** on-site Trip Report ~~ Thursday eve...5/28

[smith744]

all i can say is::>> Wow Wow Wow..!!

Jamaica IS sweet ... and *easy*

this is gonna be a bunch of snippets... i'm tired... i hate travel day .... but thankfully i've been down this road before::::several times from long-time

1...somebody asked for a report on SouthWestAirlines... nice ... basic... no food... pretzels & crackers, but for me no biggie, 'cause it was direct nonstop, so i could take a likkle nap 'til touch-down

2...after-deplaning, i smiled-at, and chatted up cute Ja-airport worker-lady, who was pushing a Ja-senior-citizen in a wheel chair, to expedite his entry and passage thru customs, immigratons, etc.

she & I *seemed* to make some kinda of *connection*
sooooooooooo
"..COME with me/us..", she said

OF COURSE i complied
:-)

zipped thru Ja-immigration ... to front of line

we went seperate ways at Ja-Customs, 'cause i had 3 cans of Spam (for my Lucea/Ja-mentor), and some oatmeal, and other grains.

me-said to my-self, '''..I'm declaring this stuff, 'cause I don't have time for a bunch of Ja-lecturing, as to why I didn't do this and why i didn't do that, blah blah

remember, i was at the front of the line, so i zoomed thru Customs as well.

in fact,
the entire airport appeared to be dead ... low-season ... no/slow business

went outside

hot hot hot AND HUMID
but
air FRESH FRESH FRESH

and my body quickly responded with a joyful """...we're home...""" feeling

outside,
people watch-ed
while waiting for my regular driver

was gonna go over to that secret-spot,
and watch the taxi-men playing dominos,

but opted to stay-put with the tourist/vistors,
and wait

driver arrived
and
was accompanied by my host --- my Lucea-country landord

hearty plesantries,
and we were OFF

i immediately
went into my series of questons,
to get my mind-right
about money
prices of things,
etc etc

info *learned*

1...taxi fare in Negril ... Ja $100 per route per person (in day time) and at night too if you know what you need to know ..... 'cause that night-time price-raise sermon ain't 100% true

2...a single Craven A cigarrette..... Ja $40 each ....depending on _____ ____ ____

3...1 Heniken ... 'bout Ja $200... depending ____ ____

4...TanTan pattie in Lucea .... Ja$120

5...a small live goat --- kid size .... feed 4-5 people:::: can do for 'bout Ja $3,000

6...mangos ... Ja$100 per dozens ... on go to the country side and get 'em fro free, 'cause they all over the ground, roadside

7...taxi fare ....Lucea to Negril... Ja$220 ... Lucea
Lucea to MoBay .... same-way

8...3 strawberry hippo cookies ---- Ja$80

there's more prices to share,
but me tired
and gotta get to country
..landord cooking, and it's dark dark, SUPER-dark, at 7pm Ja-time

more snippets

1...a Ja-guy i've seen for over 20-years
finally spoke to me
with a big big smile

some other folks did same thing

apparently,
some people take a likkle while to warm-up to a person, na tru

2...the landscape, fauna, etc is pretty pretty
everything all green, and lush

but that means LOTs of rain
so,
friday
first thing
i get some water boots
and umbrellla
and rain suit/jacket

this is a short trip
and i don't wanna do a lot of typing
so
will do a bunch of videos

hopefully YouTube has their act together and uploads dem videos in a reasonably quick fashion

more stuff

every 4th person i chat with mentions Obama's recent visit

one lady chatted with me about renting/leasing some of her land,
so that i can grow ganja
when Jamaica legalizes the herb

'''...but you 'spose to be a Christian, blah blah.."", me SAY

she responded::>> ""..I am a Christian, but i gotta get some money.."

final snippet

my landlord and i were chattin..
...catching up on whagawn since my last visit

he told me about a guy i met at the resort
over 20 years ago

he doing real good, now days

land-lord-SAY:::>> ""...he's **control-ing*** this from-foreign woman, and she backing his THREE businesses..""

ummmmmmmmm
**control-ing**
ummmmmm

don't you just love how *they* use the English language

finally,
on drive from airport,
i told 'em i wanted to STOP
and get a pack of CravenA.... Ja$720
and
a few warm-beers

when i placed my order with the Asian-lady at the Hopewell grocery store,
you should have seen the puzzled confused look on her face
when she heard my voice

lol
lol
lol
lol

in part,
she-SAY, something like......
""..USA....???? ..... you confused me ... i thought you were Jamaican, blah blah.."""

* sigh *

this could be a problem for me, this trip

we'll see

likkle more
got run
me hungry
tired

got to unpack, etc etc.

chat witcha Friday eve,
with videos, pics, etc.

[NRV]

LOL, that Spam will get you every time! My daughter got stopped by TSA in Oakland, CA for Spam in her carry on bag! "Ma'am, that looks like a can of Spam in your bag"? Yes, do you want to keep it? No....big laugh from everyone. Then we had a layover in AZ & TSA searched my checked bag in Phoenix....it had 3 cans of Filipino Spam Tocino. Moral of the story, be careful flying with Spam!

[NRV]

Smith744 - looking forward to your adventures in JA! Thanks for the report!

[VVHT]

744, I'll be on the rock the 14th, close but no cigar! Maybe next time??

Enjoy,

VVHT

[JitterBug]

looking forward to hearing more of your ja adventures . . .

[goldilocks]

Ain't no report like a smith744 report!

[Vince]

^^^^^ agreed!!!!!!!

[msbaltimore]

Thanks for the Southwest update!

[Big_frank]

Video are the best Bill.

[Markospoon]

Yeah Smith, when you finally get through the airport and outside.....WHAT A FEELING!!!
Enjoy mi bredrin.