**OFF-site Trip Report ~~ Aug 2011 ~~ Part #3 of several

:-(

mi vexed...!!!...

'cause i *thought* this was all a dream.
....kinda-sorta like a dream within a dream
......a bad-bad dream from which i would wake-up at any moment

i honestly & true-ly literally *thought* i was STILL in-Jamaica,
and have-ing a nightmare that I had return the good 'ole USofA

oh well
so it goes

so,
lemme continue my report(s)
...my meander-ing memories
......thank-Goodness i've got a bunch of videos to tide me over 'til my next trip

* sigh *

wish it was ON-site,
but it is what it is

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

anyhoooooooooooooooooooooooo
...below is a little reggae-ditty i heard this morning,
on Power106 FM (free online)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ni6iB3thsg
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oh
oh
oh::>> while in Jamaica,
all-ways be focus-ed & proceed with caution

one-day,
didn't have my eyeglasses,
...went into a Jamaican grocery store
....for a bottle of water

Attachment 4171
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pic above
I was *wonder-ing* why/when
OceanSpray started selling water

then i took a sip,
and was SHOCK-ed with the nasty-taste
:-(

Lawd have mercy..!!..

Cranberry flavored water..!!! ??? !!!! ???? !!!!

some-things make NO sense, to me
..wasn't it once-upon-a-time that *we* called flavored-water KoolAide...??...

* sigh *

somebodys tell me WHY man always gotta mash-up a good-ting

:-(


stay tuned
report continue in a few moments
..this thread

again::: mi vexed

One day,
while roaming around Lucea
saw a man with his boy-pickney

pickney eating ice cream

my mouth water-ed

"..WHERE you get that..??.." <<<:: mi-SAY

"..over so.."

i RAN-RAN to the little DevonIceCream shop,
that i never-knew was there

so many place in Lucea,
tuck-ed away
almost hidden to those not in the know
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoXMjQalF9E
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hotbHkwlwOo
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duQ54GV_JM8

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more soon come

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg-sx3A8xjE
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video above
dunno why the *famous* clock-tower wasn't lit-up
..*maybe* money-*issues*
..and town can't buy light bulbs eh
....world-wide rece$$ion na tru

ummmmmmmm
as i recall,
it had wrong time too
...this happens from time to time

so it goes
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET-sHe6hE0Y
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opps.
my bad

a correction::>> those not Nike running shoes
..dem ASICS

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKCY8gAfaP0
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKCY8gAfaP0
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more in a few minutes

likkle more

this trip, i failed
to get new 2011 Almanac(s) [aka '.calendar.']
..and other new posters
:-(
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCcMPnE8Pak
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.
from time to time,
folks be-posting about bring-ing down food
from-foreign

puzzles me most-times
'cause Ja-stuff is so nice
..different
....but nice

AND::>> reasonabley priced
compared to from-foreign price$
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAmtdZ019aY
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one thing i regret about this last trip:::>> 'twas waaay-too short
:-(
only 12-days
...NOT-enough time to eat all the things i wanted to eat

:-(

soooo may great tastes & flavors
..good-good stuff


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remember when i posted
in one of my '.On-Site.' reports about when i was sick
...when my belly was bubble-ing...??..

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDzojOJhDlo
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i never found the *adult*-size

Question::>> MissLisa (aka BNewbie) and/or Boss-man Rob:::>> WHERE can i find/get *adult*-size..???.. any-place(s) in Negril got 'em...??..

i know you know that a lot of us from-foreign tourist types need the adult-size na tru

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anyhooooooooooooooooo
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likkle more
more posts/videos soon come

THIS is one of my favorite places to eat in Lucea
...great for a quick-snack/meal
....24 hours per day
.......EVERY day

..
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEa_P1FCf-8
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpGz5C0UXJM
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0sjvEDZMNE
..
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about that '.Festival.'
in video above
...from time to time,
i've seen festival at various places in Negril et al
..but those festivals at TapaTop were the BIGGEST-ones i've EVER-seen
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0sjvEDZMNE
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likkle bit
more videos soon come

dem-SAY::>> '.Once you go,,,, you know..'

and one thing you quickly come-to-KNOW is that the Jamaican people are the best-est folks you're ever gonna meet.
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here're a couple Ja-peeps i want you-all to meet
..good-good people --- trus mi..!!..

