OchoRios - Girlfriend Tours Report-Ochii THE PICTURES ARE HERE

**Marilyn** · 11-13-2002, 10:38 AM

Re: OchoRios - Girlfriend Tours Report-Ochii THE PICTURES ARE HERE

Nope Grandma,
She didn't get to meet my honey. He HATES Amnesia, and hates the fact that I go there everytime I am in Ochii. I usually make that my night out. He swears that the place is owned by a gay man a frequented by Gay men. My honey HOMOPHOBIC. He was tickled pink when I had a problem there on my last visit. I got a bid dose of I TOLD YOU SO. He was so upset that it did not cure me and that I was going right back.

**Marilyn** · 11-13-2002, 11:25 AM

Re: OchoRios - Girlfriend Tours Report-Ochii THE PICTURES ARE HERE

Monday- Day 6
Today is a sad day because most of the folks are leaving. I'm a little excited though because Angie, Hope, Erica, and Ros have agreed to go to Fisherman's beach for breakfast with me.

So here I go with all these pretty ladies down to one of my favorite places. If you thought the first time caused a stir, you should have seen them this time. The ladies get to see the beautiful fresh fish come in.

We proceed to Sans where everyone had a wonderful breakfast.

Today I have brown stew chicken and veggies. Some of the ladies had steam fish, yam, bananna, fried dumpling. All of my friends came over to meet the group. Lester was there recouperating from the night before and his big debute singing performance. I think he was more so recovering from those shots.
Just as we are walking across the little bridge for me to give them the rest of the grand tour, Angie, Hope Erica and Ros freeze. Now, this little bridge can't hold all those people

and I am looking back wondering why they are no longer following me. I follow their gaze and see that they are transfixed by the vision of a man bathing in the natural spring. His perfect brown backside is covered with frothy suds. Pasted against the background of rock, water, ginger flowers and Bananna plants it is just too perfect. Angie gestures that everyone else can just go ahead, but leave me here. I walk back and the 5 of us just stand there starring. The other men watching us watch him begin to giggle about how silly we are acting. We had to literally tear ourselves away because it was just all too sexy and exciting.
I show Angie around a little and then we head over to the Island Village. We go to the internet and check things out. I try to make a post, but it doesn't work.
When we are leaving we see about 7 Jamaican men laboring hard with these big old round logs. They have made a primative rolling method to put them in place. I go over to find out what Chris Blackwell has them building now, and I learn that it is a bridge. Mind you now, there is a bridge a few feet away, but hey, it's not my mall.

I want to take a picture from the vantage point of the work so I squat down. One of the men says in patois,"I would like to ram dat." I stand up and say, "That wasn't nice. You need to concentrate on what you're doing rather than ramming me." They all fell out laughing at the guy because he had no idea I would understand him. We all have a good laugh about it. Hey no hard feelings, it's when they STOP talking about wanting to ram you that you have a problem.
While I am standing there an old friend from Ciboney, Eugene (market place reataurant) comes by. What a cutie!!!!!!!! He works at M. ville now. Remember, he was the one that I felt so sorry for because they have to wear these stupid grass skirts. Well I took a picture this time and you girls are going to love it. Dimples for days!!!!!!!!

Miss Hope catches a last glimpse of her sweetie on the street and feels the need for one last goodbye. After everyone reassembles I coax a reluctant driver into taking us to the top of the hill.

Steve and I have made a habit of seeing each other first thing in morning. I would go and jog, and when I would return I would make coffee and go sit on the balcony with Steve. His balcony was right on top of mine and when I would open my door he would say "Good morning." Then I would go up and join him. This morning I keep waiting to hear that voice, but I only see him with bags, lap top computer, packed and ready to go.
He is in a thether because they will not send to shuttle to his room to get him. Well they don't know who they are dealing with , and soon the shuttle arrives. He gives Angie two more big bottles of that expensive liquor he bought for her, and then he is off. I miss him already.
Hope and Erica leave next. I don't know about Hope, but I know that Erica has left a trail of tears in Jamaica. Lord one would need a program to keep up with that girl's men. And you know what, she managed to juggle them so they never ran into each other. Well, ok, once, and I saved her, right Erica!!!!!!!!
I'm lost and don't know what to do with myself now, because Angie and honey are off to Firefly for a trip. I go by the pool at Skycastles and miss Ros leaving. I try to call her the next few days to apologize and check on her, but I can't seem to reach her from JA.
When Angie returns from Firefly I am anxious to see what she thought about it. She thought it was just breathtakingly beautiful. Her man could not understand why she wanted to go. He said it was just a graveyard because the only part of it he had ever seen was the gravesite out on the yard. This time he went on the tour with Angie. I could see the awe in his face over how pretty the view is from the house. He never said so, but I think he'd like to live someplace like that. Wouldn't we all....Magic you have competition.
My honey and Angie and her's spend this evening together. Late at night Angie comes to my room to talk. I have a view from my bed that is not to be believed. Like two college roomates we talked well into the night drinking and looking at my gorgeous view. Later Angie went home and my tree frogs and I turned in for the night.
I am reflecting on the week and how well it went. This was our first time trying to manage a group and I think we did an excellent job. A couple of days ago I had called Northwest airlines and reminded them that they had scared me out of my wits and that I wanted to stay in JA until Sunday to soothe my nerves. They changed my ticket without cost, so as I went to bed that night I knew I had 6 more days in heaven.

