Jamaica...My heart...trip report

[Sugar Shug]

Re: Jamaica...My heart...trip report

Great start Cinni and thanks for the Pics. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] I'll be going to Fisherman's Point in early July.
Peace

[KARMO]

Re: Jamaica...My heart...trip report

Great start Cinni...now come with the rest! Love your apartment!

Marilyn - I'll be e-mailing soon!

[sistacaf]

Re: Jamaica...My heart...trip report

Aright come with it now cinni... more, more, MORE!!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

and no worries sammy, there are digicel dealer stores evrywhere (but they told me just a few weeks ago that there was a Max Cell store in the airport too - don't know whatsup with that at all --?)

But is easy to find phones and cards so no fret now

[cinnni]

Re: Jamaica...My heart...trip report

Tuesday April 13th, 2004

We woke up bright and early ready for whatever the day brings. First things first, the
beach is calling our names! We all put our bathing suits on and are getting our stuff
together then find our one friend putting baby oil on. Of course I immediately freaked out.
Shaza is thinking because she is a brown girl(Pakistani) she will not burn. Now mind you
this girls skin rarely sees the light of day.

She is here to “find herself” and have some fun. Now you wonder how old she is. She is
turning 30 in June and for the most part of her life has followed most of what she is
“supposed” to do and not what she wants to do. In terms of most things she is naive(need
to say here she is a quick learner)..obviously even in the sunning department. I asked her if
she intended to get sun poisoning or if she just enjoys pain or what?


After Jessi and Amy confirm the obsurdity of wearing baby oil in the hot Jamaican sun
when you have NO color other that the little you were born with we make her wash it off
with soap and water and put spf 35 on. Ok, now we are ready. We headed out the back
gate to walk down to the beach. Now at Fisherman’s Point you have to go out and walk
along the sidewalk to get to the entrance of the beach. It’s not like you can just walk out
your door and you are there. But we were fine with that. Some man decides it is his job to
walk us to the beach even tho we tell him we are all set. Well if he wants to walk I
suppose thats his business but we did tell him no thanks. He wanted to get us chairs for
“free” but again..no thanks we are all set. Whatever. We get into the beach and take “our
spot”. That is where we always end up laying when we go.


While we are laying there a man walks by and wants to know if we want to do any
watersports. After assuring him we are all set(our favorite phrase for the week) he chats
for a few with us. He is talking about us laying out here tanning and gives us numbers in
terms of skin color. Jessi is one..fair skinned with strawberry blonde hair. Shaza is a two..a
brown girl with brown hair, I am 3..golden skin with well, blonde, brown and slightly
white streaked hair(remember I said I goofed with my highlighting before I left) and then
Amy..a 4 with her dark tanned skin and blonde hair. He was a 5 he said. Shaza was not
thrilled to only be a two when she is supposed to be a brown girl and here are these two
normally very white girls with a better number than her DWL! We of course find it terribly
funny. Actually we ended up finding pretty much every single thing pretty funny the entire
trip.

After we’re done frying our skin for a while we headed back to our room.
After we get back from the beach we head to town to get some more food and alcohol
and just to check it out.
We ended up eating at Coconuts Bar and Cafe. Not bad and our waitress Kay way very
nice and funny! I think we amused her.



When we get back from lunch, Amy wants to get the braids so we go out to Carmen by
the pool and Amy chooses the style she wants. After a while Jessi decided to get the
headband style braids as well. When the girls were both done we headed upstairs.



Jessi said she had a bad headache and wanted to lay down for a little while. So the three of
us are sitting at the table talking and Amy and Shaza tell me they don’t really even know
how to flirt. That they are just not good at it. Well, we can’t have that can we? So I say
come on girls, let’s go for a walk. So off we go. We met up with Ernest the houseman and
he walked with us down the road. Ernest is a nice man and I am just talking and chatting
away with him. Then we reach the end of the road and there are 3 policeman standing
there. Ernest stops and tells them to make sure they take care of us because we are his
girls.

