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It's 44 degrees here & your pictures are the perfect "warm-up" ~ Love the beverage holder, too!!!
44?!?! urgh!! Okay Patricia, I'll keep the rays streaming until you can catch them yourself. I notice your ticker so your wait is not a long one. You headed to Negril?
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One of my favorite things to do when I’m here is watch the ocean crash into the rocks to the right. From out of nowhere, it seems the waters will swell and with all its might, slap the corner of the rocks. Real sneaky. Could I ever get closer to the assault? Feel the cool spray on my body and resist the urge to jump in?
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I wanted to take that “scene” that breathtaking activity back with me so with the help of Canon I collected a couple of videos. This one is less flawed. I talk a little, but I can’t make out what the heck I’m saying. I laugh. Wish I could remember what tickled me so.
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The food is excellent here. Lunch was ackee n salffish layered on a hearty helping of rice n peas. Yeah twice in one day, but it was delicious and only 200J. Besides in a few days, I won’t be able to get it at all so I’m having my fill. Couldn’t finish it all. Next time I’ll get the fish.
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Decided to dry off, pack up my music and head to Long Bay beach. i noticed on the way to Under the Rock that the Chill Out Restaurant and Bar has reopened so I’m anxious to check it out.
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Yep, heading to Negril to celebrate our 31st wedding anniversary :)
Yes I. Love the video, brings a bit of the vibe back to cold and rainy Michigan. Thanks.
Oh, and maybe I've just had bad luck, but I have never had saltfish that I liked. It's always been way too "fishy" tasting for me, and I love fish in general. Oh well, maybe I'll try it again someday.
Patricia…CONGRATULATIONS to you BOTH! I can’t think of a more romantic setting than Jamaica to celebrate any anniversary year. Take wine glasses with you (they may be hard to find) and pour whatever you want into them for that special toast to each other. Cheers!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Patricia
THANK YOU TAH for the video compliment. Thought it might be boring since I locked it on the one object. I'm glad you "felt" the same vibe as me. I like saltfish sparinging. Never found the smell overpowering but the salt can be too much for my taste. The breakfast Mrs. Scott's prepared was perfect. She must have soaked the fish for a long time.Quote:
Originally Posted by TAH
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I made O’Neil pull over when I caught sight of this massive beast chillin so close to the road. A bull. The biggest bull I’ve ever seen and as a child I lived across from a farm that had plenty. But not like this monster.
“wow…check that out! he’s huge!!”
“Yeah that’s a big one fe true.”
**click**
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“No horns.”
“They remove dem.”
“Looks weird without horns.”
“Less dangerous without them.”
“I guess, but it looks…umm…feminine with no horns.”
“Feminine??”
“Yeah.”
“He doesn’t need horns to prove him power.”
**click**
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“You get a good photo of him?”
“Yeah, it’s pretty clear but you can’t really tell how BIG it is. Do me a favor, go stand next to it and let me get a picture of you beside it.”
“No.”
“No? Just like that?? I’m not asking you to ride it, just go as close as your comfort will allow you, but close enough that you both will be in the picture.”
“No.”
**he starts the car**
“oh come on...don't be a wuss...the thing is behind a fence. Besides he doesn’t have horns.”
**we pull off without another word**
DWL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Glad to see you back writing!
I'm enjoying reading this! I'm missing JA for sure.
LOL at the bull. On our last trip, in Treasure Beach we were walking down some little side path checking out the area we came around a curve and boom, giant frickin bull face to face with me. He most definitely had his horns too, they just kind of let them wander like the goats down there. We took a couple steps back, and walked the other side of the path but he wasn't interested in us at all, thankfully.
Hi Kaycee…yeah, I’m back. Gotta get these wheels rolling proper and not drag it out for weeks…months…years…lol Thanks for letting me know you are still tagging along. Do you have a reach planned?
TAH…NO WAY! Face to face? I would have either wet myself, passed out or both. Pretty certain it would have been both because I can’t imagine being eye to eye with a bull…and he had horns. I’m just getting used to the roaming goats! Speaking of Treasure Beach, I would like to hear your and your wife’s impressions of that area if you don’t mind sharing.
The condition of Chill Out bar in October of 2013 almost made me shed tears.
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I didn’t expect it to look as bad as it did. Reflecting back on the first time I entered the place in 2011, it was a nice looking spot. A laid-back place where you can enjoy a drink an inexpensive meal or lounge on the beach. That spacious, white sand beach just on the other side of the bar put Chill Out on my “must do” list. But in October of 2013 it felt like I was saying good-bye to an old friend.
I didn’t even get out of the car and pass through to at least peek at the beach. Took a couple of pictures from my seat and stared in sadness. I guess I embraced this place tighter than I thought.
