Negril - A First Timers Report ..Snorkeling, Rockhouse, Mayfield Photos

[Callieian]

Re: Negril - A First Timers Report ..Snorkeling, Rockhouse, Mayfield Photos

Fantastic report - I loved the pics, especially of Rockhouse where we stayed a coupla years ago. Heading back in 2 weeks this time doing Blue Cave and Catcha falling star.

[Guest]

Re: Negril - A First Timers Report ..Snorkeling, Rockhouse, Mayfield Photos

thanks for all the kind words...

many more pictures of rockhouse to come...

and our day at mayfield falls with pictures...

and next...my day in big bridge...giving out a few things to some local folks...with pictures there too...

stay tuned! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Guest]

Re: Negril - A First Timers Report ..Snorkeling, Rockhouse, Mayfield Photos

Part Nine

We leave the board meeting still in progress at Fun Holiday to go meet Maggie, down the beach at her restaurant…and as promised we drop Alan back at the Rockhouse so he can float to his heart’s content for the rest of the afternoon…

I pick up the bag full of “gifts” I brought along and we head out towards Savannah La Mar.

When we started planning this trip…way back last spring…I read a few posts about people bringing things with them to leave behind and it immediately struck me as something I wanted to do. (It wasn’t until I was really there that I realized what a truly great need there is for just about everything…except the bounties of nature…in Jamaica). Over the next few months, I started to pack an extra piece of luggage with odds and ends to take with me as gifts…books, toys & clothes at yard sales…asked a couple of family members with small kids for clothing donations…and made a couple of trips to the dollar store for craft and school supplies. We were travelling pretty light (altho, not light enough) and could well afford to bring the extra luggage.

There are many people in Negril who will take your donations and see that they get distributed where needed…but Maggie (a wonderful Rasta woman from the States who has lived here many years) has generously offered to take me out to the countryside to bring my meagre offerings to some people personally.

Even better…we are accompanied by a former employee of hers…Ernie…who has returned to Jamaica to visit his friends and family here, near Sav La Mar. Ernie is currently working as a chef in the States…but, as he tells us, his heart is in Jamaica, and he will return as soon as he can save enough money Stateside to finish building his house here and stay for good.

We’re headed towards his “neighbourhood” and the ride gives me another opportunity to see the countryside…a glimpse outside the tourist areas.

Big Bridge is a sort of a “squatter’s” community…I’m told the government owns all the land here…but the local’s are carving out an amazing development with the slow, determined and deliberate effort that seems to be characteristic of Jamaican people. I sense a very obvious pride when we arrive at Ernie’s “yard” and he introduces us to his grandfather next door and takes us for a tour through his home where his mother, sister and her kids live…showing us the additions in progress.

We “joke” about all the resources available to American men engaged in building projects…and having lived for over a year in Boston, he knows what’s available at Home Depot! He can only dream of having a few of those supplies to work with here.. Building a house here is a long process…done with much patience, sweat…and limited tools!

It isn’t long before a few family members and neighbours come to see Ernie and his “guests”…and when we open the trunk and Ernie explains that we have brought some “things”…there is much interest. We start passing out books to the kids…and delight in finding several pair of little feet to fit the sandals I brought.







Sun hats & sunglasses…and the little stuffed toys…. are a big hit…the mothers are going through the clothing to see who might fit into what…a couple of men seem to like the shirts….and Ernie is busy making sure everyone gets a pencil.



The children are so beautiful…shy and looking at me with wide, dark eyes…I’m a bit shy myself and take a few pictures to capture the memory of this moment…feeling honoured to be in their environment and wishing I had brought a truckload of stuff with me…it seems like so little now.



Soon Ernie says we should bring the rest to another place nearby…and we say our goodbyes and drive to another house where he unexpectedly finds his brother…a nice reunion for him. The trunk opens again…and more things are passed out..the kids love the sheets of stickers and magic markers and one of the women says she will give a few supplies to a teacher.

While Ernie is chatting with his brother, I listen to the women talking amongst themselves…the lilting patois phrases…I have no idea what they are saying but it doesn’t matter.



One of my last visual memories as we were driving away was of a little boy wearing a tiny green & white New York Jets jacket that was much too small for him…but I could tell, he would probably never part with it!

I have a very warm feeling inside on the drive back…and I’m already thinking that next time I’ll bring one less suitcase for us…and an extra one to leave behind! I wonder how much stuff from Home Depot I can fit into a pilot case?

To be continued….

[gmarieggers]

Re: Negril - A First Timers Report ..Snorkeling, Rockhouse, Mayfield Photos

mikell,

Such a glorious first trip! Hello, I'm Murry - I have the jamaican fever. Discovered Jamaica Feb. 2002, went again Sept. 2002, going again in 14 days!

Such a great report! Continue please...

[queenb]

Re: Negril - A First Timers Report ..Snorkeling, Rockhouse, Mayfield Photos

Murry, you've said it wrong. Mikell and Murry repeat after me; "Hello, I'm ______and I'm a "Jamaicaholic" Now, doesn't that make you feel better? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Great Report!!

