My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

[mountaingal]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

Originally posted by Jacqui351:
[qb]
[/qb]

i am intrigued by this picture. first, the houses seem to built in the old old jamaican style, down to thatched roof. you rarely see houses like this anymore, unless you're in deep "offroad" country. i grew up in a house that looked like those.

second, the houses are close to a kapok tree, what in Jamaica we call a "cotton" tree because of the blossoms. superstition in jamaica says duppies (ghosts) live under those trees, so i'm surprised to see the houses so close to it (unless things have changed and people aren't superstitious anymore, or maybe the perspective is fooling me and the houses aren't that close.)

enjoying your report, Jacqui...

[Marilyn]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

It is NOT true that if you have seen on hibiscus flower picture you have seen them all, this one is OUTSTANDING. I can see every vein in this flower.

You should make this into greeting cards. Blank inside so you can write whatever occassion it is in.

[Vi]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

Jacqui, I am finally catching up with your report. My, my. my!!! All I can say is BRAVO!!

Miss Jacqui, I can tell you've had one of those trips that instantly went from a vacation to a life altering experience. That's what happened to me.

Your pictures are amazing...simply beautiful. I love them all, but I have to admit...being the die hard romantic that I am, this one left me breathless...

I can visualize myself standing close by, watching those two as they chat...maybe about the magnificent the sight before them and how blessed they are to see it together.

***sigh***

Please continue Jacqui as I am right here staying in step with ya alllll the way.

