Just returned!

I just got back last night and like everybody else, I wish I could have stayed longer. Not much of a trip report to write except to talk about some things I did for the first time.

Background: 20 friends planned this trip from earlier in the year and by time it was time to go, 2 dropped out which still left us with a large crowd (3 guys and 15 gals). I was suppose to arrive on the 3rd to enjoy ATI but another friend got married on a cruise so I had a pre-vacation before arriving Negril on the 6th. The group was a good blend of friends who are regular visitors and some newbies.

Trip Theme: We had a few "This vacation will be EPIC" and "It's about to go down" and "What happens in Jamaica, stays in Jamaica".

My Firsts:
BAR CRAWL -- I don't even know where to begin on this one. I've always wanted to do this and finally this group was willing to join in on the fun. Everybody is still saying this was the highlight of the trip. When the bus picked us up at NBCC, I still giggle about the facial expressions of the handful of people already sitting on the bus. Our group of 18 became 21 since 3 local friends joined us. Poolguy Windsor was there (I think I actually first met you over Xmas at Tic Toc's Travellers Party). I still need to look at the pictures to get all the names. Lenbert was awesome and even catered to our requests. We preferred the water side bars so we didn't do all the scheduled hillside bars and he added several unplanned water view bars. We stopped at so many bars and even a pizza stop. My all time favorite was XTABI....I met Lisa and Rob at the first bar and by time we made it to Xtabi, Lisa was nicknamed my babysitter! We ended at Rick's which is not standard but Lenbert did it. The crawl is supposed to be 2:30 to sunset so I guess either our group was a bit too rowdy for the others or maybe it had gotten too late for them but we had the entire bus to ourselves on the way back. I hope it is expanded to other days. Lenbert is awesome and this trip is not to be missed!

Enjoying the reaction of the locals when watching the Olympics -- The roar that erupted when a Jamaican won a medal was the best sound ever - the screams, clapping on tables and on walls was pure joy. The conversations that continued when replaying the win...it's just so indescribable.

Skinny dipping -- This was a pre-planned activity that the girls planned to do early morning - some were able to get up and do it while others slept in. I was in the sleep in group so we all decided we would do it again and plan it for our "last day on the beach party". Plan A was to strip as a group and run in together, well, we all pretty much have big mouths but none of us were bold enough to follow through so plan B was to walk in with our swim suits on and then get naked when in the sea! We did it and it was one of the most freeing experiences ever. Sure we had gawkers but we didn't care at this point. The guys in our group were riding scooters so after they returned to the beach, we told them how much fun it was so we all did it again!


There's more but will need to finish later.

Nice start!!! Jamaica truly brings out the inner "free" side of ones self! LOL Sounds like you had a great time. Can't wait to hear more. I have yet to do the bar crawl...after 26 plus trips...but, this time it is on my bucket list for sure. So glad you all had a good time! :)

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Originally Posted by Jamerican71

I met Lisa and Rob at the first bar and by time we made it to Xtabi, Lisa was nicknamed my babysitter!

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LMAO...you definitely DID NOT need a babysitter!! You were all a riot!!

Sounds like a great crowd! I have put it on my bucket list to get naked with all of my friends and go swimming. And then when the stragglers show up we'll do it again. :o

Please continue......

Waiting for photos :D

^^^^^^^yA MON!!

http://forums.watchuseek.com/attachm...thout_pics.gif

YA...I'm waiting to see pics from the Love Bus also!!!!
That's what all you gentlemen meant...right????
:) :)

Lisa I'd like to see the pictures from both ..... times they went swimming. I've seen that bus plenty. :rolleyes:

Always wanted to do the Pub Crawl but I mainly drink Chardonay.....One of these days I will get on that bus!!!

*thowing hands up....WOOOHOOO* SKINNY DIPPIN!!!!!