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But look at it now!!! (ooops in my excitement to see the inside, I neglected to get a picture of the outside front)
Excellent recovery by the new owners and I do wish them all the best.
Right from first sight I was happy to see the wall had been repainted, but how nice to see Tanya Stephens and Beres Hammond up there. The artist(s) did a great job.
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I am really enjoying reading you report, and looking at your pics, I will probably never venture out of Negril love it way to much, so loving this report to see other parts of the island. No pics of you ??? I love putting faces to names. And no, your
toes don't count, lol :)
I am definitley saving the information for under di rock. I see they have Sunday parties, sounds like a plan. The place looks like it's more in St. Thomas, how far from Fairly Hills. I also have to put Chill out bar on my "to do list" also.
GREETINGS jojo p! So glad you are enjoying the report. I completely understand your attachment and devotion to Negril. I admire ALL who discover and embrace a parcel of that magical island. That’s the beauty of Jamaica, the territories are so diverse it easily accommodates just about any lover of the Caribbean. LOL at toes don’t count, but I’m afraid that’s all you will see of me. Although I’m almost as big as Jamaica, my parts aren’t nearly as beautiful as hers.
Butterfly, Under di or de Rock, which is in Zion Country, is about 30 minutes from Fairy Hill. But like I said, the ride is a nice one. Smooth road and lots to see along the way as you pass through different towns. I do hope you check out Chill Out bar and the bar a few yard further up the road from Chill Out. I don’t have the name, but will post pictures of it soon.
This is the back of the bar leading to the beach.
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The place was pretty full with folks watching the world cup finals or whatever on the big screen tv. Very nice touch. I notice a lot of places are installing large screen tv’s which definitely draw a crowd.
I wasn’t interested so with flip flops in hand I head away from the crowd to stroll the beach.
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A lot of erosion occurred at the base of the steps but other than that, the beach is just as beautiful and the ocean just as ornery.
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For about seven minutes, I had this sun lit beach all to myself. I delighted in every second of undisturbed solitude. Far enough from the cheering and jeering crowd at the bar, I only hear the rush of the waves as they roll up to the shore one behind the other.
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I have yet to swim here. It’s not because of the undercurrent warnings. I respect that and would never go out far like I would other beaches. I just forget to come prepared to swim.
But now that I think about it, I would like to enjoy this part of the ocean with someone else, not alone. Someone whose hand I can hold as we jump the waves and mind our balance against the tide. Our laughter would merge and echo upon the horizon. Laughter…someone to swim with me and hear my laughter. This is the perfect place to be as free-spirited as the restless, inviting waters. However, not alone.
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I stood at a distance watching a little boy about 2 and his female friend of about 6 take turns tossing a deflated ball, empty coke bottle and a short bamboo stick into the waves to be carried out a bit then returned. She did most of the tossing while he did most of the retrieving.
The babe didn’t appreciate his parents taking him by the hand and removing him from his assignment. Neither did I. I found watching the innocent actions of children having fun made my single heart smile oppose to grieve my solitude.
Standing to the side, I rest my stuff on the crumbling low wall safe from the splashing sea water. I turned my music up to drown out the applause and curses from the World Cup viewers. A hostess approached me.
“Good afternoon.”
“Hello. How are you?”
She flashed a movie star-like smile before answering
“I’m very well thank you. We have beach chairs.”
“Thanks, but I’m fine.”
The children are gone. I resisted the urge to toss the deflated ball into the crests. I’m sure it wouldn’t feel the same coming back to me as it did the little ones so I let it be just as the world has left me be…
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I thought the competition was over so I went back inside. It was just intermission, break, half-time, something like that. I was a little hungry but I preferred to get food somewhere else. Someplace that didn’t have a large screen tv.
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It was time to move on. I did so half willingly because I wasn't sure if I could return before leaving Portland.
But when I do return, I hope to find this place still going strong so I could come back and enjoy the splendor of Long Bay Beach.
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I mean, we weren't nose to nose, but maybe four or five feet? Pretty close either way, but I just quietly told missy to slowly step back, cross to the other side and keep walking. He just stood there watching, didn't really move at all. There were a couple guys in the shack across the path playing dominoes that didn't seem at all concerned, so we just moved along.Quote:
Originally Posted by *vi*
Treasure Beach is a special place, fi true. It's so different from any other place we've been in Jamaica, in a very good way for us. Extremely laid back and friendly vibrations, very little hussle to the place. It's an agricultural community, the tourism board limits hotel size and a lot of places are fairly eco-minded. We stayed at a small guesthouse on the coast, isolated from the main "town" (Frenchman's Bay) and loved every minute of it. The landscape is a mix of tropical and desert plants, the coastline is varied between beach and cliffs. You can walk pretty much anytime, day or night without worry about anything at all. We actually got lost one night walking back from Great Pedro Bluff to Calabash Bay, ended up walking down two track paths in the pitch black hopelessly lost. Out of nowhere comes some guy walking his little girl somewhere, who gave us directions, which we screwed up... lost again (I'm usually a good navigator, not this night) and ended up running into the same guy again 20 minutes later. At that point he took it upon himself to walk us through yards, fences, and eventually put us on the road we needed to get back to our place. We made it safely, though I'll admit I was a bit bugged out at several points, and was prepared to defend.
