My Jamaica Birthday Trip & Hurricane Sandy>Pics

Attachment 19275My trip started out very nice, awesome flight, nice ride to Negril, and no problem checking into my resort Hotel Samsara. When I got to my room ....I just knew I was in the right place. Nice king size bed for me to roll all over since this was my Me Birthday Trip :) I checked out all the nooks and cranies then stepped out on the patio, again I was very pleased. So off with the travel clothes and into some shorts off to the front desk I go to hail a taxi, to take me into town to Digicel to top up my minutes, and go to the grocery store to get some water, and snack goodies. Got back to the resort, and put up my goodies now I need to walk around this resort to make myself familiar and take some pictures. Well I may travel alone but I'm never alone : ) I'm just that kind of person I love getting to know people so I speak and say where are you from? Needless to say I met a lot of people my first day!

The resort was beautiful and very peaceful....I will stay there again!

Day 2 Saturday- I decided to let my friend know I was in town so what better way to do it than to pull a pank : ) I had the nice receptionist at the front desk, all the number and say that a couple was given his number ( as he is a driver) and they wanted to meet him face to face to discuss tours. Of course he fell for it LOL! I sat at the bar having coffee until a resrt employee came to tell me I had a guest....Out I walked there he stood, he looked at me as if he'd seen a ghost! He was very shocked and happy all at the same time...I love it I'm just full of surprises...earlier I had met two nice young ladies from Holland and we had decided we would take the shuttle to Legends and spend the day on the beach as it is the sister resort to Samsara. Well since Mr. Driver was now on da scene I basically spent the day lounging and talking with him...the two girls & I did get in the water which felt wonderful, and then me....with my mouth again met some other folks in the water from Holland, and I met a nice young man from Seattle who was there for a wedding. Well since I grew up in Seattle we instantly clicked! Of course since I'm and old married woman I always play match maker with folks, so I got him talking to one of the young ladies from Holland. It was a hit....they talked literally all nite! So long story short we all got a table together talked had drinks and Mr. Driver said have you all been to Rick's ....they hadn't so off we all went packed into his car to Rick's for the sunset. We had a BLAST! Shots, more drinks....laughter, pictures with Bruce Willis look alike....OMG I thought this was going to be my quiet ME TRIP! So the girls wanted to go out that nite....and they wanted, begged me to promise to go with them....it was on....10:00pm Mr. Driver came to pick up the crew...and off we went to The Jungle....Dang I'm to old for this S_ _ _ I kept telling myself LOL!!! but I kicked up my heels a bit....until bout 1am I was cooked....and we all decided to call it a nite or should I say morning, because the girls & I wanted to go to church in the Morning.

Day 3 Sunday I & my two new Holland friends went to International Worship Centre New Testament church of God. We really enjoyed the experience! It was up beat and vibrant....it was also very HOT! no A/C as we are used to as I had to have a sweater on due to my sleevles dress, so I wanted to be respectful.
I enjoyed the rest of the day meeting people at the resort more folks from Holland, by the way I must visit there the people are so nice. I met three young ladies from California,,,and of course we hit it off cause I also lived in Cali when hubby was stationed at Camp Pendleton....and they were going out that night to Alfreds and wanted me to go with them....well since I like alfreds I decided to go.....LAWD HAVE MERCY we stayed to the end and then went to MiYard.....met some rastas, ate good food, laughed and had so much fun...got back to my room that morning at 3am! DANG I thought for an old lady I'm hanging pretty good LOL!!! All these youngsters want me to go out with them LOL!!

Day 4 Monday....More new faces at the resort....welll......yes I met a very nice married couple from Holland they were about my age, whewwww cause I was being worn out by dem young folks! They wanted to go to Bourbon Beach that nite...I said if I was feeling up to it I would join them. I went to my room laid down for a nice nap....had dinner then sat and watched the beautiful stars in the sky. I decided to head to my room for some quiet tv time...well I said dang this is boring...let me get ready to go out....so off I went to Bourbon Beach....when I got there I had several men who noticed I was going in alone, and they decided they had to come rescue me from my lonliness JEEEZZZZZZZ that got on my nerves! I spotted the nice couple from Holland and they were so happy to see me. We all sat together, laughed and danced! Til it was over.....another fun nite for lady CJ.