I never took my camera out once so I am waiting for friends to send pictures. I'm so glad that no pictures that we know were taken during our daylight skinny dip :)

Luvsdaislands- You really don't have to be a drinker to still enjoy the bar crawl. A friend with us didn't drink and just enjoyed seeing the different bars.

More firsts:

Negril Gym: So I have been on a mission of working out and didn't plan to take my work out gear but one of the ladies in our group recently lost her mother and working out has been her coping mechanism. I told her I would go with her. The plan was for her to be my drill sergeant and get me up every morning so that I could join her. I don't know why I made that deal with her as that first morning waking up in Negril to the butt slaps and screams were not the best way to wake up but I did it....I went to the gym with her and walked on the treadmill. The gym was what I expected based on Yvonne's previous description and the eye candy in there was.....I'm still wiping the drool from my mouth!

Booby Cay: Not my first and I actually didn't go but based on my suggestion, everybody else went and all loved it. I arranged a great rate with Captain Billy for the boat trip plus snorkeling and Billy arranged grilled lobsters for all of them. They were gone for about 4 hours and all came back with big grins on their face. Some went back the next day to do more snorkeling near the reef and to eat more lobster

Jelly Fish Sting: didn't happen to me but I've never known anybody personally that had been stung. My first evening in JA, My younger sister went swimming and she got stung...that thing must have wrapped itself around her as she had welts all the way around her arm, near her shoulder. When she got out, one person said she needed to be peed on and everybody joined in agreeing. She only wanted me to pee on her but somebody said it needed to be male pee. A local came and rubbed lime all over the welts and poured rum on her arm but it was still stinging so one of the fellas peed in a cup and poured it on her. After awhile she felt much better and welts were gone. A few days later...I think it was the bar crawl, we were told....NO, pee is for sea urchins not jelly fish. The laughter about that one is continuing even today.

more later

Loving it!! Anxious to hear more. Even without pictures, your descriptions are perfection. BTW, a Jamaican housekeeper told us that using papaya is great for jellyfish stings. Cut a piece of the fruit with the skin on, then loosen the fruit a bit to distribute the juices, then slab it on the sting. Papaya has an enzyme that is used in meat tenderizer that is often mentioned in treating these stings. So, it is Jah's version. I got stung once on the lip while snorkeling and it worked great! Keep the reports coming, I have 4 more months before I reach, so I need the fix fi sure!! :)

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Originally Posted by Jamerican71

More firsts:

Negril Gym: So I have been on a mission of working out and didn't plan to take my work out gear but one of the ladies in our group recently lost her mother and working out has been her coping mechanism. I told her I would go with her. The plan was for her to be my drill sergeant and get me up every morning so that I could join her. I don't know why I made that deal with her as that first morning waking up in Negril to the butt slaps and screams were not the best way to wake up but I did it....I went to the gym with her and walked on the treadmill. The gym was what I expected based on Yvonne's previous description and the eye candy in there was.....I'm still wiping the drool from my mouth!

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LOL!! I'll bet that eye candy helped keep you motivated. I usually see them on the way in or the way out since I hang out upstairs. Most are "old hat" to me anyway since I've been going there for years. The new ones, usually youngins', still catch my eye. I might be getting up there in years but I still see very well :o

Seriously, good for you to get up & do your work out in the a.m. Great, convenient location when you stay at NBCC.

*raises hand* Not that I workout often on my vacations - but is there female eyecandy in there also? (other than yourselves of course)

That was quite the pub crawl, I have been on some good ones, and that may have been the most fun so far. You lost us at Rick,s as we went on and finished the last stops on foot. No one could miss that group at the Jungle on thursday either with all the glow sticks! I have some pictures from the crawl will have to upload later.

mi would settle for the skinny dipping pics ..........

wi actually did skinny dipping in the wee hours of da morning over at Bourbon Beach last month.....lol.....
sorry no pics....don't want to make anyone sick.......lmao

Cool Runnings, Marko

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Originally Posted by Flipadelphia26

*raises hand* Not that I workout often on my vacations - but is there female eyecandy in there also? (other than yourselves of course)

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Excellent question. Yes, there is female eye candy. The Negril Gym has some very dedicated ladies who are there on a daily or almost daily basis.

