10 Years, 12 Nights, 6 Hotels, ONE LOVE - April 2012 Trip Report

Thank you everyone for your comments!

I'm sorry for the delay. Markus was up next to update this trip report but he currently has the flu. He caught the same sickness that I had a week ago. He is resting right now and has asked me to continue on his behalf. He will pick up the torch again once we reach Chicken's magic bus trip to YS falls and Pelican bar.

So without any further dilly dallying.. here goes...

****

Last update: we had left Villa Sur Mer, checked into Seastar inn and were about to head over to the Luciano concert. (see previous page )

The main area of Seastar Inn was buzzing with activity..There was a sea of people congregating around the stage area, talking, laughing and hugging. My eyes scanned the crowd for some familiar faces as we walked in holding hands. I felt a little nervous and shy about meeting so many people for the very first time. I wished that everyone had name tags...

That's when I heard “Daisy! Markus!”

A woman with curly blond hair falling over her shoulders and a huge smile danced over to hug us, she was followed by a man with an equally warm smile. I knew right away that it was Indybob and his wife, Cindy. We all hugged and started talking excitedly.

That's when I heard another greeting in a smart British accent. I can't remember what he said, but I remember it made me laugh..

I turned and asked “Spottycatz?” I expected a Scottish accent, so it threw me off guard. “you don't sound like Sean Connery, you sound positively British”

“I am”, He explained with an award winning smile. “This one here is the Scottish one”

I turned to face a beautiful lady with sparkling eyes in two different colors, just like a cat. Mrs. Spottycatz.

I immediately warmed up to the lot of them. Mr. Spottycatz was cracking jokes with Markus, Mrs. Spottycatz is just the warmest person and she'll put you at ease immediately, Cindy was swaying happily to the beat of Stephen West's rendition of a Bob Marley classic. Indybob was all smiles and so kind.

All my nervousness dissolved. I was just so excited to be there at that moment!

Although I was so overwhelmed by it all, I had a hard time formulating my thoughts to form coherent sentences outside of “I just can't believe we're all here right now!” when I'm in a group setting, I tend to be more quiet and kind of just take it all in. I'm more of a one on one person. Markus is the opposite.

PattySather ran up to hug and greet us. She had a table reserved with her husband, Beachgirl66 and +1. It was great seeing them all again. We pulled up a seat and joined them.

“Have you seen Marley yet?”, I asked.

“No Marley yet”

The arrival of the celebrity couple, Marley & Ninja was a big event and most anticipated by all.

It wasn't much longer before they made their appearance. They were bombarded by hugs and squeals on all sides. Marley was laughing and wearing a shirt that said “Marley” which cracked me up. I was beyond thrilled to meet both of them for the first time. They left to check into their rooms and get changed.

We were hungry so we went on line to get some delicious Seastar buffet food. While I was on that line, A pretty woman with dirty blond hair walked up and said “hello Daisy”

I knew immediately that it was Booger's wife, Sandy (pooper). He had sent her over first to throw me off guard. She was surprised that I recognized her from his trip reports.

We hugged hello and asked “Hey Sandy!! Where's Booger?”

He emerged from the crowd of people at the bar and I was initially taken aback. Like everyone else already noted, Booger looked NOTHING like I had expected him to look like. He was about 20 years younger than I thought he was going to be with the most mischievous smile I've ever seen. I liked him right away.

Guirigay and Sweetiepie arrived next. They were just as amazing and welcoming as I imagined they would be. (Sweetiepie has the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen.) I was excited to meet this lovely couple in person, especially after reading Guirigay's touching trip report. Guirigay and Markus hit it off immediately.

Tizzy came in right after, she was all smiles and full of pure happiness. Her happiness and joy is contagious. I couldn't stop laughing with her. I just loved her energy so much!

Tizzy & I went to the bar to get some drinks and to introduce her to Booger & Sandy. That's when she met Jon for the first but I'll let her describe that encounter in her own trip report.

I'm going to be honest, most of that night is a bit of a blur to me. I remember so much laughter and conversations around a long white table.. I sat next to Marley, Tizzy was across from me with Booger & Jon. Guirigay & Sweetiepie sat to the left of them, talking mostly to Markus and Ninja. PattySather and Beachgirl66 and +1 were to my right. Gerryg123 dropped by to greet us too! It was just such a fun night..

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...igaysmiles.jpg

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...sweetiepie.jpg

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...andguirgay.jpg

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...erthumbsup.jpg

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...eylaughing.jpg

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...zyandpatty.jpg

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...ngtobooger.jpg

RastaStan sang “Stand by me” to a cheering crowd. He's amazing! Lisa handed over her tiny laptop for me to join in the negril.com webcast next to Rob, which was a lot of fun. (thanks Lisa!) It was great seeing both of them again.

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...Robandlisa.jpg

Luciano's performance was incredible. I remember all of us dancing in a big crowd.

