Negril - Idle Awhile Mayfield Falls/Rockhouse Trip #2:

[loops]

Re: Negril - Idle Awhile Mayfield Falls/Rockhouse Trip #2:

After the sunset we walk down to Alfreds and back. Theres a wedding going on down there. From our vantage point it looks like it's being held at the liquor store...not the best backdrop for wedding photos. When we return to Idle, I attempt to order a pina colada at the beach bar and strike out there as well...no pineapple? I settle for a dirty banana which was delish. The sun, stripes, and smoke have done us in for the evening...it's probably 8:30 and that's generous but we crash...feeling the need to make up for lost time. I drift off content and smiling...listening to the tree frogs and other sounds of the Jamaican evening…now this is how vacation is supposed to be! Now you may think that's early but it is par for the course for us...currently it is now friday night, scotty is cutting zzz's in his recliner right now, half listening to repeats of Baby Bush's sad war. We are not evening people!

Anyway back to Negril. Tomorrow is wednesday and it's Get Acquainted Day!

[J-Kay]

Re: Negril - Idle Awhile Mayfield Falls/Rockhouse Trip #2:

What a fabulous report, I'm gonna use your thread to try & entice my friends to stay down in 7-mile area (hopefully). I've stayed in Bloody Bay the last 3 trips at RIU but you missed out on great place to visit when you were in Bloody Bay. If you had walked RIU beach & kept going, you would have found the "Office of Nature" open air restaurant & local hangout on beach. Some vacationers are a little intimidated by Rastas hanging here but nice folks, very safe & great fun. Ital grilled the best fresh caught lobster for $15US along with rice, toast & veggie. We played dominoes & hung out with locals here & really got to know Jamaicans!
You missed an opportunity to escape the AI atmosphere & feel more Jamaican by hanging with these locals. We loved & won't miss partying with this group again no matter where we stay. (you can get to from road also if you know where to turn after RIU 2 bldg)

Suggestions for your snoring husband , buy some BreatheRite strips & make him put one on before he goes to sleep. I use them when vacationing & my travel partner says it does the trick. Even helps for drunken snoring (know from experience) as long as your nose is clean of oils so strip sticks on all night. It might be a god-send for your marriage. A tired wife can be very impatient with her mate! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Don't feel bad about delay in posting your tale, very common for people to have post-island depression! I've found writing (I'm very detailed too) can take me back to the island & put me in better mood as does reading others stories.
PLEASE keep writing as time allows cause you bring a smile [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] to many peoples faces & we all need it (now especially), we'll all be watching for you to complete your story...

Pray for PEACE & safe return of all troops...

[loops]

Re: Negril - Idle Awhile Mayfield Falls/Rockhouse Trip #2:

Wednesday 2/26

Today is the day we have planned to meet Mikell and Alan. I introduced myself to her on the other board when I read she was interested in a trip to Mayfield Falls. Seemed like it might be fun to enjoy it with other people, and we like hooking Sala up with new customers, so I had invited her to join us when we go. We’ve been e-ing back & forth, and gotten along nicely, so we thought it might be fun to meet beforehand. This is their first trip to Negril and they are staying at Rockhouse. We plan to hook up at Idle and walk the beach to a boardie meeting at Fun Holiday.

As is par, I’m up at 5 AM ish making the java and wandering the property taking photos. There is more green here than actual flowers right now. I noticed there were orchids tied to each of the trees along the path but alas, none were blooming. Juicy, the gardener, does a great job with the foliage though. Keeps it nicely trimmed and cleaned up. He’s moving all the time too, not one of these slow moving chaps. Wears a very wide brimmed straw hat and carries on quite the conversations with himself as he works…he and the ital chef are my favorite people at Idle.

We ate breakfast at Idle. I had the ackee and saltfish and steam veggies…which were awesome and nicely spicy…yummy way to start the day! Scott went with a high carb meal of bacon, sausage and eggs.

