking a question in PORTUGUESE
-Shocking facial expression, walk away
-Looking at me up and down then ignore
-Complete ignorance after making physical contact
-Shocking facial expression after doing a hip bump in the club
-Not verbally responding, but pointing to boyfriend
-Boyfriend tapping me, and waving his finger no.

The patterns I recognized where that cariocas are the least friendly and most difficult (even for Brazilians).
All the positive reactions were from girls living outside of Rio. During Brazilian holidays is the best time to meet Brazilians in Rio.

Another observance was that during mid-Novemeber and Deceember (before Christmas) tourism (by Brazilians) was low, clubs were not as full, and friendliness was down. I know this because I visited the clubs promoted by tourism companies and hostels. I did meet Argentinians and Chileans but ALL of them were less attractive and difficult to kiss (even escalate) while in Rio.

Accomodations costs in Zona Sul (Copacabana, Ipanema) are sky high but food is still available for cheap if you look around. If you're a foreigner expect to pay $1,000 to rent a room and Brazilians can find something around $750 in Copacabana. I had lunch for R$10 including rice, beans, salad, and grilled chicken every day. Safety was never an issue for me and I used the buses and taxi vans all the time even between 3-4am.

Post: #53

finally one sensible post! right on spot!

Post: #54

Seriously I treat the talk about feminism in Brazil like I treat the talk about feminism in Scandinavia. If you are going to travel there all pre-butthurt about how women are ruined if they don't wear heels for you, then you will likely not enjoy the experience. All your failures will magically be because of feminism/socialism/gold-diggerism if that's the spook you will set out against.

Post: #55

a good excuse for lame game

Post: #56

(01-05-2013 10:05 AM)maestrobaires Wrote:  a good excuse for lame game

Maestro, no excuses for not doing well in Brazil with decent portuguese. But do remember what the term opportunity costs means:

Opportunity cost is the cost of any activity measured in terms of the value of the next best alternative forgone (that is not chosen). It is the sacrifice related to the second best choice available to someone, or group, who has picked among several mutually exclusive choices. The opportunity cost is also the "cost" (as a lost benefit) of the forgone products after making a choice.

Women are our products.

Post: #57

(12-31-2012 09:14 AM)chochemonger1 Wrote:  

(12-31-2012 07:39 AM)maestrobaires Wrote:  you either have the game or you don't. everything else is just a lame excuse

brazil is still miles ahead of many countries

Maestro, I would agree it is a lame excuse if your portuguese is decent. Like I said before, I still believe Brazil has a few more years left if you pick the right cities.

But in the forum, we talk about ROI when it comes to picking a country to go to. And going to Brazil is a pretty big investment for most members.

Brazil is just not delivering like before and for those whose portuguese is weak or non-existent, it will be very difficult. For them, it has nothing to do with excuses.

For the most part, excuses are excuses in terms of gaming.

However, every country has different logistics, advantages, and obstacles. The reality for Brazil is it is very hard to swoop for gringos with no Portuguese. I had a ONS and some makeouts in a 2 week trip back in December 2011, but none of that would've been possible with no Portuguese. Perhaps I could've done better week 2 if I wasn't staying with essentially family friends in Rio where I didn't game at all that time.

I'd say for Brazil present day 2013, intermediate game and Portuguese like myself would go a farther way with expert game and no Portuguese. Therefore I agree with what you are saying Choche.

Post: #58

language is the king! i'm fluent in both, spanish and portuguese. and got a very slight accent

but i've mastered them mostly with chicas/garotas

hell i've learned hungarian, russian, swedish, portuguese, spanish, german + fairly good japanese that way

Post: #59

NO. I keep hoping there are enough oasis left (interior of the country, far from the big cities). Hell I would even get into the jungle to find 'm. Don't forget BRasil is a huge country, with lots of diversity.

Post: #60

and yeah rio is expensive as fuck. i'm around since mid december and spending as much as in sydney, tokyo or san francisco. actually certain things cost more

i kindly recommend you bahia state! was there for new year holidays and had a blast!

brazil is like russia and china. it has many quite big cities in countryside you've never heard of and where the things are different

Post: #61

brazil is so big there will always be goldmines there...