I think what better time than the present to show them all you have to do is be
yourself. If you are happy and at ease with yourself it just comes. Nothing really special
too it. Eye contact while talking is important. Leaning in and listening to what they are
saying is important etc etc. After a likkle while I felt confident they understood. Both girls were like, Cindy...you go girl . Funny..flirting is not really something I thought about doing..it’s just there when you want to and not when you don’t want too.

After we get back and Jessi gets up we get ready to go to Lil’ (Little) Pub.



Now, I need to give credit here where credit it due. Marilyn was right on target with “THE” places to be on each night. Everyone here was great with all the of the advice and I took every last word to heart and we used it often!

After we’re ready to go we catch a taxi to the club. Grab our drinks on the way to our
table from the bar and head over to look for a seat. We ended up sitting way over on the
right side of the stage. Over by where they have those likkle outhouse looking things.
Hmm...quite the strong aromas over here. So we are sitting enjoying the show and guess
who we see????????????????


Yep, Lady Shabba!



As soon as they said her name I was like Holy Sh*t! Thats the woman Marilyn, Classy,
and Ochee were talking about! Oh my...you did say she couldn’t sing a lick and you were
so right. The girls thought she was high on coke or something because she kept sniffing
her nose. I managed to get a picture of her. However, because of where we are sitting
and because of what you gyals had said, I am trying to sneak a picture so it is not a real
great one.

So Anyway, Jessi is an awesome singer and she gets up on stage and the first song she
sings is Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love of All”. Now the thing is when she starts
singing people are listening but ya know with that oh...another singer..but then all of a
sudden they realize she rocks! So then the whole bar is watching and listening and is like
wow..she can really sing! Go girl!



Lady Shabba attempted to sing a couple more times...good Lord what a site but entertaining to say the least.
Jessi sings one more song “Bette Davis Eyes” and of course it is outstanding!
This is proven even more when a couple of different days in the week 2 different people
came up to her remember her from that night and told her how good she was!

After going to the bar several more times to get drinks and sitting in that cloud of smoke
(I know, I’m a wuss), I am not feeling anyyyyyyyyy pain at all. Towards the end of the
night I am making friends and conversation with Marlin the bartender (what a cutie) and
this fine man who had been sitting up over the bar. He is now behind the bar with Marlin.

I can never sit still or stand still while music is playing so the whole time I am dancing
while chatting. He says his name is Paul then says Pablo. Either way...fine, fine man! So
while we are chatting he says come here. I take a couple steps over to him and he starts
whining weeeeeeee! I soon find out there is alot of that here!

While he we are whining I hear the girls asking each other where the camera is. I just keep
dancing. Again I hear “Where’s the camera?” I raise my arm, waving it in the air. Heyyyy!
I knew I was holding on to this camera for a reason all night!
After getting a group picture of Pablo and Marlin with us we are on our way.



We were the last to leave.


We take the taxi home and my wonderful friends tuck me into bed. Unfortunately I did
miss this wonderful event where Jessi and Amy covered their braids for bed with their
swimsuit sarongs.


This photo has been edited because the girls were giving Shaza the bird

Thank goodness for cameras and Microsoft Picture It!

[Marilyn]

Re: Jamaica...My heart...trip report

OUtstanding, Just OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This report may save several lives as we languish in Babylon.

Don't think I haven't gotten calls about you ladies from JA, and it is ALL GOOD. They loved you. You moved through the right way.

Your writing is great, your report is wonderful thus far, keep it coming.

Ladies, do you even get the implications of her taking women to Jamaica who are so naive they need FLIRTING lessons, talk about starting in the big leagues!!!!!!

[AngieB]

Re: Jamaica...My heart...trip report

Cinni, great report. I so enjoy sisterhood at its best. Seems like you girls really had a good time. I can't wait for the remianing story so get back to the keyboard and start writing girl....

[cinnni]

Re: Jamaica...My heart...trip report

Mena
Trying to get this written..didn't realize it takes so long to get everything in DWL

Classy
Thats what they told me..no digicel..took it out
It stunk for sure!