Mikell and Alan show up at 10:30 and we sit around and chat a bit…and let them soak up some beach vibe. She takes a peek at our place and we’re off to Fun Holiday. On the way down the beach we run into the patty man and I instruct them to purchase some of that yummy coco bread…knowing they will love it…they did. Down at Fun Holiday we meet Smith744, Kahuna (the author of Walk Good), Carol Ann, Ritchies Mom, Maggie and Bob, Jeffmon and Becky and of course Rob and Joe. All very nice people. I can tell you 2 hours went by really fast…just about 3 stripes! We were surprised to recognize the bartender at FH as one we enjoyed last year at Couples. We called him Smiley…I believe his real name is Zavien. Scott invites him down to our place after he gets off from work because he wants to pick his brain about fishing in the area. We all go our separate ways from FH and Mikell and I plan to meet tomorrow for our excursion to Mayfield.

True to form, Smiley shows up after work and almost immediately becomes annoying…just telling us how much he loves us a zillion times and telling us how next time we come to Jamaica he wants to arrange out travel, yada, yada…just too much of an effort to spend our money. He wanted to take us to his home, but I just couldn’t hack his approach, otherwise it might have been fun. Still, Scott arranges to have this guy arrange a fishing trip with him on Friday night…this is a little worrisome…but it’s not Friday yet so it’s NO problem right now. I was glad to see Smiley head off down the road that evening. By the time he leaves, we’ve missed the sunset, and there's no getting around the fact that we are crocked and it’s oh 7 oclock. Scott decides to take a nap (tcha right) and I venture over across the road to try out the jerk at Best of the West. I vaguely recall trying to finagle his red stripe banner from him, but to no avail. The chicken is awesome, but can you believe I still have not eaten any callaloo? I watch a little tube while I eat and crash not long after Scotty. I wake in the night with my bottom lip totally puffed out and swollen…a combination of sun and scotch bonnet pepper I presume. I cool it off with water and in the morning it has gone down considerably however, from that point on I am not far from my lip balm every 30 seconds for the whole rest of the trip. I recall a similar thing happening last year too…now I have learned to pass the chicken into my mouth and not let it touch my lips….I’m certainly not going to stop eating it!

Tomorrow we are going to Mayfield Falls!

[sweetnlow61]

Re: Negril - Idle Awhile Mayfield Falls/Rockhouse Trip #2:

Excellent report Loops! I like your writing style and all the details.

I share in your love of Soloman, and Sienna to of course. Both wonderful people to know and spend time with. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

And true what you have said, without this board and all of the friendly people here willing to share their expertise, I am sure that I would not have had the wonderful experiences that I have in Jamaica.

BIG UP to all of the cool people on Jamaicans.com! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[gmarieggers]

Re: Negril - Idle Awhile Mayfield Falls/Rockhouse Trip #2:

Loops,

LOVING YOUR REPORT and PICTURES!

Yes, I agree 100% the best time on the beach are those early early morning hours. In Sept. on our first full day we were walking it at 4AM also. It's so beautiful and peaceful in those early morning hours. Glad to hear you got up to Treehouse, that's been our home base on both of our trips down last year. Love the bar it's so close to the waters edge!

We go back April 15 and Soloman & Sienna are picking us up at the airport (arrival time 10:40AM) then we're off to Mayfield Falls then onto Negril. So, here I am waiting for your report on Mayfield Falls and your pictures of it.

This time we're staying across the road - so I can see the sunrise prior to my early morning beach walks!

Please continue - this is great!

[queenb]

Re: Negril - Idle Awhile Mayfield Falls/Rockhouse Trip #2:

Hey, Murry, I get in on the 17th, so check me at BBB!!! 25 days, WooooooooHoooooooooo!!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[gmarieggers]

Re: Negril - Idle Awhile Mayfield Falls/Rockhouse Trip #2:

TWENTY FIVE DAYS!!!!!!

