OchoRios - My First (And Definitely Not My Last) Trip To Jamaica

[Sugar Shug]

Little Background Info
I decided about a year ago to go on vacation and said I want to check out JA. I have a dream of living in the Caribbean and I basically want to check all of it out to see If I fit anywhere.(When I was little I told my mom that I don’t belong in this country) My dad is from Guyana so I’ve been there. Beautiful, but its not quite right. I also don’t want to be surrounded by my family that lives there-toooooo much drama. Bahamas-wasn’t feeling it. Barbados-need to spend more time there(just there for the day). Trinidad-reminded me of the States for some reason and that’s what I’m trying to escape.

OK-now back to JA. When I decided on JA I asked my friend A is she wants to go. She does and I’m excited because A is a cool, go with the flow, no drama kinda girl. When I decided that I’m gonna plan this trip myself is when I got addicted to JA.com. I mean I’m on this site all day(in the beginning all night). A has some financial troubles so the trip was pushed back. To say I was upset would be an understatement. I’m in grad school full time, a single mom and with work-a sister needed a vacation BAD, BAD and I planned this trip so that it would be the week after summer school ended. The week I was supposed to go to JA I was almost crying, but some people here on the board(PLV) helped a sister take a reality check. I am so blessed to be able to take a vacation, so many people work so hard just to keep there head above water. I thanked God for the opportunity, the money, and for my family who would watch my 3 year old.

[Sugar Shug]

Re: OchoRios - My First (And Definitely Not My Last) Trip To Jamaica

Jamaican Boyfriend?
I’m talking to Miss S at work about how I’m going to JA and how excited I am. Miss S is from JA and tells me that that she hasn’t been back since ’78 because when she visited everything she had was stolen except for her suitcases. Damn-I though I had family trouble.(My family stole my money, but at least asked for my clothes [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] ) Well Miss S asked me how old I am and I tell her that I’m 25, so she replies-Ohh I I have a brother in JA and he is cute and he would marry you. So I of course walk away laughing. Two weeks later Miss S tells me that she has talked to her sister about me and she says that here sis says that I sound perfect for her brother.(OK-I’ve officially stepped into the Twilight Zone) I agree to talk to the bro-why not-I’ll have a personal tour guide. We talk for a month. He seems nice, but boring(he describes himself this way). He sends a picture, I send mine express mail(You know he got it the day I came back to the States). I told him, I’m not into the whole LDR. I can’t imagine being in a LDR with someone who is three hours away by car, let alone plane.

[Marilyn]

Re: OchoRios - My First (And Definitely Not My Last) Trip To Jamaica

Pouring my TIng and pullling up my lawn chair.

[Jamaicamiss]

Re: OchoRios - My First (And Definitely Not My Last) Trip To Jamaica

Alright SS!!! Nice start. Mi on di edge a mi seat waiting fi di next installment. Yu doin good gyal.

[777]

Re: OchoRios - My First (And Definitely Not My Last) Trip To Jamaica

and so she done...
Heck, me dis a get ready fe really get interested and the story stap...
But see here...
Pleeeeeze go on....

[Sugar Shug]

Re: OchoRios - My First (And Definitely Not My Last) Trip To Jamaica

On My Way To JA
My friend A, because of more financial issues, can’t go at all. I am all set to go by myself and have talked to people on the Board who say-Oh it will be OK-just go. If you wait around for people, you may never go. I said-cool I’ll go by myself-I gotta get out of this country-I need to feel the sun and the heat. This is killing me to keep putting off this trip. It’s killing me to keep reading these awesome trip reports and not be experiencing some of these things for myself. I happen to mention the trip to my friend Tia (my new hero) and she is like-when are you going-I’ll go. I go into planning overdrive. Before I know it I have two weeks left and have a big countdown posted at work because all hell is breaking loose around me, but I know its gonna be OK because I’ll be in JA, land of wood and water, soon, soon, soon.

I can’t do all that super preplanning, but I’m just afraid something is gonna slip before I go on this trip. I now know that I was a blessing for me to go when I did. As I said, there was mad drama at work and I missed all of it. The trip also is a week before school starts. The night before I leave and I’m packing. I think my daughter senses that I’m leaving her.(We haven’t been apart for more than two days since she was born) She is having a crying fit while mommy is trying to make sure that she has packed all of her shoes and don’t forget the school supplies. I get her calmed down at 1:00 am and set the alarm for 5:00 am. At 5:00 I bounce out of the bed like I slept 8 hours, grab a quick shower, kiss my daughter goodbye(while trying not to cry [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] ) and head out the door with my luggage in hand. My moms drops me off at the airport on Saturday August 21. I’m taking an Air JA flight. 3 hours and I’ll be in JA.