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Miss Trench
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d_YzA-qW3M
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a likkle background on the lover-ly MissTrench

she's a former RuseasHighSchool teacher
..did it long-time
....got a couple advanced degrees @ MONI in Kingston

years-ago,
she showed me around the high school campus-es
..dem got TWO campus-es ... more than nuff-nuff students der

i sat-in on on of her classes
..a REAL eye-opener it was, fi sure
.....dem students are bright, and so-intense when it comes to studies & classroom participation
........somewhere on a VERY-old trip report you can check the details

anyhooooooooooooooo

while teaching,
she (along with some of her sisters) ran one of the FIRST computer shops in Lucea

then, a couple years-back,
she stopped teach-ing,
to own/run/operate the hardware store

in fact, she (and/or her family, sisters, who-ever) operate THREE hardware stores::: one in Lucea, one on main-road in OrangeBay, and another in SandyBay

she be rockin' & rollin' na tru

oh
oh
oh:::>> i GOT TO tell you's about this:::>>> MissTrench's hardware store is closed on Sat-days .... her church day ...... but she opens on Sundays (which can be VERY convenient for many, 'cause most-places are closed on Sundays)

anyhoooooooooooo

the Sunday after I shot this video,
i was in-country
...raking the yard around the house

*toot-toot* <<<:::: 'twas the sound of a van's horn
..i didn't *recognize* the vehicle

".who dat..??.." <<<::: mi-*wondered*

'twas MissTrench,
with her new baby-boy
[[ a cute cute pickney ]]

she was passing thru country,
after picking-up the baby
from the baby-sitter

* sigh *

Folks..!!!... HEAR mi now..!!.
i've said this over & over & over & OVER again:::::: in Jamaica, you NEVER know who knows who
who's related to who
and who's watching you
and who knows what about you

I was shocked & surprised
to see her up-der in-country
..'cause she lives in-town

i never-seen her up-there in-country

and knowing what i KNOW about how Ja-folks loooooove to chat,
i'm 100% fi sure that the baby-sitter ((who-ever(?) dem is)) done chatted about me with her

my point..??..::::>>> be *good* folks, when you go on vacation

anyhoooooooooooooooo.....

likkle more post to this thread
i a few minutes

stay tuned

Love your trip reports, agree 12 days too short. You don't have enough to write about.

I WILL go check out Tapatop next trip!!!And tell them smith sent me.I'll tell Jance hello!!-Thanks for the tip!!!

My-yute Mr. Bulla

a nice young neighbor-guy

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01mP57rD1Ik


oh
oh
oh::>> i can't remember what Bulla does for a living
..some kind of tradesman/construction thing-y

and his buddy (in video) does same-things

these are two examples of the MANY MANY young (under 30 years old) Ja-guys who are handling their biz-ness ..... rockin' & rollin' ..... dem OWN their own-homes.... Bulla had his first home @ 'bout age 21-ish ... bought & paid for... NO mortgage to pay

the 'storm' mentioned in video was hurricane Ivan
...mashed-UP his place big-time
....he hadn't been in it more than 6-months before Ivan came

but, no problem
..he quickly rebuilt

oh
oh
oh
OH::::>>>> i gotta say/mention THIS::::>>> i'm always leery 'bout posting guys pictures on the internet.

:-(

'cause i don't have enough fingers & toes to number-the-times i've heard stories of how:::>> women from-foreign come-down to Jamaica and mash-up things

:-(

foreign-women who $educe & $natch-up and take-away the men
....and wreck marriages & relationships

anyhoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

more post/report/video(s) in a few minutes

likkle more

the following video,
is not from this-past late-August trip

'tis from my 2011 March/April trip

my driver Micheal taking me to airport
..we chattin'
.....and he offers his *input* on that *question* that's was troubling me
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note::>> video quality is *different*
..remember 'twas shot on the laptop
........hope you can hear it ok

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRHrLTRn4_w
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again::>> am leery about posting Micheal's picture
:-(
when this video was shot,
he was to get married within 6-days

i'd hate for his new-wife to cuss & beat me, 'cause some evil foreign-lady(s) start pursue-ing him

anyhoooooooooooooooooooooooooo....

more in a few minutes

another good-good Jamaican guy
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGtRCjteHmg
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f.y.i.....Dada's *rent* for that space/spot in the bus-park is Jaa$350 per day, paid to buspark management

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bagYe1WYZwE
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Question:::>> for all you's from-foreign moms & dads, uncles & aunties::::>> How many work-skills do your boy-pickneys have...??.."

