St, Bess & Beyond...

[Diplomat]

Re: St, Bess & Beyond...

Sunday, my last full day on the island but there were lots to do today and I couldn't think about that. First, I was going to Church with my Mom; the same one grew up in. Being in Kingston and not going back there was unthinkable. That local assembly had been a very integral part of my formative and teen years, and is a place of wonderful memories. At its original location about 15 minutes away, my parents lived right across the road from it, and so as kids we really had no choice but to be there every time the doors were opened [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif[/img] It was great to see all the people I knew from my eyes were just about at my knees, and some of those I went to school with. It was like the past four years since I last saw them was a blur, and we had ourselves a great time. A number of these people had contributed so much to my life that they are never far from my thoughts.

The service in Kingston was rocking; just like the ones in St. Bess. I had only planned on visiting the morning service there, but the local Pastor would have none of it, so I had to go back for the night service. Long and short of it was that I had a great time in a place that meant a lot to me.

Once morning service was over and we got back home, it was time to rush back to Emancipation Park for pics of my neices and nephew. They were really excited about it and so with my Mom, brother, sister #1 (sister #2 was getting dinner ready), we headed out. The only problem was Sis had an appointment so we were limited to only 30 mins \o/ This was Jamaica; no problem, mon. Since I had been there the night before, it was down to business once we got there. In that 30 mins, we took over 50 pictures, some of which are below:

Sign at one entrance of the park.



An amphi-theater for all kinds of entertainment.

[Diplomat]

Re: St, Bess & Beyond...

A subject of much controversy, these statues, two massive figures of emancipated slaves -- an 11-foot naked man and a 10 foot tall women -- were created by renowned sculptor, Laura Facey-Cooper, at a cost of $4.5M.

"Anyone who sees two naked bodies and the first thing that comes to their mind is sex is sick ... It's two people washing away the vestiges of slavery and human subjugation, looking upward and forward to a future of freedom, hope and prosperity." ~ Kingsley Thomas, Chairman of the Emancipation Park Trust.

[Q3210]

Re: St, Bess & Beyond...

Sick to the point of cynicsm where jokingly my mentor has called it Penis Park.

[Diplomat]

Re: St, Bess & Beyond...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Q3210</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sick to the point of cynicsm where jokingly my mentor has called it Penis Park. </div></div>

That's too bad, because I think it's an incredible work of art. Because I recalled the controversy when it was first unveiled, when I got back to Canada, I looked up some of the news clippings and was surprised at how some people were strongly opposed to it. As one editorial said on Independence Day 2003, "In assessing the worth of the Emancipation Park sculpture we hope that over time viewers will find it possible to elevate their eyes to the expression on the faces of the couple, an expression of spiritual yearning and hope which conveys the essential meaning of the monument as a symbol of our emancipation from slavery. In the meantime we urge restraint and more mature reflection on the artistic merits of the work."

SOURCE: The Eye fo the Beholder

I couldn't agree more.

[Diplomat]

Re: St, Bess & Beyond...

For fitness enthusiasts, there is a track at the park where people were busily walking/jogging the night before. An excellent addition, I thought.



Below, one my nephews...



Nieces...





...and because she wasn't there



Our birthdays are a day apart; she absolutely stole my heart.

[Diplomat]

Re: St, Bess & Beyond...

Sis was starting to get antsy, so it was time to go. As we walked back to the cars, there flapping in the distance was the black, green, and yellow. The symbolism of the colors: black, the burdens borne by the people; green, agriculture and hope for the future; yellow, sunshine and natural resources.



Hardships there are, but the land is green, and the sun shineth. How appropriate.

Next update - last day.

[Sinco01]

Re: St, Bess & Beyond...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CEW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sis was starting to get antsy, so it was time to go. As we walked back to the cars, there flapping in the distance was the black, green, and yellow. The symbolism of the colors: black, the burdens borne by the people; green, agriculture and hope for the future; yellow, sunshine and natural resources.



Hardships there are, but the land is green, and the sun shineth. How appropriate.

Next update - last day. </div></div>


[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

[Kojak and Lucky]

Re: St, Bess & Beyond...

Hope I'm not too late to chime in...great report & even greater pics [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wavey.gif[/img]

[Diplomat]

Re: St, Bess & Beyond...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kojak and Lucky</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hope I'm not too late to chime in...great report & even greater pics [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wavey.gif[/img] </div></div>

Better late than never [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif[/img] Thanks for stopping by.

[Diplomat]

Re: St, Bess &amp; Beyond...

Monday; sixteen days after touching down in Montego Bay, it my last day on the island. Sunday night had been a buzz of activity. After coming home from Church, there were phone calls to make to people I hadn't managed to get caught up with, and some who simply wanted to say their good-byes. My flight was scheduled to leave at 7:10 a.m., so I had to be at Norman Manley International by 5:00. Running on about 3 hours sleep, and fumes, my Mom, brother, and I headed out at 4:30. Having got to the airport on time, and after final goodbyes, I checked in without incident [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

Having two hours to wait gave me lots of time for reflection. Despite being very proud of my heritage and homeland, I've never really thought of myself as one of the "dyed in the wool" Jamaicans, so to speak. Certainly not one who felt the need to be on home soil every year, or who zealously followed every athletic exploit, or felt a sense of sadness when the Reggae Boyz was on the wrong end of the football score. This trip however reinforced what I've always said and felt; that this was a great country with talented/creative, hard working people, lots of natural resources, and with the right leadership, could - and should - have been the jewel of the Caribbean. I could fully appreciate and relate to the innate and fierce nationalistic pride that comes with being Jamaican.

