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I've had a home in Westmoreland since 1974 and been to Negril since 1969.
I left the island for 24 years from 1986 to 2010.
As I first laid eyes on Negril upon my return I was amazed and aghast.
Five years later I embrace the changes for good and bad........
I'm happy to be home.....
Cap
I love negril the same as I did back in 1981, my first of many, many trips. Sure lots of changes since my first trip, like electricity, televisions, Internet, and on on but still as wonderful as ever and it will always be for the rest of my life no matter. It is all good. Just need to keep it all in perspective.
Mike D wrote"
"BTW Packrat, we visited the Out Islands and you're not missing much. Spent a week in a cottage on Elbow Cay and found that place lacked any real culture as the locals were either expats or decedents of British loyalists that left the US after we won the Revolution. Hope Town is pretty unique but you can get bored pretty quickly if you don't own/rent a boat to travel to other islands. Also it's pretty expensive (airfare is ~$800)."
You are correct Mike, I spent 8 nights in Treasure Cay at a friends house last April. The hook for me is I'm a Fishing Junkie and will never be bored when I can chase Bones, Tarpon or dive for lobster. There is very limited culture but I do enjoy hitting the remote island beaches by boat that no one is on or diving in pristine water. Expensive is correct, boat rental $250 a day, fuel $5 gal, beer $70 a case, dinners $40-$60 per person not counting apps, dessert or drinks. It also takes getting a charter from New Smyrna, Fll or W Palm to get to the many places unless you want to waste a day each way flying into Marsh Harbor. I didn't put anything in my original about the Jamaican/Negril Culture (people, food, music) as it is a given and the real reason I go, airline schedules are just a Bonus
this was the end of Negril as I knew it....I always looked at negril as Pre De Bus or post De Bus....this poster is one of the biggest events to happen on Negril Beach..Shortly after came 911 and it has never really recovered
The web cast from De Bus were cutting edge and awesome as well..Nicely done, Rob
Wow, what a line-up! that must have been a blast.
One of the best shows ever and Rob did a web cast..It was packed..
My concern is that the more rooms the more people on the beach. CCLP has become too crowded already, never kind adding more rooms. We have stayed at CCLP for 15 years until 2014. Had to switch because there are just too many people on the beach. Just moved down a couple doors. Great choice.
Adequate sewage treatment facilities and clean drinking water must be considered. One can only cram so many people into an ecosystem before it becomes no fun for anyone.
LOL! How can anyone think that clean drinking water is not being considered? People live in Negril, not just vacation here. Billions have been spent on the water system.Quote:
Originally Posted by goldilocks
The 1970's are over. The days of collecting rain water as your only water source are long over. Jamaican tap water is some of the cleanest on the planet. You must have missed my previous post - so here it is again. Please note the current plant upgrades are expected to be completed in December 2015:
" The Negril Water Treatment plant is not overloaded as of the article dated June 2014:
"The NWC has recently completed comprehensive sewerage systems for Ocho Rios (St. Ann) and Negril (Westmoreland) to meet the increasing need for sewerage services in these areas. Similarly, the Montego Bay system in St. James has been upgraded and expanded to meet the long-term requirements for sewerage in the second city."
"Regarding media articles the NWC has been berated for “inadequate management of its sewerage portfolio” without acknowledging the positive performances of the Commission in locations where the evidence speaks for itself. We are sure that the citizens of Montego Bay, Negril , Ocho Rios and Greater Portmore in particular, are gratified at the contribution made by the Commission in the improvement of their community. It is most unfortunate that the said reports do not take note of the more than $3 billion recently spent on sewerage systems in these areas, representing the single largest sum of money ever spent at any one time on sewerage infrastructure in Jamaica’s history."
http://www.nwcjamaica.com/SEWRAGE_TREATMENTPLANT.asp
The last upgrade was completed in 2012. There is a new upgrade being done at present and Dr. Wykeham McNeil is concerned that it will not make the December 2015 deadline. The hotel construction being proposed will not be done until late 2016 if it meets its deadline.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/n...r-sewage-plant "
we love drinking the ja water, and to buy water there, it costs more then Red Stripe beer, soon come
Negril tap water is excellent. Never a concern.
I support sustainable, eco-conscious growth. There is a limit to that growth, and sometimes folks go over that limit and then it's too late. But by then they've made their money and move on....
No one recalls the numerous water lock offs and low pressure that especially affected the West End? Coincidentally during high season?
