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Re: Trip Report - Travelling alone perspective
Took a trip with MoGlenn and Theresa to Mayfield Falls. It is spectacularly beautiful and I enjoyed that greatly, however, I wasn’t feeling up to par as I believe I missed a dose or two of my medicine over the past week, (not any antidepressants LOL) but I ventured into the very cold water. The climb was difficult for me. I could not see the rocks and my depth perception was off. Additionally, we ran into two large groups and there were simply not enough rocks in the stream to step on. Our young guide noticed our dilemma and took us up the side on the land and then back into the water, but the crowds caught up to us again. Our guide was around 16 years old and showed us all of his tricks and it amazed me that he jumps from a high tree top into a pool of water only 6 foot across. He was good to show us plants and interesting items along the way too. Then he handed us a card stating that he only works for tips and isn’t allotted a salary for his tours from Mayfield Falls. Then he said, and I quote, “when I take old people like you up the falls, I go slow, I never ask you to do any of the jumping, I do all the jumping so you can watch and enjoy”. Good way to increase your tip! It was so cute, had to laugh. I was having a good time, the park was lovely, we walked a bit, I was feeling good and then MoGlen had to remind me of the steps back. I took them real slow and one at a time. It was a fun day. On the way back, there was a Rasta riding his donkey and what a perfect picture to end the day, but it had to be engraved in my memory as I had no more film.
When I got back I was hungry and tired, but the biggest storm I have ever been in began. The thunder was so loud. It was a good time to open all the shutters in my room and enjoy the smells and sounds – it became very strong and mighty.
I went for coffee on my last full day and it wasn’t ready, so I laid in one of the hammocks that I passed by all week, yet didn’t stop to enjoy. I wondered why I didn’t stop as the coffee brewed and the aroma went through the air, I lay there suspended actually enjoying the wait. I’m a very impatient person with hundreds of things to accomplish on my to do list daily, how can I say I’m enjoying a wait? But, I was. Jamaica taught me patience, surely not to last a lifetime, but for one quick moment, I was patient and enjoying it.
Our last FOJ function was at Xtabi for dinner. I want to say that I had the most fabulous meals everywhere, but we tried a fried lobster appetizer that night that was so good. It is not fair to single that one out either as the kabobs at Idle Awhile were fabulous, the lobster at 3-dives, the pancakes at Selinas, the omelets at LTU, chicken at Bourbon Beach - way too many to mention, but that was a good appetizer.
I have to tell of this episode as it struck my funny bone and perhaps you will find it amusing too. After our dinner at Xtabi, Yum Yum and Maintain wanted to stop and get their supply of jerk sauce to bring home. Now I won’t mention the establishment so there won’t be any repercussions, but we pull up and there are whispers between Yum Yum and staff and a secret pass of the black bag with empty bottles. We sit for awhile and out comes the black bag, money is exchanged and we quietly exit. This cracked me up! During my two weeks, I was openly asked whether I needed anything, without any hesitation or muted tones. The aroma is part of this island, it goes with the salt air and the cooking and the spices and the flowers – it may be illegal, but it is constantly there. Yet, try to “buy” some jerk sauce and no one can know! It is like a highly kept secret recipe and they take their jerk seasonings very seriously.
Well, I’m ready to go home. I’ve had a terrific time and it was so much more than I ever dreamed it could be. I could have never had this experience through a travel agent. I’m very fortunate.
The trip back was the trip from hell. Exit Jamaican, enter USA! We were stuck waiting by the carousel in Miami. The carousel went round and round – no luggage. It stopped and started again – no luggage. People, including myself, kept a close eye on our wristwatches. They finally announced that the cargo door would not open and they could not get our luggage out. A collective sigh throughout the crowd and a few mumblings of missing their connecting flights. I was particularly worried (I just wanted to get home) because I could not imagine there being another flight home as we have a no fly time zone around the airport, nothing after 11 pm. But, I kept the hope high. Finally, our luggage arrived, but one piece at a time and it of course; mine was one of the last ones, as I was the first one to the airport in MoBay. OK, missed the flight – off to find the American ticket counter. What a disaster – about a two hour wait. All the normal guests traveling, plus all of us from that flight from MoBay. I got a flight and I was so very happy, so another quick cigarette and off to my gate. I found a bar and downed two glasses of wine real quick before the flight took off at 7:00 p.m.
