TB - A Little Piece of Heaven

[suzrand]

Bear with me folks...This is my first attempt at a trip report.

Lets begin with a few photos

Sunset Resort Villas and I borrow this motto for the theme of my report. See those french doors upstairs that are wide open. Welcome to Paradise Suite. Correctly named. More details on the accomodations to come.

The view from my veranda in Paradise Suite. I love that this picture shows the flag waving so proudly and bold, tattered at the edges. So representative of this beautiful country. Side note - This flag was replaced for a brand new one during my stay.

View off the main patio at Sunset Resort. I spent a lot of time looking at this view.

Another view off of the main patio. This is Calabash Bay.

View from the other direction off the patio. That is Jake's beyond the fence.

Ok. I hate to say but I have to go catch a few zzz's. I just had to make a start and give everyone a little taste. I will start with the report and more photos tomorrow. Good night sweet Treasure Beach.

[Vi]

Re: TB - A Little Piece of Heaven

Great start Suz. Just what we need...a report with amazing pics. Love all the ocean pictures. I'm so ready for more! Don't even try to leave anything out....me need fe hear it all, including the sound of the waves crashing upon shore... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Vi]

Re: TB - A Little Piece of Heaven


I wish I were standing where I can see this right now. So beautiful Suz.

[loops]

Re: TB - A Little Piece of Heaven

(((((suzrand)))))

so glad you're back! You know I've been looking forward to hearing about your trip...man o man...Calabash looks so inviting. Thinking to go back to TB for my next visit.

so...GET UP!!!

booful pics so far...I'm anxiously waiting the rest of the story... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Laurel]

Re: TB - A Little Piece of Heaven

Yippee Suzie - come on now ....

((((Vi Vi))))

Loopsie - Good Morning to you -

[Nanook]

Re: TB - A Little Piece of Heaven

Yipeee, there you are suzrand! Great start here, I hope you come back soon and give us hungry people some more!

[loops]

Re: TB - A Little Piece of Heaven

mawnin Laurel-ie. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Suuuuuuuuuzeeeeeeeeeeeeee...i know you're out there....tap tap tap. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[n.c.rootswoman]

Re: TB - A Little Piece of Heaven

OH BOY!

[Seveen]

Re: TB - A Little Piece of Heaven

Looking forward to seeing TB from you and your children's view

<<loops>> morning - i'm at kinko's the brat is at taekondo

[suzrand]

Re: TB - A Little Piece of Heaven

A little background before I begin...This is trip #8 for me, #3 for little suzrand (daughter almost 10), and first for my son, J, who is 6. I am a little nervous about my son because he is a real homebody. He is a video game addict and is afraid to fly. Daughter and I are addicted to this island. My wonderful husband who allowed us to take this wonderful vacation was unable to take off work. I felt a bit guilty about this, but that didn't stop me.

I am a little nervous as I begin our journey. I have never been to Treasure Beach. I have heard great things about it from so many people on this board, but unsure what to expect.

Got into Montego Bay on Easter morning about noon. Not too bad of a wait to go through immigration. About 45 minutes in the line. I was so happy to be in Jamaica I didn't really care. I have a regular driver I use named Junior, but I also consider him a friend after many visits and good times. I always heave a big sigh of relief once I see a familiar face in the MoBay parking lot.

Junior loaded our bags in the car and we are off. My first request was to try bun and cheese. He stopped to pick up some cheese and a knife to join the bun he already had with him. Second request was to go wish some friends who run the villa where we usually stay, a happy Easter. I can't tell you how nice it was to sit with friends enjoying my first taste of bun and cheese. (It was the first of several times I enjoyed this treat)Ahhhh, Jamaica.

MoBay was a hustle of activity. Many people were dressed impeccably either going to or coming from church. Busses, upon busses were flocking to the beaches. Junior tells me they are a lot of Kingstonians. He says that they love Montego Bay's beaches. They drive up early on Sunday morning and spend the entire day enjoying the water and party all night, sleeping on the busses. They then enjoy Easter Monday doing the same thing.

From Montego Bay we head into the hills. The entire ride to Treasure Beach was lined with beautiful Jamaicans dressed in their best for Easter. Women with hats dressed it all bright colors. Children who are scrubbed and starched. Men sauntering along dressed in beautiful suits with an umbrella tucked under their arm looking cool as can be. I marvel at the children who stay clean and pressed even while at play. My kids would look disheveled in minutes. I would be so hot and sweaty I would look like I wreck by the time I made it to church. A treat would be each time we passed any sort of church. People spilled over into the roadways.

