Sunsets, Rum, Sand and Gizzadas 97 Days in Negril

[TizzyATX]

Kahuna it was great meeting you the other day! Got home at 1 am last night and now at work, waaaa! So I can't wait to get a big cup of coffee and start reading this report from the beginning...it will help ease the depression a little haha, and anything from you will be a treat to read.

[Kahuna3]

hello Kahuna,
i am familar with Red Ground. where are the villas located?
thanks

Spanky - We are right across from Hill Top Villas.

Crusher - don't worry - should be plenty RS for when you arrive.

Tizzy, nice to meet you too. You shoulda stayed on - we have a fouton

Goldilocks - sorry I just can't tell you the source of the new 'Best Gizzada' - it would be like revealing the location a favorite fishing hole. Sorry


Okay – here we go. I broach this subject with a little trepidation because I know how this type of discussion can go off the rails – but my intent here is not to be disrespectful to Jamaica or Jamaicans. I love Jamaica and love Negril.

The Top Three Complaints That Visitors to Negril Have:
I got this second hand, but it sounded right to me. In no particular order, they are:
- Motorcycles
- panhandlers/vendors
- trash and litter strewn about

Obviously, these are not complaints that a typical AI client would have, where the biggest complaint might be, “The food here is really good but it’s getting boring.” These are complaints from people who experience Negril from 'beyond the gate’.

Personally, I totally agree with the ‘motorcycles’. And if it were up to me, that would be number one, by far. That’s because along with motorcycles, my biggest complaint, every year, are the noise levels in Negril. And the motorcycles are one of the biggest contributors to the noise pollution. The first thing I notice when I return home from a long stay in Negril is how quiet things are – and we live on a fairly busy street.

But motorcycles – yes. We walk the roads in Redground and we are passed by dozens of motorbikes, roaring along at the absolute maximum speed possible and often just grazing past by six to eight inches. So much for ‘respect’. It’s scary, no two ways about it. Occasionally, a bike will pass at a reasonable distance and speed – then we wonder if maybe the bike is malfunctioning or maybe the driver has fallen asleep. But those are the rare exceptions. Speeding is not just problem on Beach Road. Vehicles speed on One Love drive and on the road to Sav. Everywhere. Speeding and reckless driving is the norm in Negril. I’ve always thought that young Jamaican men would make world class race car drivers. They have absolutely no fear and their entire driving experience has been driving at high speed on bad roads - so their reflexes should be good. They might take a while to get used to not having a horn, however.

Virtually all of the motorbike drivers (mostly young men) have removed the baffles from their exhaust mufflers. PGW and I were talking about this. I appreciate the sound of a big powerful engine just as much any gear-head does. In fact, I revel in it. Finely tuned, throaty, purring engines crank me up. But the un-muffled racket that emits from the likkle bikes they have around here is just obnoxious noise - a loud annoying mechanical rattle – not an appealing or impressive sound whatsoever. Annoying - like a crying baby.

Here’s a thought. If they put mufflers on all the motorcycles, cars and trucks, disconnected all the horns on all the vehicles, including motorcycles, and everybody drove the speed limit – imagine how safe and quiet Negril would be! Except for the music of course, but that would be OK.

As for panhandlers and vendors (“Friend! Friend! Smoke?’) and the money change guys (“Hey! Change, buddy?”) and “Taxi? Taxi?” and all the rest of it - that doesn’t bother me. I’ve learned to tune it out, like background noise. For the most part it doesn’t even register with me. When it does I just ignore them or give a slight shake of the head. They get it.

The trash/litter problem is real, but it will take a generation to fix it. Children need to be taught in school not to litter and to pick up trash that is lying around. Take them out on organized school trash pick-up excursions and the will soon be scolding their parents and older siblings for their littering habits. There are some obvious clean-up efforts being made, but there is a long way to go.


'Hey! - when's the coffee going to be ready!'

[Crusher]

I agree with the bikes and all the noise, dangerous driving and what not.

I also agree with the comments about the peddlers & vendors.....after your first couple of reaches you learn how to deal with them and tune them out if needed.

The trash I think you nailed it.

[gerryg123]

Great report so far, Kahuna. It took me quite a few trips to train myself against the constant stream of hustlers by not looking them directly in the eye. Perhaps it's rude, but I found the action instantly cuts down about fifty percent of 'em.

[Kimbobwee]

I'm digg'n this. Be careful, you're toeing the line in the sand!.....Keep it going, Walk Good!

[poolguywindsor]

OK so the gizzada thing! That would be one of my favourites as well, I tried the overpriced guy on the beach with his sun glasses falling off his nose!
I also have tried the lady in front of Chances on JT,s recommendation, they were kinda burnt and not very good.
I have made them myself here in Canada, pretty good if I do say so. A cook at a villa in Silversands showed me how and I made a video, but that one you showed the picture of looked really good!
So whats with the secret location, I don't even fish?

[BIG SHINY n Rootsy]

I agree with PGW. Give up the info! Those things look amazing! (my fav too)
Great report too by the way. Thanks!

[Big_frank]

I remember posting a trip report here 10 years ago about the astounding amount of littering on the west end.
The biggest discarded item then was phone cards. Thousands of the red/green digicel cards littering every road and lane.
It ain't visitors littering the place up. These are residents.
Cleanups do happen; but that isn't attacking the problem.

[walter]

Yes, it is so true ! Take a look at the school yard in Sav early afternoon.

[justchuck]

I'm enjoying the report, but I'd really like to know where to find those Gizzadas. I don't fish either.