Re: Port Antonio - Portie, Moonsan Villa, Blue Lagoon, Monkey Island

[SweeetLips]

Re: Re: Port Antonio - Portie, Moonsan Villa, Blue Lagoon, Monkey Island



I usally go to moonsanvilla.com but it's not working right now. Not sure why. If you go to google, and search you will find something close.

I was only in JA 10 days, I just move around a little, when I don't like were I'm any longer I move on... I love TB and would have stayed there longer but the Calabash Festival started and had planned Portie this time. 6 days TB then 4 days Port Antonio, but I could have used a couple more in Portie...when people ask for info regarding Portie days trips I always think that's just tooooo short to even get relaxed. I like Negril okay but I've never stayed the entire length I had planned, I can only deal with Negril in short periods, I think it's because I haven't found my groove there....yet [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] I structure my trips to be flexible, less stress for me, but then again I never pay in advance for any room, and if that is a requirement I won't book it. I did that once in Negril and lost money for checking out early.

[SweeetLips]

Re: Re: Port Antonio - Portie, Moonsan Villa, Blue Lagoon, Monkey Island

Pastlife: this was the cutest darn thing, he tied this little rope on her ankle so he wouldn't drift away, and once he fell asleep she untied it without him knowing and he drifted out in the middle of the sea...was so funny to see them interact with each other, always fun to see lovers being playful with each other.

[Island Girl]

Re: Re: Port Antonio - Portie, Moonsan Villa, Blue Lagoon, Monkey Island

Sweetlips, the second pic on the verandah of Moon San, what is the hairy thing on the table along the railing? My husband and I have been puzzling over this and would appreciate an answer, lol... loving the report, PORTLAND is our second home...IRIE! *IG

[SweeetLips]

Re: Re: Port Antonio - Portie, Moonsan Villa, Blue Lagoon, Monkey Island

[img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img]
It's a coconut carved into a head, and they made the top look like hair..... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

[schultz]

Re: Re: Port Antonio - Portie, Moonsan Villa, Blue Lagoon, Monkey Island

Sweetlips, your pictures are so beautiful. I can relate to all of this. I just stayed in MoonSan about a month ago myself. This part of the island is fast becoming one of my favorite spots. Yes, the food these ladies cook is outstanding!

I was a little afraid to swim in the lagoon! I saw some baracuda's swimming around. I put my feet in and that was about it.

Did you go to the Roof Club or the Ona Banana? The shopping mall in town is also pretty cool.

Enjoying your report....keep it coming! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[sheanlee]

Re: Re: Port Antonio - Portie, Moonsan Villa, Blue Lagoon, Monkey Island

Originally posted by SweeetLips:
[qb] Pastlife: this was the cutest darn thing, he tied this little rope on her ankle so he wouldn't drift away, and once he fell asleep she untied it without him knowing and he drifted out in the middle of the sea...was so funny to see them interact with each other, always fun to see lovers being playful with each other. [/qb]

[img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] too cute...sounds like something I would do... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[Island Girl]

Re: Re: Port Antonio - Portie, Moonsan Villa, Blue Lagoon, Monkey Island

Thank You Sweetlips for the reply- the curiosity was killing one of us, at least IRIE! *IG

[SweeetLips]

Re: Re: Port Antonio - Portie, Moonsan Villa, Blue Lagoon, Monkey Island

Schultz I did go to Ana Bannana, it was nice and a great view. I've been to the Roof Club..not really my thing though, but it's famous and it would be a shame to miss at least one visit.

I love the little mall, but my favorite is the craft market, I love the carvings that Rock Bottom carves, I got another big fish carving this time. I just love thoses fish carvings, I ended up with 4 by the end of the trip (just what I needed [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

HMMM baracuda's...I love fish, but I pretty much stick to the wooden one, I'm a little naive about Baracuda...are they agressive? I don't understand why you can't swim with them, what do they look like? Holy smokes I swam all over the lagoon....???

