Extremely late trip report???

Hello everybody! I visited Jamaica a while back and used this site everyday until I left... Ended up going through some hard times and wasn't able to do my trip report (started it a few times, but got erased each time)... Anyway after each fire comes new growth yeah?? Iam back on my feet and doing better than ever.. Met an amazing woman and we are getting married next April .. So you know what that means!!! Honeymoon in jamdown!! So Iam sure many of you feel my overwhelming excitement.. I've already watched everything on YouTube and Netflix Jamaican related.. And I find myself here trying to keep myself at ease as suffer the wait! Anyway I thought I'd see if anyone was interested in my trip report that is over 2 years old... But I still remember it pretty vividly

Woohooo...congratulations on your upcoming wedding and we always love a trip report...

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Originally Posted by 541lion

Hello everybody! I visited Jamaica a while back and used this site everyday until I left... Ended up going through some hard times and wasn't able to do my trip report (started it a few times, but got erased each time)... Anyway after each fire comes new growth yeah?? Iam back on my feet and doing better than ever.. Met an amazing woman and we are getting married next April .. So you know what that means!!! Honeymoon in jamdown!! So Iam sure many of you feel my overwhelming excitement.. I've already watched everything on YouTube and Netflix Jamaican related.. And I find myself here trying to keep myself at ease as suffer the wait! Anyway I thought I'd see if anyone was interested in my trip report that is over 2 years old... But I still remember it pretty vividly

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bring it on

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Originally Posted by Boogzy

bring it on

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Ya mon! Bring it on too!!!!!

Yes, please post the report without further delay.
We anxiously await what should be an inspiring addition the trip reports thus far. :-)

Well I remember when we left for the airport I was already tired so I figured I'd sleep on the plane.. After all we had 18 hours before we'd be in Jamaica ... WRONG.. I couldn't sleep at all not even during the 6 hour layover at 2 am.. Overwhelmed with excitement and really wanting a spliff I just layed there on the ground wide eyed until out of no where it was time to board.. Anyway fastforward to the good stuff.. Land the next day around 11 am and I Feel energized and ready to go... And then I step of the plane and the humidity hits... Middle of June mind you.. And there goes my energy... It's cool I just plan on taking it easy.. Get through customs and get our bags.. As we head outside we get about 5 guys asking if we need a ride.. No thanks Kingsley is picking us up... One guy says oh ok let me call him for you.. About that time a car pulls up and driver holds up a cardboard sign sharpied on it was xtabi.. We waved him off but he flipped the sign and it said Kingsley... So I say I thought Kingsley was picking us up personally... Nah mon everything good Iam his son, he sent me to take you because he has something else going on.... I say ok whatever works and we drive off.. Everything seems about right.. He said you guys wanted to drive through the mountainside right?? Yup yup we told Kingsley that... Maybe 15 minutes into the drive he's talking to his dad on the cell phone and it's starting o sound a little heated... Hands me the phone and Kingsley starts yelling at me saying that I wasn't supposed to be here for another hour and now he has another family waiting at the airport that we took there ride.. Ummmm excuse me??? I gave him all the information including the flight number!!! Whatever!! Can't kill my vibe ... So we continue on stop and get a red stripe and a lil herb to set my head straight.. Went to buy a digi cell and get dropped off at the hotel.. Roots bamboo.. We get there and I go check out the room.. Loved it.. Had the cottage on the beach.. Getting ready to pay and get the keys.. Meanwhile our driver scared my girlfriend out of staying there.. Said it wasn't safe.... Where do you suggest??? Xtabi he says.... Hmmmmmm ok whatever we had reservation there in a couple days but I wanted a couple nights on the beach as well... So we ended up just extending our stay in the ocean cottage and really enjoyed it... So back to checking in... He drives us up to xtabi and as Iam checking in he starts unloading our bags and then all of the sudden he's gone.. And he took my big timberland bag with him... So we call him and no answer then he calls back and says oh yeah sorry I'll bring it back no problem... I love to give people the Benefit of the doubt but the whole situation was strange... Whatever not gonna trip on it... Drop off our bags and roll up a big bob Marley, stop by the bar for a couple dirty bananas and head to the caves... Man is it awesome down there... After a couple drinks Iam ready to head out and explore.. Let's go check out the mini mart down the road... Spent a minute walking around the whole store checking out what they had... I settle with some ting, sour sop juice and bottle of ovenproof.. Went up to pay and they guy behind the counter kinda laughed as he handed me back money... I was confused not to mention way buzzed...I gave him about 5000 j more than I owed... I was so grateful he was honest I gave him a tip... Set a nice vibe... Went back and made a couple strong drinks and passed the heck out... As we woke up it was dinner time so we ate at 3 dives.. Good jerk chicken, but the best rum punch I've ever had... Crazy red orange color to it.. After dinner we decide to walk down the road a little because we heard some loud music coming from somewhere... Before we make it that far we see a tiny little run bar off to the right.. 3 maybe 4 people hanging out they wave us over as they azure us they're friendly.. Place was tiny.. A couple picnic tables out front and maybe 3 bar stools.. Just what I was looking for.. The place was called natral melodys bar.. I believe she does not have the shop anymore which is to bad because it was one of my best memory's on the island.. Ended up there for hours .. Meet everyone one of which happened to be aubie! So we plan on eating at his place for lunch the next day...

