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It feels kind of un-vactiony (please excuse the neo-logism) to bring a lap top but how else would one (for example) keep up with postings on this board while in country?
I'd like to post pix but again I'd feel a little funny bringing a laptop.
Do folks use intenet cafes or . . . well how do folks do it (post on here while on vac)?
whatever floats your boat...........Quote:
Originally Posted by Rum-polephoreskin
think a lot of it depends on where you are staying.....
and if they have really good wifi reception for all the rooms......
a lot resorts have a main computer for you to use if you are laptop less........
plus there are enuff Internet cafes for you to use if need be........
personally I bring my own......
I can get on when I feel like it from the comforts of the room(SeaStar).......
Cool Runnings, Marko
I'll use my iPhone this year. No laptop for me. :)
I have a netbook that I always bring, the size is nice and with some small usb speakers it does double duty as a sound system.
I wait til I get home.-is it really going to make a big difference if you posts your pics that day as opposed to the time you get back home??(unless your really staying an extended time-then go to internet cafe and download).Last thing I want to do is drag around and worry about (and make myself more of a target to be tiefed) my electronic gadgets (including smartphones-I use a cheap Jam digicel phone).
Unless its work related and you just HAVE to have access to your laptop...Whats the point??? Your on a vacation-take a vacation also from being plugged-in and plug-into your senses and surroundings...
I don't use one much on vacation, but found it very pleasant to check in for an hour or two and clean up loose ends at work while sitting at a table under a shady overlooking the ocean on the cliffs. It was, as it turned out, totally "vacationy."
Plus, when you note to your colleagues the location from which you're answering their e-mail, they feel totally jealous.
try an experiment...leave it home and see how it feels....force yourself to wait a day or two...if you begin to have the shakes you can easily find a cafe and send a few emails......besides why worry about theft
I was thinking more along the lines of being able to see where the meet ups are taking place (i.e. like TicToc).
I'm the last person in the world who would bring work to Jamaica, I have trouble doing work at work.
"No dude that did not occur to us" - Brandt in "The Big Lebowski".
mi think TicToc needs to post her social calendar on here for all to see........lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Rum-polephoreskin
Cool Runnings, Marko
Hey Rum..I see where your coming from...I'd make a lists of happenings (if their advertised) before you leave- and then you could also go to an internet cafe-I know the easy rock cafe use to have computers/internet-Last I seen the ice cream shop/internet cafe was closed -forgot the name-but doesnt matter-owner not around anymore.Also many hotels have some for visitors (make sure to check rates they charge-) or will let you use theirs for a quick peek around..
Big Lebowski- one of my favorite movies...(LOL)
But I don't want any technology between me and that deep blue sea, or me and the smiling faces around me. I have an Iphone and yes, it is going to be a little hard going cold turkey but unless you HAVE to, I wouldn't. We (me) are so addicted to being plugged in...it is liberating to unplug as stated eloquently above. It reminds me many many moons ago I was at the Grand Canyon, hanging around all afternoon on the rim, blissed out. A couple got out of their car and with the video camera IN FRONT OF THEIR EYES walked over to the rim and shot footage and said...so this is the grand canyon...looks just like a postcard. Turned around and walked back to their car and left. Need I say more....enjoy the sensations
I'll be bringing a netbook for evening or morning surfing (e.g. reading news back home, email) etc. It's just too valuable a tool not to bring...even on vacation. Funny how not too long ago I can remember having similar discussion about bringing cell phones on vacations. Now cell phones are a must have.
It depends on your life style. I TOTALLY need to unplug when I go to Jamaica, I barely like to use my phone and I prefer folks at home don't call unless it's an emergency. I call and check in to let them know I'm still breathing and thats about it. As far as posting while you are there, I mean it's great for us that are not there so we can enjoy it with them...but I would not bring a laptop or anything like that just to stay on top of whats going on on the board or to stay on top of e mails. My opinion is to UNPLUG...all the way.Enjoy Jamaica as if it was 1980 or prior, before all this technology. If you just have to bring it,use it while on the plane or waiting on your layover. Just enjoy the island,theres plenty to do besides logging in. Take all your photos, then give us your trip report upon your return. No problem mon.:cool:
OXYMORON......Negril and Laptops....sorry...it is what it is.....
Funny, but I am debating the same thing. A week from today, I'll be in Negril...yeah!!!, I recently bought a laptop which I really love. I've been rather psyched to have it along, especially for music...which I have carefully chosen for this trip.
Now, with the time approaching...I am leaning the other way. I don't want the extra hassle. Trips to Negril are so relaxing to me and allows me to escape from all the hubub of the holidays. Simplicity is really a big part of what I love about our holiday trip. So, I may just disconnect and use Seastar's guest computer as I have in the past..checking in at home and quick emails. Maybe if I had a small netbook, etc...I might be more inclined to stash it in my purse. But for now, mi tinks I'll survive just fine. One less thing to worry about.
I'm with meinvancouver....bringing along the netbook with some speakers so I can listen to my playlists AND have internet access. I like to have the internet to deal with checking in for the flights and checking up on delays/time changes etc.
