MoBay is Heavenly

[Sinco01]

Re: MoBay is Heavenly

this is good stuff..bring us some more

and yes you (and sis) look lovely in dem bathing suit

(I wont say a thing about how my eyes popped and my jaw dropped looking at those lovely young ladies...but I quickly got myself under control)

[Marilyn]

Re: MoBay is Heavenly

Baby Diva
A small warning. If you start a post and leave your readers hanging there is a slight penalty. If we have to get rough with you, it might mean confiscating your passport. Now you wouldn't want that now would you?

[sheanlee]

Re: MoBay is Heavenly

Originally posted by Marilyn:
[qb] I am anxiously awaiting her next installment, but the Ochii comment, PLJ, was because she said it was a slow night in the clubs in Mobay. I feel like one can always find something good to do in Ochii, no slow nights. [/qb]

mi jukin' you Marilyn...and yes you are right...MoBay is not for clubbin! (in my opinion anyway)

POST PENALTY WARNING: YOU HAVE MET YOUR 48 HOUR LIMIT ON TRIP REPORT GROUND RULES..PLEASE RETURN TO THE BOARD IMMEDIATELY WITH A NEW INSTALLMENT OR YOUR PASSPORT WILL BE CONFISCATED!

[NapiHead327]

Re: MoBay is Heavenly

MoBay is Heavenly

Part III:

Since Marilyn got all Tony Soprano on me, I guess I'll get back on the ball.

Day Two. We said we’d try to get up early, but the sun rises late in Jamaica. Early for us ended up being 10 a.m. Just in time for French toast and fried plantain. MmmMmm Good! The ladies at the activities booth showed us a video on Dunns River Falls and we made that the plan for the day. The resort had made us an appointment w/an activities director that day. We really weren’t interested in meeting him; we already knew what we wanted to do during our trip. But we figured we’d see what he had to say.

While sitting in the hotel lobby waiting for the activities director to show up, a security guard came over and asked me about my hair. This was not the first time I’d been asked about my locks during the trip. I wondered why everybody was so interested in my choice of hairstyle. I guess I expected it to be a common hairstyle in Jamaica, but to my surprise, I hadn’t seen any women with locks since I’d been there. The guy asked, “You Rasta?”

I said no.

“Why you wear your hair that way,” he said.

I gave him the short answer. “Nappy hair was good enough for Jesus, so it’s good enough for me.” He couldn’t understand how I could have locks and not be Rasta. I explained that at one time in my life (a few years ago), I researched Rastafari and while I did respect and adopt some of the principles, I decided that the whole Rasta lifestyle wasn’t for me.

“What didn’t you like,” he asked.

I told him I couldn’t respect the way women were viewed and treated in Rasta culture. I don’t believe in polygamy. I don’t believe that a man has the right to tell me what to wear, where to go, how many children to have, what to cook, who to be friends with, etc. While in college, I became friends with a Rasta sista, her husband and her two beautiful children. This was a strong sista, but she often times would mask her intelligence to ‘respect’ her husband. I couldn’t get with that. She and her husband were very friendly people and very eager to convert me. I thank them for the knowledge that imparted on me, some of the teachings just weren’t for me. The polygamy was a big issue.

“Na, na, na. Now wait just a minute,” he said. “I understand that the American women don’t know this, but Jamaican women know this. See, Jamaicans have more of the traditional African culture, more than the Americans, you see. And in traditional African culture, if a man can afford more than one woman, then why shouldn’t that man have more than one woman?”

Here we go!

“I’m saying that if you will be taken care of, then why should you worry about what your man is doing. A man will be a man, and that is nature. It is nature for a man to have many women if he can take care of them.”
Now, I’m no bra burning, sign-toting feminist, but I am a womanist. I’m smart enough to know that while this lifestyle may work for some women, it doesn’t work for me. I’d argued this point before and I was about to get into the one discussion I hoped I wouldn’t have to get into. I asked him if the same would go for a woman.

“I’m an educated, employed young woman. So, if I can afford more than one man, I should be able to have more than one man, right?”

“Oh no, no, no! No, that not how de tradition go, you see. It’s for de man to be de provider and de woman to be in de home,” he said. As he spoke, his voice got higher and his patois started inching its way to the surface.

“Okay,” I said. “So let’s say that’s the case, and you, your brother, and your father can all afford to take care of me. Is it okay for me to see all 3 of you?”

“Oh no, no, no. De woman can only have one man. Dat’s de tradition. Oh no, you’ve got it all wrong, see.”

“Okay, so when your daughter grows up, you would be fine with her husband having 3, 4, or 5 women on the side – possibly bringing home diseases and drama that she shouldn’t have to deal with.”

“Oh, well, I don’t have girls, I have boys.”

