Trip Report Fall 2009 Negril & Ocho Rios, Eco

[Wahoo]

Do you mean that dumpling-looking thing, Tinks? I've eaten it a few times, but still don't know what it is and never asked. It's rather bland & tasteless, IMO, but I ate it anyway. My best guess is a boiled dumpling made from cassava (manioc). Somebody tell me if I'm not even close.

[Wahoo]

To prove I'm not a total rookie, I recognized the Red Stripe rightaway!

[ECO]

For the rest of Wednesday morning we chilled out at the cottage and went swimming a few times, while it was not overly exciting it was relaxing.

Early in the afternoon we went over to the Hedonism 2 resort in Negril for a quick meal and an orgy or two.......kidding.....we went just for the food and drinks. Actually I struck up a deal with them for some day/night passes in exchange for reviewing Hedo on the forum and blog.

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Hedo II review for forum:

After spending maybe 20 hours or so reading reviews on Hedo 2 and spending some time on a couple Hedo forums I had no clue what to expect since most people did not share a common view of Hedo. One thing I found in common was that if people liked Hedo, they returned over and over again. I forget the record for Hedo 2 put they have a couple people that have stayed over 100 times...........not nights but over 100 visits!

Our visit to Hedo started with a 30 or so minute tour of the campus, with countless swimming pools, hot tubs, tennis courts and other outdoor stuff it was more like a sports resort. They also have a nice indoor gym, exercise room, spa and one of those giant rock climbing walls

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Our tour guide along with a fair share of the reviews that I read all claimed that the bedrooms were very basic and the focus was getting people outside of their rooms for the other activities. Having stayed at other SuperClub properties in the past and having stayed at 100's of other hotels, I can't see a thing wrong with their rooms! Where else can you get a big mirror above your bed and a giant one on the dresser across from your bed? How about a shower with jets all over the place.........a basic room.........far from it!

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One of the best things about Hedo 2 is that they have food and beverage places it seems like every 2 minutes apart. Those self service frozen drink stands pour some yummy drinks We tried the food at both the nude beach and at the dinner buffet and while it was not fine dinning it was without a doubt good food. The only real issue I had with the food was lack of spices but when the food is made to serve 100's of people I can understand not spicing the heck out of it.

In conclusion, be sure to check out my post on the blog in a couple of weeks for a full review of Hedo and if I didn't have so many of those frozen drinks I could of taken some pictures of the Pimps & Ho's party that was going on when we left Hedo for the evening

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[Wahoo]

Over 100 visits at Hedo II! Geez, smaddy got either a generous trust fund (spending daddy's money) or a generous alimony settlement (spending the ex's money)!

[ECO]

You never know Wahoo, maybe that guy gets sponsored by Trojans or some fetish clothing company I just checked over at skyauction.com and it looks like you can stay there for under $200 a night and that is even after paying a surcharge for not bringing your own woman( $65 single surcharge). I think you could give up Red Stripe beer at home and have enough money left over to visit Hedo 20+ times a year

Along the same note, the "groups" that have their "weeks" at Hedo is what brings the same people back over and over again. In one of the conference rooms they honor some of these groups (sorry didn't zoom in on photo to protect the privacy of those in the pics).

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[Rose21]

Great report ECO, keep it coming!
There were three unidentified items on your plate, I just can't figure out what
they are

[ECO]

Great report ECO, keep it coming!
There were three unidentified items on your plate, I just can't figure out what
they are

I can't figure out how to write on the image but I put circles over each item so we can figure out what is what.

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Yellow stuff on the bottom is butter well yellow butter look alike stuff

The red stuff is some sort of jelly

The white stuff up to the right more is I think Yam

The pasty looking stuff above the yam and inside of the nana is a dumpling (good for soaking up the grease from the saltfish)

On the side of the dumpling is those nasty nanas with no taste, IMO they are good for throwing and bandits or to soak up grease.

The green stuff next to the fork is the best veggie I've ever had in my life. I can't think of the name off of the top of my head but Wahoo has the name correct.

To the upper right of the green veggie is some sort of a bun which also has a name, generally I just point at them and say "these are f__king great" but I'm learning to mind my manners a little in public.

The slice of nana which is fried in a pan also has a name but since I am not a fan of them the name escapes me.

To the left of the yellow butter stuff is a piece of toast, maybe that tricked you?

Hopefully everyone knows what the stuff in the middle is.