Ah, yes.
The ride that was not your ride, but you got in.
This happened to me last trip.
This gut had a nice car for some special folks.
I got in with 2 other guys then he got the call 15 minutes into the ride.
It happens.
Please continue, you bring back memories.

Hahah yeah I thought something wasn't right.. I will continue as soon as we get back from checking out our wedding venue

And this is what took so long last time... I just typed for an hour and my phone logged me out and it was lost.. I will continue tomorrow

541lion...it automatically saves as you're typing (auto-save).
If you close accidentally or your internet times out...at the bottom of your message screen on the left hand side it says 'Restore Auto-Saved Content'...hit that button and your contents will be restored. :)

I must be blind not seeing it

Day 2 or 3 (I think the first 2 days got mashed up together oh well)

So we wake up and get a basic breakfast from some little place that was very good.. Right around the corner from xtabi... Then we walked to the road and caught a cab down to the beach.. I had to get money from the atm so we just got dropped off there.. Pulled out some money brushed off the usual beggars (no I know you are not the Gardner from my hotel!!!) walk over towards the craft market... My lady wants her hair braided so I figure cool I can go check out some shops while she does that... First though I need some water... It was soooo damn hot and humid, locals said it was a bad summer.. Anyway find some water from one of the vendors and took one back to my girl .. And turn around to hit the shops... After about 5 shops I was noticing something!!! Everyone was selling basically the same exact things... The same wood carvings, the same bracelets, same little bags of coffee, same hats etc..... And then I saw it and it all made sense.. It was one of the shopowners sitting there pulling wood carvings out of a box one by one and sand them down... I remember it clearly it was a square crate the was turned into a box with the help of paper bag looking paper and on all sides was a big red stamp that read CHINA.. As I looked closer I noticed he wasn't just sanding them for looks but also to remove the made in China engraving underneath.... This was a huge let down for me because I wanted a bunch of wood carvings from Jamaica, but those were from China (which I hear owns Jamaica now btw)... I did wander into one shop and there was a rasta sitting there chanting away and working on some pieces.. But this shop was different from the start.. The man greeted me as I proceeded in and he finished up his chant... Every other shop had someone trying to pull me into there shop or asking what do you want to buy from me today.. Or come to my shop next before Iam even in the next one.. Nope this man did none of that I ended sweatin my balls off in this little shack in the middle of June talking to this man for about 45 min.. He was a drummer for a band that was playing later that night at bourbon beach..his name is daddi one blood He actually has been to Oregon where Iam from and brought up some names of people I knew.. It's such a small world.. So I planned on hitting up bourbon beach later that night.. WRONG!!! You know how plans go in Jamaica.. But more on that later!! I go back and grab my girl and we head to the beach.. Grab a couple mangos form the fruit lady, some fresh juice, and a pattie and head back.. Too much hustling for me at that moment.. So back at the roundabout some guys offer a ride and we tell them what we want to pay and then goes over to a different car... Noticed it didn't have red plates so we declined and walked another 2 feet before one pulled over... He said we were smart for not going with those guys... So next we stop by the room for another spliff and the. Head to ahhhhhbeeeees.. Decide to hoof it and see how it is... Walking and then all of the sudden I hear someone call out my name! What the heck??? Iam in Jamaica how does