Irony of all ironies, I sat there praying for my own row where I could maybe sleep a bit. I had an emotionally exhausting time in Miami and I was hungry and tired too and a little tipsy from the wine. Eventually a man came by and sat my row. I spied the row behind us as no one was showing up. I quickly moved back there thinking this row is completely empty. At the last minute a woman came up and claimed her seat. I moved over two as I was just too tired to move up the row to claim my original seat.
She asked me where I was going to and I told her home, that I just spent two weeks in Jamaica. Well, she is Jamaican – when she told me she was a lawyer, I couldn’t believe it as she looked too young. But, her family moved to New York when she was 15 years old and her two siblings were in school – law and medical school. The entire three hour trip, she told me stories of adjusting to life in the US and how schools were so different. At 15, she far surpassed the sophomore level of the US high school. She was in a huge state of culture shock and was appalled with the disrespect the teacher received. She loves Jamaica and goes several times a year. She additionally supports several education programs. I, of course, told her about FOJ and I’m sure she will give it a look on the internet, but basically, she was talking about bringing the professionals back into Jamaica. She was a delightful person and my education on Jamaica even continued on the plane trip home.
I arrived late and had to tend to my wounds before retiring to bed as the bug bites had worsened. I fully believe the 100% deet that I brought along was Red Stripe to the mosquitoes and sand fleas. I believe they came in and bit me and flew away in a narcotic bliss. So with very little sleep and a diet of pretzels and two glasses of wine, I retired in my own bed. I love my bed! That morning, out of sorts, I had to stop and concentrate when I was making my first left hand turn – what side am I supposed to be on? Hours later didn’t help much when I drove down several floors of the parking garage on the wrong side and just smiled at my mistaken sense of place.
Well that is it. Thank you everyone for your kind comments and I hope you enjoyed it as it wasn’t filled with anything juicy or titillating. I thought there might be some other people, men and women, that may have considered traveling alone and consider it further after reading my report. I also hope that should any of you reading consider traveling, that you might consider joining the group next October and meanwhile looking into the web-site. I also understand that Wayne will post some pictures of our fun antics. Thank you for reading my report.
Took a trip with MoGlenn and Theresa to Mayfield Falls. It is spectacularly beautiful and I enjoyed that greatly, however, I wasn’t feeling up to par as I believe I missed a dose or two of my medicine over the past week, (not any antidepressants LOL) but I ventured into the very cold water. The climb was difficult for me. I could not see the rocks and my depth perception was off. Additionally, we ran into two large groups and there were simply not enough rocks in the stream to step on. Our young guide noticed our dilemma and took us up the side on the land and then back into the water, but the crowds caught up to us again. Our guide was around 16 years old and showed us all of his tricks and it amazed me that he jumps from a high tree top into a pool of water only 6 foot across. He was good to show us plants and interesting items along the way too. Then he handed us a card stating that he only works for tips and isn’t allotted a salary for his tours from Mayfield Falls. Then he said, and I quote, “when I take old people like you up the falls, I go slow, I never ask you to do any of the jumping, I do all the jumping so you can watch and enjoy”. Good way to increase your tip! It was so cute, had to laugh. I was having a good time, the park was lovely, we walked a bit, I was feeling good and then MoGlen had to remind me of the steps back. I took them real slow and one at a time. It was a fun day. On the way back, there was a Rasta riding his donkey and what a perfect picture to end the day, but it had to be engraved in my memory as I had no more film.
When I got back I was hungry and tired, but the biggest storm I have ever been in began. The thunder was so loud. It was a good time to open all the shutters in my room and enjoy the smells and sounds – it became very strong and mighty.
I went for coffee on my last full day and it wasn’t ready, so I laid in one of the hammocks that I passed by all week, yet didn’t stop to enjoy. I wondered why I didn’t stop as the coffee brewed and the aroma went through the air, I lay there suspended actually enjoying the wait. I’m a very impatient person with hundreds of things to accomplish on my to do list daily, how can I say I’m enjoying a wait? But, I was. Jamaica taught me patience, surely not to last a lifetime, but for one quick moment, I was patient and enjoying it.
Our last FOJ function was at Xtabi for dinner. I want to say that I had the most fabulous meals everywhere, but we tried a fried lobster appetizer that night that was so good. It is not fair to single that one out either as the kabobs at Idle Awhile were fabulous, the lobster at 3-dives, the pancakes at Selinas, the omelets at LTU, chicken at Bourbon Beach - way too many to mention, but that was a good appetizer.
