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Old 02-04-2005, 07:49 PM   #1
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Ok kids, Jake is starting a NFP organization and is going to have to fly to the DR soon to make some business connections. Anyone know anything about the place?
All I know is they speak spanish and share the island with Haiti.
Please share anything about transport and whatnot if you have any ideas.

WWM - you've been there right?
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Old 02-04-2005, 08:00 PM   #2
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I've never been but i dated a person from there once but then decided thats a bit far from CO and broke it off anyways you might know her jake worked at smr food service short sexy thing anyways back to DR don't remember anything she told me about it except that she loved it and wanted to go back or something like that hmm anyways that is my experience with a DR native
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Old 02-04-2005, 08:04 PM   #3
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Thanks for that totallly useless information.

Anyone else?
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Old 02-05-2005, 12:25 AM   #4
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I've been there. There are buses from the airport. Very primitive roads. It is not as poor as Haiti but still very poor. The people are very friendly. This was a long time ago; I don't remember much.
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Old 02-06-2005, 07:54 AM   #5
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Yah, I've been there -- as a one day stop on a cruise ship. So, my knowledge on the D.R. is only a little more extensive than Phinehas'... .

Seriously, it's a cool country, and I wish I'd had more time to visit. I think the travel industry is short changing it, billing it only for its beaches. There are some really cool historical sights in Santo Domingo. Forts, cathedrals, etc. The people seem very un-"third world"-like, if you can understand what I mean by that. They seem modern, friendly, world citizens just like you or I. Not that they shouldn't, it's just we never hear much about D.R., and we do, it is media blather to perpetuate the myth of it being another Haiti or something.

Good choice, Jake. I think you'll like it almost as much as Phinehas enjoyed HIS Dominican..."experience..."

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Old 02-06-2005, 10:48 AM   #6
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strangely enough, i was reading about the Dominican Republic today in the paper and then saw your post jake. their was a kewl little article about an island off the coast called Dominica. the article is about hiking the island's peaks. it looks very beautiful and "claims" their aren't that many people (tourists) that frequent the island. it looks like it's worth checking out though. it boasts of having warm springs to swim in everywhere because of the volcano activity and a giant two-pound frog known as the "mountain chicken."

anyhow, looks promising.
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Old 02-06-2005, 11:01 AM   #7
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wow ok i am getting frusterated.

Anyone know anything about international freight? I need to import just over 1300 lbs from the DR.
AH SO FRUSTERATING!
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Old 02-15-2005, 05:08 PM   #8
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Ive been, its got some awesome things to do. i can't remember exactly where we were, but from the beaches the mountains, which where bad ass, it was something like 30 minutes. Cock fighting is pretty big down there, even though we didn't see it. kinda random. anyway, there are plenty of things to do, ecspecially cool was canyoning. This guy guides us down a river on foot, then we repel down a waterfall, jump of some cliffs, keep on going down, water slides and rapids, its pretty increible, than a fairly decent hike up a the side of a random hill through peoples back yards and stuff, which my dad said reminded him a bit of vietnam... its was pretty fun adventure. Scuba diving was pretty fun down there and my guide looked exactly like dustin hoffman, it was hilarious.
The Dominican Republic is awesome. we also ran into a huge tarantula which was pretty freaky. There a bike rides which are intense, where you go down back mountain trails, through roads in country, and just random trails. it was incredible, the views and the scenery was great. i definetly suggest the canyoning and the bike rides. after the ride, you get a awesome local meal. Have fun, theres a great deal to be had
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Old 02-15-2005, 07:44 PM   #9
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I was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Its an awesome place nonetheless, the people are friendly the countryside is amazing, the Spaniard history and buildings (Columbus) are great and the country itself is glorifying. Ive been everywhere in that island, I moved to the US when I was 10 but I still take trips back all the time.