Post: #62

by the way, language exchange is an amazing way to meet girls!

Post: #63

I have never planned to go to Brazil. Maybe I'll go someday to meet up with some friends and family and that's it. I always wondered about the hype with Medellin since I live here I still don't get why it's so hyped, I'm afraid with Brazil it would be the same story but even worse now from the news coming out of there.

Post: #64

Colombia is the best overall.

Post: #65

(01-07-2013 07:15 PM)maestrobaires Wrote:  and yeah rio is expensive as fuck. i'm around since mid december and spending as much as in sydney, tokyo or san francisco. actually certain things cost more

i kindly recommend you bahia state! was there for new year holidays and had a blast!

brazil is like russia and china. it has many quite big cities in countryside you've never heard of and where the things are different

Out of curiosity, what was most of your money spent on in Rio?

I agree it can be expensive if you go eat out, do crazy party stuff, and have pricey lodging. I'm not really a big Rio fan so I just ate with my host family, street food, and street caipirinhas. My big dollars were spent on Pao de Azucar and random cab rides.

Post: #66

(01-04-2013 11:03 PM)Freedom Wrote:  After spending several months in Rio, I've experienced a lot of it's culture. My best overall opinion is that you get polar opposites of reactions from girls. Meaning reactions are good or positive but always strong, not much down the middle. First, to explain the positive reactions, which occurred after initiating a greeting (day or night):
-Smiles
-Kisses on cheeks
-Asking me questions (where you from,etc.)
-Asking for my number
-Sensual touching on the arms
-Going in for a dance
-Talking to ear
-Kissing

Negative reactions from day or night approaches:
-Responding "I no speak english" while asking a question in PORTUGUESE
-Shocking facial expression, walk away
-Looking at me up and down then ignore
-Complete ignorance after making physical contact
-Shocking facial expression after doing a hip bump in the club
-Not verbally responding, but pointing to boyfriend
-Boyfriend tapping me, and waving his finger no.

The patterns I recognized where that cariocas are the least friendly and most difficult (even for Brazilians).
All the positive reactions were from girls living outside of Rio. During Brazilian holidays is the best time to meet Brazilians in Rio.

Another observance was that during mid-Novemeber and Deceember (before Christmas) tourism (by Brazilians) was low, clubs were not as full, and friendliness was down. I know this because I visited the clubs promoted by tourism companies and hostels. I did meet Argentinians and Chileans but ALL of them were less attractive and difficult to kiss (even escalate) while in Rio.

Accomodations costs in Zona Sul (Copacabana, Ipanema) are sky high but food is still available for cheap if you look around. If you're a foreigner expect to pay $1,000 to rent a room and Brazilians can find something around $750 in Copacabana. I had lunch for R$10 including rice, beans, salad, and grilled chicken every day. Safety was never an issue for me and I used the buses and taxi vans all the time even between 3-4am.

So here we got a brazil dilemma

If you speak little or no Portuguese, you can only stay in rio or sp where there is more to do and touristic, but people are unfriendly, feminism shit, as said above.

If you want to learn Portuguese, it's not like you will be fluent in few days, the time spent learning, months, can be used to scoop hot chicks in other easier countries where the chicks have less attitude., so you ask, why bother.

Then you spend like 5000 usd a month living in zona Sul, for a small place, including money on Portuguese teacher, casa do caminho. People who say its diverse try go outside rio or sp, somewhere like Curitiba without Portuguese.

Post: #67

(01-08-2013 08:11 AM)east and west Wrote:  So here we got a brazil dilemma

If you want to learn Portuguese, it's not like you will be fluent in few days, the time spent learning, months, can be used to scoop hot chicks in other easier countries where the chicks have less attitude., so you ask, why bother.

That's not the best strategy. If you want to plan a long-term (months) trip, then do this:

1. Go to Rio for 1 month (ipanema). Stay at a hostel and make sure there are some Brazilian holidays during your time there. This way you'll meet traveling Brazilians from smaller cities which will invite you to visit them.

