Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

[Green_Biscuit]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

You know, I thought about this trip report daily while I was there, as I was not keeping a journal etc. When I first got home a week ago, it was all so surreal, like a mist....my emotions have evolved and now the act of recording explicit details has become a catharsis for me....like I need to do this in order to move forward. My son is ill, so I am home with my computer but I wonder if I would be anyway....it is helping me sort out feelings and plans and priorities. Thank you all for helping me sort it out, and joining us (Cole and me) in a retrospective of our journey.

[Green_Biscuit]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Originally posted by DiamondDave:
[qb]

how close the Irish are to Jamaica

The photographer Jill Uris published a book of pics taken all around Ireland some years ago...the title of the book, I've always felt, poignantly and accurately describes both Ireland and Jamaica....

"A Terrible Beauty"

would your family be from The Aran Islands?? edit: ooops!! just saw your post [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

wonderful story...what great lessons for your children.. [/qb]

Dave, I have seen that book...need to score me a copy some day...Once in a blue moon, PBS will show a movie called "The Man of Aran"....that man that is the star is my Dad's first cousin....don't know if it has been digitized yet...last time we saw it, it was very old and grainy...gives you a wonderful insight tho....again...hadn't realized the parallels to LB...just a different climate.

[rudemonk]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

as far as I am concerned, hand washing sucks.

I did it for about 2 years and then said screw it and got use of a machine.

the only problem with line drying is thievery, lol...

[Green_Biscuit]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Originally posted by rudemonk:
[qb] Q- I never heard about the bladder or kidney relief usage of tuna, but it doesn't surprise me as from the little I know of it there seems to be a lot of overlap function in bush medicine. you might like to know it is also good for those with a bad/sore back. And of course, as is everything else, it's also good for the bamboo, lol...

GB- shoot me a PM. If I can help with some insight I will. [/qb]

I tried but your PM is full!

[rudemonk]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

sorry about that...I just cleaned up a little so it should be accepting messages now....

[Nanook]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Ohhhhhh, GB! I've been gone all day and couldn't wait to sit and read some more! Sad to see so much of the vegetation was wiped out, as you said, every bit of shade is a respite. I can't imagine doing an all day family worth of laundry, I'd do my own and a little every few days, to keep the load size and time doing it to a minimum, with like you mentioned, water usage always on your mind.... Sheets are the worst!

Yes, life down in LB has been very hard for most, and recent events, and Ivan on top of it, well... I have heard of people hoping to get help from some of the Negril area resorts to do some things for the school. I hope that dream can come to fruition!

Love your trip report GB, it is like I am there right with you, and Hi Collie! Nice to meet you!!!

[Laurel]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Greenie & IMie .... this may be a quiet little 'call out to rally the troops' to focus some attention to this area as well. By no means do you want to bombard your special location with the masses ... but - are there accomodations available?? I know Coconuts is no longer available ... anything like it available?? Any Guesthouse or other eclectic types?? for those not interested in 'yard stays'?? For those that collect things to bring to local schools around Negril - maybe some focus should be guided toward this school in Little Bay ???

[Green_Biscuit]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Yes, Laurel, there certainly are places to stay, at all different levels...I will compile a list, as most have websites, too....and yes, I am on a mission to revitalize Little Bay. Thanks for your thoughts....

[Shezuk]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Green_Buscuit
I am loving your report, and the pictures are great. I am only on page 5, but had to tell you, how much I am enjoying it.
So please keep it coming.

[Nanook]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Laurel and others...if you want to help with the school contact Gail Jackson at the Treehouse in Negril, she is working on it, but, as the saying goes, "it takes a village". I read her posts over on another board, here is what she has to say about Little Bay school:

"1)Little Bay School-- Computers and Windows blown out from Ivan, they had 2 computers. Some kids can not go to High School due to the bus fare from the area , so they continue in the primary school. I fell that Little Bay School is the "FORGOTTEN SCHOOL"

I once brought a Globe to Uncle Sams so when tourists came by they could show everyone where they were from, on the globe. Most of the children that came by had not seen one, I wished I had brought some more for the school, but this was something I didn't know at the time. It totally blew me away that something this common is not readily available. Some had not known that the world was round, and were astonished.