Eventually the night began to wind down. I looked at my watch and realized it was getting late. The receptionist desk was already closed, so that eliminated the possibility of a hotel wake up call.

How on earth were we going to wake up at 6:00 AM in the morning for my cousin's arrival and our drive to Mandeville to meet the rest of my family? What if we overslept? My cousin doesn't even know what room we're in... What a terrible first impression that would be if I'm not even ready when she arrives to pick us up? I was worried. This meant too much to me. I didn't want to screw this up.

I scanned the sea of new friends. Who would be awake THAT early tomorrow morning?

Then I remembered PattySather telling me that she wakes up at the crack of dawn to go running along the beach every morning.

I knelt down next to her chair. “Patty, I have a favor to ask of you... a big favor” I whispered.

PattySather leaned in close to me and took my hands in hers. “Anything. Just ask”

((Love her))

“We have to be up super early in the morning to head over to Mandeville and there is no alarm clock in the room.” I said “I have this phone. This rental JA phone that I don't even know how to use... Could you call this phone when you wake up? That would mean the world to me”

Patty immediately agreed. “Of course, sweetie, no problem at all!!”

She took my number and promised she would give us a call at 6 AM. I was eternally grateful and relieved.

Of course Manda and Joe Trinidad were there too (on Popsicle sticks) – I decided to take Manda with me to Mandeville.

We should have gone straight to bed after that... but we did not.

We got caught up in a great conversation with Marley & Ninja. Then rum shots was ordered.. and we were all laughing and chatting up a storm together. We found out that Ninja & Markus had clearly been separated at birth. Marley felt like a friend I had known my whole life.

Eventually we looked around and that's when we realized that the bar was closed, the room was dark and all the tables around us were now empty. How did that happen?

Instead of going to bed, we decided to go back to Marley & Ninja's room at Seastar to try out the famous cake vodka that we kept hearing about...We were just having so much fun, we didn't want the night to end

I only have one picture from that:

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/...akevodka-1.jpg

Right after that picture was taken and the drink was consumed...Markus raised his arm up in a celebratory “wooo hooo!!” and for those that do not know this... Markus is quite tall.

And that when I heard a loud “THUMP THUMP!”

That sound of Markus's fingers getting caught in the ceiling fan. We all gasped in shock and Markus yelled “Aaaaagh”!

There was a horrific moment when I thought Markus's fingers were chopped off! I imagined the paramedics arriving and all of us searching through the room for his dismembered fingers.

His face was twisted with pain. He was clutching his hand and forced his fingers open to examine the damage.

All of his fingers were still intact. He was okay.

“Don't worry. I'm fine honey, see?”, He wiggled all of his fingers on both hands. They were little scratched up and bruised from the fan blades but he was alright.

I breathed a loud sigh of relief. That was scary.

But we knew that it was now officially time to end the party and get some sleep. We all hugged and bid farewell.

Markus and I were laughing together as well fell into our bed in room 12 of Seastar inn.

“That was so much fun...tonight...so much fun...”, Markus murmured as he drifted off to sleep.

I was thinking the same thing as I dozed off.. It was such an amazing night!
But in the back of my mind.. I thought... Oh my gosh I hope we wake up in time to go to Mandeville tomorrow... please let us wake up in time...

To be continued...

For another view of this same night with lots of great pictures of Luciano – check out Marley & Ninja's trip report here http://negril.com/forum/showthread.p...ril-2012/page5
Guirigay's view http://negril.com/forum/showthread.p...E2%80%A6/page2
Spottycatz view http://negril.com/forum/showthread.p...ght=Spottycatz

I am digging the report I am not digging markus' man flu everytime it is report writing time! Upwards and onwards please;)

OMGOSH, those are fantastic!!! I love the b/w on this set!

Instantly felt like family....this is so taking back to that night.

Hope Markus gets well soon

Glad you are continuing. Markus get better soon and Clarity glad you are feeling better. Ok that fan bit scared the crap out of me. Glad you have all fingers intact Markus. Looking toward to more and the photos are nice.

Looks like a great night with amazing company :) Love the Black & White photos! Hope Markus is feeling better soon!

LOL Tic! Good to see you! ;) Well, in his defense he got the flu from me, I totally infected him.

It's hard trying to steer this TR ship in his absence. That above entry would have been so much more descriptive and engaging if it had been written by Markus. It's a challenge to try to put into words the experience of meeting so many wonderful people in one night. I feel like I didn't really capture it. Alas...

Thanks Tizzy, Angel and Katho for your kind comments and well wishes for Markus. He doesn't have a fever today so he's doing a bit better. :)

I'll post a new update tomorrow. G'night guys!

Love,
Daisy

Oh man those pictures bring back so many good memories.......almost feels like it was just yesterday (sure wish it was)!

Loving it Daisy! New pics!! What a great night, the vibe at Seastar set the tone for the week. Taking me back :)