He had an answer for everything. He said the Jamaican women accept that that’s the way Jamaican men are. I told him that some American women accept that crap from men also, but a quality woman wouldn’t accept being one of many. I stopped a sista who was a desk clerk at the resort and asked her if she could speak on behalf of Jamaican women. She heard the argument and laughed at the struggling security guard.

“The men would like to think that we all accept it,” she said, “but we don’t. They can get away with it with some of the young girls, but no, all the women here wouldn’t have that business in their house.”

Now his theory was shattered. He stood embarrassed, grabbing at straws trying to justify his behavior, but by then every woman in the lobby was laughing at him. Poor Jamaican security guard. Oh well.

We had been politicking for an hour and the activities director still hadn’t shown up. Anyway, the bus was waiting out front. We hadn’t even realized what time it was. It was time to go to the falls. We grabbed our things and boarded the bus. Another couple joined us. The driver said it would be a 2 hour ride. I settled in my seat and got ready for a 2 hour nap. He pulled off and we were on our way.

That whole nap idea was a joke. I’d heard that Jamaicans drive fast and while we were out the night before, we’d witnessed just how fast and furious they can be on the roadway, but I thought the resort transportation would be different. Surely he wouldn’t drive that fast with tourists in the car. I quickly learned that if you don’t keep up, you get run over, and while it may have been safer to keep up, I was hanging on for dear life. I grabbed my seatbelt and told lil’ sis to do the same. My belt was broken, but again those MacGeyver skills came into play and I rigged it into a safety device that the American Auto Association would approve. One good thing about missing my nap was that I got to see more of Jamaica. We passed the huge houses in the mountains, the shacks, the towns. I can’t tell you how many different little school uniforms we saw: khaki, green, blue, khaki trimmed with pink, blue trimmed with white… I wondered if the kids in Jamaica valued education more than the knuckleheads in the states. The uniforms made them look – well – uniformed, disciplined, serious about learning. They all looked so happy. At home, I pass by the schools and see little girls dressed like prosti-tots and video dancers. The boys are walking around with their pants sagging down to their knees. They all curse like sailors. I see them and I think, ‘Ughh. This is our future.’ On the way to the falls, I saw the clean, well-dressed children and thought, ‘Wow. This is our future!’ I said a prayer, asking the Creator to bless each of their lives with happiness, knowledge, love, and success. I prayed that the Jamaican economy improved so that these children wouldn’t have to leave their native land to find prosperity.

The driver was right, the trip was exactly 2 hours long. We arrived at the falls and he explained that we could leave most of our things on the bus: our clothes, our towels. All we would need were our water shoes and camera. I wasn’t too sure about walking around in nothing but a bikini and water shoes. Again, I got self-conscious about my body. I have good body days and bad body days. Sometimes I feel fat, sometimes I feel like a queen. I wonder when a woman stops having those days. Does it come with age? I don’t know. But I opted to lose my tank top and keep my shorts. I knew we had to go up the falls in a single file line, and I didn’t want to subject the people behind me to the view of my hotentot behind. Then we actually made our way into the park and I got a look at some of the tourists there. There were some itty-bitty snow bunnies wearing fluorescent bikinis. They had their ‘perfect’ tans and their ‘perfect’ bleach blonde hair and their ‘perfect’ flat butts and their ‘perfect’ skinny legs. I took one look at them and changed my mind. I took my shorts off, put them in my bag, and let everybody see all the assets my mother gave me! Why should I be ashamed of having a Black girl shape when I’m in a Black country where Black men love Black women and their Black butts, their Black hips, their Black legs, their Black chests, their Black noses, their Black lips, their Black hair… I was feeling pretty good about myself. And my bikini.

The four of us, me and lil’ sis and the couple from the resort, found a guide and made our way up the falls. We learned that the couple was from Argentina, but now lived in California. They were so nice. Good people. We helped each other up the rocks, holding hands, stopping for photo-ops. We noticed that we kept passing other groups on the way up. Our guide was really pushing us to keep going. We made it to the top in about 15 minutes. Even the guide said that was the fastest tour he’d ever done. Then he told us it was time we tipped him.

We, the four of us, decided to climb the falls again, this time w/o a guide. That was better than the first time up. We had a few slips and falls. A few bruises. But it was fun relying on each other, being adventurous! Whew! That was a rush. After our second journey, we walked through the craft market. I didn’t even realize I was half-naked (not until I got my pictures developed). It never occurred to me that I was walking around in public in, virtually, a bra and panties. I felt so comfortable w/myself. Maybe a little too comfortable. I’ve never been one to wear too many clothes. I like the summertime b/c I can walk around barefoot and braless, wearing only a sundress and a smile. But I hadn’t worn a bikini in public since high school. There’s something about Jamaica that makes me want to wear as little as possible. Not for attention-getting purposes, but b/c number one, it’s hot; number two, it’s freakin’ hot; number three, fashion just doesn’t seem important anymore. While walking through the craft market, several Jamaican men gave Mr. Argentina (I can’t remember his real name) props for having 3 women by his side.