I carry a net book and it's easy because it's small. I do download my pictures to it (in case anything happens to my camera). I have a Claro Internet stick which I simply refill when I get there. I keep in touch with family through e-mails etc.
Having this struggle too, compounded cause we are taking a week roving around the coast before we hit Negril for a week. Meeting wedding party in Negril, so thinking of using Skype to keep cost down and to get pics out. Current laptop is a big 17" though, so looking for cheap netbook (or win a iPad 2). Maybe Jamaica cellphone instead (what do they cost & how much/where can ya call?). We don party much so it would get a fair amount of use in PM for e-mail/pics/making reservations/Skype).
On the other hand, just unplugging sounds SO fine, as does wandering Jamaica instead of having reservations to keep to. But have been warned that we really shouldn't be looking for places to stay after dark...
KJ
I bring mine, no struggle no contest. I travel solo and it is a great way to stay in touch with friends family and work. I play music and watch movies (the harder they come, dancehall queen, shottas etc) on it and also check in to see about webcasts or phone numbers for local venues. I upload photos when my camera is full but I still haven't figured out how to fit in onsite trip reports, which I give you all so much respect for!
I brought mine as I went by myself for 11 days,used it all the time. Posted pics on facebook for my husband to watch my trip.......property had wi-fi.I guess it all depends on where u r staying and how secure it will be. Whatever,you decide enjoy.
If I didn't have to bring it with me I wouldn't. Its nice to be disconnected IMO.
My daughter and I were talking about Jamaica today and something MeinVancover and Rastagal said (on this thread) sparked our conversation.
Should you bring tunes to Negril?
I know I'm going to whip up a playlist of songs that evoke the Negril-vibe tonight to help prime my freak pump, but am I going to bring tunes?
Rachel (my daughter) says she has, but wondered afterward if it was worth it.
I can't remember being anywhere in Negril and being out of ear shot of music.
So at the risk of hijacking my own thread:
Do you bring tunes?
I would not travel 60 miles without my big heavy awkward laptop. I take it on every trip everywhere. I bought a netbook 1.5 years ago and then even a tablet 6 months ago and returned both. I need my full size keyboard and 17 inch screen. I only wish i could stay anywhere and have my feet in the ocean and be on the net reading the news from around the world. And yes I check the boards, review former posts about where the happenings are, research activities and places I hear of or things to do and use my sound system with IPOD for room music.
We close our business for our 2 week reach but clients may still require service. I rely on hotel access for my needs but they are not always reliable so my laptop is a "just in case" backup.
Tunes? Definitely a 150 - 175 song reggae playlist for the ipod and speakers for the room. A little Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Toots and the Maytals, Collie Buddz, Lucky Dube, Freddie McGregor etc. and of course Bob, Ziggy & Damian.
I think reggae play lists deserves it's own thread.
Always looking to expand my reggae list. I recently ran accross a few artists that are new to me. Collie Budz and Luck Dube among a few others.
I'll post my own favorite list but don't have access to it right now.
Bob Marley, Peter Tosh etc are obvious shoe-ins. Any suggestions for great songs and/or artists that people may not have run accross?
OOPS! That was supposed to be a new thread. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Craig123
The tunes question is one I've been debating. Of course I'll have a nice selection on the netbook for when we're in the hotel room. We orginally discussed making a mix to be played on the airplane and/or the drive to the hotel. Recently I've changed my mind and concluded that I'm not likely going to listen to much music on the plane. I'm not a fan of headphones/earbuds. They make me feel isolated and disconnect from the world around me (I have a similar issue with sunglasses muting my senses but that's another topic). It also seems that there is little chance a CD player will be available for the ride in. I've also decided that even though I'm traveling for my own enjoyment, I'm also traveling to experience a different culture. So I decided I want to play more of a spectator role and just take things in and maybe be exposed to something new I otherwise would not have been. My girlfriend seemed a little disappointed to learn I've all but scratched the idea of making any sort of playlist or compilation CD but I think I'm saving myself some time not bothering and hopefully opening myself up to additional new experiences.
Most likely-depending on where your staying you'll probably being hearing music...I thinks its cool to leave your playlist at home and tune in whats goin on in Negril/Jam at the time...It might not all be your cup of tea...but think its good to get "turned on" to new music-artists etc. that you normally havnt heard...
But yeah, thats a toss-up for me..I LOVE music cant live without it and sometime I bring down my little i-pod with the little speaker sytem thats the size of a book-that and my camera and thats its for electronics (but many times i am out in the middle of nowhere-no music in the background-but thats not an issue when am in Negril):):D
Take a playlist. If you don't use it so be it. But you don't want to get there and wish you had it. On the cliffs it's nice to find a quiet spot away from others and play some tunes. Taking a shower, getting dressed, chilling on the porch, it's all nice. Then again a radio works just as well. I like a little mix throughout my stay.
Tunes? Now, that's a different story. We bring a large variety of music with us - we love reggae but also love to listen to Grateful Dead early in the mornings, or even Frank Sinatra. Our IPod comes with us, loaded with a few hundred songs (if not more!). We have one of those small portable speaker dock thingies and we're good to go!