As a Jamaican, I know that it is very hard to survive in terms of finance, but I also know that Jamaica is the nicest place to live,
a Jamaican will not understand this until they travel to other countries. As for me YARD A PARADISE.
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As a Jamaican, I know that it is very hard to survive in terms of finance, but I also know that Jamaica is the nicest place to live,
a Jamaican will not understand this until they travel to other countries. As for me YARD A PARADISE.
Nice, rocky!!
I think it was Bruce Golding who said (and I paraphrase here)..." there is nothing wrong with Jamaica that can't be fixed by what is right with Jamaica"
lolQuote:
Originally Posted by patty_k
lol
UncleBruce said dat eh
..when he say dat..??..
....loooooooooooong-time ago...??..
is dat the same-Bruce who di poli-trix-ian(sp?)
if so,
i *think* SistaP said that he _____ _____ ___ ___ ___
nevermind
LOL @ Smith, yup , a Golding quote, kinda a bit of pot calling kettle methinks.
You said it very well Rocky! I know a number of Jamaicans living here in Florida that miss much of their home country, and are always yearning for a return visit. For me, I'm a tourist that enjoys visiting Jamaica and meeting the people. Some I enjoy meeting more than others, but it is people like Rocky and his family that make it such a great place to visit. I always look forward to each visit.Quote:
Originally Posted by ROCKY'S TAXI AND TOURS
why do you think everything id behind bars and u have to security at the hotel and cant go walkin around late at night less ya got somebody watchin ur back
Why do you all assume that all Jamaicans are poor?
I have numerous middle to upper class Jamaican friends. They have nice cars, homes and send their children to college.
Yes, I know that there are a great percentage of poor but it isn't all of Jamaican society.
The difference is that here in America we can have a reasonable hope to improve the situation. In most third world countries this is not so easy....especially now.
However, I know of very few Jamaicans who do not love their country. Listen to them sing the National Anthem.......
I'm an adopted Jamaican-American and I understand why "there's no place like home"
Regards
That is so not true for a blanket statement of Jamaica.Quote:
Originally Posted by westcoast
Good questions that have equally good answers. In the places they are used, burglar bars are used to give the same comfort level that North American homes and businesses enjoy with all the electronic surveillance that is available there. I am sure that when electronic security systems including silent alarms and security cameras become more available, you will see that change take place.Quote:
Originally Posted by westcoast
As for the security at hotels, this is a requirement in order to obtain a hotel license, just as is required in many North American cities.
And, you can go around at night by yourself, without someone watching your back, but as a visitor to a foreign country, it is normally in your best interest to have someone with you who knows the runnings. This is wise if for no other reason than to help you from making a fool of yourself or getting yourself into trouble by not knowing the local customs...
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmQuote:
Originally Posted by westcoast
very-very good points der, mi fren
1....'..live-ing behind bars..' ~~ 'twas jus' the other day, i visited some folks here in good 'ole USofA Washington DC and asked 'em about those security bars on their house windows & doors ..... mi personally can't live like that ..... thank Goodness, when i'm in-Jamaica, in-country i don't have to deal with that kind of thing-y
2....'..security at hotel..' ~~~ oh how i hate those hotel guards .... :-( ... and here in WashingtonDC/USofA they-be roam-ing around the hotel in plain-clothing ...and and and don't all those security type toy-cops in the USofA malls, stores, everywhere upset you, too..??...
and
and
and
and:::>>> all those cameras all over the place watching & watching your every move
* sigh *
so sickening here in-foreign na tru
3....'.walking late at night.' ~~~~ yep yep YEP .... waaaaay to many dangerous thing-ys be going on here in-foreign fi sure .... i so dread watching NancyGrace and checking-out the crazy stuff our fellow from-foriegn people be doing ..... pure wickeness ...!!..
* whew *
i need a new countdown for mi next Ja-trip
:-(
it makes a lot of difference also, as mostly we are dealing with Jamaicans in the "Tourist Businesses"........we have a friend who during the day is a Taxi Mon, when he comes home and sits down with a beer he changes into a different personalty, for the good..................his wife agrees........not because of the beer, he just doesnt have to deal with any tourist for the rest of the day........:D
Wow...!!!...Quote:
Originally Posted by captaind
boardie-captaind ~~~ you JUST said a mouth-full der, mon...!!!..
