Negril Jamaica Trip Report April 2010

[ECO]

So.....my bags are packed and repacked several times


Tickets are printed.

Passport and driver license are copied.

All of my last minute stuff is done......only thing left is to count down my last hours before my flight leaves Boston Since I should be able to get on the internet every day I'll try to do my trip report daily instead of my normal forgetting about it once I return.

If all goes well I'll post my trip report in this thread and link to my food & lodging reviews over at the blog part of this site. Some of the Eco Tour stuff I will post on my www.ecotours.me site and on the Jamaican Eco Tour site.

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Off to Jamaica.jpg

[GhettoGurl]

Eco u look hot Enjoy ur trip.. I'll be hungry for the report

[Rose21]

Hahahaha ECO, your sooooooooooooo ready. No wonder you were fighting to get all of your stuff to hold in those small suitcase.

Safe travel, looking forward to your daily trip report. Don't do anything I wouldn't do. Bless!

[Wahoo]

I dare you to try the mannish wata on this trip, I double dog dare you!

[Wahoo]

Geez, I thought he'd never leave! GG, now that he's gone, tell me...what did you do with all his socks? And you had him half believing in duppies!

[ECO]

My arrival in Jamaica was like a dream….no lines for customs or immigrations, no searches and no stressful questions! The only question I had to ponder over was “do you have any gifts”…..lol, nope, all of this the brown stuff that floats in the toilet is mine until I gift it away!
When I walked out the airport exist while hearing “taxi, taxi, do you need a taxi do you need a ride”, I saw my ride from Clives. Within a minute my luggage was loaded and Clive, his ride along friend Kevin and myself were of to Negril. Rewind a little bit……I explained to Clive that some of my luggage was donations for kids in Jamaica. Fast forward and hour, Clive mentioned taking me to some schools in need up in the hills. At the time my mind was focused on the sounds of tree frogs and the fresh air and I could not figure out how he knew I had gifts for the kids.

After a nice 90 minute (no clue, I’m on vacation) ride…..a very safe ride, we reached Jah B’s in Negril. The night time security guy escorted us to a cottage at the end of the long row of cottages. Finally, a place to unpack my luggage that has been packed for months!
Jah B’s cottages were more than I expected. My cottage is about 17x20 (don’t quote me), it has two double beds, a kitchen area, a bathroom with RUNNING WATER. A refrig, a fan and a TV that I never plan to turn on. For under $XX US a night, Jah B’s is my idea of paradise!
After an hour of unpacking and enjoying some local herbs I decided to head out and explore Negril. Since Tuesday night means Alfreds, I went there and paid $500J for admission. For some reason, I did not connect with the vibe a Alfreds, I left 3 times to go back to my room and each time that I returned I was not getting a feeling like I belonged there.
On my first trip back to my room I asked the jerk chicken vendors who sold good Ital food (no meat/salt/chemicals) and they all pointed me to a nice Rastaman. I asked what I could get for $200J and he provided me with a large portion of rice and beans. This was my first transaction in Negril without a back and forth haggle, I would of paid $300 for the meal so I guess I got a deal?

[ECO]

On my second and third trip back to my room I passed (fill in name later) bar and met a local DJ (fill in name later) who works at Miyard late in the night. Oddly enough, he lived on Cape Cod for years and we have friends in common……what a small world. Later in the night, I took a taxi with him out to MiYard. Miyard had sort of a local vibe but nobody tried to sell me anything and I had a really good time. The beers were cheap, their saltfish and festival bread were excellent and cheap….I guess MiYard is my type of yard!
When my bed started to call me at 3 am (no clue, I’m on vacation), I saw a taxi driver that I met at Alfred’s and he gave me a ride back for $400J. Since I was tired, my bed sucked me in and I did not stir until I heard the rooster in the morning. While I don’t eat dead chickens, this morning I could understand why people kill them. For the love of god, can’t those roosters start their song a little later in the day? When the owner of Jah B’s asked how I slept I mentioned the rooster……which leads me to “where else in the world”…..can you complain about a rooster and an hour later after breakfast the rooster is gone? They claimed that they moved him up in the hills until I leave…….IMO, somebody will eat him tonight because of me.