anyone know my name here!!!! I look over and it's jovani one of the people we met the night before.. And where is he?? Where else but ahhhbeees! Woulda probly walked right passed it as I was more focused on trying not to get killed by traffic and i had no clue how far down to go.. Split a burger and fried breadfruit.. So good and so huge !!! All sorts of good stuff mashed in there besides beef. Almost like a meatloaf, but better..after lunch the lady went next store and got a massage I think her name is bev.. Sweet lady.. I bought 2 hours for her and went back to chill with aubie and jovani.. After the massage we were wanting a nap.. All those rum punches midday Iam pretty toast... So jovani walks with us back to xtabi and he offers to cook us dinner that night... Super stoked we say goodbye until later.. Ended up passing out way longer than expected.. I feel disoriented... There's no clock and I have no watch because Iam in Jamaica and the time on my phone is from the last time zone that I had service... It feels late though!! **** we were supposed to eat with jovani and them... So we head over to natral melodys bar and the gangs all there just like the night before... So I order a flask of over proof and a ting and 2 cups of ice.. Man Iam running low on herb.. My new friend can help... Looks like melody needs more ice for the bar... Herb and ice run the general is on it.
He's getting ready to head out but then turns to me and asks if I wanna go... Hmmmm pause a minute! Let's look at this picture, j is about my age 28 maybe a lil younger, he had cornrows and a wife beater, may I say he looked a lil thuggish to some.. And wants to take me where to get herb and ice??? Up in the hills??? (But this is what they tell you not to do) HELL YEAH!!! Be back in 15 we tell them as my girl chills with melody and aubie.. So first place we stop was down the street a little.. Tried picking some up for me but the guy saw it was for the white boy and tried to overcharge him so we kept walking and the we took a right behind a little bar and started cutting through people's yards... Ok this is nuts Iam thinking.. Iam either gonna get stabbed or have a good story to tell.. Glad it was the ladder.. Walk up into the hills a little the streets start getting blocked off by boulders or huge logs... The hill gets steeper and steeper as the road ends.. Then we come to a bunch of steps carved into the mountain up a trail to a little house... Couple dogs and puppy's outside... I asked if I should stay back this time.. No mon we just getting ice here he cool... After we get the ice he takes me a different way back to show me more stuff... We get closer and Iam thinking we still have not got herb yet and it's been a lot longer than 15 minutes.. Oh right island time... Just Bout as were getting back we find the herb man and get sent off real nice.. And that about raps up that

Excellent adventure.
Boulders and huge logs, classic .

No such thing as too much ice. Gotta have it.

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Originally Posted by 541lion

Day 2 or 3 (I think the first 2 days got mashed up together oh well)

...And turn around to hit the shops... After about 5 shops I was noticing something!!! Everyone was selling basically the same exact things... The same wood carvings, the same bracelets, same little bags of coffee, same hats etc..... And then I saw it and it all made sense.. It was one of the shopowners sitting there pulling wood carvings out of a box one by one and sand them down... I remember it clearly it was a square crate the was turned into a box with the help of paper bag looking paper and on all sides was a big red stamp that read CHINA.. As I looked closer I noticed he wasn't just sanding them for looks but also to remove the made in China engraving underneath.... This was a huge let down for me because I wanted a bunch of wood carvings from Jamaica, but those were from China (which I hear owns Jamaica now btw)...