[Rose21]

Yellow stuff on the bottom is butter well yellow butter look alike stuff

The red stuff is some sort of jelly

I thought so!
The nanas (as you called it) are boiled green banana, and fried yellow plantain.

[Wahoo]

I've had fried plantain (unlike bananas, edible only when cooked) in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic and never cared for it, but I rather enjoyed it when I had it in Negril last April, so I guess I'm coming around. Same thing for papaya and mango--didn't care for them when I first tasted them on a trip to Mexico...now I'd kill for them.

[ECO]

HINT:

Someone with the talent to label the original picture should do so in another thread for our visitors who are trying to figure out what is what.

Callaloo= on my shopping list for the supermarket at home and I don't even care if I have to eat it out of a can!

[Rose21]

Hahahaha!!... and that talented person forgot the jelly, butter, and toast bread

[MZKUMA]

Looks like banana, plantain, saltfish, ackee, dumplin, a hard roll, jam and butter maybe also, callaloo and soft yam

[Wahoo]

Eco, I did some googling for sea urchin injury treatments, and one in particular piqued my interest. It's called Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and is reputed to cure everything from sea urchin spikes to menstrual pain to jealous lovers. I might give it a try myself if I ever step on a sea urchin or suffer from menstrual cramps.

[Wahoo]

I'm standing by for Eco's report on Xtabi, and whether he gives it thumbs up or thumbs down, 'cause frankly my decision as to where to stay on my next trip to Negril largely hinges on his impressions. I must say that, from the photos I've seen and most trip reports I've read, Xtabi appears to be right up my alley.

[JamaicaSteve]

Great report so far ECO. ( I agree with you about the HII rooms, however if you were to see the rooms at some of the other Superclubs properties you'd see the 'basic' perspective )

In regards to the Sea Urchin thing...

There are different types. Some of them, the spines are fairly brittle and will dissolve quickly, other not so much... I "hit" one once when I was snorkeling in Barbados. I got one spine stuck in my finger and it actually 'bothered' me for several YEARS afterwards. We tried to get it out but just couldn't. It eventually did stop bothering me, but several DECADES later, there is still a 'numbness' in the spot where it was! It seemed to hit a nerve right near the upper knuckle on the inside of my finger...
Another time, I stepped on one and the 'cure' (which actually worked) was some sort of 'gluey' substance on a piece of paper that a local applied on my foot and then yanked off... It actually pulled out the spines!

Blessings and respect.
Steve

[Wahoo]

Eco, more encouraging sea urchin facts: they're rarely fatal, and they almost never have to amputate anymore!

[ECO]

I'm standing by for Eco's report on Xtabi, and whether he gives it thumbs up or thumbs down, 'cause frankly my decision as to where to stay on my next trip to Negril largely hinges on his impressions. I must say that, from the photos I've seen and most trip reports I've read, Xtabi appears to be right up my alley.

I'm publishing my review on the blog in a few days (still on island time).

I would stay there again but I think next time I would stay in the hotel part for under $50 a night instead of paying for a cottage.

[ECO]

Great report so far ECO. ( I agree with you about the HII rooms, however if you were to see the rooms at some of the other Superclubs properties you'd see the 'basic' perspective )

Steve, I would describe the rooms at Rooms on the Beach in Ochi as basic. I was just looking at some pictures of Rooms on the Beach in Negril and that place has really nice rooms.....too nice for the "Rooms" brand IMO.

[ECO]

After we left Hedo2 we headed over to the Canoe to chill on their giant couch, IMO you have not really chilled out until you have spent a couple hours on their couch. I forget the guy's name that owns the Canoe but he did a good job entertaining the 3 of us While the beer prices have doubled since this spring (now $200 each), they still offer free internet and a great vibe.

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After leaving the Canoe we went to an outdoor club somewhere between the Canoe and the Xtabi. I forget the name of the club which I guess is a downfall of drinking for 12 hours but it did not have a great vibe. From the metal detectors on the way in to the way people acted I didn't have a real comfortable feeling there. One of the highlights was watching 4-5 white tourists come in and find boyfriends for the night within a few minutes.........tourists are wacky people I guess another highlight was watching a sting ray swimming around in the ocean where the club has a spotlight shinning.

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That concludes Wednesday.........

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[Jelakins]

HINT:

Someone with the talent to label the original picture should do so in another thread for our visitors who are trying to figure out what is what.

Callaloo= on my shopping list for the supermarket at home and I don't even care if I have to eat it out of a can!

Here you go - all but one (1) identified....