Re: Big ups for Ras Alton
Re: Big ups for Ras Alton
Kool deal, Good Jamaican looking out for his guest! Big ups!
Re: Big ups for Ras Alton
Quote:
Originally Posted by
LivinInThe603
Just a quick note of appreciation and suggestion from last Friday night.
Jojo and I were leaving bourbon beach Friday night. Long story short I was gonna walk home and she was gonna get a taxi. Well, a taxi man approached, as usual, but this time she actually recognized him and he's a good driver from Thursday night so she talks me into getting a ride. They drop me off and keep going. I get to my room and realize I don't have my iPod (which I use for wifi so if I lose it I don't lose my whole phone... Well, I lost it!) I run back out to the road hoping that I might catch him coming back from Jojo's house... No immediate luck, but I see groove walking down a ways so I holler to him and we chat a bit. I decide I'm walking back down to bourbon beach to try and see if I can catch the driver. No luck, give up and decide I've made a sacrifice to the Negril gods. Almost home again and I hear a car beep, ignore cause I'm just tired and frustrated. Just a minute later, who pulls up across the road- Ras Alton our driver! He had my iPod, said I forgot it in his car. He was looking for me!
If you see Ras Alton grab him for a ride late night (or any time); a great man from my experience! Big ups, Jah bless Alton!!!
Do you have a phone number? Always looking for another dependable late night driver.
Re: Big ups for Ras Alton
Oh my girl, I am so glad you got that back, I would of been in big trouble...yes ? :)
Re: Big ups for Ras Alton
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jojo p
Oh my girl, I am so glad you got that back, I would of been in big trouble...yes ? :)
for about three seconds. I lost my water bottle too, but no luck recovering. A better sacrifice than the iPod!
No luck with a phone number... Just happened to be chance that he gave jojo a ride Thursday and recognized her again Friday when we needed him. I left in the morning so I wasnt thinking long term. Sorry! Not sure if he hangs around bourbon when it's busy or if he's all around. If you find him, keep him. Good man in my book!
Re: Big ups for Ras Alton
Nice 603. Story I've told here before. Was in Falmouth. Left my bank card in the machine at a bank. Woman came running after me to return it. Wouldn't accept a reward.
Re: Big ups for Ras Alton
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Big_frank
Nice 603. Story I've told here before. Was in Falmouth. Left my bank card in the machine at a bank. Woman came running after me to return it. Wouldn't accept a reward.
Over the years of travel to Jamaica I have made a bonehead error a few times too. Once, in particular and I think I told about this a few years back, I took $500 US into the Cambio that was across the street (or there about)from the then Selina's. I was there with a friend and we were talking when I absently stuffed the Jamaican $1000, $500, $100 and $20 dollar bills into a front pocket of my pants and walked towards the road.
When I reached the road I heard someone shouting at me and when I turned to look, I saw all the money blowing in the stiff wind several yards up the street. Two young guys came and helped scoop up the money. I was more concerned that they were going to take the money and run than feel thankful that I had some anonymous help from strangers. I ran, scooped and eyed the youth as the money was retrieved. They came up to me smiling with a wad of bills in each of their hands. Still wary, I securely stuffed the money deep into a buttoned-down pocket after offering each a couple hundred for helping. They smiled and shook their heads replying that it was okay and they just wanted to help.
I quickly crossed the street to Selina's and used the bathroom where I counted the money. It was all there. Every dollar. I was upset at myself at my stupidity but grateful I had it all back.
Also, an except from my stories is about being pickpocketed
Quote:
We were ready to go on a moment’s notice as we packed most everything the night before and the road ahead was going to be long and hard. We had just come out of our room and locked the door when a car pulled into the driveway. It must be our taxi, I reasoned, as who else would be up at this ungodly hour! I couldn’t tell the brand of car with the lights in my eyes as I approached but when I got closer I saw “Cortina” written on the hood. Mr. Koury opened the door and helped us put the bags into the trunk before shaking hands and having proper introductions. I excused myself before getting in the car and took our room key and $20 US in an envelope and put it under the office door. We included a Thank You note for all they did for us over and above renting us a room.
Mr. Koury was proud of his car and he kept it spotless on the inside even though the outside showed battle scars from the Jamaican roads and weather. He told us his brother had imported the car from England several years back when he returned to live and then sold it to him on his unexpected return to England a short time later. We were heading for Savanna La Mar to catch the country bus to Kingston where we needed to take another taxi to the airport. We discussed the fare on the way and he offered to take us to Mandeville for a reasonable price so we decided to take him up on the offer. Less time on the bus was worth it’s weight in gold.
We arrived at the Mandeville town square just after 8:00 in the morning, paid Mr. Koury and gave him a nice tip before joining the waiting passengers for the next bus. It was just a short wait and the bus pulled in and gave the passengers a little time to use the toilet and grab some food before continuing on. We managed to get a good seat towards the rear of the bus but not all the way to the back bench seat. The conductor tossed our backpacks up on the roof rack and my wife secured a third bag with her souvenirs and some snacks under our seat. Soon we were on our way. I had the ESSO map in my lap and the invoice with instructions and suggestions from Peter in my hand while looking it over using the light coming in through the smeary windows.
We agreed that Peter’s help had been undeniably essential to making this adventure to date a huge success so we wanted to see what he recommended for our last day. I don’t remember what he wrote word for word but it went something like this:
“When you start coming into Kingston, look for a good, safe spot to get off the bus and find your taxi to the airport. Whatever you do “DON’T STAY ON THE BUS TO THE END OF THE LINE”. There are city buses to the airport near there but it is just too dangerous for a tourist. It ends at the Kingston Public Market which is full of thieves and pickpockets.
Okay. That couldn’t be any plainer, right? It sounded so simple as I began tracking our progress on the map as we went along. After four or five hours of stopping and starting again, I started to see we were coming into the outskirts of Kingston. I turned to my wife and said, “Let’s start looking for a good, safe spot to get off, okay?” She nodded yes and we began scanning both sides of the road. “What about around here?” I asked but she nodded “no”. After awhile, “Here?”, “Are you kidding?” “NO!” A few turns later and we were into the worse areas I had witnessed in Jamaica. And then it happened, we pulled into the downtown stop and the driver said, “Kingston. All off. End of the line”.
I was feeling in a panic but didn’t want to upset my wife any more than she was already. A nice Indian couple across the aisle asked me if we needed any help. I quickly answered, “Yes, thank you”. They asked where we were going and I said the Kingston Airport and the man said there were city buses on the other side of the market and they would take us there. We followed them off the bus and caught our backpacks as the conductor threw them from the roof. We quickly made sure nothing of value was in any pocket of the packs that a pickpocket could get and we put the packs on our back. I checked my pockets and turned my wallet sideways and wedged it down to the bottom of my hip pocket and we were ready to go.
Off the Indian couple went single file through the bustling crowd with me bulldozing my way first and my wife, holding on to my backpack to keep us from getting separated, bringing up the rear. I was getting bumped around a little and I kept slapping my back pocket to feel my wallet when a guy threw some change down in front of me and then bent over to slowly pick it up. I pushed him out of the way but this had taken my mind off the surroundings for a brief second. I reached back and “NO WALLET!” I was in panic. I didn’t have any money in there as I don’t carry money in my wallet but I did have my Driver’s License and our Immigration Cards we needed to surrender at the airport.
I looked up ahead just in time to see a guy pushing through the crowd. He had been right next to me when the guy threw the change as a diversion. I just caught a glimpse of my blue Velcro wallet being shoved under a coconut on a vendor’s cart as he kept going. I rushed up pushing everyone in my path until I reached the cart and grabbed my wallet. I didn’t see the Indian couple anymore but I could see the row of city buses so I made my way with my wife in tow out of the crowd and up to the airport bus.
I was shaking all over in fear and anger. I then noticed my wife’s backpack as she took it off and put it on the ground. Most of the zippers had been opened and a pair of pink panties was hanging out of one opening. I had to laugh a little at this as she packed dirty clothes purposely near the openings for such an eventuality. She was always way ahead of me. We paid the fare to the airport for 4 people so we could put our backpacks in the bus with us. After taking a seat, I looked out the window and saw three youths standing under a tree just 15 or so feet away. I recognized two of them as the pickpocket and the money thrower. I defiantly took out my wallet and held it up to the window feeling superior to them and challenging them to take it from me. I was so jacked up on adrenaline that I was just acting stupid.
The pickpocket youth laughed and approached the window and I cracked it open to talk. He said, “Hey mon. Nothing personal. We were just hungry and needed to eat.” I didn’t believe a word of it but my wife spoke up. “Bill, we didn’t have to take a taxi so why not give him $10 even if he is not telling the truth because maybe he is!” She handed me a $10 bill and I pushed the end through the cracked window and he took it. As he turned he said, “I will give it back to you someday. Thanks mon.” We made it ontime to the airport and by 5:00pm that day we were over the Caribbean heading for New Orleans and then on to Mexico!
((((In 1996 he came to my new wife’s house in Kingston and paid me back the $10)))).
Even then, I got the money back. I understand why people think that Jamaicans may be less than honest people because of stories people tell but it has been my experience that most of the time you have little or nothing to worry about because Jamaicans are often more honest that the people where I live in Florida have proven to be.
Peace and Guidance
Re: Big ups for Ras Alton
So many good people in Negril. Something I noticed amongst other vacationers walking the beach is you can bet any Jamican would say hello or good morning, but all the visitors did everything they could to avoid eye contact or God forbid say anything... It was even more appear ant when I got on my airplane and hear complaining start as soon as I sat down, then again through immigration and then again customs. And I swear people go to FLL just to hang out like its some kind of mall.... Needless to say, I love Negril and might come back sooner than expected, seriously!
What impressed me the most is that Alton came to find me, I'm talking a good 15-20 minutes later. I very much appreciated his efforts!!! Glad to hear other great stories from others!!!!
Up, like 7!
Re: Big ups for Ras Alton
I saw the same thing and heard a lot of people on the beach complaining about the beach vendors. They have never bothered me and I always answered them and talked with them and a lot of times said hi or good morning before they did. After a few days of getting what I call the new of you they don't bother with you to much. The beach hustle has always been part of what I love about Negril. To a point anyways, there have been a few very persistent beach vendors who agravated me but not enough to spoil my trip. I explained it to the family members who came this year for the first time that at one time there were no bars and restaurants lining the beach and those vendors served a purpose and were necessary years ago and now they are competing with all the establishments on the beach to make a living. I always believed they deserved my respect and at least a polite hello and no thank you, have a nice day. My last few days this year I had fun with the ganja sellers who have all kinds of crazy names for what they sell and when they asked if I wanted blueberry Kush I asked if they wanted some of my raspberry Kush cause mine was the best on the island and I was leaving in a few days and had to much left lol. They all seemed to laugh and a few even have me a free sample lol