[ECO]

This morning I walked about 3 minutes until I reached Miss(?) Sonia’s for breakfast. Since I was out of Jamaican dollars, her son was nice enough to drive me to the cambio in town so I could exchange money. I think the exchange rate was about 87-89 J for one US. All I knew at the time was I was happy that they did not require my passport since I forgot it. Back at Miss Sonia’s, I was able to watch her son cook my breakfast while she showed me where to self service myself if I wanted a beer. This whole idea makes me think of “where else in the world” can you walk into a kitchen and get your own beer? I loved the idea so much that I walked into that kitchen more times that I care to admit since it was before noon…..but I’m on vacation.

[ECO]

After breakfast and a few attempts at a nap, I decided to swim in the ocean. For maybe 30 minutes I felt like I was in heaven playing in the gentle waves while feeling that warm water clean my sins away. Not once during my swim was I approached by a vendor……a dream come true!

[Wahoo]

Dayum, you da man, Eco! Did you invite Miss Sonia back to your room at Jah B's? If you didn't have one of her ackee patties, I'll want to know the reason why. Keep the reports coming, 'cause I should be in Negril right now myself (well, April 20-24 anyways, though that didn't pan out) and I'm living vicariously thru your trip reports.

On another note, I thought I just broke my 2nd toe from the little toe again (the one that's already been broken twice)--snagged it on a throw rug trekking to the fridge for another beer--but it seems to be okay, now.

[ECO]

The wireless at Jah B's resort complex does not work so I have to manually connect in a tiny room without AC or a fan.....hot-hot-hot.

More soon come........

[Batty_gyal]

Eco I've been trying to call the number you gave me...but my phone is being funky. I'm hoping to get to Negril but not sure if I can due to car issues and not being able to get away from the shop. I will try calling again tonight and will keep you updated!

[damswell]

On my second and third trip back to my room I passed (fill in name later) bar and met a local DJ (fill in name later) who works at Miyard late in the night. Oddly enough, he lived on Cape Cod for years and we have friends in common……what a small world. Later in the night, I took a taxi with him out to MiYard. Miyard had sort of a local vibe but nobody tried to sell me anything and I had a really good time. The beers were cheap, their saltfish and festival bread were excellent and cheap….I guess MiYard is my type of yard!
When my bed started to call me at 3 am (no clue, I’m on vacation), I saw a taxi driver that I met at Alfred’s and he gave me a ride back for $400J. Since I was tired, my bed sucked me in and I did not stir until I heard the rooster in the morning. While I don’t eat dead chickens, this morning I could understand why people kill them. For the love of god, can’t those roosters start their song a little later in the day? When the owner of Jah B’s asked how I slept I mentioned the rooster……which leads me to “where else in the world”…..can you complain about a rooster and an hour later after breakfast the rooster is gone? They claimed that they moved him up in the hills until I leave…….IMO, somebody will eat him tonight because of me.

LOL at the roosters!!! They are awful arent they!!! All times of day or night they dont stop!!!
Nice to hear your trip is going well, stay safe

[ECO]

Forest Gump is checking in.........I've been walking all over the place day and night getting fresh air. Today I think I set a record of going from Jah B's up to 3 Dives.

Ev'ery Time (? on name) is a cool place to hang out next to the Canoe <---gotta remember to post some pictures of it.

Spoke to GG on the phone today!

Ashley-- take a bus

Damswell, come to find out the dogs don't stop barking either!

[Wahoo]

Wonder how Eco even hears the roosters crowing and dogs barking over the grunts and groans and other sounds of sex coming from his room?

[Wahoo]

Eco, my creed is: When the going gets tough, the tough go fishing.

You been fishing yet? You must post pics of that!

[Wahoo]

If you do go fishing, watch out for them gators. I've heard there's gators in Jamaica. A few years ago the daughter of a neighbor of my folks was eaten by a croc on a trip to Australia. True story! According to the group she was with, who saw the croc headed toward her, one second she was there, and the next second she wasn't. Her body was never recovered.

[ECO]

Wahoo, I might take a snorkel, fishing and cliff boat ride thing this afternoon if we can go a day without rain.

I'll keep my eyes out for gators but I'm still more concerned about the sea urchins.

[Rose21]

Wonder how Eco even hears the roosters crowing and dogs barking over the grunts and groans and other sounds of sex coming from his room?

Wahoo, it seems as if you know something the rest of us don't.

[Rose21]

ECO, is it raining?