“Are you King Solomon,” they asked.

“Yes,” he said. “These are all my women and they are good to me.”

We didn’t mind him claiming us as his. It kept some of the guys from being so aggressive. Also, Mr. Argentina was really a nice guy, so was his wife. Salt of the Earth people. It was almost like being with my Daddy, but w/o the, “Girl, put some more clothes on!” (Which is exactly what I heard when he saw the pictures.)


Me, Ms. Argentina, Lil Sis at Dunns River Falls.

The ride back to the resort was pretty uneventful. I was tired, tired enough to sleep through the 80 mile per hour speed races and the bumpy roads, but I did want to catch one last glimpse of the school children and the beautiful old church we’d seen on the way up. The driver made 2 stops on the way back: one to get gas, and one so a guy could try and sell us some weed and/or coke. He was offering, but nobody was buying. We made it back to the hotel safely and went straight to the beach to lounge around with our beach friends. Again, we talked and laughed like kids on a stoop. Wayne told us we were the most beautiful girls in the world and gave us flowers that he’d picked off the tree. I wore my flower in my hair to dinner that night.


The most beautiful church I've ever seen!


Wayne's flower matched my pink skirt perfectly!

[Marilyn]

Re: MoBay is Heavenly

Oh MY!!!!!!!!

And why oh why would you or your sister EVER want to cover up? As Angie always says, God knew who to give it to.

Girl you are GOOOD.. what can I say. Thank you for the day in Jamaica.

Whew!!!!!!!!!!

[cinnni]

Re: MoBay is Heavenly

Wow..If I had a body like yours Napi, I would be wearing bikinis all over the place!

Your report is great and I cannot wait for the next installment!!!!

[Marilyn]

Re: MoBay is Heavenly

See Cinnni that's right tell har!!!!!!!!!

[sistacaf]

Re: MoBay is Heavenly

There’s something about Jamaica that makes me want to wear as little as possible. Not for attention-getting purposes, but b/c number one, it’s hot; number two, it’s freakin’ hot; number three, fashion just doesn’t seem important anymore.

yup, that's what i say too -- i just wanna be comfortable, and when i feel comfortable, i know i look good cause i am at ease, feelin good in my own skin, and it seems i look much better that way than when i primp and fuss and wear fashionable, but uncomfortable, fancy clothing....

Napi what a wonderful report! you and your sis are beautiful beautiful women! can't for the life of me figure out what you have to be self concious about --- if yuh got it, flaunt it [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
and honey, y'all got it! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

enjoying this immensely and can't wait fi de rest.... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[sheanlee]

Re: MoBay is Heavenly

I don't know what you worried about...you and your sister are working those bikinis...complete with "hotntot" behinds! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[AngieB]

Re: MoBay is Heavenly

Yep, and I say it again,God knew who to give it to. If I had that tiny wist, perky behind, flat stomach and firm thighs, well lets just say, all of Jamaica would have to get use to me walking around in something small. Not that I would want to flaunt it, that isn't my style either, but I to hate clothes and would love to have less to worry about showing.
More more more...

[nattydreadgirl]

Re: MoBay is Heavenly

(((Napi)))

Beautiful trip report! The razor, you made me laugh out loud! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

[queenb]

Re: MoBay is Heavenly

This is a wonderful report! I see that you "got it" immediately. Pleez tuh sen di dues dem tu:

queenb
Negril P.O.
Westmoreland, Jamaica

That way I'll have some spending money while I'm in Jamaica FOR 8, MI SEY 8 WEEKS!!

[smth744]

Re: MoBay is Heavenly

THIS is a wonderful report .... pure joy !!!

[Marilyn]

Re: MoBay is Heavenly

Queen B
Why you come in here and mash up Baby Diva's post with your drama?

Hennyway....Mi hav a suggestion fe ya

[Sinco01]

Re: MoBay is Heavenly

There were some itty-bitty snow bunnies wearing fluorescent bikinis. They had their ‘perfect’ tans and their ‘perfect’ bleach blonde hair and their ‘perfect’ flat butts and their ‘perfect’ skinny legs. I took one look at them and changed my mind. I took my shorts off, put them in my bag, and let everybody see all the assets my mother gave me! Why should I be ashamed of having a Black girl shape when I’m in a Black country where Black men love Black women and their Black butts, their Black hips, their Black legs, their Black chests, their Black noses, their Black lips, their Black hair… I was feeling pretty good about myself. And my bikini.


that photo at the falls sure does justice to this statement

Wheww...sis you know you got it all
:love: