** on-site Trip Report ~~ Thursday eve...5/28

all i can say is::>> Wow Wow Wow..!!

Jamaica IS sweet ... and *easy*

this is gonna be a bunch of snippets... i'm tired... i hate travel day .... but thankfully i've been down this road before::::several times from long-time

1...somebody asked for a report on SouthWestAirlines... nice ... basic... no food... pretzels & crackers, but for me no biggie, 'cause it was direct nonstop, so i could take a likkle nap 'til touch-down

2...after-deplaning, i smiled-at, and chatted up cute Ja-airport worker-lady, who was pushing a Ja-senior-citizen in a wheel chair, to expedite his entry and passage thru customs, immigratons, etc.

she & I *seemed* to make some kinda of *connection*
sooooooooooo
"..COME with me/us..", she said

OF COURSE i complied
:-)

zipped thru Ja-immigration ... to front of line

we went seperate ways at Ja-Customs, 'cause i had 3 cans of Spam (for my Lucea/Ja-mentor), and some oatmeal, and other grains.

me-said to my-self, '''..I'm declaring this stuff, 'cause I don't have time for a bunch of Ja-lecturing, as to why I didn't do this and why i didn't do that, blah blah

remember, i was at the front of the line, so i zoomed thru Customs as well.

in fact,
the entire airport appeared to be dead ... low-season ... no/slow business

went outside

hot hot hot AND HUMID
but
air FRESH FRESH FRESH

and my body quickly responded with a joyful """...we're home...""" feeling

outside,
people watch-ed
while waiting for my regular driver

was gonna go over to that secret-spot,
and watch the taxi-men playing dominos,

but opted to stay-put with the tourist/vistors,
and wait

driver arrived
and
was accompanied by my host --- my Lucea-country landord

hearty plesantries,
and we were OFF

i immediately
went into my series of questons,
to get my mind-right
about money
prices of things,
etc etc

info *learned*

1...taxi fare in Negril ... Ja $100 per route per person (in day time) and at night too if you know what you need to know ..... 'cause that night-time price-raise sermon ain't 100% true

2...a single Craven A cigarrette..... Ja $40 each ....depending on _____ ____ ____

3...1 Heniken ... 'bout Ja $200... depending ____ ____

4...TanTan pattie in Lucea .... Ja$120

5...a small live goat --- kid size .... feed 4-5 people:::: can do for 'bout Ja $3,000

6...mangos ... Ja$100 per dozens ... on go to the country side and get 'em fro free, 'cause they all over the ground, roadside

7...taxi fare ....Lucea to Negril... Ja$220 ... Lucea
Lucea to MoBay .... same-way

8...3 strawberry hippo cookies ---- Ja$80

there's more prices to share,
but me tired
and gotta get to country
..landord cooking, and it's dark dark, SUPER-dark, at 7pm Ja-time

more snippets

1...a Ja-guy i've seen for over 20-years
finally spoke to me
with a big big smile

some other folks did same thing

apparently,
some people take a likkle while to warm-up to a person, na tru

2...the landscape, fauna, etc is pretty pretty
everything all green, and lush

but that means LOTs of rain
so,
friday
first thing
i get some water boots
and umbrellla
and rain suit/jacket

this is a short trip
and i don't wanna do a lot of typing
so
will do a bunch of videos

hopefully YouTube has their act together and uploads dem videos in a reasonably quick fashion

more stuff

every 4th person i chat with mentions Obama's recent visit

one lady chatted with me about renting/leasing some of her land,
so that i can grow ganja
when Jamaica legalizes the herb

'''...but you 'spose to be a Christian, blah blah.."", me SAY

she responded::>> ""..I am a Christian, but i gotta get some money.."

final snippet

my landlord and i were chattin..
...catching up on whagawn since my last visit

he told me about a guy i met at the resort
over 20 years ago

he doing real good, now days

land-lord-SAY:::>> ""...he's **control-ing*** this from-foreign woman, and she backing his THREE businesses..""

ummmmmmmmm
**control-ing**
ummmmmm

don't you just love how *they* use the English language

finally,
on drive from airport,
i told 'em i wanted to STOP
and get a pack of CravenA.... Ja$720
and
a few warm-beers

when i placed my order with the Asian-lady at the Hopewell grocery store,
you should have seen the puzzled confused look on her face
when she heard my voice

lol
lol
lol
lol

in part,
she-SAY, something like......
""..USA....???? ..... you confused me ... i thought you were Jamaican, blah blah.."""