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No worries man, even the Chinese carvings are helping the economy, and China does not own Jamaica any more than any other country. Here is a bit I wrote in a thread about "buying junk on the beach" back in February:

"When I started Negril.com back in 1995, there was not a work permit category for Internet businesses. There was not even internet on the island yet so no reason for the category. I had to register the company as a boutique shop that offered "email related services".

http://www.realnegril.com/beingees/behist01.htm

To stock the shop, we went to MoBay and bought wholesale souvenirs at the main craft market there. Boxes were coming off the ship from India at the time and you would "bid" on each box. One vendor purchased a box clearly marked "Jamaica carvings" and when she opened the box in front of all of us, each of the carvings said "Aruba". After about 10 minutes of laughter, she got her money back from the wholesaler, but each box was opened first before bidding resumed.

If you want to really get Jamaican hand made carvings, try places like Dr. Quality and Fay's near Negril Escape. You can place an order and actually watch his progress during your stay. He can even make carvings based on emailed photos. Fay hand makes her jewelry so you can wear a piece of Jamaica home.

But regardless, you are still supporting the local economy when buying any souvenirs, the vendor had to purchase them and you are helping them to support their family. It is the same worldwide, although I would assume Chinese souvenirs are made in China... (grin) "

Yeah do get that it still helps the economy, but that's not what I was looking for.. Later in the trip I did find a nice lion head from the famous jah calo in Belmont.. I just don't like that they are trying to sell them to me as their original pieces at those prices.. But to each their own.. I found what I was looking for... Including the hardest thing on my list to find... I wanted a handcarved akkete drum... Had to really ask around to find what I wanted.. Even then had to take a trip past the wild river

Appreciate the report, but paragraphs, man. Paragraphs...

Yeah but Iam doing this all on my phone... Hard enough as it is

541lion, awesome reports! Good stuff heading up the hill at night in the dark....

Please keep them coming!

VVHT

Too funny about the guys stemming for cash outside the ATM "I'm your gardener"!!!! :)

Haha yup everyday .. Hey man Iam your Gardner buy me a sandwich.. Finally I was like oh yeah which hotel then.. The one on the cliffs mon... Hahah nice try...

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Originally Posted by 541lion

Haha yup everyday .. Hey man Iam your Gardner buy me a sandwich.. Finally I was like oh yeah which hotel then.. The one on the cliffs mon... Hahah nice try...

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I'm guessing you were using the Scotia ATM's at the bank? I rarely go there and now use the one at Time Square. My last trip it always had money and you could pull out 30,000J at a time. Absolutely no beggars and ice cream nearby. Enjoying your read, and agree, please use some paragraphs.

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Originally Posted by 541lion

Haha yup everyday .. Hey man Iam your Gardner buy me a sandwich.. Finally I was like oh yeah which hotel then.. The one on the cliffs mon... Hahah nice try...

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Haha! I had a couple guys pull up to me in a car - "Hey man, remember me? I'm the bartender from Rick's!"

Nope. Never been to Rick's.

hey buddy, I remember you....lol

Ah man! Now we lost him because some of you want paragraphs!

Come back Lion and finish your report paragraphs or not was enjoying it!

Yay, a late report......makes me feel better about myself.

Seriously, come back.....

Sorry guys I lead an insanely busy life at the moment.. I run a kitchen full time and I am on salary so Iam always there it seems.. Not to mention planning a wedding, breeding my bulldog, and harvesting our outdoor ganja.. So if you would like to hear my report you'll have to suffer through my mash up of thoughts .. Though I do try my best to keep them organized and in order... Sorry if my writing style doesn't appease you.. Iam actually very capable of writing all speaky spokey for you, but this is not a paper for school and it's also being done one my little phone screen.. So the door is open to come or go...

Haha what's up groove! How u doin man??

So I'll try to pick this up the best I can... I know I forgot to mention Javoni cooked us a meal once while we were there.. It was pumpkin rice and chicken curry!! Seriously one of the best meals I had on the island!! Rudeboy can cook!!!