Heaven:

The view from my bed

**Marilyn** · 11-13-2002, 12:39 PM

Re: OchoRios - Girlfriend Tours Report-Ochii THE PICTURES ARE HERE

Tuesday- Day 7
Angie and I decide that this is going to be a beach day. Her honey is zoned out sleep. She wanted him to get up, but hey, I understand, the man is on vacation.
We are all dressed and geared up for the beach and about to make our trek down the mountain when a car rounds the curve. Angie tells me to ask the man if he will give us a ride to the bottom of the hill. Why'd she send me out? But I obey and he is happy to oblige.
He asks if we are going to the beach and I say yes. He then says he is on his way to Kingston. This voice comes from the back seat (Angie) "Oh goodie can we go with you?" HAS THIS GIRL TAKEN LEAVE OF HER SENSES?!!!!!!!!!! She wants us to bop off the Kingston with a complete stranger who has a bag of weed visible in his ash tray big enough to choke a horse!!!!!!!!!!
But I can't argue with Angie, so we go back up the mountain to get more money and for Angie to tell her Honey that she is off to Kingston with a "friend". Boy this girl makes friends quick.
When we get back in the car I ask him if he is not concerned about random police checks, and I pointed to the ashtray. Oh I forgot that was in there he says, then he said he intended to throw it out the window. Well I couldn't have that because my honey for one would want it, so I had him take us back up so we could leave it.
He then shows me his driver's license to assure me that I was with who he said he was. Only he had introduced himself as "Johnny" and that name was no where on the license. Not to mention that the picture did not look anything like him. What has Angie gotten me into?????????
We proceed on the way with him asking questions to get to know us and vice versa. He is the son of Jamaican parents, but was born in the US. He lives in NY and was in JA to attend his Dad's memorial service. We gave him our condolences. His Mom owns a three bedroom penthouse at Skycastles and you girls can stay there when you get ready. BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I'm liking this guy.
We find out that the condo cost 7 million Jamaican 9 years ago and about 1,600 Jamaican permonth to maintain. Out of my league.
He is on disability from the NY fire department due to arthritis in the hands. We are on our way to a pharmacy in Kingston to get some miracle cream that makes it better.
We also have to pick/up drop off a video tape for his cousins video store.
The mysterious tape turns out to be XXX and we have to remove the bar code if we are driving around with it in the car. Angie what have you gotten me into????????????
I'm starving, so we stop at Faith's Pen.

Angie and Johnny having conch soup

Lawd a Mercy

THE fruit

Now that was a wonderful experience. How does one decide where to eat???? We also stop to see the famous poon poon rock (sp?) which bears an uncanny resemblance to a woman's intimate area.
When we get to Kingston I am overcome by the squallor and shallow,dead expressions on the people's faces. This has to be as bad as it gets.
We run all of Johnny's errands and then he grants a wish of mine. He takes us to tour Bob Marley's home on Hope Road. I am such a huge fan that I am in awe of being somewhere that he actually WAS.

HIS home

To touch the banister he touched. To set my foot on his marble front steps knowing that he must have walked there. To see his tattered little tight jeans shirt he always wore,his bed,his studio control board.
We saw the video and at first Angie, Johnny and I all sat in different places in the studio. Suddenly Johnny came and sat with me. I felt like a teenager on a date in a darkened theater.
He started to sing all of Bob's songs with the movie and so did I. I had found a kindred spirit.
He drove us to the edge of Trenchtown so we could see it, and then we headed back to Skycastles.
Later that evening we hook up with Barbara (Belle50)

for dinner at the Almond Tree. This is Angie's first time there and she thinks it is pretty.

Barbara is a MESS!!!!!!!! She makes me look like Katie Couric. Men swarm all over her in JA. So consequently we end up with one of her suitors

inviting himself to dinner and refusing to leave. Of course he talks all through the meal. Lord help.
After dinner we go and sit at the turn around for a while watching Ochii go by. This is Angie's last night and we are letting her call the shots.
We go home and I get a visit late at night from Johnny and his cousin who owns the video store. I am too tired to be a good hostess and after while they leave and let me and my tree frogs rest.