"No one recalls"? Of course people remember the water "lock offs" and "low pressure" on the West End. And it wasnt only during "high season". Those who live in the West End, as I have many times over the past 25 years I've lived here, cannot forget them. But that is history.Quote:
Originally Posted by goldilocks
Years ago, in the 90's, before the "mains" were in place calling the water truck was a common event. The most recent water "lock offs" and "low pressure" in the past couple years were caused by changing of the "main" pipes and re-directing where the water source was coming from. That is why there were no real issues this year and a water truck was rarely seen because of the changes made for sustainable growth.
There is a limit to the growth, and it has been set at 4 storeys. Just look around Negril sometime. You will see many a building that approaches the 4 storey limit already. Now that there is an actual limit set, it is possible for sustainable, eco-conscious growth to become a mainstay in development.
As much as there are people who say they want things to be as they were in the "good old days", no water, no electricity and no phones were all part of those "good old days" (and I am talking the 90's)... I kinda like having drinkable tap water, being able to turn on a fan and making a phone call to find out what is going on... but that is just me... (grin)
Rob
Lost your sense of adventure?
LOL
Double ditto!Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
Getting water 8 Gals at a time on a donkey's back from 1/2 mile away gets old.
Cap
LOL! Plenty adventure left man.... But some "adventure" just gets old when you have to deal with it everyday... (grin)Quote:
Originally Posted by n8urist
I fell in love with a petite women of 24, smooth skin, perfect white teeth and a smile that could melt a glacier
We raised 4 children and experienced some very difficult times, between us and with the kids
I worked too many hours and missed way too many family events,
We've gained weight and dealt with health issues, not 24 anymore but in our 50's
Our children have blessed us with grand kids and we couldn't be happier.
Everyone is healthy and experiencing a challenging life, but doing well
We are not what were 1st were, I Love everything now more than ever.
I feel the same for our Negril. I'll always remember her for the beautiful young place she was,
For the new experiences she brought us, I will fondly remember all she is.
But like my life, I am confident, I will delight on seeing her blossom like my family
Well said packrat! :)
well said packrat, I know how you feel....
I first came to Negril in 82. I liked that there were no phones, tv, etc. When you got home you would catch up on all the things that happened in the world while you were gone. When telling people about Negril I always mention about no high rise buildings.I hope the limit will not increase in the future. There has been alot of development over the years, but Negril is still alot the same. Here is a link to some old pics that I got on Negril.com in the past.
https://pixjamaica.wordpress.com/
Ger - Great pics! Thanks for posting!
Ger,
Thanks man. The picture of Elenor and Hans got me kind of emotional.
And the WISCO retreat brought a wicked smile
Cap
UNBELIEVABLE PICS GER!!!
Your photos from 40 years look better than mine from last trip! I'm a lil too young and missed the 'good ol days' so I do dream about what it was like... but these pics are amazing- they truly show what it was like!
That Dentist clinic pic is awesome... I can imagine going there... and the doc taking his pliers out! (((Cringe)))
thanks for sharing ger
I stumbled across these pictures a few months ago. Great stuff! Love the Rick's wedding pics.....classic! It seems Charity Otto was a model but I can't find anything else about her?Quote:
Originally Posted by ger
Hey murph, These are not my pics. I edited my post. Got the link on Negril.com or somewhere else in the past.
Hey Cap, Did you rent horses for rides in the hills in the early 80's? You look similar to the guy we would run into on the beach looking for people to take out for rides.
Not me. I was renting Hobie Cats at Sands Club. Besides horses don't like me!Quote:
Originally Posted by ger
cap
Here's a clip from 1983 at Sands Club. Be sure to look at the 4:00 mark see the fish. At 6:00 minutes "shakin' Bone get into the music.......That's Eleanor playing the maracas.....
https://vimeo.com/57819786
Cap no link
Try this:
https://vimeo.com/57819786
After seeing those pictures from the early 70's (excellent - click on it if you havent already), I read something that i feel is important to this over all topic of Negril and its future.
"Change too much and die, but not changing is a risk also. Atrophy is a powerful fact of life; sometimes you have to change to remain the same."
Negril in the early 70's was a magical place. No one thought anything of a horse ride on the beach, as there was no one on the beach who thought anything of it. The hundreds of visitors back then experienced something that they will never forget. Rick's was still a home, with the original pool still filled with water before it became a bar and then covered over to create more space. But it was still the place to meet for sunset and even hold a wedding. Rockhouse was a beautiful spot, with only minimal concrete and small bridges connecting the natural rock formations. Those early visitors went back home with incredible stories and their friends began to come down in greater numbers. The "handwriting on the wall" can literally be read on the "Coming Soon Negril Beach Club sign" that was displayed on the beach back then. No one worried about the water or electricity as there wasnt any. Collecting rain water supplied the necessary supply and waste disposal wasnt really thought about as an issue since there were so few people in Negril at the time.