Look new paragraph! But I didn't indent and I used too many periods and exclamation points in the opener.... Ohhh the agony!! Ok sorry back to negril.. I believe it was the next day that we went snorkeling with the famous Vincent.. It was cool but we also had a couple Lucy's on the boat and in the water we eventually were basically on our own as the captain and his first mate were basically giving the Lucy's the big bamboo! All good I wanted to do my own thing anyway, not be pulled around.. Ended up seeing a GIANT stingray coming straight towards me! Kinda scary! Really thought he was gonna brush his stinger on me as we swam side by side... Well him swimming next to me as I tried not to panic too much as I tried to swim the opposite direction.. Saw a sea turtle as well! And then on the way back to the boat my worst nightmare happened!!! I swam through a school of jellyfish... I basically turned into Jesus because I ran on water faster than usain bolt... But apparently the babies don't sting you... Not a single mark on me!!

Ok this next part is defiantly my favorite part of the trip.. Going to shades cottage in Belmont!! So I call up bigga in the morning and tell him were ready whenever he is.. So about an hour and a half he calls back and says he's at xtabi.. Found him and his van and loaded up.. Of course I do the newbie thing and try to jump in the drivers side... Bigga is a larger soft spoken but very kind and knowledgable! He just kinda feels out your vibe and knows if you wanna have a conversation or just enjoy a lil peace.. On the way to Belmont we talked about things like gmo food and cancer and the government.. Not really happy stuff, just really real! we drive past his place just a lil so he can show us a nice beach and the local little cook shops and rumbars.. Not a whole lot but it was perfect for me!! None of the hustle and bustle of negril.. The vibes in Belmont are great!! Everyone smile and a wave without trying to sell you something! After we got settled in and showed around the property we headed to the beach! Stopped at a rum bar on the beach and grabbed a rum cream and a Guinness to chill on in the water..

To be continued.... Have to get ready for work now

Loving the report!

Glad your back at the report,thank you!

Luuuuuuuucccyyyyyy!! You got some splanning to do !!!! :):):)

541Lion -

That's so funny that you mention the travel mix up from the airport to the hotel, because last year my wife and I had a VERY similar experience with Kingsley tours when we booked private transfer to and from the airport to our guesthouse in Negril.

In February 2014 we went back to Negril, and decided on a private transfer. We'd been a couple times before, once with one of those free shuttles, which was totally fine (they stopped by a little rum bar on the way to the hotel, but obviously take longer to get to your hotel because of all the other drop offs), and once with another couple where we rented a car, which was cool too, but for the same price you can get private transport and just relax.

So anyway, we booked the private transportation with Kingsley, and the plan was to stop at Bigga's in Green Island on the way for some jerk pork. We get through immigration and out to where all the taxis and everything are. We see Kingsley's sign, only it wasn't Kingsley but another driver, and there was another couple there (which I need to add looked a bit annoyed, but i'll get to that in a second). Apparently they mixed up our reservation and had us booked on a transportation with the other random couple. To make things more frustrating/awkward, the driver told the other couple that our flight was an hour late -- meaning these two people had to wait an extra hour, and were incorrectly blaming us (once they mentioned it, we set everything straight).

Anyway, the driver talked with Kingsley on the phone, then asked what we wanted to do, to which I responded that if we can't have a private transport then this will do, but we weren't gonna pay for a private tour, so we ended up just getting a discount, which was fine. The only other problem was, the other couple was so impatient at this point that they definitely didn't want to stop at Bigga's, and just wanted to get to their hotel.

So that was the to Negril -- on the way back was another story. Now, I had confirmed a couple times by email that we wanted a return trip to the airport as well, and what time we needed to be there. The morning we were supposed to return to the airport, our ride was nowhere to be found. I thought it just may be an island time thing, but after like 20 minutes I got a bit concerned and had someone at Alfred's (where we were staying) give Kingsley a call. I got on the phone with him and was told that I never confirmed we wanted a trip back (which again, I definitely did). Anyway, he ended up coming and picking us up, and everything worked out.