Ochee
It didn't really look as dark to me as it does in that picture but we may have had one of the verandah doors closed for noise control [img]/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] . With both doors open we had a beautiful cross breeze going and were never too warm. Only a/c units were in the bedrooms.

Sugar Shug
Tell Charles the security man and Ernest the houseman the 4 crazy girls from Apt 37 say ello for me please!


Thanks Marilyn
I am hoping everyone enjoys this next set of my pictures as they are my favorite from our trip to Murphy Hill

Angie
We really did have the best time and these girls are definately like my sisters!

Sammy
If there is a cell phone place in the airport noone that works there wanted to share that info with us thats for sure!

[Vi]

Re: Jamaica...My heart...trip report

cinnni...cinnni...CINNNI! Wonderful report!!! Love your writing style. I can tell you are still feeling the vibe of being there as you go along. I bet you still have that "I've been to Jamaica" smile plastered across your face. lol... I still have mine and it's been well over a year.

Gotta say the pic of Jessi and Amy with their hair wrapped up....PRICELESS! Hey..can I add it to my screen saver scenes??????

Can't wait to hear more Cinnni...continue on please!!!!

[cinnni]

Re: Jamaica...My heart...trip report

Wednesday April 14th, 2004

Today is going to be another great day! This is the afternoon we are going on our tour with Marshall and I have really, really been looking forward to this!

After waking up and getting something to eat (I think we ate, not even sure anymore) we
headed down to the beach. Head on over to our same spot and get our towels all situated.




I just lay there and took in all the sites and sounds. We were trying to figure out a way
to sneak onto the cruise ship to take a look around since 3 of us have never been on one.
Of course none of us are about to move from our spots on the beach DWL!

After laying out for a while longer we headed back to the room to get ready to go out on
our tour with Marshall. I am just sooooo excited. I have been dying to go and see some of
the country! I had already called and talked to him on Tuesday evening to set up our time
of 2 p.m. He was right on time but poor Marshall had to wait for us...sorry baby.

We all pile into his immaculately clean van. I sat up front with him and the girls sat in the middle seat.

We’re off!

We immediately fall in love with Marshall. What a great person and soooo sooo cute and loveable! He is so funny and made us all feel immediately at ease. Dancing and singing and talking all the while educating us on our beloved Jamaica! He took us through Harristown, Fern Gully, Colgate, Beechertown, Hindstown, and up to Murphy Hill!



Yes we remember them all because he tested us on them. Told me specifically I needed to know
where I’d been because Marilyn will want to know.
We learned about Bauxite mining



and that it is the second largest industry in Jamaica next
to tourism. We learned about how Fern Gully floods in June and November and then they have to use this very narrow road, which he drove us on, during that time because Fern Gully is closed. He had lots of information but you get the drift.

Anyway..... The views were simply stunning. At one point there was a picture I wanted to
take and Marshall said to let him because he was on that side of the car. Well he decided
to get out instead. So here we are on the side of this ittty, bitty road with this 8inch half
crumbled wall and instead of standing on the road between the wall and the van the man
gets on the wall and it is a straight down cliff there. I freaked right the heck out! I was
yelling at him to get down from there right this minute!

He steps down I told him not to ever do that again. He is such a smart a$$ he climbs back on the wall and says What theesssssssssssss??....I thought I was going to vomit right then! There was a man walking on the side of the road who also found this highly amusing. I so DID NOT find this funny! I guess you just can’t take the Mother out no matter where you go. However the view was just stunning!


Onward up towards Murphy Hill. Along the way we passed a beautiful church. We got out and walked up to the church and Marshall took our picture there. It is soooooooo beautiful.





We keep driving along and Marshall is pointing out some things to us. He points to a bush in someone’s yard and says it is a peppermint bush. He stops the car and gets out and we’re like isn’t that someone’s yard? He hollars out Ello as he walks into the yard and picks a couple of branches off and brings them back to us. I wanted to bring them home but after they dried they looked a likkle like ganja and didn’t want to chance a full search.