:-)
the first-time i was at a Ja-event where they stood-up erect, proper & proud and sung that anthem, i was scared to death:::::'fraid to breath. They-do take that & what it means serious-ly:::: intense.
and
and
and:::>> they-all KNOW all-two verses
* whew *
i've got goose-bumps thinking about that Ja-National Anthem
PREACH my-brotherQuote:
Originally Posted by Rambo
preach & teach..!!..
:-)
p.s.. it's not jus' a 'business' in Jamaica
.....it's an '.industry.' .... i.e., '.industrial-strength.' tourisim
..........NOT for amatuers
yepQuote:
Originally Posted by Rob
yep
however, my stylee & experience has always been to apply the same *customs*-practices & procedures that are in-effect here in-foreign, when i'm in-Jamaica. Works for me. I've found they're similar in a LOT of ways.
..ummmmmmmmmmm
EXCEPT for example (among a few others):::::>>> here in Jamaica, you DON'T go into somebody's house OR YARD without FIRST being told it's ok to enter ----- unlike here in-foreign, where you can saunter into/onto the property,, walk-up to the door, ,,,,, knock & enter
ummmmmmmmmmmm....
which reminds me of something-something:::::::: it MUST-be confusing to Ja-residents when they hear about we-foreigners bring-ing new-found *friends* back to our hotel rooms.
anyhoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
What would be the local customs that a tourist would not know that could result in trouble?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
Ahhh, yes, I love this custom!Quote:
Originally Posted by smith744
Quote:
Originally Posted by jeannieb
Quote:
Originally Posted by smith744
Smith gave a perfect example... other things I have seen over the years include tourists who pick fruit out of people's trees without permission, taking someone's pet thinking it was a stray, taking pictures or videos of private moments without permission, creating expectations by throwing money around to the point that one is perceived to be "buying" friends, getting confused by the patois to the point the tourist agree's to something they shouldnt have... that one actually happens quite a bit...
And then of course there is the obvious venturing into places or establishments that even most locals avoid, especially at night... there are more, but they can all be avoided by having someone with you who is watching out for you and your party!
Thanks Rob. Great examples!
Do tourists really steal people's fruit from their trees? Lucky they don't get chopped. :)
Not “steal” per say, but some take liberties without being aware of OR ignoring limitations and boundaries. They see a tree in the bush full of mangos. Perhaps not knowing that tree is on or near someone’s property they pick from it. The trespasser could find themselves facing heavy penalties issued by the property owner…yes possibly a chop.Quote:
Originally Posted by jeannieb
While I seriously doubt that any tourist has ever be chopped for stealing (yes, it is still "stealing") fruit from someone's tree, they would be expected to pay for that lapse in judgement, and pay some form of "idiot tax" for their liberty taking... (grin)
LOLQuote:
Originally Posted by *vi*
if-NOT '.steal.' per say,,, then WHAT is it then..??..
lol
lol
lol
let's do a Google & check the definition of '.steal.' eh
here're some excerpts/examples:::
Verb: Take (another person's property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it
to take the property of another wrongfully
to take (the property of another or others) without permission or right
lol
lol
yep yep::: dem stole, steal, etc
dem thieves
:-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Lola
i too love that *custom*,
especially helpful in the countryside, when the JehovahWitness-people come around ....
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
don't any of you's take this the wrong way
..i have NUTIN' against JehovahWitness-es
.....a BUNCH of my Ja-*friends* are of that faith
but::>> in Jamaica they '.flex.' a LOT different than they do here in-foreign .... even those (in Jamaica) who stand on the street-sides, handing out their literature/tracks are more laid-back, and don't *approach* you, as they do here in-foriegn.
mi like the Ja-stylee
100+ years ago in the rural US similar customs were practiced with regard to announcing one's self while still outside of the 'yard' and waiting to be invited to enter the property.
back-in-the-day, we would say this thread was started by a troll
don't get me wrong,
i am NOT saying the original poster boardie-A_J is a troll
.oh no no nooooooooooooooo
...mi no saying dat..!!..
but it do have a troll-ish smell
...though *probably* NOT A_J's intention
btw~~~boardie-A_J::::: WELCOME to the board-family
nevertheless,
WHEREAS i've got a likkle time to kill,
i'll *play* for a likkle bit
as many know ---on the board AND on the island--- I'm a photographer .... now semi-retiredQuote:
Originally Posted by Rob
for-YEARS there've been beau-coup(sp?) images I wanted to capture/shoot,
but i KNEW it would be wrong wrong WRONG to do so
..and i quickly *learned* & recognized that down-yonder-there in Jamaica it wasn't a good idea
photo-wise I frequently would ask myself:::>> "..How would I feel if somebody came roaming around my neighborhood click-click-clicking..???.."
