Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

[DiamondDave]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

Thank you all!!

I'll be back with more soon...the next installment is pretty heavy, and I wanna make sure I get it right....

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

[Laurel]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

Must make the Nine Mile Journey myself one day.

[MaryC]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

Dave

I visited Nine Miles 4 years ago. I have not been back again, altho I have had many trips to Ja since then.
I have to tell you the power of the man is very strong there. I felt as you did and the tears flowed like rain. I didn't want to leave. Bob's presence there is overwhelming.

Thanks for taking me back to see Bob again.

[DiamondDave]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

Joseph showed us around the walls of the Temple. At one end is the natural kitchen....I love to cook, and I really love cooking outdoors...it's just so welcoming...you know what that's like...there's always a couple extra pieces of chicken on the grill in case a friend or neighbor stops by, right?! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] We live in a second floor apartment, so most nights we're using the selfish, European contrivance of cooking indoors...

Are there any other cooks reading? Do you think you could cook here?



I was pretty much off to my own personal place about then, but I think I heard this was the "prep" area....



We continued to make our way around the Temple....built into the Eastern wall is a beautiful stained glass Star of David ( sorry..no foto....difficult angles... but more on that later...)

Just below the window is a tree....the only one of it's kind on the Island...transplanted from Ethiopia to decorate this special place....

"Oh my sycamore tree, saw the freedom tree...."



A few steps later, Joseph invited us to join him in the Temple...

[DiamondDave]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

There are amazing amounts of positive energy flowing around this place.... at the eye of this benevolent hurricane is the Temple...Bob is here.....

Slowly, tentatively, I made my way up the steps, and through the narrow doors...

[DiamondDave]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

I am neither naive nor pretentious enough to claim to be Rasta, but I respect the culture (everytime!) and choose to honor it in my own way...so I stood at Bob's right hand and started our conversation with the welcome he often gives me.....

"Greetings in The Name of The Most High............."

Bob greeted me in return...who feels it knows it...

[MaryC]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

Beautiful
Just beautiful. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[DiamondDave]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

Joseph, may I touch?

With a knowing smile, he nodded his head...

By this time, my entire body was vibrating like a tuning fork....Looking back, it's a wonder I was able to remain upright.....

I reached out and rested my hand on the smooth, sandy-white Ethiopian marble.....and felt Bob's power, wisdom, and energy flow straight through me....I smiled....the moment I'd dreamt about for years was here.....the connection is complete.....

We moved slowly down Bob's right side, admiring the assorted offerings left by previous visitors....Bibles,maracas, tambourines, notes, sketches....every so often, I would reach out and touch again, as if to make sure that this was no dream....we approached the end of the room, where I looked up at the stained-glass window mentioned earlier....

Bob rests, with his Gibson in one hand, his Bible in the other and a spliff in his mouth...he faces the East....so that every morning when the Sun rises, it's gentle rays shine through the glass and fall on his face.....

We continued up along his left.....I stepped even closer, and leaned my head against the marble....any shred of composure left in me disappeared...the tears came in a torrent....I don't know how long I stayed there ......it didn't matter, though.....my simply being there was enough....

With a gentle kiss near his head, my visit was complete......

Thank you, Bob....

Then, with one more glance over my shoulder, we stepped back into the glorious Jamaican day......

[Guest]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

Awesome, totally awesome!!!!

[AngieB]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

Peace Dave, peace...

[plv23]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

DD-Great report and I am so in awe of your Nine Mile experience. I have not been there yet but it is a must for me. I admire him very much...so much so I named my daughter after him. Waiting for your next post.

[Jamaicamiss]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

Thanks so much for the PM to let me know of your trip report. It is totally awesome DD, and so glad you had a good time with Trevor. He always does a good job for me in Ja. Your experience with Bob Marley was not a surprise to me, since you had given me some insight with our emails of your great love for him. I, too, lost my composure there. It is a very spiritual place as you attest to. Keep up the good work, and I look forward to more of your postings. Peace n nuf Luv, JM

[Grandmother]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

This isn't just a Trip Report it is one of the most Spiritual Recitals of Love that I have ever read. Your love and respect of your Woman, My Beloved (Jamaica) and her people touches my Heart and puts a catch in my throat. Reading and seeing your expeirience at one of my favorite places in the world brought tears to the surface. Ms Pooh you are one lucky woman and I am so glad you were able to have one of the best First time visits I've ever read about. We should all be so lucky.

Off the beaten Track, right in the Heart of the People, and the ability to see and articulate it so wonderfuly. BRAVO DD

And by the way you made me blush, in Vi's report that was very sweet. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Rose]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

Originally posted by DiamondDave:
[qb] The Legends Bar....

[/qb]

Love this picture Dave! I've stayed at Club Ambiance a few times and your photo brings back memories of sitting out there with that breeze blowing through.. I'm just reading through your report now and am so enjoying your writing style! Am loving the photos of Nine Mile too..just went there last week and didn't take any pictures. Yours bring me back!

[Marilyn]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

Hard to type with tears in my eyes....hard.
You are a wonderful man. Lord if there was one more out there like you........

Your photos and your report are fabulous, just fabulous. My girls told me to read it, and I thank them.

Thank you so much for using the driver I recommended to you. He is a good man, and you have already told me you enjoyed him. Thank you so much.

I look forward to the rest of your story, but Nine Mile got me like that too Dave, just like that.