**Marilyn** · 11-13-2002, 02:52 PM

Re: OchoRios - Girlfriend Tours Report-Ochii THE PICTURES ARE HERE

Day 8-Wednesday
D- Day-Angie is leaving. I get up and take several shots of the sky this morning. It looks especially pretty.
Angie's morning

sunrise from my window

I decide I will title these pictures "Angie's morning." I get up to go run. On one of my trips I posted a trip report about a certain young man who bathed at Fisherman's Beach who was very well endowed. Subesquently he told me that some lady who said she heard about him on the internet came looking for him and chased him all over Jamaica making lewd comments and propostioning him. He blamed me for it and informed me that he bathes elsewhere now. Dang it!! Well this particular morning while I was jogging I stubbled up on "elsewhere." There he was in all his glory bathing in a waterfall. Gee it was a pretty picture. When he looked up and saw me he just laughed. He told me that if I brought my camera the next day he would let me take a picture. I told him that was a date.
Back to my room and I begin to do something for Angie. She had not emerged yet this morning, and I knew all to well what she and honey were going through. I put my CD player on the balcony and started to play all the goodbye/farewell songs I had.
When she finally woke up I took the CD player over there and played this one particular song by Phyllis Hyman. That did it. Angie started crying and calling US Airways. She paid the extra money and they were able to let her stay until Saturday. She e-mailed her job with some wild tale about a riot in Jamaica and the airport road being closed, then called Skycastles and told them she was staying. I told honey "you owe me." He grinned.
Johnny has been looking for me all morning. Calling like crazy, but I don't want to get hemmed up. He invited Angie and me over to see Mom's penthouse. It is big and beautiful. It is furnished in leather and four poster bed, and chandliers, and gorgeous dining room set. All threee bedrooms have their own bath and balcony. We're impressed. He goes in the fridge and pulls out a bottle of aloe juice and honey and asks me if I want some. He says it will clean out my system. I try it. It taste like hell!!!!!!!!It works though. I think it is still working.

Angie and I head for the beach. Honey drops us off because he has some errands to run. This is when I see Patrick again. I brought him a copy of the picture I took of him. I was hoping that when he looked at it this time he would see what I saw. I pass it to him and keep walking. We say nothing to each other and I do not see him again.
<sigh>
Angie and I have a great day at the beach.

Some beach scenes for you
Some of these are before everyone else left, but I just got them downloaded.

Erica dancing on the beach.

Our very own "boyfriend" Steve enjoying the ocean

Marilyn and Ice

Ice a friend from Fisherman's beach

the end of another perfect day

I take some pictures of the most beautiful child I have ever seen. I can't wait to show him to you.
We go to Mom's on Evelyn Ave. for lunch, then home.
That night I go out to M.Ville beach night with Johnny. Lester is there and he introduces me to someone I was sent to give a message to. The person who sent me knows who she is. This used to be her man, but they are just friends now. All I can say is WHAT A BODY.
Johnny and I drink the free drinks and dance a lot. I roll in around 3:00 AM. I really had a nice time and I am getting to do everything that was on my agenda.

**Bandana** · 11-13-2002, 04:10 PM

Re: OchoRios - Girlfriend Tours Report-Ochii THE PICTURES ARE HERE

Oh Marilyn, please tell me you got pictures of the house on Hope Road!!! How wonderful to have had this un-expected trip to Kingston!!

Common sense is a must, but some of the best times I have had were when I stepped out of that "comfort zone" [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

You go Angie!!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

**Marilyn** · 11-13-2002, 04:24 PM

Re: OchoRios - Girlfriend Tours Report-Ochii THE PICTURES ARE HERE

Bandana
I got a lovely picture of the outside of the house, but they take your camera from you and you are not allowed to take pictures of the inside. The images are forever in my mind. There is a life size hollogram of Bob that is eerie. ALso while I was there there was some big photo exhibit there that had some great pictures. There is one of Bob sitting alone in a hallway that the photographer had titled "Alone". I think it was probably unusual to see him without people around him at all times.
The one thing that struck me was how little he was. I guess it is hard to think of such a larger than life person being so short and tiny. I couldn't fit into that shirt in this life or the next.
The most chilling thing was that the bullet holes are still in the wall from the assasination attempt.

**Bandana** · 11-13-2002, 04:58 PM

Re: OchoRios - Girlfriend Tours Report-Ochii THE PICTURES ARE HERE

Very interesting Marilyn, I can't even imagine the emotion that would overcome me in that house.

Can't wait to see your picture of it.

I recorded Bob Marley's "Behind the Music" on VH1 many months ago, and I am still brought to tears when I watch it.