2. Take classes everyday. It's R$950 if you pre-pay. Afterwords you should know the basics to get around yourself.

3. Now that you have leads from staying at a hostel, contact them to say you are moving. Go to the smaller city where the girl lives. She will pick you up at the bus station or airport and show you around.

4. Ask her to help you find a room to rent. Do not stay at her place ...unless you want a controlled relationship.

6. Look for people to do language exchange (easy way to do this is putting up fliers).

7. You've started to live your dream!

This strategy is best for a 3-month minimum ...but you will want to stay longer.

Post: #68

cab rides and accommodation kill

it's not buenos aires which has absolutely awesome public transport

Post: #69

(01-08-2013 08:11 AM)east and west Wrote:  

(01-04-2013 11:03 PM)Freedom Wrote:  After spending several months in Rio, I've experienced a lot of it's culture. My best overall opinion is that you get polar opposites of reactions from girls. Meaning reactions are good or positive but always strong, not much down the middle. First, to explain the positive reactions, which occurred after initiating a greeting (day or night):
-Smiles
-Kisses on cheeks
-Asking me questions (where you from,etc.)
-Asking for my number
-Sensual touching on the arms
-Going in for a dance
-Talking to ear
-Kissing

Negative reactions from day or night approaches:
-Responding "I no speak english" while asking a question in PORTUGUESE
-Shocking facial expression, walk away
-Looking at me up and down then ignore
-Complete ignorance after making physical contact
-Shocking facial expression after doing a hip bump in the club
-Not verbally responding, but pointing to boyfriend
-Boyfriend tapping me, and waving his finger no.

The patterns I recognized where that cariocas are the least friendly and most difficult (even for Brazilians).
All the positive reactions were from girls living outside of Rio. During Brazilian holidays is the best time to meet Brazilians in Rio.

Another observance was that during mid-Novemeber and Deceember (before Christmas) tourism (by Brazilians) was low, clubs were not as full, and friendliness was down. I know this because I visited the clubs promoted by tourism companies and hostels. I did meet Argentinians and Chileans but ALL of them were less attractive and difficult to kiss (even escalate) while in Rio.

Accomodations costs in Zona Sul (Copacabana, Ipanema) are sky high but food is still available for cheap if you look around. If you're a foreigner expect to pay $1,000 to rent a room and Brazilians can find something around $750 in Copacabana. I had lunch for R$10 including rice, beans, salad, and grilled chicken every day. Safety was never an issue for me and I used the buses and taxi vans all the time even between 3-4am.

So here we got a brazil dilemma

If you speak little or no Portuguese, you can only stay in rio or sp where there is more to do and touristic, but people are unfriendly, feminism shit, as said above.

If you want to learn Portuguese, it's not like you will be fluent in few days, the time spent learning, months, can be used to scoop hot chicks in other easier countries where the chicks have less attitude., so you ask, why bother.

Then you spend like 5000 usd a month living in zona Sul, for a small place, including money on Portuguese teacher, casa do caminho. People who say its diverse try go outside rio or sp, somewhere like Curitiba without Portuguese.

Big advice. Buy the book "Ponto de Encontro" off Amazon now. You can study Portuguese independently off of that.

Once you go down to Brazil for more formal instruction, they will get you more guides to study off of as you will be in good hands. If you ever have to leave Brazil again, you can always study solo as you will have had a better foundation to build off of by that time.

If you're looking to do business down in Brazil & addition to picking up chicks, be patient with yourself and enjoy the process & tedious hard work of learning a language as it will pay off!

With a full time job while traveling, I was able to start my Portuguese class in September 2011 while finishing 19 dense lessons and 2.5 years worth of material by March 2012 (Class ended May 2012). If I can do something like that, I'm sure you can too.

Post: #70

brazil like russia and japan is the big boys league. for a starter i'd rather opt for colombia or ukraine. if the philippines or paraguay are not your thing

Post: #71

I like to play it big.
Can't be bothered on Colombia now, as that means the need to learn another language, more effort and money and I am already learning Portuguese.

It's either the top of the top, or I would rather stay in Europe and be peaceful like others.

Long term strategy is to have some nice local friends in my opinion, make sure you meet brazilians in hostels or social events and not another backpacker. The thing is I didn't meet many in hostels, pretty much 90% of guests in zona Sul hostels are gringos.

