It was a nice day as usual in Jamaica.
I had been on the Island for about 2 months and really wanted to do something different.
"Mon, the Curry Fest is tomorrow", said my pal.
"Huh, Curry Fest, as in all kinds of food done Curry Style?"
"Yeah mon, nuff people, music and food"
It was in Sav LaMar.
So, the next day I went out and got my swim on, then came back to the house and relaxed.
I was to meet some folks in the Taxi park and then we
would all head over to Sav for the Fest.
I ran into one of my drivers on the way and tried to negotiate
a decent fare for all 5 of us to go to the Fest.
Oh, I forgot to say that there were 2 kids and 3 women all going together.
I made the 6th person.
On the road, I spied one of my regular drivers.
I approached him and asked about a trip to the Curry Fest in Sav.
"Mon, all the way to Sav?
For 6 people?
Leaving at 2-3?
Yes, that is the plan, I said.
Well, he gave me a quote, but it was too high.
"Man, these are local folks, that price is too high"
He just shrugged his shoulders.
"Well then, you can take the route Taxi" he said.
Yep, that is what we will do.
I went back to the house and made arrangements to meet up in
the Taxi Park.
I the designated hour, I got there, looked around, did not see any of my folks,
so....
I just chilled a spell,
leaning up against that wall like the other locals.
There were kids in uniform, playing, talking, waiting to meet their special ride.
I watched as the Taxis came in and filled up and went out.
Looked around at all the little shops and vendors plying their trade within the confines of the park.
Man, this is a nice place to people watch.
I just happened to look to my right and I saw one of the women getting into a Taxi.
She waved me over and I ran the few steps.
"Sorry, I did not recognize you" I said.
She was all made up, hair, clothes and the whole nine yards.
We had the taxi all to ourselves.
"Where are the other folks?" I asked.
We wiil pick them up in Sheffield, along the way.
We pulled out with 1/2 a taxi full and hit the road.
We pulled up about 10 minutes later, I guess this was Sheffield, a woman and another kid got in.
Introductions were made all around.
The new lady was gorgeous!
I was in the front and had to keep making up excuses to turn around
to admire the beauty.
Being a" tourist", I thought up all kinds of questions that did not seem out of place.
Maybe I knew the answers,
but watching her mouth move, with those lips!
God, those lips!
It was well worth me twisting my neck to keep looking to the back seat.
As we approached the Fest, you could tell there was something special going on.
Police were directing traffic, stopping cars from going too close.
We got out, not too far away and started walking.
It was just like any other Fest on the outside. A big fence separating the street from the field.
We went through a narrow walkway, one person at a time to the Ticket Window,
paid the money, then gave or showed the ticket to someone at the end.
It was set up in a big football/Soccer field.
Booths all around the sides,
Big blow up rides, sliding board like playground, a little working train, etc, for the kids at one end
and a stage for the musicians at the other end.
First thing I did was head to one of the Curry Chicken booths.
That lady, the one who sat in back, the one with, well you know.
She followed me like I was in charge of the group.
When you approached the booths you could see all the big pans and pots.
The aroma was heaven sent.
I do love Curry.
I watched as others got served the food.
Never just go and buy from the first one when there is such a huge selection.
I walked over to the next one.
This one was just Curry Crab.
The next was Curry Shrimp, the next Curry fish.
It was fun, just looking, comparing the different set-ups at the many booths.
I was watching the food so intently, that I did not notice "the lady" was right at my elbow.
As I stepped, she stepped.
I stopped, she stopped.
Never more than 1 foot behind me.
OH my!, is it going to be one of those days?
Well, a good man must rise to the challenge. Nest Pas?
After a few minutes, I decided to try a certain vendor.
That's when those eyes hit me.
They started to pull me in!
I shook my head and gathered my strength!
Um, uh, hey, umm, uhhh
"how about this place, the Curry chicken in that pot looks scrumptious."
All she did was nod yes.
So nice, when you don't need a whole lot of words to convey your meaning.
The food. Very good, about $500J a plate.
Since I wanted to try a lot of different items,
I had a brain storm!
How about we buy one of each and share?
Again, the head nod. (oh heart be still)
So there I was.
Standing in the middle of a big field, holding a plate filled with curry this and curry that.
She would take a stab in, I would take the next stab............and so we danced.
I always made sure to get enough extra napkins and 2 forks.
You had to buy drink tickets from a booth and then go to another booth and get your drinks.
It was marvelous!
We did a lot of walking. The kids were off somewhere with the other grown folks.
We would walk by one of those big huge inflatable play things and catch one of the kids
smiling from ear to ear.
As it got dark the bands started to heat up!
Music, a nice warm night, food galore and a few pesos in mi pocket.
The bands were great!
After wards, we all met up at the port-potties.
They had running faucets for washing ones hand too.
We decided it was time to leave and started to head out of the exits.
I saw a woman who had all kinds of little toys for sale by the exit.
Of course I thought about the wee ones at my sisters house in Negril, so I got a few toys.
Only $100J a piece.
Outside was another story.
There had to be 100 different vendors set up outside of the Curry Fest!
Up and down the street.
Anything you could name they were selling.
from Cell phone covers to Bananas.
Shoes, CD's, Pineapples, women's clothes, jean pants,
toys, school supplies.
you name it, it was there.
There had to be thousands of people, walking around, trying to catch taxis, waiting for their rides.
Crowds up and down the street and no trouble.
Not an ounce!
Too bad we can't have fun like this in Chicago.
We soon found a taxi and headed back to Negril.
It was a splendid day!!
