Phil - did you ever find some galangal root? I was visiting friends in Medellin this summer and can attest to the wonderfulness of this city. It is pretty much the only place I plan on visiting over and over again. It is also very easy to get to from the US east coast (this is important since I hate to fly).

I have a plant that I need help identifying that you might know. I will have to dig around for a photo of it in bloom. They are bushes that bloom pale purple trumpets - look like a bignonia. There is one growing at the Botanical garden there in Medellin but it didn't have a sign on it and it wasn't in bloom at the time. Mine are seed grown from another friend's garden in Bogota, so I think it prefers cool weather.

I'll be back down there next summer and will seek you out and try to get you some galangal (it is easy to grow here and will sometimes overwinter).