Now, Kingsley has a LOT of fans, and I'm not one to give bad reviews on Trip Advisor or anything unless I have a horrible experience, so I just chalked it up to a couple misunderstandings, so I just let it slide (although my wife and I can't help but think that the mix up with the airport to Negril transport was less of an accident).

On the other hand, that same trip we ended up booking Joe Cool Taxi & Tours for a trip to Black River, Pelican Bar and the Pete Tosh mausoleum on the way back, and I can't say enough good things about Joe. He was so great that this past February, when we went back to Negril with another couple, we booked Joe Cool for to and from the airport, as well as an excursion to YS Falls, Appleton, and a rum bar on the way back in Sav La Mar, and although it was his employees who drove us instead of Joe himself, they were just as top notch. Plus, when they dropped us off at Alfred's from the airport, they went over the other trips we'd planned, and when they'd be picking us up. Considering the experience I'd had with the airport transfers the trip before, I thought this was a really nice touch to confirm that everyone was on the same page.

Anyway, sorry for the long post!

Thanks for starting it back up. Excellent stuff.

Thanks for the love guys! I'll try to start back up tomorrow..

And Jojo you know a loosey when u see one

Very sorry for the delay guys and gals... As the wedding gets closer the more chaotic things get.. So where was I.. Yes ahh in Belmont.. Bigga had picked us up from negril and we were chillin at the beach.. It was a nice change.. Definitely not for everyone.. But I enjoyed the quietness and getting to really know a few of the locals.. Every night biggas friend stumpi would walk us around wherever we wanted to go.. Making sure we were safe from vehicles, think west end negril, only one side o the road would have a very small walking space at a time.. So you'd have to keep switching sides to avoid walking in the road.. One night coming back from the karioke bar down the way I was a little inebriated and a little to comfortable, we were walking and talking, and as I was mid story stumpi grabs my arm and pulls me to the grass as a car comes flying by.
All he said was "seen" in his calm voice.. He had told me many times to be alert of the cars at all times because they come up so fast... Last time he had to tell me.. Every night stumpi would walk us all the way up to biggas gate.. He never asked for anything.. I would buy rounds every night but I mean beers were like 2 bucks.. And a flask of ovenproof for 4$ and a1$ ting.. That's like 4 mixed drinks in one of those flasks.. He would also bring me some kush and grabba from his yard and wouldn't ask for anything in return.. So I was more than happy to buy the dude a drink anytime we got one..
I think most nights were spent at Luna's usually the same people every night, the owners obviously, 2 or 3 Rastas and us.. Wish I had the video my ex took of the old ras skankin for like 5 minutes straight.. Just jahing out!! Everybody laughed and had great conversation!! If you're looking for the vibe go check Belmont it's just awesome!! There wasn't another single tourist that we saw!! We will be back for a 5 day stay in April ... My biggest regret was not eating more of gwens food (biggas wife).. I think our biggest reason for that was I just like to eat when I am hungry.. So it's hard to schedule and you have to let them know ahead of time if you'll be dining with them.. You eat what they eat, family style!! And it is not only some of the best food on the island.. It's some of the best I've ever had in my life!!! It's like grandmas cooking but your Jamaican grandma... I actually take that back I don't think she's that old haha... Ok I'll see if I can post pics now

Nope I can't do it from my phone apperntly but u can add me on Instagram

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Originally Posted by 541lion

Nope I can't do it from my phone apperntly but u can add me on Instagram

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we spent A couple nights in Belmont next door at Brian's but spent most of time hanging at Bigga's. super nice dude. You should check out Treasure beach, might be your type of place.:cool:

I wanted to the first trip, but it didn't work out.. And this trip I have to take my wifey to kayak in the blue lagoon and I have to goto the Kingston dub club one Sunday, and 2 nights at the rockhouse and about a week at biggas.. If only I had the funds to stay for 3 weeks.. We will be checking it out on a day trip as well as lil ochi.. Respect

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Originally Posted by 541lion

Nope I can't do it from my phone apperntly but u can add me on Instagram

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What is your instagram name?

Ganja_lion lol sorry