Drove by a field of pickneys playing ball and got a wonderful picture of them!

[cinnni]

Re: Jamaica...My heart...trip report

Oh my Lawd...am I really here in this place seeing this land being around these wonderful people.
I am tearing up just thinking about it while we are driving. I just cannot get enough. I will
never get enough.
When we reach the top Marshall stops the van on the road before continuing to the
building. OMG it is breathtaking. What an amazing, amazing view. It is more gorgeous
than I could have ever imagined.





For a moment I let the end of my trip in and wonder how
I will ever be able to leave here. How am I going to survive the despair? Ok...enough
thinking about the end. We still have the rest of Wed, Thurs, Friday and Saturday here.

We drive up to the building and the sweetest man is there. His name is Byron and he
manages the place. He gets Shaza, Jessi and Marshall a rum punch and Amy and I drink
sodas. Oh on the way driving I had asked Marshall if they had snacks somewhere because
I was absolutely starving. He says yeh mon...we’ll get you a snack. So after we get our
drinks I asked Byron if he has any chips or anything. He says the only thing he has are
these airplane sized bags of peanuts. There are 2 bags of the sweet honey roasted ones. So
I open one up and give one to the other 2 girls to share and I pour some in my hand and
hand the bag to Marshall. He pours some into his hand then goes to hand the bag to Jess
and drops it and they spill all over the floor. DWL...you should have seen his face…he
looks at me like OMG what did I just do. I had said a billion times how hungry I was. Well
luckily there were those 2 other reserve bags of peanuts with raisins in them. Now I am
definitely not a big fan of raisins but they looked to me like a gourmet feast by now. That
bag did not hit the floor.

I got this wonderful shot of Marshall



Byron was soo, soo sweet. He was showing us pictures of his wife who has passed on from
cancer and then of his sons...I believe he said he has 5 of them. Marshall got a great
picture of him with us.



He gave us his card and asked us to send him a picture which I plan to do. After hugs and good-byes we head back to the van for our trip down.





We get in the van in the same seats as before. Marshall has the Reggae cranked and its
awesome. Apparantly at some point I am dancing like crazy in my seat because I look over
and Marshall is staring at me with a big smile and says Go Girl! I turned slightly pink but
got over it quickly. I was much to happy to worry about such things.

So back down we are headed. We wave and say ello to everyone we pass! This is such a
great country, everyone is so friendly. We make it safely back down and bless his heart he
takes us to watch the basketball game!




Heaven...we’re in heaven! We get out and head to
the court. I made myself right at home and sat my behind right down on the seat to watch.
It was so much fun. The players were all yelling stuff at each other but I have no idea what
the heck they were saying. I loved listening to them and was really getting into the game.
All too soon it is time to leave. We are starving and need to eat dinner and get showered
and ready to go out tonight. Marshall drops us off and I am sad to see him go. I’ve had
such a fabulous day hanging out with him!

[Marilyn]

Re: Jamaica...My heart...trip report

Ohhhh Cinni/ I am sooooooooo glad you had a good time with Marshall. This is the new #1 man in my life in Jamaica (not romance, just friends).

He is a LOVE, and does everything just right. Hey, he gave you a more detailed tour than he did us....

Ok now, for my Marshall you owe me.!!!!!!
And still I have not been to Murphy hill,''Lovely Lovely pictures girl.

[cinnni]

Re: Jamaica...My heart...trip report

[Marilyn]

Re: Jamaica...My heart...trip report



"Look there are some more of those silly tourists"

[sammy]

Re: Jamaica...My heart...trip report

great great report!

and you went to murphy hill! that place is on my list.....LOVE the pictures

got another email from digicel and yep the counter at the airport is gone [img]/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

[StarGirl]

Re: Jamaica...My heart...trip report

Murphy Hill is the BEST! Not too many drivers want to go there though becuase of the roads. But once you get there, the scenery takes your breath away.

I'm curious though... is Thomas still around?!? no one seems to mention him any more.