Quote Originally Posted by harrison View Post
I have just got back to a wet and cold England this morning after spending what has to have been one of the best weeks of my life but more of that to follow. This was our third trip to Negril, our first trip we had a run in with a local who was begging money for food who got obnoxious when I went to the food seller and told him to give the man whatever he wanted to eat and I would pay for it.
Our second visit passed smoothly.
I did say that I would post when we got back so here goes.
We arrived late last Tuesday so I didn't get on the beach till Wednesday morning, I had the beach to myself until a guy turned up offering me weed or a boat trip, I explained to him that I didn't need weed or a boat trip, he accepted a hand rolled cigarette and we chatted for a few minutes before he left to go about his business and I went back to enjoying the solitude.
My next encounter was when a guy called me down to the waterline which upset my wife a little that I made the effort to walk down to him, we exchanged greetings and he said that he recognised me from a previous trip so I apologised that without my glasses I was pretty much useless at recognising faces however if we had met before then I would certainly remember his name, he told me his name to which again I apologised that we had never met. He then asked me if I wanted to buy some ganja to which I said No thanks Mon, I have plenty and with that we went our seperate ways.
We were on the beach every day for a week and not once did we ever feel hassled by anyone.
That's actually pretty funny about the "I know you" scam. We live part time at the Point Village and a few years back, prior to catching on to what the foot in the door scam was all about from the higgler's, we would always be asked, where do you stay, the higgler's would always respond, OH!!! the Point Village, I used to be a life guard there. Well, back in the hay day, Point Village must have had 30 life guards working at one time or another because everyone we ran into was a pool boy there. It wasn't until after we caught on that we discovered the first rule about Negril, is never, never say where you stay.

I'm not trying to be critical but just giving some friendly advice. Harrison, I think you might be your own worst enemy. Buying food for the beggar is the last thing you should do just to get rid of him. First, he will remember that for ever and never leave you alone again, and secondly, it makes it hard for all that come by after you. The message is....just bug people enough and you get what you want. I have yet to see a thin emaciated Jamaican beggar that really really needed the food. Secondly, if they wave you over or stand in front to talk to you, you should never never walk over to engage in conversation. Once you have stopped and say the first word, the hook is in. They may not be able to reel you in but it puts you on the defensive. No..I don't want to buy ganja, no...I don't want to go on a tour, no...I don't want to go parasailing, that kind of defensive. Just a friendly wave, maybe a no thank you, maybe a look on your face like you don't speak English, anything, but don't engage in conversation unless YOU want to. If the higgler's start walking beside you, just stop short and when they are one step in front of you, make a turn to walk behind them and walk to the closest bar. My wife and I have found many a good bar with a good vibe by doing just that.