Wow, with less than a month to go to until the next reach, this will finally and positively be the last installment of this trip report.
I can hardly believe we made it to this point. Getting to the last day is a trip report FIRST for us! :)
A little groggy from the night before, we got up earlier than any other morning in Jamaica.
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Others might just see to it that their bags are packed and focus on getting to the airport on time, but not Daisy. The Island has far too strong a hold on her. Like a starved person, she wants to lick every last bit of gravy off the vacation plate, and even checks the underside for crumbs.
With bathing suits at the ready under the shorts, we directed our driver to Jamar's abode at the Blue Cave Castle, rather than the airport. After all we hadn't seen it yet and that simply would not do.
The sun was bright even at this early hour, with a comfortable breeze going. The large white wooden gate swung open and we entered a large gravel parking lot, surrounded by the heavy structures of a fanciful, but massive castle.
All the walls were put together from large rocks arranged in a whimsical pattern and trimmed in baby blue against the azure sky. While Daisy paid the fare my auto focus was already humming in chase of the large dragon flies hunting in the court yard. Before I could get a good shot though we had to move on, to keep up with Daisy's tight schedule.
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Jamar's room was in the back, facing the ocean. He greeted us at the open door and showed us around his enormously and immaculately clean bed room. Every detail was true to the Castle theme, the illustrated wall carpets, the dark and heavy carved oak dressers, and the enormous coat of arms above the rustic bed.
Jamar was packed already, in fact the room looked so clean, I think he never unpacked. While Daisy admired the decor in detail, Jamar gathered our orders and led me through the back door to go and get some breakfast.
Behind the door things looked even more medieval . The buildings housing the guests and kitchen were built close together forming maze like alleys, with little arches connecting the buildings. I fully expected someone to empty a chamber pot out of a second story window.
It was so early the kitchen was still prepping for prep and only one cook was on duty. The sleepy man looked out through the mosquito net door, seemed a little shocked that someone wanted breakfast already. He called for a waitress from the back and promised he'd do what he could.
We went back to the room and sat down on the luxurious veranda overlooking the cliff. With the ocean crashing against the rocks as a backdrop we reminisced about our adventures. Jamar showed us the pictures of his expedition to Little Bay. We felt so fulfilled with experiences and blessings.
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The waitress suddenly appeared peeking through a stone arch through which she handed us a large tray of breakfast dishes. the cook had done his best to put something delicious together, before the kitchen was actually open.
Soon Chicken arrived at the gate and we had to drop everything and make some headway towards the airport.
Only a few miles down the road though, Daisy ordered the whole party to halt once more, just to squeeze a little more juice out of this vacation, and get her bathing suit wet one more time...
Rob was having a webcast at the Sunshine-Holiday-Beach-Splash-Coconut-Fun-Palm-Jamaican-Gardens-Hotel (I really don't remember the name, who can remember that many hotel names??? Here is a picture of it).
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The temperature had risen to seriously hot that day. Chicken opted to stay in his air conditioned sedan, while me and Jamar hopped around the parking lot with a towel around the hip and our pants around our ankles in an attempt to get some bathing-trunks back on again, without showing our private parts (that's a sport I learned in the US, homey don't play around like that in Germany: pants off - trunks on – done & fertig).
Rob was sitting at the end of a shaded path that practically sits on the beach. A few boardies stood here and there with paper-umbrellas in their cocktails. Daisy said a quick “Hi” to Rob and continued towards the water. Jamar, Southcoastgirl and JCX2 immediately struck up a conversation, they seemed to enjoy the same kinds of activities during their vacation, and Jamar was eager to find out more.
I took their conversation as inspiration to film my fiery-hot Opus “Daisy undresses down to her bathing suit”, which I would show here (in super slo-mo!!), but she just wouldn't sign the release form...
In the mean time Steve West, who many know as a regular ticket at the Seastar appeared out of seeming nowhere and started tuning his guitar! It was a really relaxed morning, with a Red Stripe in my hand and a fresh breeze now blowing I could completely forget that our plane home was taking off in a few hours.
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Daisy was paddling joyfully in the waves, disappearing under water and coming up elsewhere. Besides her only one other person was in the water. The two had the whole beach to themselves, but as our timetable was getting more and more precarious, we eventually had to scream and shout to get her out of the water.