Like Green Biscuit, I love promoting Little Bay to anyone who is interested. It's not about keeping a favorite place a guarded secret at all, any visitors to the area help so many. The isolation of the area is much compared to what Negril was like back in the 60's & 70's. Since she mentioned posting a list of guesthouses and hotels, I'll leave that to her. I also have a friend who lives there who is from the states and has a home and rents out rooms to tourists, she used to lease Bob Marely's vacation home in LB.

OK, now Green Buscuit, ya know I came here for a FIX! Help, I need a fix, I'm fading and I can't get up!

[grandma2]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

very nice (((GB))) totally enjoyed it girl (so far) DWL

[loops]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

GBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB!!!!! Wherdja go?

[Green_Biscuit]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Actually, it is like LB is the forgotten village....not Negril, not a local city like Sav, not even as famous as Treasure Beach....yet, it has so many amenities....and could have more, if economics could support it. Which leads me to my next installment, what makes Little Bay so special?

Well, obviously, the beautiful people are number one, in my mind. It has coral cliffs, and 2 white sand beaches, little points and coves. It has some nightlife (when the economics are there to support it) and lots to do during the day - snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, spear-fishing, boat trips, a mineral spring, a "bat cave", plantations up in the hills, lots of hiking, and is close enough for day trips to many things - falls, other beach communities, horseback riding, Negril, Bluefields, etc...I could go on and on. But, when you are there....you feel as though, you are a million miles from anything....this next part is hard to explain. Some, like, IM, will know what I mean.

Have you ever visited a place, and while it is beautiful, it is more than that? Like sacred ground. It is mystical, and pulls you....like a vortex of sea and earth and sky.....if you have ever been to places like Sedona, Mt Shasta, Stonehenge....maybe you will understand. It pulls you, draws you in....and never lets you go. Once you are enveloped by its magic, you will never be the same.

Two immediate places that come to mind where you will likely get this feeling are the Mineral Spring, and the Bat Cave. In my mind, they are likely on a ley line, and connected underground. I would love to found out if there has ever been any sort of geological survey to that effect. Besides those two points, though, all of the village just feels great. Certain areas, though, are even more special. I can tell you most certainly that the former Coconuts property is another, and that extends into Homer's Cove. Across the road from the beach properties, you will find it back in the bush areas....if you are not lulled into a sort of meditative state, well, then, you may never know what I mean. You can feel grounded and full of energy from the sand and sea and sky......if you focus on it, it can really make you euphoric.

Also, it is very alive spiritually. You can feel the presence of all of the previous residents....from original native inhabitants (arawaks?) to slaves to bounty hunters to recent dwellers trying to make their way. One elderly man, who was a lifelong resident, and a "pillar" of the community, made his presence known to me the last time I was there (as well as this time)....he is part of the reason I became so open to everything LB has to offer...in every sense.

Now, I know that some of you may call me crazy - I am okay with that...I am..

but seriously, you will never, ever regret truly spending time there.

[Nanook]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Greenie, you are NOT crazy, the Little Bay area is like that, exactly! And no, I am not the only other one who has felt it. The presence of the previous tenents... powerful spirits that linger to this day, the mystical feeling that lends to creativity, meditation, inner siritual connections, it's all there, waiting....

Bob Marely felt it, and built a home there, I can picture him sitting down there on the rock writing his songs. Many an artist has made thier home in Little Bay throughout the years, many of the snowbirds from the cold north would be there for the winters, working on art, music, meditating.

I was also pulled to that place like there was a magnet. I hope for everyone, that things can pick up again, and that life can get just a bit easier for everyone. Wish I could have gone down and visited with you GB! Someday!!!! (((hugs GB)))...thanks so much for bringing back some awesome memories! I have a time exposure photograph from in the bat caves I wish I could share, in it you can even SEE the cave spirits. When I look at it, I can feel them. It's huge though, and framed behind glass or I'd try to scan it. Looking at it sends shivers up my spine, still.....

[Green_Biscuit]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

((((G2))))) my friend, glad you are enjoying....please stay with me. Shezuk, I am glad you are happy....hope it all makes sense to you when I am done...there are so many others...I need to go back and read responses and make notes. Peace and blessings to you all...

((((IM, LOOPS, Nina, Laurel....et al))))