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Originally Posted by poolguywindsor

That was quite the pub crawl, I have been on some good ones, and that may have been the most fun so far. You lost us at Rick,s as we went on and finished the last stops on foot. No one could miss that group at the Jungle on thursday either with all the glow sticks! I have some pictures from the crawl will have to upload later.

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We ended up at the large cabana near the entrance and rented the cabana and bought a bottle.....not that we needed one but it was a requirement of the rental and we didn't want to break the rules :) I hope your son isn't scarred for life. I forgot about the glow sticks....will have to add to my lists of firsts.

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Originally Posted by Flipadelphia26

*raises hand* Not that I workout often on my vacations - but is there female eyecandy in there also? (other than yourselves of course)

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There were a few in there but mostly guys.

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Originally Posted by Yvonne

LOL!! I'll bet that eye candy helped keep you motivated. I usually see them on the way in or the way out since I hang out upstairs. Most are "old hat" to me anyway since I've been going there for years. The new ones, usually youngins', still catch my eye. I might be getting up there in years but I still see very well :o

Seriously, good for you to get up & do your work out in the a.m. Great, convenient location when you stay at NBCC.

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I didn't make it to the top floor but a few people went up there. I had a full view of the eye candy since the treadmills are facing the mirrors. It was a very convenient location and we planned to go back during the week for soca aerobics but it didn't happen.

More firsts and repeats:

Red Stripe Light: Most of the beer drinkers in the group drink Red Stripe Light and I said I would try it for the first time. I'm a Red Stripe girl all the way and just don't understand why they make any beer light much less my beloved Red Stripe. Well, I tried it and yuck, they could not convert me. I will stick to Red Stripe!

Glow Sticks: Something different and since one of the ladies was celebrating her bday, we decided to light it up for the bday celebration + ladies night. who would have thought that 300 glow sticks from Walmart would be so much fun - some made belts, some wrapped their shoes, some in hair, pockets, between boobs, behind ears...basically any and everywhere had a glow stick.

Bday Celebration: We planned a Beach BBQ Bday Party at a local spot but the efforts on this particular location was surprisingly not very good so we decided to take our money elsewhere. Everybody knows how hard it is to make decisions when it's a large crowd so by time it was said and done, we made it to Pushcart at 10pm.....we were greeted and told the kitchen was closed. I was darn close to being on my knees begging so the manger agreed to seat us as long as we ordered our food right away. I love the ambiance up there and the service is great but this particular time, I was not happy with my curried goat. I've eaten it there many times but I think since the kitchen was closing, I got the scrapings from the pot - lots of bones and pepper. Some ordered fired chicken and loved it. Some ordered "shrimp" and were amazed that Jamaican shrimp were so large. As the plate was passed around (I'm allergic so no shell fish for me), I noticed those weren't shrimp, it was crawfish. It was returned to the kitchen and the waiter said it happens often.

Jungle: Been there, done that and can do without but since we were all lit up and the group wanted to go, I joined in. We made a quick pit stop at NBCC where the guys separated from the gals. Us ladies loaded up the van and made it inside the Jungle with light sticks everywhere and lei's. We lei'd the bartenders and promptly began taking shots -- ordered Grey Goose shots but that was not Gray Goose coming out of that bottle...I stuck with Red Stripe for the rest of the night. We had fun laughing, talking and laughing. We even got to see Poolguy Windsor again.

DWL@peeing on a jelly fish sting!!!!

*ADDING TO LIST: Go the Negril Gym (eye candy)...got it!!!*

Where is the Negril gym located, and can you pay by the day, or is it by the week? As guests of Idle Awhile, we have free access to Swept Away's fitness center, but was curious about another option. And, eye candy can certainly help motivate a workout! Ha!