Both people emerged from the wet and walked over to the webcast set-up. We were a little embarrassed thinking we had accidentally alarmed a stranger and made them abandon their bathing pleasures, but it turned out the other swimmer was Negrilaholic!
Daisy was thrilled and we pushed our luck with time a little more, for the two to chat briefly. Then Steve remembered us from the Seastar and offered to play good-bye song for us. We were really milking it to the last drop.
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Eventually we were out of options. Chicken was now tapping at his watch and so we had to say Good-Bye, with only a grueling flight to look forward to.
The ride home passed in silence. We all had so much to digest.
What a time we had. Just look at this report! I am a seasoned traveler, yet I have never done anything like writing the two trip reports on this website.
So many memories: The adventures with our British friends, meeting Greeney and Ikeey at the English Rose, Roots Bamboo and all the great life performances, the Luciano concerts at the Seastar, the Seastar drummers, magnificent food, the snorkeling and jetski-rides, the stars, the bats and the cliffs, the hummingbirds, butterflies and magnificent frigates, the waterfalls and Jungle, “the Jungle” night club,the beach park party and XXX, Meeting Bella Bea, Canadian BS, Choochy and so many others, the honey moon suite, the heavenly beds at the seastar and all the hammocks, the sea stars, jelly fish and conch shells and of course the still unfolding Saga of Daisy's family history and connection to Jamaica...
All in all we have now been to twice to the Island for a total of 11 days. How, just how, could all of that have happened in only 11 days?!
The slogan:”When you go, you know” is one of the most forthright I have ever heard, since the experience really keeps fulfilling the promise - except of course - you don't really know. Every day that has passed on the Island has shown us another magnificent facet of that amazing Island world. Every day is new and exiting. One is ripped out of once ordinary world and bathed in a rejuvenating bath of something really really different. Something extraordinary
There is so much still to learn, so much more to experience. I cannot wait for what stories the next reach will write, and I am so damn exited to find out. So with that, this report is finished,... but of course we are not done - we're not done by a long shot!
See you in Negril!
Well, There IS one more thing that happened..
I woke up with a start as our flight landed in Atlanta. The airline stewardess announced that we could now turn on our electronic devices again.
I dug in my pocket for my cellphone. I had shut it off before we flew into Negril and this was my first time turning it on again...
Immediately 12 missed voicemails and 17 missed text messages popped up. My old life was pouring back into my consciousness again. Work issues, friend dramas..
I also checked my gmail and saw a message from someone whose first name was not familiar to me but whose last name was the same as my father...
Hi Daisy,
This is Paul's mother. Sorry I missed you but hope link with you before you leave Jamaica.
Please call me at (phone number) before you leave as maybe I can see you before you fly out in Mobay
Great photo of Paul and you!
I will send you info on the family later and other members of the family will be contacting you too
We look forward to meeting you!
Peace and love
*Marie
Sent from my BlackBerry® device from Digicel
I showed the message to Markus. “Oh my gosh, I missed this because we didn't have the plug for our laptop and I couldn't get online to access my email! I could have met more of my family!”, I said.
“Don't worry.You will.” Markus said. He reached in his wallet and handed me a 20 dollar bill.
“What is this?”, I asked in confusion.
“It's the first contribution to the “Irie Box”” He smiled “It's time to start saving up for our next trip”
I felt my chest swell with excitement and I quickly typed back.
“I'm sorry I missed you!. I'm actually back in the states now
But I will be back in Jamaica very soon.
I really look forward to meeting you too!
Sincerely,
Daisy”
I was smiling from ear to ear as I exited the plane.. because I knew in my heart we would be going back to Jamaica. Against all odds, we were going to make it happen...
Jamaica is a part of me, deeper than I ever knew and it always will be. My brother pointed me in this direction for a reason that I'm only just beginning to understand and there is no turning back now. There is so much more to discover and experience. This is only the beginning of the journey
And I can't wait!:)
Thank you everyone for coming along for the ride. Your encouragement and your advice meant so much to me. This is truly an amazing community of friends and I'm so grateful that Negril.com exists. I would have never made that first step to book our first life changing trip otherwise.
23 days to go!