I loved coming out of the hills and spotting the ocean again. I think it is around the Bluefields area? I think I may have to go spend a day in Bluefields at a later date. That glimpse of the water always takes my breath away. At some point between Bluefields and Black River a mongoose darts out into the roadway ahead of us and then turns back into the bushes he just came out of. Junior tells me that this is a sign of bad luck.

We pass through Black River. Junior has never been to Treasure Beach and had done well up to this point without asking for directions. Between Black River and TB we stop to ask directions from people on the roadway close to 5 or 6 times. (One or two of those are cute girls and he wants to just take a look). I marvel thinking that maybe Jamaican men are not afraid to stop and ask for directions. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

As we come around a corner and I spot a young boy running full speed ahead across a field. As I follow him with my eye I spot a car flipped upside down in the middle of the roadway. It had just happened minutes before. The car on the road ahead of us was the first to the scene. We pull over. Little suzrand is asleep in the back seat. Junior, J and I get out of the car. I grab my newly purchased first aid kit and we run up to see what we can do to help. Four guys were driving too fast around the corner and lost control of the car. All four were out of the car and amazingly in great shape. I helped one who had a pretty good gash on the palm of his index finger.

I am standing next to the car and helping him clean out the wound. There are spectators gathering and commenting that they heard the crash. About 10 guys get next to the car and flip it over. Junior keeps telling them to unattach the battery but they don't listen. As soon as the car starts to flip it burst into flames. It was like something out of a movie. I felt the heat blow my hair back off my face. I grabbed my son's hand and ran as fast as I could back toward Junior's car. I was sure the thing was going to explode. Mostly everyone who had gathered around scattered as fast as they could run. A few brave guys grabbed a branch off the nearest tree and beat the flames out. We all slowly came back toward the scene.

I go back to the injured guy who is really bleeding. He definitely needed a few stitches and some woman is standing there telling him he needs to go to the hospital. He was stubborn and wasn't going to listen. We cleaned out the wound and used all the gauze pads, gauze rolls and tape and managed to get the thing to stop bleeding. The woman and I chuckled and joked that men are too stubborn to do the right thing. I told her to give up nagging at him.

Other people had moved the car off the side of the road and cleaned the debris off the road. Junior had done a great job taking care of my two kids and keeping them safe from traffic while I helped out. I commented that americans would be way to lazy to band together and get the car off the road. We would have called a tow truck. I just love how Jamaicans are so resourceful. It makes me sad that this is not by choice, but they are forced to be that way due to lack of resources and opportunities.

We get back in the car. I have to listen to little suzrand complain that she missed all the action because she was asleep. I thank Jah for our safety and that she was asleep. It was a miracle no one was seriously hurt in the accident or fire. Junior comments that if they had hit an oncoming car things would have been different. He also comments that if we hadn't stopped to ask directions the last two times that we probably would have been directly in their path. I once again thank Jah. He goes on to say it was all because of the mongoose. I take him literally for a moment thinking,"Huh?" I think to myself the driver must have swerved to avoid a mongoose? He meant the superstition of the mongoose in our path earlier was the bad luck. I have another thought that I love how Jamaicans always have so many superstitions, many involved with nature, to explain things. It is also a sad thought that they are forced to be that way due to how tough life is for so many.

We continue the last few minutes into Treasure Beach and I feel all my stress and worries fade away as soon as we come over the top of the last hill and I spot the ooooh so beautiful Treasure Beach in the distance. Ahhhhh! It was love at first sight for me.

A few pics follow in a few minutes.....

[Seveen]

Re: TB - A Little Piece of Heaven

<<clap clap>>

[suzrand]

Re: TB - A Little Piece of Heaven

Morning everyone. Thanks for the encouragement.

(((Vi))) ahhhh! the sound of the ocean. I could never tire of that sound.

(((NC Rootswoman))) (((IM))) (((Loops))) (((Seveen))) (((Laurel))) Welcome ladies. Enjoy the journey

[loops]

Re: TB - A Little Piece of Heaven

mawnin (((seveen))). pics are coming...don't leave now.

wow suz...whatta start. Florence Nightingale goes to jamaica....

[suzrand]

Re: TB - A Little Piece of Heaven


My first beer and sunset in Treasure Beach. Taken right in front of Sunset Resort.

View from the bar at Sunset. Spent a lot of time there visiting with people and enjoying many cold drinks served by the wonderful Michelle. Side of Jakes.

The side of Lyric villa as seen from the pool at Sunset.

View from my veranda at Paradise Suite at Sunset Resort. I spent many mornings enjoying coffee staring at this view. Note the spray of the fountain seen in the picture is from the pool. Many evenings spent here listening to Beres, watching the moonrise and enjoying the breeze.

More report and pics this afternoon...

[fOrTyLeGz]

Re: TB - A Little Piece of Heaven

Great stories and photos [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]