I could go on, but don't want to jack your thread. In short, we love the place.
hey vi, glad to see that someone has revived chill out. hope it's successful. great pics, makes me wish to be there.
Good information TAH. I like your line “in a very good way for us”. I can relate to finding that “compatible” place(s) in Jamaica. No worries about jacking the thread, I have been curious about Treasure Beach and since you mentioned it I decided to ask your thoughts and I appreciate all you provided. I hope to check it out soon and may ask more questions, if that’s okay with you. So cool you ran into someone who helped you and your Missy find your way back. Being lost on foot in the dark is no joke.
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When I first went to the bar in 2011 I saw that is was in fair condition but the vibe was great and there were plenty people at the bar and eating. When I returned later that year, the place was closed. Still closed in early 2012 then opened under new management late 2012. The vibe was definitely different and for that reason I hung around on the beach. Then in 2013 it was closed again and looked like for good. Not only was I surprised to see it re-opened, but the renovations are fantastic. Even the bar was rebuilt. It appears the new owner(s) is there to stay. I hope so.
thanks vi, that's sooo sweet of you!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by *vi*
vi, i acquired my screen name of "jitterbug" while partying at "under the rock" . . . as i entered the bar area, i must have kind of a danced my way in. there was a few men at the bar and one of them said "aren't you a jitterbug" . . . and i thought it was appropriate.
Took me a while to see this report, but glad I found it. I love your writing. I know one day I will finally visit PA and when I do I will be sure to offer up I small thank you to you for being the catalyst.
You know what JitterBug, that is way cute. I’ve always liked your board name but had no idea you acquired it in Jamaica. That makes it special fe true. I wished I had been more creative in selecting mine but the only other name that fit at the time was “fatty” and that was taken…lolQuote:
Originally Posted by JitterBug
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Originally Posted by Sam I Am
So good to see you on board!!! Thanks for the compliment on the report. I LOVE Portland with a passion so I’m eager to share the affect that place has on me. It’s an amazing region. So as soon as you are ready venture out there, I’m here if you need my assistance.
Amazing....INDEED!!
brazz...like I said, me KNOW you know :)
After a nice hot shower I was ready to eat. Dinner that night was soooo good. 300J and couldn’t finish it all. You can’t see it in the picture because it was the first to quickly disappear, but fried chicken was also in the carry-out container.
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I wanted to social local tonight. Friend’s of O’Neil own a bar in Fairy Hill so we hung out there. The cozy establishment that sits right on the main road was just what I was in the mood for. A place where folks drift in and out for a cold drink, a bagged snack or two cigarettes…one to smoke now and one for behind the ear.
The entertainment…cd’s played on a small but powerful boombox that sat in the corner across from the bar. Except for the occasional “skipping” the old skool reggae sounded perfect as I sipped my white rum & club soda. Things “hotted” up when two older patrons got into a debate over mongoose??? The animated exchange between the two friends was more interesting than the topic but I think it was mongoose. I got a charge out of the entire scene.
Time wasn’t a concern at that moment. I loved the feeling of not having to be somewhere at a certain time. I could sit on that bar stool for as long as I wanted. Letting the alcohol slowly filter through my body, sip by sip, in pulse with the music... indeed was my kind of drinking.
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Then without warning Erffa, the owner, let out a shriek that nearly shattered the glass bottles in her little shop.
She then ball out “Sidney!! Sidney!! Sidney!!!”
Everyone froze…waiting…needing to understand the source of her sudden terror. She was standing in front of me on the inside of the bar. I couldn’t see anything. Then all of a sudden she leaps up and lays flat on the top of the bar. Good thing I have good reflexes or my drink & camera would have landed on the floor as she cleared off everything else!!
Vi, I'm considering December or February for my next reach.
So,why was she shrieking?? Don't answer that,lol. I will wait for you to post more.
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Nice you aren’t making yourself wait too long. I think I remember your last visit being cut short…I know that must have been painful, but necessary so you definitely deserve a “do over” so to speak.
Don't just leave us hanging ~~~~~
Love this!Thanks so much! :)
I definitely hated cutting my trip short...ugh! Hopefully I can stay longer next time.
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Originally Posted by *vi*
Coming right up Patricia.
I’m glad you like the sand shout out Kaycee. And I'll keep postive vibes going for you when you start planning the next reach.