:)
Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to the next trip and more adventures.
Clap, Clap, Clap!
Once again, this was fabulous! I enjoyed every single second and I am so excited that I get to be there during your next reach, and meet you two finally, even though I feel I have known you forever.
However, with that said, I am not letting you off the hook so easily. Sure, I know a lot of time has passed since this trip happened, and even a lot of time has passed since you started this report, but that's no excuse not to include all details! Ha! I still remember at the beginning Markus mentioning a book given to him by a neighbor. He hinted or teased that this book would have great meaning or symbolism in this trip, or something along those lines. I remember being very intrigued by that tease and so I waited patiently for that to be revealed......so come on now.....don't leave me hanging! (Or of course you could just tell me in about 26 days or so!)
Hahahahaha
Good stuff guys!..........let's do it AGAIN!
Loved loved loved this report. Laughed out loud (like Guiri don't normally do that) at the name of the hotel.
@Marley-you amaze me that you remembered about the book. I want to hear about it too.
Clarity be sure you dont forget to feed poor Jamar. Hey, how about a sub sandwich?!?!Quote:
Originally Posted by Clarity
.....then be sure to feed him a sub sandwich cause he's gonna get hungry! :p
(EDIT: oops, I am SO behind just realized how long ago this was...hope you dont still have jamar tied to that chair lol)
Just great guys! I've really enjoyed your stories and the camaraderie and love you all share. Sweetie Pie and I are so looking forward to meeting you in a few ridiculously slow and agonizing weeks!
Tears of joy this morning...thank you! I can't express how much I enjoyed your trip report. It totally convinced us to take a Mayfield Falls trip this time around. We usually let sand/cliff gravity take over...
April. Negril. Bring it.
great trip report! i'm looking forward to your next trip
Wow, incredible report. You got me crying in my cereal this morning. Someone should pin a medal on your chest, Clarity. And you, too, Marcus! See you in Negril!Quote:
Originally Posted by Clarity
Thanks for yet another spectacular Trip report.
SEE YOU IN NEGRIL!!!! :D
Thanks Spottycatz, Angel, Marley, Lorax2, MofromMonroe, gerryg123, Seveen, Wpyogi, Guirigay!
We actually finished our trip report!
MofromMonroe – That had me laughing too!
For the record; the hotel name Markus was trying to remember is FUN HOLIDAY. There was a fun and a holiday in his guess so he was actually really close!;)
Marley – It’s funny that you bring that up! I mentioned that to him the other day. “You know the book you mentioned in the beginning…you might want to tie that into the ending. Otherwise you’re going to do what the writers of “LOST” did…just sayin’” lol
LOL Tizzy!!! This had me cracking up this morning! The thought of Jamar tied to a chair in our apartment all weekend..Quote:
Originally Posted by TizzyATX
Don’t worry, I untied Jamar as soon as he posted his last update on Friday. I can be strict with the boys but I’m not cruel. hahaha:D
I was dying laughing at the Hotel name too.....it sounded like something I would have said.
Also, it sounds like a great place, we should check it out next reach! HAHAHAHA
Amazing report! Thanks for sharing!
Looking forward to the next report :)
[size=5]thank you....thank you...and thank you again!! I just had a good cry.....i hope to see you and markus in april!
Ize]
Daisy and Markus! What a pleasure it is to read your stories...Im so glad I will be able to meet you in a few weeks , and so many others. You are amazing .....what a blessing, in so many ways! See you on the rock!!!!!!!
Thank you. Hope to meet you in April.
I probably don't need to state the obvious, but.... GREAT REPORT !!!
Bravo! Loved your 2nd trip report as much as the first, especially with Jamar contributing. Very good!
Daisy & Markus....Am just now beginning to read this report.......seems as though as you were writing it, we were at the Grand Pineapple......got out a lot this reach.....you guys even ate at the table we had, this PAST SAT. NIGHT at Ivan's...hard to believe it was barely 72 hrs ago.....those HIGH CHAIRS are difficult, but the dinner was the BEST we've had in 6 Jamaica trips!!!
Just finished reading your trip report guys. I missed it as I was in Jamaica when you finished it. Loved it..Thanks for sharing. :cool:
Thanks for sharing your trip report(s) - they are lovely!
<3
:)