Back from Kingston....

[Q3210]

Re: Back from Kingston....

Dont tell me that you couldn`t have bought batteries for your camera, but you bought bread and bulla and nuff curry goat and chicken.
So brother man, you needed to have the friends to accompany you downtown Kingston.

You do have a Jamaican connection. You speak of ancestors. Where in Jamaica were they from?
You and I are `whiteys` and I have lived in Kingston most of my life and out of it, the other mostly in Portmore.
As most of the posters have said, the term `whitey` is just an acknowledgement of what you look like, which is mostly an uncommon sight.
Like when you see a giraffe possibly for the first time, you`d say, " Giraffe!"

[DanielTh]

Re: Back from Kingston....

Originally posted by Q3210:
[qb] Dont tell me that you couldn`t have bought batteries for your camera, but you bought bread and bulla and nuff curry goat and chicken.
So brother man, you needed to have the friends to accompany you downtown Kingston.

You do have a Jamaican connection. You speak of ancestors. Where in Jamaica were they from?
You and I are `whiteys` and I have lived in Kingston most of my life and out of it, the other mostly in Portmore.
As most of the posters have said, the term `whitey` is just an acknowledgement of what you look like, which is mostly an uncommon sight.
Like when you see a giraffe possibly for the first time, you`d say, " Giraffe!" [/qb]

I didn't go to downtown - I really wasn't all that interested. I tried to buy batteries for my camera, but all the shops at the Devon house said they didn't have any [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] But oh well.

My comment about ancestors was actually just speaking in general - my New World ancestors are Cherokee [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Q3210]

Re: Back from Kingston....

Is it just the curry that you love Jamaica? No.

What is it about the land, the people that attracts you?

[DanielTh]

Re: Back from Kingston....

Originally posted by Q3210:
[qb] Is it just the curry that you love Jamaica? No.

What is it about the land, the people that attracts you? [/qb]

Hmm well the curry is part [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] But the rich heritage, the land, the smell after it rains...

Really otherwise I don't rightly know! I can tell you this - it has a strong resemblance to my home back in Alaska. Same atmosphere sorta. Even my mother recognised that.

[ColeS]

Re: Back from Kingston....

Originally posted by DanielTh:
[qb] ... the land, the smell after it rains...
[/qb]

aaaawwwwwwww........ sweet smell....... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] takes u to a whole other state of mind doesnt it?

Thanx for sharing.....

[Q3210]

Re: Back from Kingston....

The women, beautiful and very fashion conscious.
The men, extroverted and friendly.
The land, flat and grading up towards the mountains and falling back again towards some coastal beach to swim, to eat, to listen to the Jamaican rhythm, the reggae beat of today and the rockers of yesterday.
A pina colada in one hand and life in another.

Ahh yes the rain, the aroma as the steam lifts a unique smell off the scorching roads. The aroma as the rain drips off the tropical fauna and flowery rich red Poincianna trees.
The pitta patta of the rain as it drops on Jamaican metal roofs.
The hop scotching over muddles of rainwater and getting wet from the water falling from a shaken tree when the rain has long subsided.

[cdmsunshine]

Re: Back from Kingston....

Thanks for sharing DT.... what a lovely report and pictures too. thanks for taking me back to the some of the good ole days [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Green_Biscuit]

Re: Back from Kingston....

Daniel, this is wonderful! I don't keep that your camera dies, please keep posting. I am enjoying your descriptions, and now you will have to just paint us pictures with your words! Continue please....

[jerry_newbie]

Re: Back from Kingston....

report


it's not fair, howcome i did'nt get a nickname

[grandma2]

Re: Back from Kingston....

oh (((DanielTh))) so glad yu pointed mi here baby, lovin it

mi datwa an mi friend have a bed just like dat fi real...have to get stool to climb inna it, but it not blue mahoe doh...yu knoh dat de national wood rite...mi an yu could never afford dat deh bed baby, neither could we leave Ja wid it DWL

thanks bout de cookin, yu dun knoh mi naw steer yu rang......oh love de beard to, nice picha

ok sorry fi interupe kip goin [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Q3210]

Re: Back from Kingston....

Women see everything from head to toe. Granma you got Dan blushing, you liking his whiskers.

[Sinco01]

Re: Back from Kingston....

Thanks man ...

nice report too [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Sorry your "friends" were not real ... but we'll see what happens next ...

mi use to hear people seh .. dawg should not bite the hand dat feed dem ... or some such ish

[DanielTh]

Re: Back from Kingston....

Thank you all so much [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] . I am glad you like it! I met some lovely people and really did enjoy my time, my sometimey friends notwithstanding.

This was a vacation – meaning that if I woke up and chose not to do anything right away, I didn’t. I drug a chair out onto the front entry and sat there in the morning breeze, smelling the air and listening to the city wake up around me. I guess I became a bit of a fixture, the man who’s sole job was to lift the bar blocking the drive way would wave to me. Then there was the tall man with braids outside the back fence who would constantly, with a grin and “respek” fist pound, try to get me to buy his ganja…or go to his party (which was very flattering) … or barring that, just ask me to give him 500 bucks as a “gift”. He and his cohorts were the ones who dubbed me “Big Man” and somehow it kinda got around, even the taxi drivers would point at their cars and say “Yow Big Man, need a taxi?”

The man who drove me to Port Royal was older than I by at least 15 years, so he was in his mid 50s. Very nice, also very difficult (for me) to understand, and apparently he had the same problem with me. But who needs words? We made due [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] . By the time we got to where we were going – and got lost in the process – we were talking like old buddies. We drove past two bicyclists on their morning run and I patted my tummy and said "I should do that". He found that so funny he almost ran off the road laughing so hard. I’ve been told by many friends that I have a way of making people feel “at ease” and “comfortable”, and I guess it worked there, too. The ladies at the front desk all called me “Mister Daniel” and I quickly picked up on the Jamaican way of addressing almost everyone as Miss, Missus, or Mister….

I think the one thing that I never got use to was being stared at. I thought there were enough Caucasian residents of Kingston that I wouldn’t be a novelty, but I guess I was mistaken. However, after one bagger in the grocery store pointed at the tattoo on my calf and gave me a grin and thumbs up, I realized that at least when I was wearing shorts it wasn’t me they were staring at but at my tattoos.

The gentleman who drove me to the airport the morning I left was one I wish I could keep in touch with. He was very nice, very personable, and had me rolling – and I returned the favor (I love making folks laugh). When I told him my love of Jamaican cooking, he told me, in GRAPHIC detail, about the effects Mannish water has on men. I haven’t blushed over that sort of thing since I was about 14, but he came very close to making my ears burn. I am still convinced that had I not quickly changed the subject he would've pulled out a projector and slides to prove his point! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] I still crack up over his getting a cellphone call and then passing a newspaper and pen to me, asking me to take a number down while he was driving.

I guess suffice it to say that the trip was enjoyable – and my “friends” did not kill the fondness I have for the island [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Green_Biscuit]

Re: Back from Kingston....

Oh no! You are not done are you???? Please tell us know....surely you have some more pictures to paint for us?

[Bink - the Only]

Re: Back from Kingston....

my dear friend, Daniel. you must know how i feel about this trip. i am so happy you made it work for you.

remember, someday, we will crash the island together.

i am proud of you, daniel!