Okay, here is a photo of Ital Garden; Couldn't get it to work in the last post. Attachment 40983
i give up. can't make the photo work.
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Okay, here is a photo of Ital Garden; Couldn't get it to work in the last post. Attachment 40983
i give up. can't make the photo work.
love that "plate", very unique . . .Quote:
Originally Posted by never2many
So after our Sip, Mr. T asked us if we'd like to visit his home. We were surprised and weren't expecting this privilege at this moment though we had talked about visiting his home at one point on our trip. In fact at this point I didn't know that Mr. T lived within a reasonable walking distance from where we were. I asked if we were close enough to walk and he said yes but that became debatable. We walked and walked. and walked some more.
I was feeling really happy that it wasn't as hot as the last time I was in JA.
So we met Mr. T on our last trip. We also met a lot of other people that were going to be "life long friends" and that we'd "share future adventures" with. But when I met Mr. T the first time, I knew he was a unique and trustworthy person and that we would become life long friends. I would have liked to feel the same about everyone I met. But that is just not possible because we all understand how to read people, I hope. We stayed on the beach all night, almost until sunrise talking on my first visit. And our driver was picking us up really soon after that sunrise to get to the airport. Maybe I am naive, and I likely am, but I met a lot of people in my two trips to JA that want to get out of there; particularly men. Or maybe it's just that I form a better relationship with men, who knows. It's strange that people I met living there want to get out and so many of us that visit think we would be more than happy to stay a lifetime.
Mt. T expressed his desire to move out of JA. We have talked very open and often about this. But after visiting Mr. T in JA I don't see how he would be comfortable leaving what he has. But maybe I am wrong and would certainly support and assist that decision should he ever decide to make it in anyway possible. Okay enough of the psycho analysis.
So after an hour or so walk, we finally reached Mr. T's family land. This is my first true taste of how he lives life daily there. Prior to this I wore blindfolds.
reminds me of when I met my life long fren, Delroy from Rhodes Resort. I'm considered as he's bleached brother! :)
So on our walk to Mr'T's home, we passed many homes and he pointed out that his cousins, sisters and so forth lived in them. We cut through a long feild and we came upon a grave yard where most of his family that have passed are now resting. After walking about 10 more minutes on a lane through a field, we finally were on Mr. T's property! We were warmly greeted by his dogs Scooby and Scruffy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by never2many
Would this be Westland Mountain Drive on the West End?
I can't get over how dogs just roam in JA (and other parts of the world). Mr. T's dogs followed him everywhere, through traffic, waited outside of bars and restaurants, occasionally taking a a big wif to make sure he was still in there. They would never go into an establishment. Guess they learned the hard way. Scruffy was recently cut with a Machete by someone that didn't care for her presence. In addition to Scruffy and Scooby, Mr. T also has 6 other puppies that are 7 weeks old but has since had Scruffy and Scooby spayed and neutered. My favorite puppy's name is "Blacker Dan". Because he's blacker dan da rest lol. Anyway, it's amazing these dogs don't get hit or injured in traffic. I haven't figured out if its the dogs that understand how to dodge traffic or the local drivers that know how to dodge the dogs. Blew my mind.
So Mr T has done what so many others have that I met in JA. They built their home. With their own hands. No contractors, no loans. Build what you can afford as you can afford it. In addition to building his own home, he built every piece of furniture in it. Every chair, every bed, every dresser. He re-purposed a lot of material from jobs when he renovated some of the higher end resort properties in the area. He's extremely talented. For privacy reasons I won't be posting photo's of the outside home or property. Here's a picture inside with my DH and Mr. T Attachment 41010
So much was experienced that day that I can't even write about here. We were thirsty and headed to the Canoe Bar after another 5 mile walk. Just in time for happy hour! I enjoyed happy hour dirty banana's. 2 for 1. They were so good I had 4, along with a few Red Stripes. Time to get this party started. Here's some photos of our Canoe adventure. My husband is Irish so I loved the sign there. Attachment 41011Attachment 41012Attachment 41013
I was craving conch. I had some conch fritters. Attachment 41016Attachment 41017
Those dirty banana's rocked. Wish I had one right now.
