Negril - Trip Report/Review of Negril From a Man Who Traveled There Alone.

[Seveen]

Re: Negril - Trip Report/Review of Negril From a Man Who Traveled There Alone.

MiloMan - Thanks for the pictures of you! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] I'm loving your report. I have been to Jamaica alone on several trips. Now it is my preferred way to travel there. That way I can just lounge around, talk to folks, flit from here to there, creep around in the shadows at night and not be there with a friend that wants to sightsee every day or party every night.
[img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

I have also taken friends that want to complain about everything from the moment the airplane door opens until we land back in the US. One trip I took this big grown man with me to MoBay and he was afraid to walk the "hip strip" alone. Needless to say as soon as we hit home I kicked him to the curb. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

The absolute best way to go to Jamaica is to have some boardites around. That is the best of both worlds - alone and with friends - friends that know the ropes!!

[halfwaytree]

Re: Negril - Trip Report/Review of Negril From a Man Who Traveled There Alone.

OH OH! I am looking at how much money I have left and it isn’t much! Where the heck did all my money go? Crap!

I go for my morning beach walk as per ususal. On my return to Firefly I met a guest who has just checked in the night before. Another Tom, this Tom is a lawyer who works for the city of Detroit. Tom is a real world traveler. He has been everywhere, Asia, Europe, Australia, South America and if I remember correctly, Africa too. He has come to Jamaica for a short three day stay just to get some R&R. Tom’s big thing is snorkeling. He asks me if I want to go, I say OK and we catch a cab and ask the driver to take us to a good spot to snorkel. He drives out to Xtabi. Tom has his gear while I have to rent. They asked for $10US to rent snorkel gear which I ended up paying $5US for when all was said and done. We head down the stairs and into the sea we jump. A quick spit in the mask and I’m off. All I can say is WOW!!! Like I said before I have been snorkeling before and after my earlier disappointment this made up for it and more. Tom and I spend a couple hours in “the big fish tank” as we called it, and it was spectacular. Clear water and a huge variety of sea life to observe. All different colours and shapes and sizes. It just seemed too beautiful to be real! After a couple hours we are getting hungry. He ask me if there was a good place to get a nice breakfast. I tell him about Mi Yard and he seems very interested in going there. So we depart on foot to Mi Yard. We pass by LaKaisers hotel and are impressed by how nice and new everything looks. We get to Mi Yard. We both order the full Ackee & Saltfish breakfast. Tom has never had Jamaican food so I explain the best I can what we are eating. He really enjoys it and we both make short work out of our meal. We walk back up the road to Xtabi and continue our snorkeling. Afternoon rolls around and we catch a cab back to Firefly.

We enjoyed this morning so much that we repeat it to a tee the following day.


The "Big Fish Tank" at Xtabi

Night rolls around and Tom and I follow the music coming from down the beach. It takes us to Roots Bamboo. There is a live Reggae concert going on and the place is quite busy. The Stripes are going down way too good and the party goes on until the wee hours.

[Reggae plus]

Re: Negril - Trip Report/Review of Negril From a Man Who Traveled There Alone.

Alright Tree. Good stuff. Here's a 'fiver' by the way. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I went sea snorkelling once about a 45 minute boat ride away from Phukett [sp] in Thailand. We were on some wonderful coral spot and I was enjoying it immensely when I came face to face with Baron Baracuda and his wife...the Baroness.

Needless to say...I made Mark Spitz look like a puddleduck. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Zooooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm> >>

[swedishrasta]

Re: Negril - Trip Report/Review of Negril From a Man Who Traveled There Alone.

Big up Milo Man,
Really enjoy your report. Especially glad that you enjoyed Arthur's so much. I spent a lot of time there on my last trip just hanging out and chatting just like you. The best part that it didn't matter when you went there, day time or night the vibe was always great.

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful trip.

Respect.
S

[dream jamaica]

Re: Negril - Trip Report/Review of Negril From a Man Who Traveled There Alone.

Loving it!