You're in our schedule - and I know where to find you BAR-B-BARN.

Day of arrival (4-15) is jam packed full. We're doing Mayfield Falls with Sienna and Soloman on the way to Negril. We arrive at the airport at 10:40 then Mayfield, Negril and check-in, then to 3 Dives, Tuesday's are Sienna's day off - since I've missed her both other times I've been there we're spending arrival day with them.
It'll be so good to FINALLY meet you and have a face to go with the name.


24 DAYS and we'll be back where I love most.

[gmarieggers]

Re: Negril - Idle Awhile Mayfield Falls/Rockhouse Trip #2:

I almost forgot that you don't arrive until the 17 - glad you catch me here and reminded me!

What time do you fly in? We'll probably see that night or the morning of the 18th.

[Sophie Magoo]

Re: Negril - Idle Awhile Mayfield Falls/Rockhouse Trip #2:

Loops, love this trip report.
(Tapping my fingers) can hardly wait for the rest! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[queenb]

Re: Negril - Idle Awhile Mayfield Falls/Rockhouse Trip #2:

I land at 10AM, then off on the JUTA to Negril. I figure I'll be there by noon. Mi Jamaica craaaaaaaaaaaazeeeeeeeee!!!!!!

[loops]

Re: Negril - Idle Awhile Mayfield Falls/Rockhouse Trip #2:

Thursday 2/27/03

Then it’s off to Mayfield for Murry! But not before we start the day with breakfast at Idle. I choose standard fare, Scott, the brown stew chicken…odd, what is offered for breakfast fare on this island. It’s all good.

Soloman shows up right on time and we are off to Rockhouse to pick up our new friends. This is our first glimpse at Rockhouse and a nice stand of blue plumbago greets us in the entrance. Dig the look around here and can’t wait to check in myself…this was an intriguing tease of our next venue. We head further up the cliff road to Tensing Pen to pick up Mike and Wendy, a young couple from Mass. TP is also an interesting place although you don’t really get to see much from the drive. 2 big dogs greet us and are somewhat intimidating…I guess that can be comforting for guests or not if big dogs make you nervous. Our TP couple tells us they are friendly dogs.

We head down the road to the cambio in the area. While we do our banking, Sala makes ready some coconuts for us to drink the water from. Refreshing, and probably good to hydrate with. Next, to the store for beverages, then we are on our way. So much fun to get out in the countryside and see another, more ordinary side of life in Jamaica. Somewhere along the way we see this huge billboard that says THE NEGRIL EXPERIENCE. I had planned to take a photo of it on the way back home, but we ended up taking a different route back…drats! We pull into a little drive in Litt (kk) le London that I recognize from last year as Sala’s yard. We all get out and stretch while Sala shows us around his place, identifying plants and trees for us…what a nice little side trip!

We then press on through Sav la Mar where along the way Mikell points out places she had been just yesterday. She tells us of her experience delivering gifts and supplies in Big Bridge with Maggie from Irie Village. Fun to listen to how much she’s accomplishing on her first trip…it’s obvious we’ve got another convert. She also shares with us glimpses of how they are enjoying life at Rockhouse.

As we get closer to Mayfield the road becomes steep and we are treated to views of the valleys below through the notches of the hills, off in the distance are bigger mountains. You can’t help but wonder how much the land in this area would cost and if affordable, how one might create a getaway on this island. As we wind our way through the hills and up the steep winding road, there are bamboo benches every so often along the side to the road in what appears to be a community. Sala stops the van where a rasta fellow by the name of Petey has a little fruit and veggie stand. I marvel at his water system attached to the stand…he loved that. It was simple bamboo piping and a plastic drum to collect the rain water. He was growing a few things there right beside his stand (dasheen, pineapple, and okra) but it appeared the bulk of his crop was over the other side of the road and down the very steep embankment. He had the coolest little arbor over his path, with a tattered rasta flag hanging from it.

