Ocho Rios, Jamaica Inn, Blue Mountains, Nine Mile with photos

[jazzlvr57]

Re: Ocho Rios, Jamaica Inn, Blue Mountains, Nine Mile with photos

I am really enjoying your report. I especially have been enjoying the Nine Mile part - Binji was our guide when we were there in September. Your report is really taking me back there. Thank you!

[Seveen]

Re: Ocho Rios, Jamaica Inn, Blue Mountains, Nine Mile with photos

Originally posted by tigerinatrance:
[QB]

Hey I recognize this food
Three Dives
Now you've done it!
I'm headed to the airport!

Maybe I should order now

[tigerinatrance]

Re: Ocho Rios, Jamaica Inn, Blue Mountains, Nine Mile with photos

Yep - that is where this was - not my picture, one on their website. Looks good.

You can do Nine Miles on the way from MoBay to PA - It's a side trip. So long as you do not mind getting into the hotel late. If you have to squeeze it in, do it that way. A weekend will be more "crowded" than a weekday.

But the drive is so beautiful, and the country so nice - you might want to make a day of it, and stop, take pictures, and absorb.

[BND1999]

Re: Ocho Rios, Jamaica Inn, Blue Mountains, Nine Mile with photos

Laurel.. NO.. id say nine mile after landing at 130 in mobay with the destination of Port Antonio is not a good choice.... by the time you land and clear customs you wont be out til 230.

you need to get to runnaway bay.. and up through brownstown.. to nine mile.. its a good couple of hours.. probably three in all.... its a lovely ride in the st anns hills... not to be done off a plane late in the day.... if you had arrived in the am.. id say maybe..

Port Antonio is a good 4 hours from mobay.. a lovely ride.. enjoy it.. and see it in the light.. especially after you leave ohci and past port maria...

if nine mile is important to you... do a night in ochi on the way or back to negril...

ive been to nine mile and to PA several times... trust me.. trying to push something where there is not the time.. only ends up frustrating oneself

[Soul Hunter]

Re: Ocho Rios, Jamaica Inn, Blue Mountains, Nine Mile with photos

fantastic stuff TIAT. The first shot of the second dread that walked up is a thing of beauty - but then all of these photos are. Can't wait to make this trip myself!!

[BND1999]

Re: Ocho Rios, Jamaica Inn, Blue Mountains, Nine Mile with photos

TIAT ... i never noticed the stained glass lion.. did i miss it or was that a new addition....
ill have to ask my son..just cant recall it..

[tigerinatrance]

Re: Ocho Rios, Jamaica Inn, Blue Mountains, Nine Mile with photos

I don't know - but, if you look at the old picture I posted up above, it is on the large side of the building, not the one with the two skinny windows - you can see it, it is of a different shape.

[tigerinatrance]

Re: Ocho Rios, Jamaica Inn, Blue Mountains, Nine Mile with photos

Oh, Soul Hunter – my bad. That first picture of the dread in the blue, that you thought was “Second Dread” from Bob’s, is actually Burning Spear. And it is not my picture – I should have said it – but to me, it stands out like a sore thumb against my pictures – it is so beautiful. I figured you all would be like “Oh, that must be Burning Spear – cuz she did not take THAT”. But isn’t it gorgeous? And you can tell it was not some “America’s Next Top Model” photo shoot – he is all sweaty like they said “hey lean against the wall that says ‘Marcus Garvey’” and the snapped the shot.

That is Burning Spear – that is not my shot. I apologize, I do not intend to mislead. I should have thought that Burning Spear and the Second Dread (whose face is obscured) might be mistaken as one.

Binji tells us that next time we should stay in Nine Miles. The older dread tells us there is a “’otel” across the street. Binji chimes in saying “Mi also ‘ave a likkle place down dere.” Pointing down the street, inviting us to stay with him. That would be great.



Shugar, and Nappi, - let’s all make sure we coordinate dates so that we don’t double book Binji’s place.

Can you imagine? Trying to explain to family and my business partner –

“Then we are going to the place where Bob Marley was born, and we are going to stay there.”
“What hotel are you staying at?”
“Oh, no – there is a “hotel” in this tiny village, but we are staying with Binji, at his house.”
“Who’s . . . . “Bin-gee”?’
“A Rasta we met at Bob’s.”