Don't you love meetining new people while traveling. I can't get over how many solo travelers you can meet along the way. Sometimes it just seems like you are meant to meet these people. It realy seems like that for you on this trip. You met some very interesting people and had some peaceful alone time. Perfect combo!
Are you keeping in touch with any of the people that you met?

[jenn24]

Re: Negril - Trip Report/Review of Negril From a Man Who Traveled There Alone.

I went sea snorkelling once about a 45 minute boat ride away from Phukett [sp] in Thailand.


ReggaePlus,

Did you like Thailand? I am dying to go there. I was to go there next April and then bam my brother and his wife announce they are having their first baby right when I was going to be there. I didn't want to be out of the country as this is the brother I am closest to. I'm still trying to figure out when I can go now. It doesn't help that I keep going back and forth to Jamaica using all my vacation time and spending all my money. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]


Jenn

[Reggae plus]

Re: Negril - Trip Report/Review of Negril From a Man Who Traveled There Alone.

It's an experience I'll tell you. I went from Bangkok up to Chang Mai [and almost crossed over into Burma ]...then down to Phukett. Lots of things to see. Very 'seedy' in many ways. [from our so-called standards]

I don't want to spoil up Tree's thread here.

It helps to appreciate Jamaica all the more if you occaisionally expand your travel horizons. If you go...pm me.

[halfwaytree]

Re: Negril - Trip Report/Review of Negril From a Man Who Traveled There Alone.

I awake this morning thinking two thoughts. One, my holiday is quickly coming to an end and two, I am running short on cash and while I do have my Visa card to fall back on I promised myself not to put myself further into debt unless it was an emergency. However, I grab the little plastic folder that I use to hold my passport and other travel related necessities and I discover my solution. $3000J in cash !!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] I forgot that I had stashed some money in there after my first visit to SotiaBank. Well I guess I can live it up after all!

I head up the beach to Arnella’s Bistro (next door to the Tree House) There you can get a full Jamaican breakfast for slightly more than it cost at Mi Yard but you save on the taxi. Although Mi Yard will pick you up with their own vehicle if you call them. The food is very good and they even give you a pot of coffee that holds about three cups if you wish. I would recommend this place for breakfast on the beach for sure!


Arnella's


Mmmmm!

After breakfast I was feeling a little bloated and so I started to walk and walk and walk. When I got tired I sat for a bit then walked some more (as Forest Gump would say). I headed off the beach on to the beach road. And kept on going. Past the little airport and past Beaches, Sandals, Hedo II and Riu.


Negril Airport.
I don't think Air Jamaica Xpress lands here any more. At least that's what someone mentioned to me.

I turned left directly after passing Riu and end up down at Bloody Bay. What a nice spot! The gigantic Riu that is under construction does not compliment the scenery one little bit but I still enjoyed it. I saw what I assumed was the famous “Office of Nature” I bought a Stripe from them and took some pictures of the bay (which didn’t turn out very well). Then I took a taxi back to Firefly where it was time to chill and watch the events of the day unfold. Bruno and Cynthia are all leaving today so we say our goodbyes and I head for the beach with my air mattress and enjoy the great weather. I chat with some people two doors down at the For Real beach bar. I meet couple from New York city on their honeymoon. They are very interested in politics and I’m surprised when I learn that they are very well versed on the Canadian political scene. I meet “the Major” and “26" a couple of guys from California who have been coming to Negril for some time. They are there for two reasons, to party and to party some more! As the afternoon goes by I start to get a little hungry so I decide to catch a cab and head for Three Dives (right next door to Xtabi). I order the lobster diner (finding the $3000 J made this possible). It was great! I heard a lot about this place from fellow boardites and I was not disappointed Next it was back to the beach to catch the sunset.