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

anyhoooooooooooo...

likkle more in a likkle bit

stay tuned

smith, your statements are funny at times . . . foriegn women seducing jamaican men?????? who is seducing who here????? . . . and then taking them away?????? are these men mute and can't speak, just go with whoever wants them? makes no sense at all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp-K2aFYLS4
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note::::>>>>> the church mentioned in video (above)
somebody(s) stole their HUGH flat-screen off the church wall

:-(

the thing was HUGH
..big-big screen
....dunno how they got it out

anyhoo
God gonna punish 'em.....Believe DAT..!!..

church now doing a likkle fundraising for replacement

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long time ago,
at that cross-road,
i use-to jog late at night
jus' run back & forth, back & forth, back & forth
....100 yard wind-sprints
....nice exercise.. to keep in shape

folks thought i was a mad-man
..'cause i was out-there going back & forth in the middle of the night

* sigh *

so it goes

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEGqLdXb3ow
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* whew *

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hope you's are 'joying the videos
...i'm having fun re-living & re-see-ing this stuff

anyhooooooooooooo

one last-one for this thread
..no biggie
.....'cause i've got tons-more to upload & post

:-)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_JUZCOvpKE

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any questions...??..


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by JitterBug

smith, your statements are funny at times . . . foriegn women seducing jamaican men?????? who is seducing who here????? . . . and then taking them away?????? are these men mute and can't speak, just go with whoever wants them? makes no sense at all.

---

* sigh *

i'm *feeling* you, mi fren
...i unna-stan your point & position

HOWEVER, _______ ______ ______ ______

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nevermind
:-(

mi don't have time right-now to engage in a *debate*
argument DONE..!!..

above is my story,
and i'm stickin' to it

Anyway-As ALWAYS THANK YOU for the trip report and videos!!!!-I would like to be on the island when you are there!!!Thank you again!!!:D

Great Smith, great!

Tapa Top.

I want to try them one day.

So, i'll have to do a road trip from Negril.

If mi bro-in-law picks me up in Mobay, then we will stop on the way to Negril.
But, you know how frantic folks are to get to Negril.

""trow mi cawn, mi nuh cawl nuh fowl"..Looks like yu step pon sumaddy cawn, Smith!
Anyhoo, let us know if yu get a few nudges asking yu for Bulla's number , Smith! Not who asked but how many asked ! heehehe
btw, Love the videos ! We know its just ur take on life in Jamaica. doesnt apply to everyone ... but ..

I love your style Mr. Smith, You remind me a lot of myself. But i am not as bold as you. You love Jamaica, travel their frequently and most of all you love life and live it I am hooked on your post and await on them. I relive Jamaica when i view your videos. Thanks.

Thanks for showing the video camera... I was curious about what you were using to film on.

Loving your videos!! Much respect Mr. Smith...thanks!!

Smith, I can't hear what Michael is saying when he answers your question in the beginning... can you provide a transcript? ☺

Was that a beef and cheese Tastee patty in the 4th video?

Would love to have one right now.

I am even more homesick for Jamaica than I have been after watching your videotapes, but soon come!

Smith thanks for sharing and making me hungry!!

Smith report today???You got me HOOKED!!!!:cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Angel

agree 12 days too short.

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usually i would agree,
BUT:::>> for some strange-reason, i don't have PNS (aka PostNegrilSyndrome) ...weird
...the trip was PERFECT
......i managed my time & money exceptionally well

but, of course, more time would have been nice, too
..ice-ing on the cake

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vince

I WILL go check out Tapatop next trip!!!And tell them smith sent me.I'll tell Jance hello!!-Thanks for the tip!!!