No running water was enough to blow their minds, but a Rasta? Oh man, I should keep my camera handy for the looks I’ll get.

I would love to hear from anyone that knows anything about the “otel” across the street. Has anyone checked it out, heard anything, stayed there? I read that they have 14 rooms, about $45 per night, and all rooms have a balcony. I want to be in Nine Miles on a clear night and see the stars, and listen . . .

BACK TO THE STORY . . .

Binji is off – he has to do some tours, but he’ll be back. He leaves the magazine behind as insurance. He doesn’t want us to get impatient and leave. Who us? No way.

Scott and I sit at the table, looking over Nine Miles. I have to say it again - The hills, looked like grass covered gumdrops to me, the houses some kind of candy sprinkle.

The weather was strange that day – it was definitely the cloudiest I saw it while in Jamaica, in Nine Miles. I suppose the air coming over the water and the mountains causes the clouds to hang there at times. The weather was cloudy. In fact, it looked like the sky would open up at anytime, and it could storm.

I have to be honest, at one point I hoped it would – first, because I like a really good thunderstorm, and second, it would have been great to have a really good thunderstorm sitting on that balcony. (If you have you seen the “Jammin’” from the One Love Peace Concert- that is a third reason)



I look up and see the water basin from which the hamlet gets its water, when it rains.



Looking at the basin from beneath the scalloped edging on the roof made me realize I was in Nine Miles, at Bob’s – it looked so foreign, but felt so familiar.


In some places, steady streams of white smoke billow up from the gumdrops. It resembles ethereal, ghost like shapes, which cover the sky with low, sometimes ominous clouds, of the same color.



I should have had my video camera, and stuck it on a table, and just let it run.



I notice these little boys walking up the path. They are far away, it is very cloudy – even a 300 mm lens on a digital camera is working hard – and I don’t have a tripod, so I am trying to stay still and not breath to get the shot. This is what I got:



I can hear five different songs playing in the distance – one Bob Marley song coming from the gift shop, loud and somewhat muffled. Another one might be coming from to my left – maybe in the bar – the Bob Marley video? There are at least 3 other songs being played at various places – some from the parking lot, I think. Almost all of them were Bob Marley. I heard some Sizzla in there too, from the parking lot. Listening to different parts of different songs added to the atmosphere. I would focus on one song for a while, and the next thing I know, I am listening to Exodus, and I have tuned out the other 4 songs – until I switch to a new one a minute later.

[tigerinatrance]

Re: Ocho Rios, Jamaica Inn, Blue Mountains, Nine Mile with photos





You can see how far away the blue house is – where the boys were walking:



Binji returns – he did the tour. His guests follow him to the bar, grab some drinks, and finish off their smokes. He comes right over grabs the magazine again.




He leans against the railing, and I join him. We talk about all kinds of things, including me putting together this trip report – and encouraging people to come to Nine Miles. He tells me that’s my mission – that I will tell people to come to Jamaica, and to come to Nine Miles, and some will come, and they will tell their children, and people will return for generations and generations.



The magazine has now passed hands to Delroy. He is engrossed in the magazine. Every once in a while he joins in the conversation. It was great that he felt like he could hang out with us, and be a part of the experience, rather than just driving us through it.



In the meantime, the waitress calls DElroy out at one point, and asks him why he is afraid to look at her in the eye when she comes around. Why does he get so shy? She is teasing him. He thinks we don’t catch it – too fast, accent, patois. Nah – we got it. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] I liked her.



Binji talks about the posters again. Tells me he is going to frame them nicely, in nice wooden frames, and put them in his house. He is going to make art pieces out of them. I’m glad that he is making plans for the posters – he is happy we brought them.

He also told me that I should go out and get green, yellow and gold glass beads, and put them on either side of the small silver lion charm I had on my neck (which I did upon my return!)

