Clarity, Markus and Jamar in Negril – Nov 2011 Trip Report: Day 1-3

[ralonzo29]

@Clarity There's a good set of products I use. I use to make it from scratch (cause well I'm an over achiever) but back before we were dating Shauna got me this good set that has A rub, a marinade, a dry spice and a barbecue sauce. I can get it locally in Tampa and I love it. In fact I just used the rub the other day. You can get away with a good oven broil. I mean its not as authentic as a grill but on days when I can't grill I'll oven broil or bake it.

I love the Jerk Hut and Rhumba's that Shauna mentioned but there's nothing like making some plantains, rice and peas and Jerk Chicken for the wife its a staple with me. Growing up I had alot of plaintains and rice & peas (mmmmmmm just thinking about it) and now my mom says I make it better than her (I just think she trying to encourage me) but not alot of jerk chicken but now they are my go to trio comfort food.

[Clarity]

Meanwhile Jamar was at the bar grabbing a round of dirty bananas for all of us and came up the steps to join us on our balcony. This was his first experience at an all inclusive, unlimited drinks!... I could see he would be taking full advantage of it. He already knew what to order too.

Then he disappeared again, said he'd meet us on the beach.

****

Stepping onto the soft sand again and seeing the beach caused that same feeling of awe to wash over me. I closed my eyes and breathed in. I listened to the waves.. inhaled the sea air... This was the moment I had been waiting for.

I found Jamar already chilling on the hammock... Markus ,of course, had to mess with him. Boys will be boys.



Jamar disappeared again. I looked around confused and then found him at the spa area

He was getting his complimentary massage...

But when I looked back 5 minutes later, he was gone from there too.

“Where's Jamar?” - little did I know, I'd be asking that question a lot during this trip.

Markus pointed out to the beach.



Uh oh...

One vendor...
Two vendors...
Suddenly he was surrounded
I wondered what was going on and how he was going to handle it.

[Clarity]

I have to agree with Jamar, Bigga's Jerk chicken sauce is crazy spicy!

This was also my first visit to Bigga's – We had heard so much about him from everyone else on the board, we had to try it! The only jerk chicken I've ever had before that was from “Best of the West” and “Jerky's” - both places have very mild sauce.

I noticed the color of Bigga's jerk sauce was different from what I was used to seeing. It's a kind of light brownish hue which perplexed me. The smells were intoxicating though so I lunged in full force and shoved a big piece of chicken soaked in Jerk sauce straight into my mouth. I gasped after my first bite, causing Bigga to glance at me with a slightly confused expression. My lips were burning and I reached for my pineapple drink. I began to gulp it down frantically.

“Th-That's so hot” I whispered. Jamar nodded at me and his eyes were watering. Markus meanwhile was joyfully scarfing it down.

Mixing it with Ketchup helps cool down the sauce and once I found the perfect mixture, I was in heaven. The chicken is soft, falling off the bone and completely delicious. Bigga knows what he's doing.



Jamar and Markus were both in good spirits, joking and laughing with Chicken.

I noticed that when Jamar first arrived in Jamaica, he looked overwhelmed, insecure and on edge. Not his usual self at all. His smiles didn't reach his eyes and he was glancing around nervously. I was a little worried...what if he feels uneasy like this during the whole trip and leaves Jamaica with mixed emotions? What if he has a bad time?

I remembered how much there was for me to digest on my first trip, how INTENSE it all was... this time I was coming in so much more relaxed and prepared. I tried to put his mind at ease, but I also understood where he was coming from.

Chicken quickly made Jamar feel comfortable as soon as we got in the car. Immediately Jamar and Chicken started talking easily with each other and cracking up. (I love Chicken's laugh!) He's a great guide, pointing out all the different locations and sharing information about Jamaica. I could see Jamar's shoulders relaxing and he totally was getting into the Island vibe. Chicken started teaching us Patois and the conversation was lively, relaxed and fun.

Markus was all smiles during the ride, we were sitting together in the back and squeezing each others hands in excitement.

Chickens magic bus – He didn't bring out the bus because there was only three of us, but I a lot of magic. I highly recommend him. It was such a great ride. (Thanks Shauna and Raul!)