OK well my ticket say Air JA through Delta Airlines. I stand in the Delta Line to be told that I need to be in the Air JA line which is at the other end of the airport(and I mean the other end-I walked the entire airport and it’s a huge International Airport) Oh well, I’m not upset, I just figure-I’m gonna be walking all week so I’m just getting an early start. Get in line and talk to a nice young man in front of me. This is his 3rd trip to JA and he and his girlfriend are staying at the Jamaica Grande. He tells me if I can catch any lives acts I should do it(thanks for the advice). Get to the ticket counter. I have Mr. Funny Man handling my tickets. Get on the plan-Ahh a row to myself-Nice. I get another chance to thank God for this opportunity and to pray for the World and especially my family because the have my hyper daughter for a week.

[Tonya2]

Re: OchoRios - My First (And Definitely Not My Last) Trip To Jamaica

So excited to have another story to get into ...I love livin through u ladies on this board...its lk i get to go to Ja every day! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Sugar Shug]

Re: OchoRios - My First (And Definitely Not My Last) Trip To Jamaica

My First Sight of JA
The first time I visited the Caribbean I remember seeing the water. Momma-its sooo blue, why is the water in the States brown. (It still scares me to think what you had to do to that MUCH water to make it dirty brown) The water still captivates me. Also the landscape. On a map Jamaica looks small, but with all the mountains-flattened out-it would be huge. I can’t stop taking pictures.

[Sugar Shug]

Re: OchoRios - My First (And Definitely Not My Last) Trip To Jamaica

For some reason these pics were clear on my computer, but now when I copied them off of snapfish. Oh well. Here are some more.

[Sugar Shug]

Re: OchoRios - My First (And Definitely Not My Last) Trip To Jamaica

The Airport
I get off of the plane and it still isn’t real. Ok-so I notice the different accents, but I need to get outside, I need the heat and the sun and then it will be real. I see the singers in the Airport, but I can’t take a picture for some reason(throughout the trip there were times when I wanted a picture, but I knew that a mental picture would have to do, because I didn’t want to miss anything while fumbling with my camera). I wanted to give them a tip, but I was still trying to negotiate how things work here, They didn’t take a break while I was waiting for customs so-sorry no tip.(Oh well-I’ll be back and I’ll just have to tip double) I could tell that people were feeling them because I am a people watcher, but they didn’t clap. I wondered if they were feeling like I was feeling-just overwhelmed. I could feel the difference in the air-also there’s customs ahead of you. I just hope they don’t want to search my bags because of all of the schools supplies I have stashed in there.

Breeze through customs-Then I need to find my ride. I’m starting to freak out a little bit-I’m hearing patois around me and I’m getting scared. I remember being in Guyana by myself with my relatives and not knowing what they were saying to me and just having to keep nodding like an idiot to pretend I understand. I’m standing in the middle of the airport like a deer caught in headlights. I guess it showed because some airport workers came over and tried to help me. A cute guy walks up to me and says Baltimore-going to Fisherman’s Point. Yeah that’s me. I’m handed off to another guy who asks me for my travel voucher. Hmmmm, I don’t have a travel voucher. OK the guy mutters something in patois and starts the phone calls. After talking to about 4 people and what felt like 30 minutes later(probably 10 min) he says everything is fine stand over there. So I stand over there by a pillar. Ok so now I’m antsy. The automatic door to the front of the airport keeps opening and the sun streams in and then the door closes. I’m watching all the happy people getting to leave with smiles on their faces into the sun and I’m still standing at the pillar. So I’m pacing now about to scream WHEN CAN I LEAVE THE STINKING AIRPORT when the first cute guy comes up to me, takes my bag, flashes a big smile and says lets go to the car. Yippeee. I’m leaving.

[Sugar Shug]

Re: OchoRios - My First (And Definitely Not My Last) Trip To Jamaica

Ok ladies. That all I have for right now. Have a good night. Tommorow the ride to Ochi.
Peace

[Jamaicamiss]

Re: OchoRios - My First (And Definitely Not My Last) Trip To Jamaica

We here SS! Doin very good gyal. It like a serial an we hope it neva ends. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Marilyn]

Re: OchoRios - My First (And Definitely Not My Last) Trip To Jamaica

Thank God the board is back up, and I'm right here with you SIS.

[Shortee]

Re: OchoRios - My First (And Definitely Not My Last) Trip To Jamaica

Keep it coming please [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Sugar Shug]

Re: OchoRios - My First (And Definitely Not My Last) Trip To Jamaica

Jamaica Miss-I wish it had never ended I had so much fun. Marilyn-I kept checking all day long for the Board to be up and Shortee here is some more.