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lol
lol
they WON'T know who you chat about
...dem no know me as smith
lol
lol

nevertheless,,,, do go .... you'll be glad you did
good food
quick quick in & out service
nice prices

a *thought* ---- i tend to gravitate to places where the residents eat ..... the last-time i was in TapaTop, a few of the customers were the fish-vendor-guys from the Lucea market .... dem on lunch-break ..... they had-to make a 8-minute walk from market to TapaTop for their meal .... passing SEVERAL other good-eateries along the way

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lola

Smith, I can't hear what Michael is saying when he answers your question in the beginning... can you provide a transcript? ☺

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vince

I would like to be on the island when you are there!!!Thank you again!!!:D

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Why..??
lol
lol
lol
wanna hang-out wit me..??..
lol
lol
i'm sooooooooooo old, feeble-minded & cheap
.....don't drink
..... only smoke CravenA's
.... have no *friends*
.....don't mess-wit the Ja-ladies (old or young or younger)

bottom-line::::::>>>> 'tis no-*fun* hangin' out wit me

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vince

Thank you again!!!:D

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You're welcome
:-)

i GOT-to say '.you're welcome.'
..something-something i *learned* in Jamaica

WHEREAS i always say please & thank-you to folks,
i'm always so-delighted when they ALL-ways quickly respond with a ".You're Welcome."

* sigh *

Jamaica Jamaica Jamaica..land we love
land of the couth

Quote:

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Originally Posted by davevols

Was that a beef and cheese Tastee patty in the 4th video? .

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Nope..!!!..
:-(
i don't like Tastee patties

only eat TanTan patties (from Lucea store)
...made fresh from scratch,
.....on-site daily

which reminds me:::::::: on this trip, while in the TanTan pattie shop, I ran into a young-lady who i hadn't seen in over 5-6 years. She use-to-be the cook at the store .... she made the BEST-est beef patties EVER. She was there visiting her old co-workers. Looked older & mature-er...almost didn't recognize her... she remembered me... and commented on how she STILL had & treasured the photograph i'd taken and sold .... opps.... i mean *gave* to her.

this trip, i did eat a nice beef pattie from Hammonds in Negril
...'twas ok
......not as good as the Hammond pattie i had in SavLaMar several years ago

Quote:

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Originally Posted by negrilaholic

I am even more homesick for Jamaica than I have been after watching your videotapes, but soon come!

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:-)

i LOVE this video thing-y
much much better than still photographs
...and sooooooooooooo easy to do & work-with

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pretty40

Smith thanks for sharing and making me hungry!!

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you're welcome

i'm having a blast posting these
...a good excuse for me to re-live & enjoy the videos
......much better than writing down trip-notes, too


as for your being hungry
:-(
you lucky
...'cause there're not too-many more food videos & images
........'cause usually i ate it, before remember-ing to photograph

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vince

Smith report today???You got me HOOKED!!!!:cool:

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YES...!!..

there'll be a new report,
today....tonight

will post while i'm listening to '.DearPastor.'
..after 9-PM (Jamaica-time)

stay tuned.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lola

Smith, I can't hear what Michael is saying when he answers your question in the beginning... can you provide a transcript? ☺

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Nope..!!.
no can do

sorry

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ackee

Anyhoo, let us know if yu get a few nudges asking yu for Bulla's number

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lol
i don't have his numba

but NEXT-trip,
i WILL be doing a video chat & interview with a few guys, who are looking for foreign-ladies

this trip, we were 'spose to do the interview,
but all had scheduling conflicts

i'm fi sure they'll give numbas

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...
ONCE upon a time, i DID give-out a guys number
....but he told me no-body(s) called him

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...
*maybe* the foreigners didn't have any credits eh

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ackee

We know its just ur take on life in Jamaica. doesnt apply to everyone ... but ..

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tru tru

my experiences
and my *reality*

no sunsets
no crab races

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sam I Am

I was curious about what you were using to film on.