In the late 70's, 80's and early 90's, Negril was a magical place, even though it could take a day to reach Negril from MoBay depending on the road conditions. Rick's was now a full fledged Cafe and turned the original pool into a bar and had beads for drinks they offered for their daily sunset crowd. Kaiser's and Sam Sara held incredible live reggae shows each week at night to entertain the new influx of tourists. Rockhouse added to their already beautiful property while maintaining its natural beauty. Those were special times. The increase in visitors caused many new properties to be built, with candles in every room since the electricity was unreliable. Properties were still using rainwater and adding water trucks to supply natures most necessary commodity. Ice trucks were a daily common sight. The Elephant Cess Pool truck along with others carried away the refuse from the properties that didnt allow it to drain directly into the sea. The sea was big and the number of visitors still relatively small, but people knew things had to change. So the first plans were made for water mains as well as reliable electricity by the government.
In the late 90's and early 2000's, Negril was a magical place. Families and friends could come and visit a wide choice of places to stay and spend time playing in the clean, crystal clear Caribbean and enjoy sunsets on the beach or cliffs. And of course Rick's Cafe was now a sunset institution in Negril. The original pool was gone. On the beach, there were near nightly live reggae shows and the partying continued to near sunrise thanks to the somewhat reliable electricity. The horses on the beach were gone, but no one missed them because visitors were now busy riding the wave runners in the sea. Ice cold drinks still relied on the ice trucks and the ice-picked chunks of ice. Drinkable tap water and electricity on demand were almost common. Until now, Negril had grown little by little with not much direct guidance by the government. But with the increasing numbers of visitors it now made planning for the future growth of Negril a government priority.
Negril in the late 2000's was a magical place. The "road to Negril" was complete and you could now get from MoBay to Negril in less than an hour an a half. There were places to stay of every description, from massive All-Inclusives to the small family yard guest homes not much different than the early 70's. There were now restaurants offering a wide variety of fare, from lobster to burgers. WiFi became available as the world had began to rely more heavily on the Internet. Everyone had a phone (or two) and people wouldnt have to worry about staying in touch even with their family at home. There was cold drinks and blender drinks available everywhere. Day trips to places like the Pelican Bar on the south coast became routine. Negril was spreading its wings and growth became necessary.
Negril now is a magical place. Rockhouse is still a beautiful property, although larger than it was in the 70's. The pictures from the early 70's I first mentioned still have counterparts visible today. Taking a walk on the far West End or Red Ground can make you feel like you have taken a step back in time to those early days. You can see daily pictures from this part of our Jamaican paradise thanks to the Internet. The food options have grown to include Vietnamese and Mexican. Wine and beer choices have improved to the point you can enjoy a ice cold Stella beer on the beach! Sidewalks are being built, traffic lights implemented and building codes being put in place to control the growth and keep Negril the magical place it has always been.
Sometimes you do need to change to stay the same...
Well said man!
I liken this to the discussion people often have about the "REAL" Negril or the "REAL" Jamaica. People who stay in bargain accommodations often refer to experiencing the "REAL" Negril when comparing their stay to someone at an All Inclusive. Some people who experienced Negril in days gone by (myself included) seem to think that experiencing it in the '60s was somehow more "REAL" than experiencing it in later decades. I ask myself, "Was the lack of current and sanitation a more REAL experience than having it now?"
When you have never been to Negril and decide to go this year for the first time, you will experience the REAL Negril because it is real to you and you have nothing to compare it with to make it otherwise.
I have stayed in Firefly's beach cabins in the 80's, JahBs and Juba's in the 90's, the defunct Negril Yacht Club countless times and each visit was unique and each experience was REAL. Some were real pains in the kiester like thin, spongy foam beds and no running water etc. but I look fondly upon each visit.
Old time travelers look nostalgically at the days gone by and wish that they could relive them and somehow think that keeping Negril "just like it was when they visited" would somehow keep it more REAL.
In 5 years time or less, people will be looking off an older properties 2 story verandah over at a spanking new 4 story verandah and believe that somehow their experience is more real.
Just my opinion.
For "REAL" mon,yuk ...
I kind of like some of the 'improvements' of the last 18 years since I've been visiting. There are fewer power outages, more hot water, and wifi is a blessing. Phones and phone cards are a fraction of what they are at home.
The old road was a bigger adventure however. I only got to travel on the full old road once, but a 90 minute journey to Negril is better than 2 and a half hours ( on a good day).
I'm with Accompong and Rob, but I really hope they stop at 4 stories for a while.