[grasshopper]

Re: Negril - A First Timers Report ..Snorkeling, Rockhouse, Mayfield Photos

This is a great report!

[nealt1]

Re: Negril - A First Timers Report ..Snorkeling, Rockhouse, Mayfield Photos

Thanks for all the info on snokeling and everything else. I'm trying to collect as much info as possible before my first trip.

5 more days!!!!!!!!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[nealt1]

Re: Negril - A First Timers Report ..Snorkeling, Rockhouse, Mayfield Photos

uuuhhhh... snorkeling

[AngieB]

Re: Negril - A First Timers Report ..Snorkeling, Rockhouse, Mayfield Photos

Mikell.....wha happan....not one pictah, likkle red xxx's everywhere. I tried reading without them but it just made me mad. So, I will stop reading until the picture show up.

QUEEEEEENNNNNNN-B HELLLLLLLLP!!!!!

[NeverGoneFromYou]

Re: Negril - A First Timers Report ..Snorkeling, Rockhouse, Mayfield Photos

Beautiful Mikell! Absolutely Beautiful!! This was just so heartwarming. I was thinking the same thing after reading so many posts and realizing that there was such a great need. I too felt that my little contribution would be just that....little. However I see through your report that doing a little something is always better than doing a lot of nothing! You are a blessing!

[Guest]

Re: Negril - A First Timers Report ..Snorkeling, Rockhouse, Mayfield Photos

I don't know what's happening to my pictures! I was told that there is a limit of 5 per post...so I've been making sure that I don't put more than that in any one post...but even though they appear in the posts for several hours...they seem to "disappear" later!

wish someone could figure out why this is happening! I will try to re-insert them AGAIN!

I can also tell you that I have all of these pictures and many, many more posted in a photo album on a web site and would be happy to send the link to anyone who wants to view them all in a slide show.

[Guest]

Re: Negril - A First Timers Report ..Snorkeling, Rockhouse, Mayfield Photos

Back to the Rockhouse to tell Alan all about my afternoon adventure in Big Bridge…but he’s still out snorkeling somewhere…so I decide to take a dip in the pool to cool off…Rockhouse has a great pool…right on the edge of the cliffs…if the sea is a little rough, the waves crash over the end in a spectacular fashion…and the water is always a little salty.

Alan comes back a little wrinkled after two hours in pristine cove…and he has stories of his own…saw some great fish, sponges and coral…and I can tell he enjoyed his afternoon too.

We put on a pot of coffee in our room (true coffee addicts here…even in this heat)…and then change to take a short walk down the road to 3 Dives…the sunset webcast will begin soon…and we want to make sure we get there early to order dinner and eat with the setting sun.

It’s a lovely evening…and for the first time, we’re actually going to see a truly great sunset…other evenings there have been low horizon clouds… tonight, it’s clear and warm and just about perfect…my camera is ready!

We order dinner (I have to have the 3 Lobster Special…Alan gets the jerk chicken)…and we sit at the big round table by the bar/cliff to wait… with Maggie & Bob, Rob, Kahuna and Karin and some of her German friends…meeting for the first time. Joe’s working the camera at the bar…and doing a fine job…I’m thinking…all those boardies back “home” are watching on their computers…and here I am…finally! Seeing it live and in living colour! Much better this way…(grin).



Lobster & chicken arrive as the sun is about to plunge….we snap a couple of pictures and dig in! Great meal! Joe makes me hold my plate up…so that boardies can take a look! I’m sure that “commercial” sold a few “reservations” here on future trips! Lobsters aren’t really big…so 3 isn’t hard to get thru…and that bowl full of melted butter with lots of chopped garlic in it….oh my…will have to do more walking tomorrow for sure! Alan liked his chicken too…and we both have our first Sangster’s Rum Cream…straight over crushed ice. Does dining get any better than this?

It’s not a fancy place…but the food, company and view to die for…priceless!

Full tummies…darkness falls…we say our goodnights and can barely make it back to the Rockhouse…one step in the door…and the satisfied exhaustion of another great day overtakes us…we’re down for the count!

Tomorrow..Mayfield falls!

To be continued…

[Nanook]

Re: Negril - A First Timers Report ..Snorkeling, Rockhouse, Mayfield Photos

Mikell, I've been so enjoying your trip report!


Are your pictures disappearing again? I'll see what I can find out and let you know...

[Guest]

Re: Negril - A First Timers Report ..Snorkeling, Rockhouse, Mayfield Photos

Part Eleven

Looks like Mayfield Falls wins hands down when asked by boardies which “falls” trip to take if you can only take one. Our minds were made up when “loops” (Leslie) told me that she and Scott were going while they were there, and invited Alan & I to come along. Couldn’t pass up that invitation…she was making all the arrangements…we just had to be ready to go.

First we wander over to the Rockhouse restaurant for another great breakfast there…bacon and eggs and bread pudding for both of us…and little bits for the kitty who has decided our meal suits him just fine this morning. Alan loves cats and is missing ours back home…so adopts this one for awhile.