View from 3 Dives looking over to Xtabi

There had been one thing that had peaked my curiosity for the past few days. “Miss Brown’s Mushroom Tea”. So I decide to head over to her place and check it out. Miss Brown comes out to greet me. I order a cup of her brew and she offers me a seat on her porch while it is being prepared. A guy comes over and introduces himself as High Grade. High Grade uses the opportunity to try and sell or rent items to me. Ganga, motorbike, towels etc... . I’m not interested however. The tea is finally delivered by Miss Brown. The price is VERY HIGH $10 US! I attempt to take a sip but it is way too hot so I let it sit for a few minutes. Meantime High Grade leaves and Miss Brown sits next to me. We talk about this and that. She tells how she has been forced to move her business four or five times over the years. Now she is across the beach road, near to Alfred’s. The tea has cooled a bit now so I start to sip. I have to be honest here. I’m not a tea drinker and this tea is disgusting. It is not too disgusting that I can’t drink it but it’s not something I looked forward to finishing. But I paid $10US so I’m gonna drink it all! Miss Brown and I continue to chat until I take my last sip. I buy some fruit punch from Miss Brown to help get the taste out of my mouth. Miss Brown and I part company and I go and grab a spot on the beach to watch the sunset and experience the effects of the “shroom tea”. I sit and wait, and wait some more. An hour goes by, then two. Nothing!, I feel nothing after drinking the mushroom tea. Now to be fair to Miss Brown, at no time did she make any claims about her tea. I purchased a cup on my own assumptions. Oh well, my curiosity is satisfied I guess and it only cost me $10US.


Off into the Sunset. Day gives way to night in Negril.

So I wonder over to For Real and grab a seat at the bar for the rest of the evening.

[halfwaytree]

Re: Negril - Trip Report/Review of Negril From a Man Who Traveled There Alone.

Quote by R+:

I went sea snorkelling once about a 45 minute boat ride away from Phukett [sp] in Thailand. We were on some wonderful coral spot and I was enjoying it immensely when I came face to face with Baron Baracuda and his wife...the Baroness.

Needless to say...I made Mark Spitz look like a puddleduck.

Zooooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm> >>

At least if you pee in your bathing suit no one will notice! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Thanks for your insight on Thailand. I have heard many great things about that country from friends, coworkers and even people I met on this trip. It's always nice to hear from people who have visisted both Jamaica and Thailand.

Quote by Seveen:

The absolute best way to go to Jamaica is to have some boardites around. That is the best of both worlds - alone and with friends - friends that know the ropes!!

I agree. I'd love to link up with some fellow boardites down in JA!

[Englan Girl]

Re: Negril - Trip Report/Review of Negril From a Man Who Traveled There Alone.

Milo, I've copied your sunset pic and will be using it on my desktop. Thanks [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Reggae plus]

Re: Negril - Trip Report/Review of Negril From a Man Who Traveled There Alone.

Man...I'd have been 'T'd' off Tree. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] But then...I'm not a mushroom kind of guy. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[rebelgirl]

Re: Negril - Trip Report/Review of Negril From a Man Who Traveled There Alone.

Oh lovely pictures, especially the sunset with the jetski.

I've heard not so good things about the mushroom tea, mainly that it wasn't psychoactive at all. But I never tried it, I haven't imbibed mushrooms in 15 years and even then only as part of spiritual quests guided by a native shaman friend. $10 US is a very high price (more than you would pay in BC) even if there was psilocybin in the tea.

[ohliz]

Re: Negril - Trip Report/Review of Negril From a Man Who Traveled There Alone.

I haven't had tea for several years myself....I'm high enough just being in Jamaica [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

...but I've heard that Tedd's is the place to go now....Miss Brown was his mother (she has passed on).

[halfwaytree]

Re: Negril - Trip Report/Review of Negril From a Man Who Traveled There Alone.

Quote by ohliz:

...but I've heard that Tedd's is the place to go now....Miss Brown was his mother (she has passed on).

I asked the lady that served me if she was Miss Brown and she told me that she was. Perhaps she wasn't "the" Miss Brown or perhaps she has just taken her name to continue the business. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[MacDawg]

Re: Negril - Trip Report/Review of Negril From a Man Who Traveled There Alone.

Milo Man,

Am I understanding you right? You walked from Firefly to past the airport??

WOW! GIVE THE MAN AN AWARD!!

And you actually drank a whole cup of Miss Brown's tea and you felt nothing?? I've never tried it myself but I've definitely never heard that before!!

Enjoying your report still. Please keep it coming.