I'm enjoying your report. Thanks for posting! I keep meaning to check out Canoe but we never find the time. Def gonna try to on our upcoming trip!
Really looking forward to what happens next...awesome trip report...perfect mix of photos and text...bravo!
Time is never on your side while vacationing in JA! Hope you find the time!Quote:
Originally Posted by sher
Thanks Cynthia! Really appreciate knowing someone is still with me on the journey.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cynthia
Fun report!
We are still following,we need this to tide us over until November so please keep it coming!
Just a suggestion, not a critique: if you gave a bit more detail (especially pertaining to local living), and longer posts you'd keep people's attention more easily as well as build more suspense...
This is coming from someone who has never done a trip report, so that probably makes me a hypocrite. So there's that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by never2many
My Mom Jamaican, makes this Jerk sauce and other spicy seasoning all the time.....yummy. enjoying your post :)
Wow, that pretty old for a bird, right. His stance and betcha its a male lol looks contentedQuote:
Originally Posted by never2many
I am so enjoying your TR, makes me feel warm in this cold lousy weather, lots of snow we are having here in Canada. Thank you for sharing with us :)
Still following as well~ :D
You are so lucky Summer!Quote:
Originally Posted by Summer
Canoe had a lady there singing through a karaoke rig. My husband got up and helped her out. It was pretty entertaining. She said she was going to be at Sea Star later that night. I was really hoping to make it there at some point on this trip but that never happened. We finally found some shrimp at a little seafood store in the West End and headed back to our place so I could turn Mr. T's palate on to some good southern fair of shrimp and grits. He really enjoyed them as he's never tasted grits in a savory dish. We continued our quest with the Jerk sauce and made some good progress. Attachment 41020
After dinner we headed across the street to watch another beautiful sunset. Attachment 41019
Loving your report and photos!!! You have my attention and you are doing a great report!! Thanks for sharing!
I've tried to upload a few videos from today but I think my low speed connection out here in the boonies isn't allowing it to work properly so I'll try tomorrow from work. Does anyone else spend hours at work day dreaming on this forum as much as me?
We stayed low key and played some guitar on our porch at Pure Garden and even got a standing ovation from our neighbors for our version of "what's up" by the four non blondes. Mr. T says that song was pretty popular in JA at one time. Who knew. Tomorrow is going to be a long day, with a trip to Roaring River, the cave, Sav and Just Natural.
Day 5
We got up and made some omelettes with fresh veggies and a side of fruit and toast and hired a driver to take us to Roaring River for $25. It really helped having Mr. T with us because he was a pro at negotiating some great driver fees the entire trip. The driver that we hired could DRIVE. And fast. He had some major skill. Only draw back was we were listening to some kind of talk radio that came through like static on his speakers. It was annoying for 2 hours. Here's some photo's I took from the car on the way there. Driver said that this is where they grow the sugar cane for the rum factories and that Chinese companies own all to processing plants.
Attachment 41040 Attachment 41041 Attachment 41042
We arrived in Petersfield, the town the Roaring River and the Cave is in. The Roaring River Citizens Association maintains the property. I learned that Petersfield is one of the oldest townships on the Island, dating back to the 17th Century. Peter Beckford was the owner of Roaring River Estate and one of the wealthiest people in the West Indies at the time. Petersfield was named after him.
Mr. T expressed to me how spiritual this area made him feel. He said that the caves contain escape routes that were used by slaves to escape their owners and that they extend for miles. I've tried to find some history on this and haven't been very successful but perhaps someone on this board can steer me in the right direction.
One of the guides told me that many of the people that reside in this town are employees of the Frome Sugar Factory.
Here are some of the pictures entering the Roaring River area. It all seemed to be abandoned but maybe there is more activity on the weekends. Apparently several tour buses visit the area. I had asked a local there about a series of little buildings and he said they used to house a craft market. I feel like this area may have had it going on at one time from a tourism standpoint but it did seem there was a big lack of maintenance in the area when I visited (particularity in the Cave area). Attachment 41047Attachment 41048Attachment 41049Attachment 41050
This is a great trip report, I'm really enjoying it.