We gather up our pack with water shoes to take to the falls, and I have just enough time to sit on the patio and write a few postcards before it’s time to leave.

Solomon’s van pulls up right on time…Leslie & Scott inside…and we head up the road to Tensing Pen to pick up another couple Solomon has lined up to fill his van for the trip. Introductions with Mike & Wendy…a young couple from Boston who look like they could be on their honeymoon (except we later find out that they’ve been married awhile and expecting their first baby!)

Stops at the Cambio to exchange money…and then for gas ($2.20/gallon…I think!)….and then the long ride to Sav La Mar and beyond.

Good thing we have A/C in the van…it’s another hot day…but the music and the sights make the time pass quickly. Solomon points out some local sights…the sugar cane plantation and factory…and all the “barracks” where the seasonal workers stay is quite interesting.

We also make a stop at his “yard” and he shows us his house…and all the local vegetation…letting us smell crushed lemon leaves…pointing out the ackee tree…



Soon we are well into the “country” and the road is getting rougher with each passing mile…beginning to climb up the mountain…narrow, twisting road dotted with small houses…often small children in the yards…I keep thinking what a different kind of life this is from anything I’ve ever known.

We stop on the side of the mountain at a tiny hut where a Rasta man seems used to tourists making the “pit stop”. He has cold drinks, fruit and a beautiful carved bowl with a lid filled with “buds” which he is eager to show us! I can’t resist asking him if I can take his picture…and he kindly poses in the doorway to his hut. We stand and marvel at the view down into the jungle of foliage on the other side of the road…snapping a few more pictures. Solomon brings us pieces of sugar cane to chew on…and some fresh pineapple slices. He also shows us a wild okra plant and I eat some of the baby okra it yields….very slimy!



Mayfield falls isn’t far from here…we begin a descent on a road which is quickly becoming bumpier, narrower and no more pavement…and arrive at the entrance to the park where we leave the van. A few women and their babies are sitting in the shade of one of the “beer joints” there…as we are collecting our things from the van, I give the little ones a couple of the little stuffed toys I have in my purse…and enjoy their smiles.

After paying our fee (and signing some kind of waiver)…we begin the walk to the river….down a long flight of stairs, over a bamboo bridge…to a beautifully manicured area that is obviously well taken care of in the midst of this isolated location. There are bathroom and change huts and a bar…and several other buildings surrounded by lawns and beautiful flowering plants. It’s all quite lovely.



We meet our guide for the river walk…Elmore…and I can tell we’re going to enjoy his company and his experience. He has us leave all of our belongings in one of the little open-sided huts near the river…just bring your camera and nothing to wear except your bathing suit…leave glasses, t-shirts and everything else behind...the next couple of hours will be spent in the water! He has a small waterproof case…for cameras and anything else that MUST come along….(like cigarettes and lighters!)

Once down to the river…it’s like entering another world…it’s dark…sunlight filtering through the trees in patches here and there…and dense with tropical vegetation…along the banks and overhead. Our first plunge into the water is oh…so cool! A refreshing change that isn’t hard to get used to in this heat.

Elmore guides us along…from one set of falls to another…he knows just where to step…and believe me…there are some surprises…ankle deep in some spots…and holes deep enough to dive into in other places…we follow his footsteps carefully most of the time.

It’s a glorious hike…sometimes sitting in rock “seats” to get a water massage better than any Jacuzzi….jumping off rocks into a deeper hole (Elmore “shows off” by climbing up higher…running and doing a flip into the water…we cheer!)….finding a place where you can drop below the surface…and swim through a short underwater tunnel to emerge several yards downstream (only Alan, Wendy and Mike try this!)…every turn in the river reveals a new set of falls with an even better attraction! Disneyland has nothing over this place!



We would normally be getting pretty tired…but we’re having too much fun! Finally we arrive at the end of the walk up the river. It’s time to climb up to the path above and head back.

[Guest]

Re: Negril - A First Timers Report ..Snorkeling, Rockhouse, Mayfield Photos



Elmore points out all kind of plants on the way back…HUGE bamboo stalks (they can grow 2 feet in one day during their annual growing season)….hops growing everywhere…turmeric root (I have to taste that…and stain my teeth and fingers very yellow!)….a tiny pineapple growing from the centre of a spray of broad leaves….and finally…he goes off the path to bring back some “soap leaves”. Each of us get a handful and he gives us instructions on how to crush them and add a bit of water from the river and make suds to wash our hands! Magic…it works!



Finally, we are back to our hut, dry off a bit, gather our belongings, watch the men playing dominoes a bit… and start the long walk back to the parking lot…now, we’re feeling the fatigue…and I didn’t remember about those stairs we have to climb back up to leave!!!



Some have asked how strenuous a trip it really is. Well, if two 50 year old smokers can do it…and still leave with huge smiles….go for it! Unless you really find normal walking and moderate exercise difficult…shouldn’t be a problem. The pace is not hurried…and the refreshing stops to be massaged by the rushing waters make it very enjoyable.



I’ll end this part here…save the trip back to Negri and evening activities for the next (shorter) report.

To be continued…