It seemed only fitting that I should be flying on the national bird, Air Jamaica. Running true to form, the flight was 30 mins late because of "air conditioning problems in the cabin" [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif[/img] I stood in line patiently though; laughter everywhere, kids crying, people struggling with way too much of what was supposedly hand luggage, and some snapping pictures of the 'bird'. Would I be able to get some sleep on this flight? I could only hope [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70384-praying.gif[/img]

Once we were cleared to board, and as I walked towards the plane, I felt the first twinge of sadness. It was hard to say what I was missing most; the conversations with the workers at the guesthouse, the people I had met, the church services, all the places we had been to, friends, family? I figured I was missing the whole package.

Up the stairs, into the cabin filled with calypso music, finally in my seat. We rolled back, the bird revved up, and soon it was racing along the runway before lifting towards the skies. Looking through the window at what I was leaving behind, I thought of the words of Father Hugh Sherlock, put to music by Robert "Bobby" Lightbourne, and sung as our National Anthem:

Eternal Father, Bless our Land,
Guide us with thy mighty hand,
Keep us free from evil powers,
Be our light through countless hours,
To our leaders, great defender,
Grant true wisdom from above,
Justice, truth be ours forever,
Jamaica, land we love,
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica, land we love

Teach us true respect for all,
Stir response to duty's call,
Strengthen us the weak to cherish,
Give us vision lest we perish,
Knowledge send us Heavenly Father,
Grant true wisdom from above,
Justice, truth be ours forever,
Jamaica, land we love,
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica, land we love

God willing, I should be back next year.

[Seveen]

Re: St, Bess & Beyond...

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70458-applaud.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70458-applaud.gif[/img]

i didn't want it to end [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70394-bawlout.gif[/img]

[Compry]

Re: St, Bess & Beyond...

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70458-applaud.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img] Excellent report....did you get some sleep on the plane ride home?

[diabolical_Tanya]

Re: St, Bess & Beyond...

CEW mi have 2 questions please

1) was tehre any symbolism to the finger signs your neices were making?

2) Do you write professionally?

[Sinco01]

Re: St, Bess & Beyond...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CEW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Monday; sixteen days after touching down in Montego Bay, it my last day on the island. Sunday night had been a buzz of activity. After coming home from Church, there were phone calls to make to people I hadn't managed to get caught up with, and some who simply wanted to say their good-byes. My flight was scheduled to leave at 7:10 a.m., so I had to be at Norman Manley International by 5:00. Running on about 3 hours sleep, and fumes, my Mom, brother, and I headed out at 4:30. Having got to the airport on time, and after final goodbyes, I checked in without incident [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

Having two hours to wait gave me lots of time for reflection. Despite being very proud of my heritage and homeland, I've never really thought of myself as one of the "dyed in the wool" Jamaicans, so to speak. Certainly not one who felt the need to be on home soil every year, or who zealously followed every athletic exploit, or felt a sense of sadness when the Reggae Boyz was on the wrong end of the football score. This trip however reinforced what I've always said and felt; that this was a great country with talented/creative, hard working people, lots of natural resources, and with the right leadership, could - and should - have been the jewel of the Caribbean. I could fully appreciate and relate to the innate and fierce nationalistic pride that comes with being Jamaican.

It seemed only fitting that I should be flying on the national bird, Air Jamaica. Running true to form, the flight was 30 mins late because of "air conditioning problems in the cabin" [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif[/img] I stood in line patiently though; laughter everywhere, kids crying, people struggling with way too much of what was supposedly hand luggage, and some snapping pictures of the 'bird'. Would I be able to get some sleep on this flight? I could only hope [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70384-praying.gif[/img]

Once we were cleared to board, and as I walked towards the plane, I felt the first twinge of sadness. It was hard to say what I was missing most; the conversations with the workers at the guesthouse, the people I had met, the church services, all the places we had been to, friends, family? I figured I was missing the whole package.

Up the stairs, into the cabin filled with calypso music, finally in my seat. We rolled back, the bird revved up, and soon it was racing along the runway before lifting towards the skies. Looking through the window at what I was leaving behind, I thought of the words of Father Hugh Sherlock, put to music by Robert "Bobby" Lightbourne, and sung as our National Anthem:

Eternal Father, Bless our Land,
Guide us with thy mighty hand,
Keep us free from evil powers,
Be our light through countless hours,
To our leaders, great defender,
Grant true wisdom from above,
Justice, truth be ours forever,
Jamaica, land we love,
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica, land we love

Teach us true respect for all,
Stir response to duty's call,
Strengthen us the weak to cherish,
Give us vision lest we perish,
Knowledge send us Heavenly Father,
Grant true wisdom from above,
Justice, truth be ours forever,
Jamaica, land we love,
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica, land we love

God willing, I should be back next year. </div></div>



I have totally enjoyed this trip report ..

Thanks .. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70458-applaud.gif[/img]

hope next years will be better ... [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70384-praying.gif[/img]

sometimes when that tinge of sadness/longing touches mi ..
i just have to be strong to continue the walk to the airplane / flight check-in ..

it is all i can do to not turn around and go home ..
leaving seems so un-natrual to me .. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif[/img]

[Diplomat]

Re: St, Bess & Beyond...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Compry</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70458-applaud.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img] Excellent report....did you get some sleep on the plane ride home? </div></div>

Thank you; it's been my pleasure. As for sleep, dont I wish! Just after take off, a fine looking member of the cabic crew asked me if I would change seats and sit next to the emergency exit. I could sleep during the flight, but had to be awake for landing. Maybe because I was feeling so nationalistic, I agreed. Unfortunately, that seat was the most uncomfortable - the back rest was broken - on what was a full flight so I was stuck. I consoled myself with the thought that it was for a good cause...just in case.