---

:-)
that Flip video camera is WONDER-FULL...!!!...

i should have had something like that long-ago

I'm tuned in smith-I think it would be very KOOL to hang out with smith.I don't smoke,i do drink.But,i think being cheap and get the most out of your money.and spend money and time with real Jamaican like you do.Just being on Ja. tyme all is well!!!much respect smith!!!!!!!!!:cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vince

and time with real Jamaican like you do:cool:

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lol
lol
lol
lol

i *thought* a '.real.' Jamaican was somebody who was bred, born & raised there
....e.g., they got a Jamaican birth certificate

nevertheless,
all dem folks you meet in Negril are REAL-Jamaicans, TOO

they *might* be a likkle *different* in certain ways
....do things in *different* ways (for tourist consumption)

but they-too are REAL

ONCE upon a time,
on one of my first trips,
i explored the main craft market

met a vendor/shopkeeper lady,
who invited me back-to her shop that evening
to share a meal

[[[ an aside:::>> joking-ly i had begged her for a likkle something-something that i'd seen cooking in a BIG-pot, over a wood fire, in the back of her shop/hut ]]]

since she made the invite
..later that evening, i went BACK to the craft market for-dinner

:-)

when i got there,
i didn't recognize her,
'cause she'd changed her clothing

instead of her '.for-the-tourist.' attair,
she was deck-ed OUT in some snazzy jazzy designer jeans, and a fancy blouse, with her hair uncovered .... without her AuntJamima(sp?) head-covering.

she had-on earrings,
gold rings and more rings on her fingers
and lipstick

no no nooooooooooooooo
'twasn't dress-ed up for me

nooooooooooooooooooooo

'cause she was SHOCK-ed that i came back

came-back alone
..in the dark
...deep deep deep into the bowls of the in-famous Negril craft market, that frigthens many tourist/foreigners

anyhooooooooooooooo

dinner was GOOD..!!..
a fun time, with her and a couple other guy-residents

p.s... a large percentage of the folks i know and deal wit in-country, and around Lucea and other places work in Negril (and other tourist places)

but, i kinda-sorta unna-stan that *real*-Jamaican thing-y
...'cause many of the folks i deal-wit WILL do a likkle switch-a-roo when around the tourist/foreigners

one more point:::::>>>> i've *learned* & observed that if I'm for-REAL, then other-folks get-real, too

tru tru-I like the off the beaten path.I agree with all said.I have a good buddy that took my kids and i (wife was back at the room resting)-we wore her out staying busy doing all things.any who we went up to Mango Valley went up in da hills(the cooooolllllllll air is wonderful!!!Kids washing and playing under a cold wata spring.If i had brought my towel i would had joined them.Didnt want to get my frens car seats wet:(-then we went down by the river.played with locals while the moms cooked on da bank of the river and others washed some clothes.thats what i like!!!!!!:D-So when we going smith???

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vince

So when we going smith???

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tomorow is good for me

:-)

'jus send me a plane ticket

NO-need for first-class
..coach is fine

lodge-ing..??? ---- NOT a problem
you can sleep in my bed (in-country)

i'll put a pallet on the verandaH, to sleep

so,
send that plane ticket

i'll meet ya in MoBay,
jus' outside the arrivals-door
at the pattie shop

we can take route-taxi & route vans over-to Lucea
...cost 'bout US $5 each, one-way

Quote:

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Originally Posted by smith744

we can take route-taxi & route vans over-to Lucea
...cost 'bout US $5 each, one-way

---

opps..!!..
:-(
my bad

make that:::>> less-than US $3 each one-way

sorry 'bout that error

thanks for coming back from your bad dream inna foreign to share some more :) I was off the board for a bit traveling (California, not Ja) and now have some good entertainment ahead of me for sure. One thing (I only got through first part of report) I gotta jump in with jitterbug--I haven't heard so many stories of foreign women mashing up guys lives--but tons of stories of Jamaican men mashing up foreign ladies lives. so the other side of the story (what is the story?) could give some good perspective.

Dang smith,i was hoping you would get mi tickets with mi wifey and 2 kids:D-On the serios note.We should be going back in July.When is your next reach?July?coach for us to!-Bless!~