Post: #72

I have budgeted 50 k usd to use for next year living in brazil.
Comfortable 1 bed apt in ipanema or leblon, Portuguese class group plus private 1 to 1 , meals eating out 5 times a week, parties in zona Sul and barra at weekends, buying beers, taxis at night and metro in the day, leisure activities, etc

Post: #73

I think the Brazil dream is still alive and well, but I think 2nd and 3rd tier cities are the way forward. Their GDP is currently 6th in the WORLD, putting them above Russia and India. Brazil is experiencing unprecedented growth economically and so for the next few years they are going to be riding the wave that the World Youth Day, World Cup, and 2016 Olympics are bringing them.

With this growth, the country is going to become more expensive, more disposable income=higher demand for products=higher prices, this is basic economics. The prices aren't going to go down anytime soon, if anything they will only increase. That being said, I would be interested to know how this economic growth is affecting 2nd and 3rd tier Brazil or of it is an isolated incident to the largest cities.

If you want a cheap holiday and speak no Portuguese....maybe your Brazil dream isn't as realizable as it was 5 years ago. I think Brazil still has a lot to offer, and I am still very much looking forward to going there.

Post: #74

Damn this thread has me thinking a little bit. I was in Brazil 3 years ago and really liked it, overall I was feeling the people, culture, natural beauty, etc. I did find Rio to be expensive, Cariocas rude comparatively to other Brasilians, and my biggest complaints overall were lack of English, and that I didn't find Brasilian cuisine to be particularly good.

Here is my pseudo dilemma, next year will be my last year on my tourist visa to visit before it expires the following winter, I live far from the Brasilian consulate in SF so getting a visa is a hassle for me. I really had a blast in Brasil and want to go back either way, but the fact my visa will expire makes me seem even more pertinent.

The thing is, I'm going to Mexico this winter and I'm starting to learn Spanish, because Portuguese is very similar at first I was confusing Portuguese words with Spanish. I have since tried to block out all Portuguese from my mind to absorb the Spanish more properly. After 6 weeks in Mexico my Spanish should be vastly improved, while my Portuguese will be all but forgotten.

This makes me think that maybe I should just say fuck Brasil and set my sights on somewhere else in Latin America like Colombia, Peru, or D.R. That said, I can't shake my love for Brasil. I feel like that trip there really propelled me out of a serious depression and funk, and I had an amazing time. Brasilian culture and the natural beauty of the country just interest me so much more than the Spanish speaking countries of Latin America. Plus I find Brasilian women to be insanely sexy, probably even more than Colombianas and those D.R. honeys, I love me some shorter, dark skinned women, with thick thighs, and huge, round, shapely booties!

While my game was in the developing stages, I felt like it was easier to hook up in Brasil (outside of Rio), with foreign tourists and Brasilian women on vacation away from their home cities, at least comparatively to the area I live in now. One thing though, that is absolutely key that other guys have touched on is speaking Portuguese!! This will open so many doors and make it easily 5 X more likely that you will pull a Brasilian girl. Relearning basic Portuguese may be a pain in the ass, but the question is whether it is worth it to me.

Finally, the last major consideration.... If I do Brasil next winter it may have to be for the last time. My paper situation is drastically dwindling, man talk about the ups and downs of life. I was balling out of control a few years ago, but now in the past 3 years, my income has plummeted. I may not be able to afford Brazil, or many long term travels in the future, the way I keep burning through savings. It's too bad that Brasil has become more expensive, if things were as cheap as they were supposed to be 10 or 15 years ago, I'd try to travel there every year, but now I hear about prices that are through the roof! Fortunately, Salvador and other parts of the country are supposed to be cheaper, so that's probably where I'll head if I go.

Post: #75

Stick to one language.

I toured almost all of Latin America JUST to decide on learning portugese or Spanish. And the decision for me was Portuguese, as I like brazil much more, even though Spanish is more widely spoken and better for business, etc.

This was an un usual move, as most people study Spanish. But it depends on your personal circumstance, for me no other Latin America country can be compared with brazil and its cities. For me No other city in Latin America are as good as rioor sp.