* sigh *
there's a whole bunch of images i wish i'd captured,
...especially some candids
........but so it go::: no images
lately, now-days, I've found that Ja-folks (who know me) are very accommodating, and *seem* to have NO-problem with my taking pictures. BUT me no fool-fool..!!..
i STILL ask permission, or get an 'ok' FIRST
..AND tell 'em what my intentions are when it comes to the use of the images
THIS is a BIG problem..!!..Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
....and *probably* one-reason why we-tourist/foreigners have such a hard-time in Jamaica
on my very-FIRST trip/visit to the country-side,
many many many MANY years ago,
my now-landlord told me:::::>> "..Bill,,the people up in-country are very poor,,, BUT DO NOT give NOBODY nothing .... especially money.."
ONCE upon another time,
my landlord came to me,
wanted me to *help* & advise a fellow-foreigner-guy, who had recently come-to the area.
the forieigner was having *problems* adjusting
i saw the guy
watched him & how he moved around & dealt with folks
* sigh *
he was spending money like he was DonaldTrump
...buying rounds at the bar
...always reaching in his pocket for $$$$$ to pass-out
it always puzzled me,
as to why some-folks feel that $$$$ is the way to deal with everything
:-(
mi-SAY (to self)::::>>> "..Nope Nope..!! .... i can't help him .... i ain't waste-ing my precious vacation-time trying to change that stupid from-foreign mindset ..... Nope .... can't manage ... can't dew-wheat.."
this is why i tend to always ask folks:::>> "..What you say ..??.. I don't understand what you're saying.."Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
i've found that sometimes the Patois is used deliberately to confuse the tourist/foreigners.
Interestingly, in the Ja-school system, the students aren't allowed to use Patois.
I've found that ESPECIALLY in the tourist areas ----e.g., Negril--- EVERYbody speaks the Queen's English. Their use of the English-language is better than mine. Sometimes somebody will ask ME to *translate* something I may have said, 'cause they didn't unna-stan what i was saying.
:-(
and let's not forget::::>>>> AND:::>> hang-ing out with, or be-*friend*-ing, or falling-in-*love*-with somebody(s) that even most locals avoid.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
When I used the words “not stealing per say” I’m referring to the individual who comes across a fruit tree (for example) and takes the fruit “thinking” its okay to pick from it because there appears to be no ownership of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by smith744
In their mind, they weren’t stealing but taking liberties instead of finding out if it’s okay to do so. Some people make that mistake in Jamaica because fruit trees are everywhere. Goats and other animals roam freely. A newbie may think such doesn’t have an owner. That’s what I thought before I found out otherwise. Like the person who mentioned dogs being taken. Perhaps that individual just wanted to give a stray a home.
I’m not talking about the someone who walks into a yard knowing whatever is in the yard belongs to someone else.
All that definition rah rah rah…well…I guess you needed to exaggerate your point so yes, even when taking something that you THOUGHT was free, but turns out not to be free….is still stealing.
I’m just saying it is so important to respect what you find different or new in Jamaica and not assume you understand the runnings. Ask or risk being taught the hard way like with a fine or stern warning.
You are right...I should have clarified that "chop" to mean a stern warning or fine. Not literally. I do apologize for not making that clear.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
Here is a photo I took of a thief from my last trip. The thief was not a tourist. I took this while at brunch at Cafe Goa. I wouldn't want to be a thief in Jamaica based on what I witnessed. Note the big guy with the big stick. He was not happy in the least bit.
Attachment 4222
I like Jamaica, what can I say, what is, is, what's not, is not
our place is you stay in car, our dogs will let you in if we so desire...............
Life for most Americans is hard too!!! We think of Jamaica as a place to get away from our troubles and a huge change of pace.
i agree 100%, that is why i go.Quote:
Originally Posted by msmari