Made a nice frame for the view in the distance. We hung out there for a while, chatted with Petey, ate some sugar cane and had a communal offering to mark our spot…what a great visit…and a very interesting slice of life. You could tell he took a lot of pride in his little place as he had everything just so.


Can you see the water system in the photo above? That's Mikell on the left and me on the right.
Interestingly, as we partake Petey chides us to “hold on to it for a while”…a novel idea…in the states, we call that the fine art of bogarting! I’m thinking we were rastas in another life…or hopefully will be in the next one!

While we were visiting here, we saw a Doctor Bird...I was thrilled. We also saw a mongoose on this trip. All of this day is just an example of the delights that await you when you get off the beach and venture off into the countryside.

[Ochigal]

Re: Negril - Idle Awhile Mayfield Falls/Rockhouse Trip #2:

Originally posted by loops:
Then it’s off to Mayfield for Murry! But not before we start the day with breakfast at Idle. I choose standard fare, Scott, the brown stew chicken…odd, what is offered for breakfast fare on this island. It’s all good.

OH NO Loops...far from ODD. Brown Stew Chicken with some fried dumpling, some boiled banana and same callaloo on the side is a standard Fare breakfast for Jamaica. And you making me hugnry just mentioning it. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[loops]

Re: Negril - Idle Awhile Mayfield Falls/Rockhouse Trip #2:

The Falls


We arrive at Mayfield Falls and park. There are a couple little stands there with various items for sale and some ladies there with their children. Mikell steps over to chat with them and surprises the kids with chocolate and some little toys she just happens to have in her bag. We change to water shoes and head down the steep stairs to the entry area. They have you sign in and fill out a release of some sort.

There is a bamboo bridge you navigate in the beginning that looks far more treacherous in the photos I’ve seen than it really is.

Once at Mayfield there is a series of huts along the riverbank. This is where you meet your guide and leave your stuff. There are bathrooms in another hut there, and a larger hut where you can order stripes and stuff. Wicked cool, green place. If there were no river at all, I would still have loved this place for the gardens and stuff growing there. Cool walking sticks near each hut.


I am bummed because I left my good camera in the car, and only have my waterproof one now. There is so much to take photos of, but not knowing what’s ahead, I am trying to save the shots in my waterproof one both for the falls and for snorkeling later in the week. Turns out the guide carries a waterproof bag for cameras and takes good care of them. Word to future travelers…bring lots of film and allow lots of time for this place. After we did the falls, I just wanted to hang there…but with other guests and not having planned this…it just wasn’t possible. I will definitely need to go again…Ideally it would be fun to hang out and do the river intermittently throughout the day.

[gmarieggers]

Re: Negril - Idle Awhile Mayfield Falls/Rockhouse Trip #2:

Loops,

Just loving every single word! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Dr. Bird's ahhh, [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] yes I was blessed with them every morning at the Treehouse Feb. 2002. They hung out in the trees btwn the Bar and the Front desk area. Loved watching them in mornings great way to start a day!

I'll keep looking for more words from you! Don't rush - I'm enjoying it all so much! I know that Mayfield Falls isn't far off.

April 15!!!!! Soon come.

[loops]

Re: Negril - Idle Awhile Mayfield Falls/Rockhouse Trip #2:



Our guide for the trip is Elmore (like Sesame Street he says). He seems to enjoy his job as evidenced by his wide smile. Are you ready to take XX years off your life? He asks. You bet pal!!!!I think we lucked out with Elmore as he took his time and made sure we enjoyed ourselves…people passed us along the way. What’s the hurry? The water is clear, cool, refreshing and not salty which is a nice change of pace from the beach. This is the coolest I’ve been since the plane landed and it is energizing. Lot’s of places to stop along the way….each with different features to enjoy. Elmore instructs us how to enjoy each pool and each time he says Ya Mon! I can’t help but smile.
We were pleased that Sala joined us for the day.


This photo of Mikell pretty much says it all.