What I love most about your posts is that you know exactly what you want and refuse to let obstacles stop you. Sure they may slow you down while you find a way over, around, under or through them, but you keep on goin'. Hopefully we'll meet up someday cause I'd love to hear the stories too.
improvise & overcome
Thank you for the kind words.Originally Posted by wench
When I heard the saying "what doesn't kill you, just makes you stronger" many years ago, I can relate that directly to my experiences in Jamaica. I have been robbed twice, threatened by gang members in Kingston and witnessed a shooting and a stabbing over these many years of travel to Jamaica. Now, considering the remote and inhospitable places I have visited and lived for a time. this doesn't seem so awful (at least to me) as I have seen even more than that here in So. Florida!
Almost two years ago, I wanted to just lie down and let them shovel the dirt on me at some Assisted Living Facility. I was in the hospital with Congestive Heart Failure, confined to a wheelchair with debilitating Arthritis and at my lowest emotional point. Finding a reason to pick myself up and move forward wasn't easy but I always had Jamaica in my heart. I have fought my way back and now enjoy reasonable health and a fresh attitude about life.
Soon I will be leaving here and going back to my adopted homeland. There will still be lots of challenges but I have a lot more I want to do as well. Jamaica has given me so much that I can't even begin to list all that She has given me. It will be my goal now to give back a little more of my time, sweat and experience to help uplift the next generation of Jamaicans and I have the perfect venue to work in: Accompong Town.
If our paths cross someday in Jamaica, I will be honored to take the time to tell you all about my LOVE!
Peace and Guidance
Free Opinions Offered. No tipping required. Hours: Open when I feel like it.
Since 1983 I have stayed in a wide-range and variety of accomodations. I camped at the Lighthouse and Roots Bamboo; stayed in board cabins at JahBs, Jubas, Westport Cottages and several others as well as a number of budget hotels; Negril Yacht Club, etc. etc. and some midrange when I got a friends discount like Whistling Bird etc. but never have I stayed at a place quite like Seastar Inn.
It took me many trips and many years to come up with a "cost-benefit" standard that I now use as a yardstick when traveling. When you spend $20 - $50 per night you lower your expectations on what "benefit" you will get from making that choice. You know you might get exposed to the natural elements like indoor rain while tenting or sunlight through the board walls at a wood board house up to a hard bed, cold water showers and sometimes more unexpected "local action" than you bargain for.
Every once in a while you find a "diamond in the rough" and the benefits far outweigh the cost. In fact, on those rare occasions, you sometimes feel you are getting way more than you pay for.... this is Seastar Inn! This is a rare mixture of local flavor and a sort of "All Inclusive" that gives a firsttime traveler a great introduction to what we seasoned travelers refer to as the REAL Jamaica and a seasoned traveler the local flavor we have come to expect and enjoy and at the same time enough of an All Inclusive experience to satisfy our desire to be pampered at a budget price.
The staff here are truly a family and embrace the newcomer as well as the returning guests as a valued member of that family. I live alone and have a loner streak in my personality. If there are 10 workers, I will usually make friends with only a couple and might know the names of just a couple more than that. Here, the people are so genuinely friendly that is becomes difficult not to get to know each and every one of them to some extent. When I say "genuine", I know the difference between that and forced friendliness where it is given as part of the job description and not because they truly want you to have the best time of your life.
I have been here now 4 days and have only 3 more to go before I head to my home in Accompong Town. There has not been a single moment in all that time that I have seen or felt anything that even remotely made me change my first impression since my arrival. I have found a new favorite place to stay when visiting Negril. If anyone is looking for a perfect place to experience the warmth and friendliness of Jamaica....give Seastar Inn a closer look.
Peace and Guidance
Free Opinions Offered. No tipping required. Hours: Open when I feel like it.
So happy to hear that you're doing well.
God Bless!
Linston's Zion Hill Taxi
Captain Dave
happy to hear about your enjoyable time at SeaStar Inn.......quite a place for sure.........
and now you are back home at Accompong Town.......probably nuthin better......
Cool Runnings, Marko
Americana Ocho Rios 82~HedoII 84,91~T-Water 85~Wexford Court Mobay 85~Miss Mary’s 86,87~Barry’s 88~Seawinds Mobay 89~LTU 91~Charela Inn 92~Negril Inn 92~SamSara 93,94~Ocean Edge 95,96~Singles 95,96~Thrills 95~Hilltop 96,99~Pee Wees 97~Kool Browns/Bentley's 97~Cottage 99-03~Roots Bamboo 03~Merrill’s I&II 04,05~Corals Seas Cliffs & Beach 06~Catcha Falling Star 07~Blue Cave Castle 08~SeaStar 10,12~(4x)Bourbon Beach 12~T&J Cottages on Ella Dr 12-18~PeWee Cottages 18~Lynch Cottages 19,20
Morning starts before dawn. I hear Marshall upstairs shoveling and sweeping preparing for the two man team of masons who will be rendering walls today. With no pipe water, I have to fill a wash bucket and a face basin from the catchment barrel and take a PTA shower in the unplumbed shower stall. The water is cold but refreshing as I hurriedly finish the task, dry off and get dressed. I look out the louvered bathroom window and see that it is still at least another half hour before dawn. I quietly leave the room as not to wake Shereth and give her some space and privacy to get ready for her day. Cleaning, washing and helping me pack out my things takes up much of her waking time.
I climb the steps to the second floor where all the construction is taking place pausing long enough to catch a beautiful sunrise while marveling at just how quiet it is here in Accompong Town.
Marshall is shoveling up the dried tailings from yesterdays rendering. He pauses long enough take a smoke and chat about things around town before making a cooking fire and putting a breakfast together.
Dasheen, yellow yam, boiled banana, whole wheat bread, mackerel in a tomato sauce seasoned with peppers and scallions along with bitter orange juice and hot tea. A perfect start to a perfect day.
Peckish, my friend and driver, stopped by with some 5 gallon jugs of water to refill our catchment for my room's use that he brought all the way up from Retirement on the main road where they still have pipe water from Niagra.
We joined the workmen on the verandah for a smoke break and some jokes. Accompong is such a happy and friendly town. People drop by and chat about the many years we have all been friends. In my wildest dreams I never could imagine a place better than here to live. I take the time to shoot two pictures from my vantage point on the verandah. First to the left.....
and then to the right. I show my assembled friends and workers the pictures and one remarked, "See wi dis evryday". I could only smile and say, "Seen".
Mikey, the neighbor brought me a hand of fresh bananas for snacking and his brother brought some dasheen and yam as a house warming and friendship gift. You see, this house is on Marshall's great grandmother's side of the family land and on the other side of the road is the land of his great grandfather's descendants. These are my friends and neighbors and I have never felt more at home and accepted in a home at anytime in my life.
I will try to get some pictures around the community in the! coming days and weeks and, yes, even months!
Peace and Guidance
Free Opinions Offered. No tipping required. Hours: Open when I feel like it.
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