[Laurel]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

ViVi ... no doubt - if you were standing close by those two might very well be thanking JA for the magnificent sight of you standing in their presence as well!!
~~~~~~~

Jacqs - nice photos and all, but really - whats up with all the reference to the 'sad shell man'?? You and your friend laid eyes upon him and formed judgements about his sad, vacant empty stare caused by his hard life and his decision to just give up ... for all you know, he may have been sitting out on that point praising Jah for a blessed life he has lead, he may be praising his God for having loved very well in his life and having been very well loved in his life. While the reality is - he may very well have had a life filled with struggles, but, he may feel blessed by riches completely unknown to you.

As a first time traveler to Jamaica, it is too easy to compare your own standards to your surroundings and possibly assume that your surroundings are lacking. Does that make sense?? I am certainly NOT taking you to task by your observations, maybe simply in a gentle manner, asking you not make such quick assumptions about people's lives that you know nothing about, cuz as you said - you did not have a real conversation with this man.

Again - lovely photos and thanks for sharing.

[Jacqui351]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

Jamaica Miss - I see that pic. touched you as it did me.
Marilyn - Thank you for the idea about the cards!
I am going to do just that!
Vi - you are so right! This trip has changed me in more ways than I can count. The men in that pic. are the divers, and I can tell you, they were fine! Really, I was trying to get a pic. of those handsome faces and perfectly toned bodies and the setting sun got in the way! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70365-flirt.gif[/img]

[Marilyn]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

Jacqui
I see you have your pictures saved on snapfish. Just go into their store and you can order your cards. They will look very nice too.

[Jacqui351]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

mountaingal - I had no idea what type of tree this was, and you provided the name and a history of the tree. Thank you so much!! These buildings were at the lighthouse. They told us that they were in ok shape until Ivan came through. I don't think I would build under that tree either, ghosts and I do not get along!

[Jacqui351]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

Marilyn - Thanks once again for pointing me in the right direction! I originally took the picture as I dabble a bit with painting and needed a close up for a painting I am doing for my mom-in-law. But, with your assistance, I now have a couple uses for the picture.

[Jacqui351]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

Laurel - I am sorry if I have offended you in some way with my diary style of writing. I honestly meant no disrespect toward the gentleman. I was merely writing from my heart and trying to put the feelings into words. No, I didn't know this man, and you may be, and I hope you are, right about him. If you could have been there to see what I saw, maybe it would be easier to understand why I wrote it that way. I have done alot of volunteer work with the homeless and military veterans in the US and have seen the same look and mannerisms many, many times in the men and woman who have given up hope and it breaks my heart, as it did with this gentleman, to see the sadness that is so evident on their faces. Maybe I was wrong to generalize this gentleman's expression, as I did base my description of him on what I had previously learned and therefore used that to try and explain him in written form. That is why I said "he had the look of" instead of "he was like this".
I am a little hurt that you would think that I might feel that my surroundings did not meet up to my standards and would make assumptions based on that. Yes, it was my first visit, but I went with an open mind and a desire to learn everything that I could about Jamaica, her customs and her people. I didn't feel that anyone or anything in Jamaica was below me, that is just not my nature, no matter where I am.
I fell in love with Jamaica because of my experiences, not in spite of them.
Again, I am sorry if I offended you or anyone else with my musings as that was not my intention at all. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70361-embarassed.gif[/img]

[Jacqui351]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

Day 7 - Thursday

Following my daily routine for the past six days I find myself on the balcony with journal in hand. It is amazing at how the landscape has changed with just a few days of rain. The lawn is now a deeper green and the flowers seem to be blooming right in front of my eyes. I am sure to that today I am not seeing the true brilliant colors surrounding me because I am acutely aware that this is our last full day and tomorrow we must return to reality. I feel that I haven’t begun to scratch the surface of the wonders that Jamaica has to offer. There is so much that we haven’t gotten to do yet and the week has flown by so fast that it is now too late. Shaking off the depressing thoughts I tell myself that there is still today and some of tomorrow to explore paradise and if I continue to sit around wallowing in sorrow, I will miss even more.

John and I were walking to the dining room when I saw Amy, the girl who was injured yesterday slowly walking from the building. My first thought was that she is walking - so that is a good sign! I had been worried that with the size of the Riu I would not get a chance to see how she was doing and here we were, at the same spot at the same time! Fate possibly? She remembered me from yesterday and thanked me for holding her hand and talking to her as I have a very calming voice. Awwww. John thought her statement was so funny and was nearly doubled over laughing as he told her about how calm my voice was when we first got on the airplane. I have to say, he did a real good imitation of me! Lol After we all stopped laughing at my crazy husband, I was able to find out some information from Amy.

She was really impressed with the Doctor that the resort called in. She said he checked and re-checked her back throughout the night and said that he didn’t think there was anything broken but he could tell there was muscle damage and one disc seemed off slightly to the left which could mean ligament damage also. He wanted her to go to the hospital in Montego Bay to have x-rays done just to make sure, but she would have to go by taxi as there are no ambulances in the area, and she couldn’t handle a bumpy car ride just yet. She said the Doctor was very understanding of her feeling that she wouldn’t be able to handle the ride so he told her he would give her some pain medication and a couple of shots, I believe she said steroids, in her lower back to relax the muscles and make her more comfortable until she got home and could go to her Doctor for the x-rays. He gave her strict orders not to do anything more than a slow walk, no stairs and limited sitting until she got home. He did tell her that if the water wasn’t rough, she should go into the ocean and the warm salt water would help the muscles in her back and legs. Even with the shots and painkillers, Amy was still in quite a bit of pain and Brandon stayed real close to help her stand and walk. The bruises on the back of her legs were almost black now and nearly took up the entire back part of her legs down to her knees.

Amy said when she jumped from the cliff, she could remember trying to get her legs and feet pointing straight toward the water but it was such a struggle trying to remain upright that she had to use her legs to help keep from ending up in a belly-flop. When she hit the water she was nearly in a sitting position and tilted back slightly and knew right away that something was wrong, but didn’t want anyone to know so she used her arms to paddle back to the stairs. Once at the stairs she tried to step onto them but her legs were tingling so bad that she couldn’t get them to do anything. Her boyfriend was at the steps waiting for her and lifted her out of the water. A couple of guys ran down and helped him bring her up to the bar area. Amy said that this was not her first time cliff jumping as she and Brandon did quite a few jumps in Mexico as well as Jamaica.

Amy was understandably tired by now was going to her room to rest. She and Brandon said they would try to see us tomorrow before we left.

I would like to point out a couple of differences that I noticed between the diving at Pirates Cave and this place. When people were jumping at Pirates Cave, there was always at least one pro diver in the water with a mask and fins on just to the side of where the jumpers would land. When the girl from the wild thing was injured, the pro was with her immediately and the diver who was at the top instructing people prior to their jump, dove into the water and they both brought her over and onto the boat. One diver stayed with her until the crew got her some ice and made sure she would be ok. As far as I could tell, no one was permitted to jump until one of the pro’s was back in the water. At the other spot, there were two pro’s there but they were not keeping a close eye on the novice jumpers. I am not blaming them by any means for anyone getting injured, I am just saying that if you want to try cliff diving, please choose the location carefully.
cont'd...

[Rain-Michael]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

Thanks Jacqui351,

"All" of your shared observations are noted and appreciated. One's informed decisions are not always based upon information from textbooks but rather life experiences, even the experiences of others.

[SassyRas]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

Rain-Michael...long time no see u on board lane...how is school and every ting

[Rain-Michael]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

SassyRas,

I've been laid back. Will be in Negril for New Years. Want to go?

Will PM U!

[TFollis]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

Jacqui..... BUSTED..... LOLOL

I haven't see all these pictures posted on another board we both frequent... No Problem since I know where to find you. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

They are all so beautiful just like your writing. Looks like you were at Pirate's Cave. This is where they are diving from now since Rick's is not open. Did you happen to venture across the rd. from that bar? Joseph's Cave and or Miss May's is across the rd. and the cave there is so beautiful. I always go there to enjoy the cave and snorkel. There is a bar in the cave. It's not always set up but Miss May will gladly set it up for people whom want to enjoy the property for a few hours. Next trip lady... I know there will definitely be a next trip for you. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Bless

[sistactry]

Re: My love affair begins - first trip to Jamaica

beautiful pictures, nice writing indeed,

God bless Jamaica,

any developments on Amy??? hope she is doing better,