[tigerinatrance]

Re: Ocho Rios, Jamaica Inn, Blue Mountains, Nine Mile with photos

Delroy has ordered rice and peas about five times, and each time he is told something else about whether they are on the way. I’m not really worried about it because I can hang out here all day. They start going back and forth in patois about “ten minutes ago you told me three minutes” and Binji tells them, in patois, to be polite in front of guests, and speak proper English. I say “it’s cool, I’m following this” pointing to Delroy and the waitress and referring to their conversation. Binji just looks at me and smiles.

We have been hanging out for an hour or two, now. We probably should go so that Binji can get back to work, and we can get back to Ochi for a pre-dinner nap.


I then asked Binji what he thought about removing Bob to Ethiopia. Well, Binji GOES OFF. Starts saying how he wants to talk to all dem politrickans, da prime minister, and all a dem, and tell dem to remove da veils from their heyes”. He said that Bob Marley worked tirelessly during his adult life, and that he did Jah’s work - he is at rest now, and all these people that want to move him have to “Allow da man him rest.” And I mean – he was HOT about it. I offered that perhaps it was a misunderstanding and he went off about how Mother B (Bob’s mom) is the owner of the property, and she has the final say as to what happens, and there is no way Bob is leaving. He was saying that Rita had no business making a statement like that, because it is, basically, none of her business – that is up to Mother B. He also said there would basically be a riot there if anyone tried to disturb Bob.

We talk for a little more, and Binji goes to get a piece of paper on which he can write his name and address. We are going to go to the gift shop while Delroy gets his long awaited rice and peas (and they were good – worth the wait).

We peruse the gift shop and pick up a few things – a few T-shirts, a book, and a rasta colored bracelette. Binji comes to the shop, speaks with Scott, and gives Scott his address.

We head out into the lot, and I am offered to see “a marijuana plant”, and then I am offered some tea. Scott and Delroy come out of the building about a minute later. We are heading to the car. Surprisingly, we don't get any farwell from the herbs men.

[Kalistia]

Re: Ocho Rios, Jamaica Inn, Blue Mountains, Nine Mile with photos

I've really enjoyed your report! Feel like I was there with you. You did an awesome job!
I'll be in JA for 10 days in April and I'm now wanting to go to Nine Mile. I wonder how long of a drive it is from Little London. Thank you for sharing this.

[BND1999]

Re: Ocho Rios, Jamaica Inn, Blue Mountains, Nine Mile with photos

Kalista.. if you want to go.. it'd be a real full long day.. but fully do-able.. i have gone there from Negril many moons ago... but i didnt go back to negril.. went on to Port Maria.. still a full day..

get up super early.. head to mobay.. and towards ochi..then to nine miles... spend a few hours up there.. and in the hills of st anns... have a nice late day meal.. and head home by sunset...

can be done..

[Laurel]

Re: Ocho Rios, Jamaica Inn, Blue Mountains, Nine Mile with photos

Tiger - I am feeling sad your day at Nine Mile has come to a close ... What a wonderful, spritual, soulful journey for you and Scott! I have read about and enjoyed everyone's experiences shared - but yours really is one of the best yet!

Thanks for the advice that it CAN be done, but really should NOT be done after de-planeing on the way to Port Antonio.

I have not researched nor studied alot about the Rasta way of life - I know some & respect it, have always loved Bob's music/message and have always wanted to visit - and after reading all the experiences shared on this board - know it must be something done when time must not be rushed in order to savor the true essence of the experience. Must also do it with Matthew ... at the tender age of 14, he is not as big a fan as I am - but I want him to have the opportunity to walk those paths so he will have it as a life experience and do with it what he will.

Nina - what a thrill to have shared this with your son!

Tiger - Loved it!

[tigerinatrance]

Re: Ocho Rios, Jamaica Inn, Blue Mountains, Nine Mile with photos

Thank you everyone. I have some more photos and thoughts re: the ride home, which I will post after work.

Also, I will be getting to our school visit - after that, I'm done.

[DiamondDave]

Re: Ocho Rios, Jamaica Inn, Blue Mountains, Nine Mile with photos

thanks tiger...I'm really diggin' this... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Laurel...why not take a leisurely ride to Nine Mile from the airport and spend a nite at the 'otel mentioned above?? just the thought of seein' the sunrise over those hills is givin' me goosebumps... Early AM must be amazing up there!!! then you can take the tour first thing in the morning and continue on your merry way!!