What an amazing man on a mission. Much Respect!

Ok, on to Day 9 [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

**AngieB** · 11-13-2002, 06:56 PM

Re: OchoRios - Girlfriend Tours Report-Ochii THE PICTURES ARE HERE

Well, I cannot add anything at all to that report, other than when I finalized my departure with US Air and called work to say I would be coming back later, I then gave my honey a big kiss, poured myself a extra large scotch on the rocks, sat on my now empty balcony and faught back tears. I knew in that moment that my place was in Jamaica. It does not matter if I stay half a year there and half in the US, it does not matter if I just am able to stay two months in each, it doesn't matter if I can only to one week at a time, what does matter is that I MUST give myself to that country and be whole again. I have worked on my last job for 11 years only to have the job moved to Texas. The current job I have only had for 1 1/2 months and is a blessing to have such a wonderful job, but I threw caution to the wind and stayed. Libby said something to Marilyn and I while we were visiting that I keep repeating in my head daily: "Long Time Dead" I'll always remember that and try to grab all the joy that life has to offer. Libby you will never realize how much you taught me in just those few hours we had together. I dont talk much, I am not a chatter usually, but I listen well. You have positve vibes eminating from your soul and they spill over to those close by. You and people like you are the best part of Jamaica. On my next visit, count me in on an overnight stay so that we can awaken to that beautiful sky, take a morning swim and who knows, maybe we will catch something especially nice washed up on shore [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

**Marilyn** · 11-13-2002, 08:54 PM

Re: OchoRios - Girlfriend Tours Report-Ochii THE PICTURES ARE HERE

Libby
Ditto Ditto, That"long time Dead" thing really really hit home with me. Folks are sick of me telling them about it. This just gives me a good reason to do what I wanted to do anyway. YOU ARE A TREASURE. Does that Chef know what he's got?

**BELLE50** · 11-14-2002, 01:15 AM

Re: OchoRios - Girlfriend Tours Report-Ochii THE PICTURES ARE HERE

hey angie and marilyn, glad to know you ladies arrived home safely. it was truly an honor to be in the presence of divas. you 2 are beautiful women, full of life fun and wisdom and i am better for having met you. i really enjoyed our times together and wish i could have met the rest of the group. the GFT is what all women need to help maintain their sanity in this wild world of ours. thanks for putting up with me and and allowing me to crash the party. thanks for looking out for me, i really appreciate the knowledge you both imparted on me (marilyn is like a motherhen-sorry i didn't get to say goodbye). angie is a women after my own heart and we have got to stay in touch. thanks for understanding about the intruder, you can believe he caught hell later. after all you only get 1 chance to make a 1st impression, and he blew mine. can't wait to read the rest of the report. be knd.

**swedishrasta** · 11-14-2002, 06:32 PM

Re: OchoRios - Girlfriend Tours Report-Ochii THE PICTURES ARE HERE

Dear Marilyn and the rest of girlfriend crew and Steve....

Thank you so much for the awesome pictures and the report. It looked like a complete blast. I can't wait to party with the crew on the next negril girlfriend tour. Wohoooooo....

Keep up the good work....

Respect
S

**wildting** · 11-14-2002, 06:52 PM

Re: OchoRios - Girlfriend Tours Report-Ochii THE PICTURES ARE HERE

Divas! Divas! Divas!You ladies really know the runnings of jamaica.I love this report! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] I can hardly wait until i take my frist group down at the end of june. Right now we have about ten or so.We will be staying in negril but after reading this report i have to bring the girl to ochie for a day trip.

**redafroqueen** · 11-14-2002, 07:09 PM

Re: OchoRios - Girlfriend Tours Report-Ochii THE PICTURES ARE HERE

oh Lawdy ... Lawdy ... Lawdy ... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Marilyn ya know mi wanted by deh Law ... ahn ya got mi pic all pon da net ... dey guh catch mi fa suh.

LOL!!!!!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Many Many thanks to GFT for the BEST birthday weekend EVER!!!!!!!!! and Much Future Success!!!

Can't wait to travel with you all again ... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] ... if you allow me?

[img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

**Rosalyn** · 11-14-2002, 07:39 PM

Re: OchoRios - Girlfriend Tours Report-Ochii THE PICTURES ARE HERE

I have saved my own picture on my computer at work as wallpaper. Damn I look good with that Red Stripe. Just kidding... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

**queenb** · 11-14-2002, 07:42 PM

Re: OchoRios - Girlfriend Tours Report-Ochii THE PICTURES ARE HERE

My heart aches just looking at those pictures. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] I miss my little "third world country"

and all those good times. Mek mi call Jamdung now!**sigh**

OchoRios - Girlfriend Tours Report-Ochii THE PICTURES ARE HERE

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