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Originally Posted by Eden

Where is the Negril gym located, and can you pay by the day, or is it by the week? As guests of Idle Awhile, we have free access to Swept Away's fitness center, but was curious about another option. And, eye candy can certainly help motivate a workout! Ha!

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The Negril Gym is located across the street from the Negril Beach Club Condos & Negril Beach Resort aka The Beach Club. Traveller's is nearby as are Beach House Villas. You can get a daily pass, weekly, monthly, etc. It's a basic workout gym... machines, weights, elliptical, bikes, treadmills. I use the slant board for ab work & do pilates & yoga upstairs. Usually quite private. Most mornings I'm the only non-Jamaican there. I almost spend more time there than I do at my fitness center here at home (only take one class a week) since I'm there 6 days a week. After all these years, the regulars are used to me :cool:

thanks for the info Yvonne. So not a problem going early in the morning & being a female? When would it be least crowded? Heading out in October & was thinking of checking it out.

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Originally Posted by Yvonne

The Negril Gym is located across the street from the Negril Beach Club Condos & Negril Beach Resort aka The Beach Club. Traveller's is nearby as are Beach House Villas. You can get a daily pass, weekly, monthly, etc. It's a basic workout gym... machines, weights, elliptical, bikes, treadmills. I use the slant board for ab work & do pilates & yoga upstairs. Usually quite private. Most mornings I'm the only non-Jamaican there. I almost spend more time there than I do at my fitness center here at home (only take one class a week) since I'm there 6 days a week. After all these years, the regulars are used to me :cool:

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We went early morning and it was fine. Everybody in there is doing there on thing but I did notice a bit more flexing by the fellas when we walked in.....but I of course was okay with that!

Forgot I got leighed at the Jungle by the crazy party New Yorkers! Hey what happened on saturday, I saw some of the girls from your group at Maureen,s bar on the beach, they said the group was going to Seastar, but no show?

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Originally Posted by poolguywindsor

Forgot I got leighed at the Jungle by the crazy party New Yorkers! Hey what happened on saturday, I saw some of the girls from your group at Maureen,s bar on the beach, they said the group was going to Seastar, but no show?

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I forgot we leighed you also. We were just so excited to see you and I think you were leighed by everybody. You must have seen the two that went shopping...they all wanted to go to Seastar but by time we finished hanging on the beach, we decided to have a last night party right at NBCC. The fellas went to the chinaman store and stocked up on liquor and beer and Orlando (chef at Lingah by the Sea) cooked an awesome buffet for us.

More firsts:

Blue Cave Castle: Visiting this property has been on my bucket list and I never expected that I would have the opportunity to finally go. One of the guys in our group had a friend staying in the penthouse with her husband. They invited all 18 of us + 2 local friends for Happy Hour. We loaded up in 2 cars and a van and headed to the Penthouse. We climbed and climbed and climbed those stairs and we were all in awe at the view from that height. Blue Cave Castle is a great property and if I wasn't so addicted to the beach, I would stay there. Some did cliff jumping while the rest of us stayed soaking in the penthouse views. We had dinner and drinks and happy hour turned into late night.

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Originally Posted by Luvsdaislands

DWL@peeing on a jelly fish sting!!!!

*ADDING TO LIST: Go the Negril Gym (eye candy)...got it!!!*

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The friend who peed in a cup for her has been joking ever since that he was going to start selling his pee bottled since it has healing power.

Thats the ones I saw they seemed to be heavy shoppers buying everything on the beach!

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Originally Posted by NikkiV

thanks for the info Yvonne. So not a problem going early in the morning & being a female? When would it be least crowded? Heading out in October & was thinking of checking it out.

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I only go in the a.m. after my run up to Swept Away & back. I'd usually get there shortly after 7 a.m. Not crowded then. The gym opens at 6 a.m. (10 a.m. on Sunday) & people are there from then on. I don't know about the rest of the day.