* sigh *

this could be a problem for me, this trip

we'll see

likkle more
got run
me hungry
tired

got to unpack, etc etc.

chat witcha Friday eve,
with videos, pics, etc.

LOL, that Spam will get you every time! My daughter got stopped by TSA in Oakland, CA for Spam in her carry on bag! "Ma'am, that looks like a can of Spam in your bag"? Yes, do you want to keep it? No....big laugh from everyone. Then we had a layover in AZ & TSA searched my checked bag in Phoenix....it had 3 cans of Filipino Spam Tocino. :rolleyes: Moral of the story, be careful flying with Spam!:)

Smith744 - looking forward to your adventures in JA! Thanks for the report!

744, I'll be on the rock the 14th, close but no cigar! Maybe next time??

Enjoy,

VVHT

looking forward to hearing more of your ja adventures . . .

Ain't no report like a smith744 report!

^^^^^ agreed!!!!!!!;)

Thanks for the Southwest update!

Video are the best Bill.

Yeah Smith, when you finally get through the airport and outside.....WHAT A FEELING!!!
Enjoy mi bredrin.

I don"t understand the spam reference. Could you explain for those of us not so enlightened?

The spam reference is the Spam in a can as in luncheon meat.

I was just wondering when you would pop up Mr. Smith. Looking forward to the videos!

I know what spam is....don't know how Mr Smith is referring to it. Any hidden meaning other than the obvious Mr Smith? Looking forward to your report Mr Smith!

Nice to see you back on the board posting!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by smith744

1...taxi fare in Negril ... Ja $100 per route per person (in day time) and at night too if you know what you need to know...

---

Smith...so you are not surprised if the route cab drivers ask you for more money...the route taxi fare per leg in Negril since late 2013 is 130j per person...below is a link to Westmorelands set route fares...

http://ta.org.jm/documents/Fares/fees_westmoreland.pdf

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bnewb

Smith...so you are not surprised if the route cab drivers ask you for more money...the route taxi fare per leg in Negril since late 2013 is 130j per person...below is a link to Westmorelands set route fares...

http://ta.org.jm/documents/Fares/fees_westmoreland.pdf

---

me understand, Lisa
:-)

stay tuned
...i'll have a *clearer picture* on this Negril route taxi thing in a couple days

gonna chat up a few of my Lucea-country & Lucea-town neighbors, who are Negril route taxi drivers, and see what they tell me.

so far,
several Ja-folks --- i.e., drivers & riders --- have told me it's Ja$100

but my gut tells me *why* the difference,
but i'm gonna hold what me-gut is saying until later

ummmmmmmmmmmmm
wasn't it former Ja-PrimeMinister PJ Patterson who said::::>>> ""... the law is NOT a shackle ..."" ...????...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by smith744

me understand, Lisa
:-)

stay tuned
...i'll have a *clearer picture* on this Negril route taxi thing in a couple days

gonna chat up a few of my Lucea-country & Lucea-town neighbors, who are Negril route taxi drivers, and see what they tell me.

so far,
several Ja-folks --- i.e., drivers & riders --- have told me it's Ja$100

---

Haha Smith...no problem, do some checking :) ...but it pretty much comes down to when and whom you may ask...our Lucea driver on Friday said it was 100j the other day also...he then thought about it for awhile and said "oh yeah, it's 130j now...sometimes it's just simply a change/coin issue...continue to enjoy your visit and stay dry :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bnewb

Haha Smith...no problem, do some checking :) ...but it pretty much comes down to when and whom you may ask...our Lucea driver on Friday said it was 100j the other day also...he then thought about it for awhile and said "oh yeah, it's 130j now...sometimes it's just simply a change/coin issue...continue to enjoy your visit and stay dry :)

---

lol
lol
lol
lol
oooooooh yeah

the change/coin issue
lol
lol
lol


lawd help us when price raise to $150 ... no coin issue then

i often paid 100j with no problem after noticing the locals paying that, but usually paid 150 to avoid the coin issue!

I found your reference helpful, Lisa! I'll keep it in my phone.
Am I understanding correctly from the list that the fare from the beach road to the West End should be $165? And not what I have always heard about it being each leg added together, or $260.