Sweetness Onsite Trip Report Part Two

Jamaica is so sweet. Driva keeps going and going and going. Past Rick’s, past lighthouse, past everyting (lol). Road gets smalla makes a sharp left and round…….and then like an oasis, there is Westender Inn. Beautiful just beautiful……bags to the room and over to the bonfire – Jah Cure playin, sea splashing, under the stars and feelin IRIE. Long day and sleep came quick and hard ha!

Woke fretting – gotta get unpacked, gotta get to town for supplies, minutes, etc. OK slow down and breathe Sweetness – take your own advice. OK nice breakfast and fresh OJ and Jermaine is ready to take me round. They have a van and they charge only $300J each way from WAY out here….just 100J over what route charges but they are few between this far out so it’s a nice convenience since I only go to town once in a while. Plus sweet Jermaine made MANY stops and got out and stayed with me and was oh so patient like all Jamaicans and when I apologize they say No problem! Why do we stress so? Any way……Hilo/cambio (ck); produce lady up the lane for callaloo, irish, carrot, garlic, thyme, tomato, sweet peppa, scotch bonnet, yam, lettuce, cabbage, onion and my first plum.(ck); fish man (2 parrot fish and 6 snappa) (ck); last stop Out of Town pastry for my first patty and they are GREAT……callaloo stuffed into Cocobread – they have the flaky kind too but these are my favorite. Me and Jermaine each got one and we are both exhausted (lol) but it was fun.

Observation – conversation is so good in Jamaica. People talk from their heart, passionate, honest and I find it so interesting. I find myself listening in on everyone because it sounds fascinating to me. Talking is an artform in Jamaica – nah tru?

Love to cook in Jamaica so I start my chopping and look out to the sea and give thanks for all I have. Brown stew chicken, pumpkin rice, cabbage salad tastes good – I always get Mr. Sweetness to grade me on my meals (lol). This one got a nine but I am never happy unless it’s a ten….gotta work the rice a likkle but I will get it ha!
In case you are interested here are some prices for things from HiLo to help with trip planning – although things can be found cheaper probably at other smaller stores.
Chicken whole $730J
Chicken boneless breast $705J
Chicken whole cut up $981 (ouch)
Doritos - $310J
Coke Light 2 liter $118J
Dish soap $116J
Guiness six pack with bokkle deposit $707.54J
Lg Ketchup $164K
Fifth Appleton Special $1137J
JA Curry $190J
Papertowel $180J
Tuna Light in Wata $33J can
Soy Sauce $69J
Sugar medium bag $252J I like the light brown sugar best but there was not much available
Rice largest bag $179J
Flour medium bag $73J
Juice flavor drinks $37J
Peanut Butter (Swiss)$355J
Shirley Coconut Biscuits (lg pk) $147J
Red Peas $69J
Coconut Milk Powder pk $54J
Wata Crackers $50J (med bag)
Maggi Season All small pks 3 for $72J
Hellman’s mayo – Large $580J
Cheese – Tastee$184J; Anchor Cheddar $191
Anchor butter – like 2 sticks $191J
Lettuce – huge Romaine head $341 – produce lady only has tiny heads
Toothbrush $121J
Microwave popcorn 3 pks $234J

Day three – pool time after I unpacked finally (ha). Then a blended fruit that KeyMar made for me – how cute is he? Great person and top service – he is calm and kind and always smiling. Shot of the wood cabins on the back of the property – they look nice and have screened shutter windows and screened front door over a regular door and full kitchens I think. Gerry ckd me in and was also very very nice. Ivy the guard dog is still not sure of my but laid by my table finally for a few minutes – glances only no love yet lol, gotta earn it.

I love my apt. It is way better than the pictures on the website and I feel like a queen. Love having full fridge and an OVEN. Sea view closer than I thought too so moved the table so I can stare out to the sea over the boganvilla.

Chopping again – tonight FRY Snappa fresh from the sea w/Tony Sacchera (sp) fish seasoned coating, escovitch pickled onion, carrot, peppa and scotch bonnet, pasta salad, slaw and hot cornbread with corn in it and hot butter ON it. Oh and fresh squeezed lime made some lemonade w/JA sugar and it tasted so nice………..got at 10 for this one (lol) some conversation and TV Game show channel laughs at the Newlywed Game and Match Game from the 70s……..good sleep again and here we are today…….Day Four off to the beach – more reports soon come. Love and blessings…………………
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...wifi off and on so will post again when I can....a few more photos soon come too.....couldn't add them all to this thread.....bless

beautiful place sweetness . . . how affordable is it? . . . are you on the seaside?

Jitterbug....you would have to ck w/Keith to see the rate....I negotiated a fair price price for sure but its double what I could have paid at a more budget place. Each trip I decide what I want to pay and what I want to get and negotiate the best price I can so each time I think my choice is "affordable" lol. I hope that helps.

