Brasi Trip Report: January 2012

You are too funny. I said the same thing to the customs guy coming back into the states...he asked how was my trip..I told him I needed a vacation from my vacation because sleep just did not happen! Party like a Rockstar is what I say!

Brasi - Glad to hear you're having a blast! loved the video and pics!
Breakfast looks delicious and The pool at Seastar...so inviting!
Looking forward to the next update!

where/what is Belmont? Love how you were begging Tic Toc for some advice on the JA music scene--though tru nuff if you were drunk you may not have made a good comeback to rank with the DJ:) Keep enjoying and sharing.

The Jam Can Bar sounds like a fun place and true Jamaican experience. Your fun and excitement is evident in your posts and makes for fun reading for those of us stuck at home, so I sure appreciate your efforts!

I am catching up now on your posts. Glad you arrived safely Brasi.

Brasi Trip Report January 2012 #6
The Gerry G Interview

First a big apology to Juli, I was having difficulty getting online and still don't have a Jamaican cell phone, so I was unable to hook up with her for her part of the interview...I hope your not too upset...LOL...plans never fall through in Jamaica. haha...she'll survive mon. SORRY JULI.

Since Jerry was at Seastar yesterday, and Tawnee had just arrived at the pool...I did the interview while she was there...the quotes are as accurate as I could jot down quickly. I'm on vacation mon.

I wasn't trying to make GerryG look bad, or come across well either. Just some questions for him and that's the only point here. Any discussion of relationships between yardies and Americans or ********** brings up a slew of reactions, so I'm prepared for that. Enough talking...here it is...

Brasi: Ok. Do where boxers of briefs?
GG123: Guess.

(it's boxers)

Brasi: Do you buy your magnum's here or bring them with you.
GG123: I bring them with me...I'm just a regular guy, Brasi.

Brasi: Why do you come to Negril?
GG123: I've never been anywhere else with thi kind of vibe. It's a very special place. I love the ocean. I also want to say that Seastar is an extra value when it comes to food.

Brasi: How many girlfriends do you have in Jamaica?
GG123: It depends on what portion of the vacation you're asking about. (laughs)

Brasi: Are you taking advantage of the social position you are in? (i.e. economic and status of you vs. jamaican women)?
GG123: Of course I am...I'm just kidding. I'm just going with the flow.

At this point Tawnee asked Gerry about the age of the women he chooses to share time with.

GG123: Jody is 29, and has three children. I understand what you are asking and I'm a good guy. I enjoy being here and every relationship I am in is between two consenting adults.

Brasi: If you HAD to choose somewhere else to vacation, where would it be?
GG123: I think Bora Bora. I am not sure of my history but I believe the pirates stopped there and there are accounts of the reaction between them and the wikld exotic women they met.
#end#

I came back to the room after some pooltime yesterday, posted my report, and fell asleep at six. I woke at around 10, and ate some snacks I packed, and went back to sleep. Today is up in the air but I feel the gravity setting in. uh oh.

Out for breakfast this am, just gonna walk and see where I end up...Saturday night Seastar party later!!!

A tip for those coming to the West End for the first time: bring good sneakers. I'm glad i brought mine. Walking for any distance in sandals, on pavement which can be wet, or have a few potholes...is easier in Nike's.

More...soon...

edit: Irieworld, Belmont is a fishing village about 10 km east of Sav. I am headed to stay there for the first part of next week...then back to Negril midweek...

Thanks brasi for da report party on!!!!!!!:D

I know you are having a blast from our previous convos when we get a chance .. am happy to see that you are able to get on here and post for everyone .. I have to say I wish I was there for that Interview lol I'm excited for your break to Belmont what a different pace its going to be for you after your first week of excitement.

P.S I got a package in the mail yesterday... You are the best <3

<manda!>

Brasi Trip Report January 2012 #7
Quick Walk In the Westend

I just got back from breakfast at Serious Chicken, had a nice chat with Tony, and walked down to Sunset on the Cliffs where I will be staying next week when I get back from Belmont. They have no record of my reservation, lol. Not to worried, I printed a confirmation and the deposit shows on my credit card...it's a bit difficult to believe so many places have trouble with the reservations process here...it's fundamental to operation! No sign of the King Californian, GerryG123, who I believe is still there. All good mon.

I snapped some pictures while walking today. It was a good little walk, clearing my head after partying for 2-3 days. I'm trying not to let the Trip Report lag too far behind, but there are so many things to to share...impossible to document everything! But there are stories to tell...hehehehehehehehe. Or NOT.

One of my fav things that happens a lot here is the way you can meet a stranger and just roll with it. As I was walking out of the hotel today, a woman I knew was staying here walked out behind me and we walked for a ways down Seastar Lane and then took a right together on to West End (One Love?) drive. She and her husband are performing some songs here tonight, they are musicians from manitoba. Damn Canadians popping up again. LOL jk jk But these kinds of meetings don';t aseem to happen as often in other destinations I have been to. Damn, I am speaking symolically, but I may end up drinking Stripes on a boat with three Jamaicans, a Russian shoe salesman, a Latvian supermodel, and a Chinese couple on their first trip here. It COULD happen! Match that?! The possibilities are endless.

Anyway, Susan---I think---told me a couple things I didn't know about where to grab a bite near Seastar. We split somewhere near Shark's, and I have a new friend. And that to me is a main part of the cool "experience" here.

I ALSO bumped into the singer in the left of the video on my way down to Sunset after eating my usual scrambled eggs and bacon......he was laughing bc I said "hey you guys burnt me" the other night, and he said "no no man, it was good, good." He was wearing the same outfit from two nights ago, and looked pretty tore up. Probably still partying. hehehehehehe. Sometimes when I speak with Jamaicans here I feel a little bit lost...like I am not hearing everything they are saying...just catching a word here and there I understand in patois and attempting to "get it" is fun---but makes "conversations" challenging. And a bit scary if you are not used to it oir are traveling solo and are the only white boy in the room...and when I say scary I don;t mean threatening. But they MIGHT be talking about me. Probably are. LOL Oh well. I put my faith in PEOPLE. I watch my back...it's worked out for me so far.

Anyway, cabbed back from Sunset on the Cliffs and now grabbing my pool gear. Chillin' again. Have a cool plan for next week when I get back to Negril...gonna try and head to Lucea for a day and just soak up the vibe...

Pics from this am:
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Some of the *breakfast* servings in Jamaica-owned shops/eateries are much smaller than we might get in the US...i for one believe this is, overall, a good thing. I have been here four days and can feel the "bloat" come off me quickly. Most of the food is natural, or much closer to natural than we get in the states, less of those bad carbs...portion-wise it's dependent on where you go...but if it's Jamaican run my bet is you get a portion the size that "we" SHOULD eat...noit what we WANT to eat. This comes from a chubby guy...so...no judgment here or high-horse food dude advice...

Secondly, the pic of the road up there: there are many surprisingly dangerous spots on West End Road. Not end-of-the-world danger. Just places where a car can come out of the blue from around the corner. Being wary is my best advice. The pic above shows one...doesn't look too crazy right? But keep in mind the cars come at you from the right...I just keep my head up at all times. LOL

Pool time!