I have to tell of this episode as it struck my funny bone and perhaps you will find it amusing too. After our dinner at Xtabi, Yum Yum and Maintain wanted to stop and get their supply of jerk sauce to bring home. Now I won’t mention the establishment so there won’t be any repercussions, but we pull up and there are whispers between Yum Yum and staff and a secret pass of the black bag with empty bottles. We sit for awhile and out comes the black bag, money is exchanged and we quietly exit. This cracked me up! During my two weeks, I was openly asked whether I needed anything, without any hesitation or muted tones. The aroma is part of this island, it goes with the salt air and the cooking and the spices and the flowers – it may be illegal, but it is constantly there. Yet, try to “buy” some jerk sauce and no one can know! It is like a highly kept secret recipe and they take their jerk seasonings very seriously.
Well, I’m ready to go home. I’ve had a terrific time and it was so much more than I ever dreamed it could be. I could have never had this experience through a travel agent. I’m very fortunate.
The trip back was the trip from hell. Exit Jamaican, enter USA! We were stuck waiting by the carousel in Miami. The carousel went round and round – no luggage. It stopped and started again – no luggage. People, including myself, kept a close eye on our wristwatches. They finally announced that the cargo door would not open and they could not get our luggage out. A collective sigh throughout the crowd and a few mumblings of missing their connecting flights. I was particularly worried (I just wanted to get home) because I could not imagine there being another flight home as we have a no fly time zone around the airport, nothing after 11 pm. But, I kept the hope high. Finally, our luggage arrived, but one piece at a time and it of course; mine was one of the last ones, as I was the first one to the airport in MoBay. OK, missed the flight – off to find the American ticket counter. What a disaster – about a two hour wait. All the normal guests traveling, plus all of us from that flight from MoBay. I got a flight and I was so very happy, so another quick cigarette and off to my gate. I found a bar and downed two glasses of wine real quick before the flight took off at 7:00 p.m.
Irony of all ironies, I sat there praying for my own row where I could maybe sleep a bit. I had an emotionally exhausting time in Miami and I was hungry and tired too and a little tipsy from the wine. Eventually a man came by and sat my row. I spied the row behind us as no one was showing up. I quickly moved back there thinking this row is completely empty. At the last minute a woman came up and claimed her seat. I moved over two as I was just too tired to move up the row to claim my original seat.
She asked me where I was going to and I told her home, that I just spent two weeks in Jamaica. Well, she is Jamaican – when she told me she was a lawyer, I couldn’t believe it as she looked too young. But, her family moved to New York when she was 15 years old and her two siblings were in school – law and medical school. The entire three hour trip, she told me stories of adjusting to life in the US and how schools were so different. At 15, she far surpassed the sophomore level of the US high school. She was in a huge state of culture shock and was appalled with the disrespect the teacher received. She loves Jamaica and goes several times a year. She additionally supports several education programs. I, of course, told her about FOJ and I’m sure she will give it a look on the internet, but basically, she was talking about bringing the professionals back into Jamaica. She was a delightful person and my education on Jamaica even continued on the plane trip home.
I arrived late and had to tend to my wounds before retiring to bed as the bug bites had worsened. I fully believe the 100% deet that I brought along was Red Stripe to the mosquitoes and sand fleas. I believe they came in and bit me and flew away in a narcotic bliss. So with very little sleep and a diet of pretzels and two glasses of wine, I retired in my own bed. I love my bed! That morning, out of sorts, I had to stop and concentrate when I was making my first left hand turn – what side am I supposed to be on? Hours later didn’t help much when I drove down several floors of the parking garage on the wrong side and just smiled at my mistaken sense of place.
Well that is it. Thank you everyone for your kind comments and I hope you enjoyed it as it wasn’t filled with anything juicy or titillating. I thought there might be some other people, men and women, that may have considered traveling alone and consider it further after reading my report. I also hope that should any of you reading consider traveling, that you might consider joining the group next October and meanwhile looking into the web-site. I also understand that Wayne will post some pictures of our fun antics. Thank you for reading my report.
we JA lovers have to help promote tourism back to JA to help our island friends & businesses & the kids. I'll be back in 2004...can't wait till I return to JA.
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