Day 5 Tuesday....all the buzz around the resort people looking at their phones....saying to me CJ are you leaving tomorrow...I said yes couldn't understand why they were all concerned...but then they showed me their phones....and the Hurricane Sandy which was headed right in our direction!!!!! WHAT! let me get to a computer.....pulled up my e-mail and surely DELTA had sent me two URGENT MESSAGES! MY FLIGHT FOR WEDNESDAY HAD BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO HURRICANE SANDY! HEY I GET TO STAY AN EXTRA DAY : )
Well guess what....yes I met two new young ladies from New Jersey! they were so nice and fun....and of course yes they wanted Ms. CJ to go out with them I believe this was Alfreds nite...I said no...cause if this Hurricane is going to hit I don't want to be out in it...but yes they twisted my arm LOL!!! and out we went...had a BLAST Stayed til the end again....man what a fun time mi had.

My Extra Day Wednesday....It was windy, the sky was turning dark....I hailed a cab went to Digicel topped up minutes so I could stay in touch with family in da states. This was pretty much a stay put at the resort day...I watched the resort male employees boarding up the dining rooms windows, putting away outdoor plants, and tables and chairs. I took pictures of the water coming over the top of the cliffs, had dinner and drinks with some new found friends ....then it was getting late and more and more windy so we all went to our rooms so this was a nite I will finally stay put and enjoy rolling around in that nice king size bed while being glued to the tv keeping an eye on Sandy. I got all packed up cause now I' should be leaving the next day right......yep right I did : )

Thursday. Walked out on my patio do access the damage....hey the sun was shining it was beautiful....I got dressed and went down form breakfast and then took some pictures...and actually took one with the owner of the resort, he kissed me on the cheek and asked me to come and stay again, I will I said, and thank you for taking good care of your guest during this storm. Well my bus was here and time for me to say bye bye to Samsara....off to Sangster I went...I was actually ready to go home, all that Partying this old lady did LOL!! I needed some REST!

In conclusion I had an awesome 54th Birthday! Will be back in Negril in June with my group wooo hoooo!

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Attachment 19283 Hey it's My Birthday!

Great report. I knew it was Samsara as soon I saw the bed and before I even scrolled down -- stayed there twice, always liked that place.

Ok lets continue .....
Attachment 19290 another nice friend from Holland
Attachment 19292 pictures I took on a walk from Samsara to Xtabi
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Final Pics.....Attachment 19303
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The day after...Me and the OwnerAttachment 19306
Attachment 19307 I SURVIVED HURRICANE SANDY!
Attachment 19308 BYE BYE SAMSARA....I'LL BE BACK!
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That's all folks : ) Hope you enjoy!

CJGirl! Dang!! I'm sorry I missed you!

It sounds like you had a great trip:)

Me too darn it....we will try it again mon! I did have a great time...met a lot of nice people that forced me to party LOL!!!! hope ya'll had a great trip as well. I will be there June 27 - July 4th...at Merrills II

I like how you do it! And understand I take great pride in my wingman skills, you did that man well....
It's nice to see a solid review on Samsara because a lot of people have left less than stellar reviews. The only thing scary about that place now is the bedspread. Take a black light next time as I'm sure they haven't made those in years.

Thanks for the trip report CJGirl, good for you keeping up with the youngsters! You sure don't look 54 and apparently don't act like it either :) Well done!

You party girl! I love how each night you were just going to relax and chill.....and then had to go out. Good for you and yes you don't look 54, beautiful skin

I was thinking the same, you dont look 54 or act it apparently,lol

Photogenic!

Nice report and photos. It was quite the adventure riding out the hurricane!!!!

Always nice to see pics of SamSara :)

Great pics and report!!! You sound like fun....if we cross paths in Negril I'm def "draggin" you out to party....doesn't sound to tough haha ;)

CJ you sound like you'd be a blast to hang with. It'd be great to meet you!

Awesome pictures and report CJ,thank you for sharing!!

Happy belated birthday, CJ! You most definitely don't look 54!! I think part of the reason is because you have such a wonderful attitude.

You are definitely making me even more excited about my upcoming solo trip to celebrate my 50th! 44 days and counting!

Mavmaiden you have a Blast celebrating your 50th Birthday! I need to start taking vitamins after that trip cause I'm still tired LOL!!! I will be back in Negril June 27 - July 4th

Love the way you roll!!

Great Report! Party On!:cool:

Awesome pics... Thanks for a great story... There's something about being friendly. People seem to be just drawn to genuinely friendly folk...

I laughed hard that you came to relax and got caught up in having a really active good time!

The "adventure" of being "stuck" for an extra day? Pristine....


Happy Travels....

Skb

Thanks for the trip report and Samsara pics! Looks like you made a few people's trip better than they expected!