For tourists the beaches are awesome, everytime I go back home for the spanish women my friends want to go check out the European women over in the resorts, they are not too expensive compared to other places and I have to say the beaches are wonderful, nice clear blue waters, Im a diver as well and I could recommend my country as one of the best dive spots in the Caribbean.

But like any third world countries you will run into a lot of poverty, I myself never lived through it as Im a city boy from a wealthy family, like most spanish countries the whiter you are the wealthier you are, and well....im white. But ive been through it all up and down there so ask away and I shall respond.
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Old 02-15-2005, 08:02 PM   #10
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What do you know about the coffee industry there? I want to start importing DR cafe. The profit made will go to an orphanage back in the DR.
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Old 02-15-2005, 08:24 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally posted by jakethepunk@Feb 15 2005, 08:02 PM
What do you know about the coffee industry there? I want to start importing DR cafe. The profit made will go to an orphanage back in the DR.
The coffee industry is big down there, but see there might be a culture clash depending on where you want to import that coffee. The coffee is strong and not bitter (unlike Starshits Colombian crap) and it would make a hit where I live as the competition is minimal and spanish people drink coffee differently (little cups...strong), american people in a whole cup? with water? Yuck, add some milk and sugar and its officially Cafe Con Leche.....just teasing. But seriously look into it, labor is cheap and land is cheap.
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Old 02-15-2005, 08:34 PM   #12
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Yea i've had DR

it's good. I totally know what you are talking about though. The problem with most people is that they arent drinking fresh coffee. All coffee fresh roasted has a sweet taste. The bitterness comes from overroasting.

Trust me. lol.

Anyway I think I might just have to buy a ticket, brush up on my spanish, pick up my missionary friend from the orphanage, and hike to some coffee plantations to setup some deals. I know what I am offering to pay for Arabica is more than they are selling it for now so that's not a problem. My only problems right now are shipping. Still trying to find a shipping company.

What port city is closest to the USA? Rio Haina or Caucedo?
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Old 02-15-2005, 08:39 PM   #13
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Hey Jake - sounds cool what you are doing - how did you get into this? I've worked for NFPs for 10 years now. Let me know if I can be of assistance.

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Old 02-15-2005, 08:40 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally posted by jakethepunk@Feb 15 2005, 08:34 PM
Yea i've had DR

it's good. I totally know what you are talking about though. The problem with most people is that they arent drinking fresh coffee. All coffee fresh roasted has a sweet taste. The bitterness comes from overroasting.

Trust me. lol.

Anyway I think I might just have to buy a ticket, brush up on my spanish, pick up my missionary friend from the orphanage, and hike to some coffee plantations to setup some deals. I know what I am offering to pay for Arabica is more than they are selling it for now so that's not a problem. My only problems right now are shipping. Still trying to find a shipping company.

What port city is closest to the USA?* Rio Haina* or Caucedo?
Well I know Rio Haina is on the bottom of the country, Caucedo I dont know too much about. Ill ask my father, he owns a lingerie company out there and used to takes care of most of the importing and exporting, but now they make the stuff there and overseas. Rio Haina from what ive known is the #1 and closer to the city.
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Old 02-15-2005, 08:42 PM   #15
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Oh just thought of a helpful tip...if you can legally get NFP status then you can get tax examption on import/export. I helped do wis with my org in Belize b/c we would bring stuff from the States down to Central America.
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Old 02-15-2005, 08:45 PM   #16
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My pops is working on the NFP paperwork. It's sweet because so far everything we are going to import is duty free anyway.

so it's all good.
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Old 02-15-2005, 08:46 PM   #17
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Good stuff, sounds like you guys have it all worked out so far.
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Old 02-15-2005, 08:48 PM   #18
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yea except for shipping. Need to find out how to get 1300 pounds of coffee from the DR to Phoenix, AZ.

Kind of a daunting feat...

I guess I should give FedEx a call. Everything else is not working out....
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Old 02-15-2005, 08:48 PM   #19
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come to the chat
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