Ohliz: I'm glad you went to Portie, cuz I've gotta tell ya I had your Blue Lagoon Picture as my desktop pic for months! Thanks

[sistacaf]

Re: Re: Port Antonio - Portie, Moonsan Villa, Blue Lagoon, Monkey Island

HMMM baracuda's...I love fish, but I pretty much stick to the wooden ones, I'm a little naive about Baracuda...are they agressive? I don't understand why you can't swim with them, what do they look like? Holy smokes I swam all over the lagoon....???

they're about a foot long, slim, silvery-gray, they kinda stealth ina de wata; they swim real smooth and fast - they won't kill you but they could sure take off a hand or a foot.....

they're not actively 'aggressive' per se, just kind of stupid, but like sharks they think you might be lunch cause they don't know any better (or maybe they just can't see so good) [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] .... when i first learned to scuba dive (Some Come Up Barely Alive, [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] ) they always made us remove all jewelry, hair clips, anyting bright or shiny, lest the dumb barracudas caught sight of anything resembling shiny fish scales and come check a taste

they do have some vicious teeth, i once got to see and touch a (recently expired) one layin up on a dock, looked at the teeth up close and touched em, and just like shark teeth, flat and triangular and huge, bout the size of a US quarter - and truly like razor blades, layed up all against one another overlapped in the mouth, and razor sharp. scary as he

but as with most things, generally speaking, if you don't bodda them, they nuh badda you. I've been around thme in the wata and they never came anywhere near me even when they were well within my sight line.... although you definitely waan steer clear if you see one lurkin around you

[SweeetLips]

Re: Re: Port Antonio - Portie, Moonsan Villa, Blue Lagoon, Monkey Island

WOW!
Thanks for the info!

[Spear]

Re: Re: Port Antonio - Portie, Moonsan Villa, Blue Lagoon, Monkey Island

a couple a things about cudas -- i'd never eat one. in bimini, where used to spent a lot of winters fishing, actually more the Berry Islands, if one were to eat cuda you would usually feed a piece to the cat or dog to see if they got sleepy, same thing with amberjack -- if the dog or cat, soon after eating would lay down, well, the older brethren on the islands would say it was tainted and put it in a lobster trap for bait -- what they meant by tainted was that the fish carried a parasite, common among many reef fish in the carib's. in humans it can be toxic and it causes swelling of the throat, chills, fever, breathing complicatipons and in some cases even death -- not all humans get this if they eat reef fish, but if you've ever even had a mild case you won't soon be eating reef fish, even the more popular ones like grouper and snapper -- not trying to scare anyone away from these fish, just pointing out there can sometimes be problems -- most of the time the infected person just assumes that ate something bad or the fish was undercooked or something -- minor symptons last hours but serious cases require immediate medical attention -- this occurs mostly with reef fish, or bottom fish that stay in the same area most of their lives in the sea -- pelagic fishes, like the tunas, marlins, dorado (dolphin/mahi mahi) do not carry these dangerous parisites but can carry worms -- they are easy to see when you clean these type fish and can be cut our, avoided or the fish can be feed to the backyard critters -- unfortunate but there is no way of knowing wheter the reef fish carry the parisite because you can't see it and it doesn't effect the fish at all -- savvy islanders, especiallly the fishermen, usually know which reefs contain the parisite and will avoid setting traps or fishing on those reefs -- the parisite lives in the reef and the fish that nibble off the reef, or ingest smaller fish from the reef get it -- you won't see a cuda snacking on reef structure, but they will eat the smaller fish that do -- my advice is, if there is any doubt stay away from cuda -- might be too much to say same for snapper and grouper, but in my case, having had bouts of this illness four times -- i avoid them altogether, or eat infrequently -- local knowledge plays an important part here so if you know where the fish are coming from and who's catching them ask 'em about ``reef sickness'' from eating fish. also, when swimming with cudas there is usually not much to fear unless 1) they're on the feed 2) you are wearing flashing jewlery 3) making sudden moves and noise in the water and 4) have a open wound or are having your period.

[Spear]

Re: Re: Port Antonio - Portie, Moonsan Villa, Blue Lagoon, Monkey Island

sorry, neglected to mention the toxins in the reef fish that cause the sickness -- Ciguatera and Ciguatoxin -- here is a helpful site that will explain in-depth about this sickness -- if you travel to islands it's required reading http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC3661.htm

[SweeetLips]

Re: Re: Port Antonio - Portie, Moonsan Villa, Blue Lagoon, Monkey Island

Thanks Spear....I think

Sounds pretty creepy, [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] but then again not something I could just put my head in the sand about....I appreciate your sharing.

[swedishrasta]

Re: Re: Port Antonio - Portie, Moonsan Villa, Blue Lagoon, Monkey Island

Thank you sweetlips for the amazing reports and pictures. I tend to travel alone too and I was wondering if you thought Moonsan was a good choice. I'm assuming they rent rooms individually. I love all the villas but usually it's way more space than I need if you have to rent a whole villa by yourself. I would love to know more about Moonsan. Please share.


Big up sweetlips.

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

[loops]

Re: Re: Port Antonio - Portie, Moonsan Villa, Blue Lagoon, Monkey Island

Swedish!!! Good to see you.... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]