I am gardenside but upstairs so I have a seaview from the living room. I would consider it an upscale place like Tensing Pen, Catcha Falling Star with great amenities. I believe their wood cabins back gardenside are only $500 mth and look clean andnice for sure.

Sweetness!
WOWZA!!!!!!
Overload of beauty and happiness, I can feel it!
Good for you!

i hear you sweetness, thank you . . . hope the rest of your trip is fabulous!!

Hi Sweetness, loving your on site so far...looks like you are in a beautiful spot. Why are all the JA men so handsome!?? :eek: maybe it's the wata.....

Wonderful Sweetness...so glad you are finally there and loving your digs! I will definitely look into those cabins when I reach in December.....Keep on keepng on...enjoy to the max, you deserve it....

Loving every minute of it.

Things that leave reminders the next day that you ate in the car. Taco Bell at 2:00 a.m. after a night of drinking in the states. Any pattie in Jamaica, the flakes gather everywhere.

I have become the taxi driver at Out of Town,,,, coco bread, slice of cheese, pineapple juice box, plastic shot glass of JB overproof.

Lovely place....sounds like you're rollin with the flow! Wondering if the prices you quoted included the tax (17.5%) which is on many items (not chicken though, or sugar, rice or flour) Chicken has really gone up, up, up in price over the last year. You're almost better off just buying it with a meal from the cookshops or roadside panmen....still don't know how those local cookshops keep their prices so low! I'm thinkin they might raise their own chickens or know somebody who does to get a better price.

Yay! Christmas came early! Enjoying your photos and trip report. Looking forward to more.

Thanks for the pix. Looks like a beautiful place. I love those coconut biscuits.

Respect,
Col. Andy

The place is gorgeous Sweetness...can't wait to come by and check it out! :)

Great report, and I know you must be enjoying doing the 'on-site' reporting...between choppin' and cookin'. That plate of food looked mighty tasty ~~~ Yummmm...

Thanks for taking the time...great photos too!

Soon come...

wow , westender apt. looks gorgeous and comfortable, I want to live there! Love your home cooking. Last trip I cooked almost every meal except for buying from the jerk pork guy once and eating soup at Cosmos and a snapper sandwich at half moon. So happy to see your photos and hear about your stay! Do you think Westender would be sort of isolated for a single woman staying there? It looks gorgeous but I think maybe better for couples or groups.

Nice photos and reports, I'm drooling!!!

Thanks,

VVHT

I'm glad you're using Tony Cachere's, lol. We use the seasoning on EVERYTHING here in NOLA. Did they have it in Jamaica?

NICE place Sweetness it is shaweeeet!
A Mr Sweetness huh you kept him quiet!:D
Place looks lovely look forward to meeting you thankyou very much for the up to date costings that is very helpful for me.
If you hear of chicken at a lower price tell me, I need about 10 at that price though they are OFF the menu!

Sweetness, I am coming by for my plate lol Nice digs gyal!!

Can I come to dinner too? :)

Lovin your report n pics Sweetness u got me hungry now though!

Looking forward to seeing you again......

You're killin' me as I sit here at work and it is 33 degrees outside!!....Beautiful pictures!...Looks like my kind of place.

I have checked out and did the tour of Westender a couple times(walked from Seastar with my son in the august heat one time, wont do that again) Its on my list of places to stay, just a little far out of the action for me unless i had a car or scooter.

...great to hear from all of you and I am so happy you are enjoying the reports. I feel you all with me.
Internet down so have my Part Three ready but can't post until later today or tomorrow so watch for it.....beach time and Westender sea pool and Mexican food (lol).

Orchid - mi hear you on the handsome Jamaican men - it MUS be in da wata (lol) bright white smiles and that twinkle in their eye ha!

Chet/Coleen - it was my first out of town pastry and loved it there - super chill place and great patties. Funny you say you had rum. I have noticed Rum not jus a night drink in Jamaica lol - some people I see working sip a bit tru-out the day just so it more enjoyable......in US we are so hung up on the "not drinking at work thing" makes me laugh

northcoast - yes, the items I listed do include the high tax - your receipt is calculated by each single item and total price is individually listed. Chicken is stupid expensive but luckily I am cooking smalla amounts so can get by with some smaller packs and all lots of sides.

Shout out to my friend Dawn - each day when I chop my veg I think of you with a smile.

Everyone - I always cook eNUFF so always plenty to share so you are welcome (maybe not all at once lol).

irieworld - I would not hesitate to stay here as a single female. Isolated yes but totally safe. Great security plus guard dog that does not PLAY lol. Plus much of the staff stay on property back near the cabins and they are sweet, kind and helpful so would watch over you for sure.

NOLAnmr - I brought my Tony spice from home.....don't know if they have it here but knew I would be cooking lots of fish and had to have it mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm da BEST

poolguy - love it out here, far out but nuff route taxi carry people back and forth and staff can always take and drop you places. Very nice property w/all you need and more.

OK betta run - using the LAN computer in the office until the wireless internet come back. Part Three soon come with much more photos of JA life. Bless you all.