At one point about 20 minutes from Negril, Chicken turned on some Peter Tosh and we all just took in the views around us. It was so peaceful... the passing landscape, dotted with goats on one side and then the turquoise water on the other. The warm breeze from the open windows and a ice cold red stripe in my hands.

Best feeling in the world.



It was around 2:45 when we arrived in Negril and pulled into the Grand Pineapple. We had originally planned on joining the love shuttle bar crawl at 3pm, but realized we wouldn't have enough time to get checked in and settled by then so we had to abandon that plan.

We said our goodbye's to Chicken. He told us he'd be parked right across the street if we needed anything. That's his spot, if anyone in Negril is looking for him.

We were immediately greeted by familiar faces once we entered the grand pineapple. First person was Tayshaun from the reception area.

“Oh my god! Daisy, Markus! You're back! I thought you were reserved for April?!”

“Well.. we changed the reservations because we couldn't wait that long...”

“Welcome back!!”

She hugged me and Markus. We introduced her to Jamar.

We checked in and received our wristbands..



We asked about Ralston, our favorite security guard in the world...

“He's not here anymore. He moved to our sister property, “Beaches”

I was disappointed to hear that. I had been hoping he'd be there to take Jamar under his wing, the way he had done with us. The rest of the Grand Pineapple crew was all there.. and it felt like coming home to family.

[monk]

Mixing it with Ketchup helps cool down the sauce and once I found the perfect mixture, I was in heaven....

SACRILEGE!

lol just kidding...you know you guys can buy some from him right? and he will tune it to your tastes...

[marley9808]

Daisy-so glad to hear Markus is on the mend!

Jamar- I am loving reading your point of view already, and really loving seeing the pics of you and Chicken and Markus. He is a great friend and I knew he would take real good care of you guys.
Can't wait to hear more about your take on Jamaica and your experiences......can't wait to hear more about all of it!

Mmmmmmm Biggas!

Oh I love this!
Daisy- how cool that the upgraded you that is awesome! Markus looks so happy.
And I am so glad you all loved Chicken. He is just the best guy. I always recommend him, because I trust him to take good care of anyone I send his way. He just has a way about him, making you feel at ease and like he can help you with anything, and he does. Every time I have ever needed anything, I just ask Chicken, and he can either get it for me, or take you me the person who can. And if anyone tried to take advantage of us or anything goes wrong, he ALWAYS reminds me to just "Call him"
Gotta love Chicken!

[gerryg123]

I've done the Ketchup trick several times myself -- the jerk at Bourbon Beach is crazy spicy, too -- and it works out cause I love ketchup anyway, especially Jamaican.

Keep it up, Clarity. Good details, can't wait to see more of the report.

[Alisa]

Will def have to try Bigga's this time. We have been to Negril 7 or 8 times now and have never stopped anywhere to eat before arriving in Negril, not sure why but am excited to try something new and hubby and I both enjoy our Jerk HOT!. Love the trip report and am anxiously awaiting another!

[rastagal]

Ok, I must be hungry because my mouth was watering while reading about the chicken at Bigga's! I have never made the stop there...maybe next trip since I get in at like 9am...Looking forward to reading more...you guys are great.

[Angel]

Glad that Markus is on the mend, it would suck to get on a plane with an ear infection. Jamar nice you are writing your part too. Hoping that you got settled in and will want to go back.

[NOLAnmr]

Hey Guys,

I was recently engaged viewing your photoposts of your recent 2nd trip and started reading this trip report (what is written so far anyway). I enjoyed what I had seen so far and decided to click on your link to your first trip report that I had not seen. I had no idea what I got myself into, that report is a beast! Great job, it also makes me anticipate the rest of the 2nd trip report.

You see, we leave in less than a week, next Fri (11/25) from New Orleans to Negril for our 3rd trip to Jamaica and 2nd to Negril (we were married there in '08, 2nd trip was to Runaway Bay). Like many others, I am scouring the internet and this board in anticipation of our trip. So I'm up REALLY LATE Friday night (Sat morning really) when I decide to start on your first trip report. What a mistake... Once I started reading, there was no way I was not going to finish it all at once. So thanks alot, it was 9am when I finally finished.

I really enjoyed viewing the photos of Coco Lapalm, your room & the pix of the wedding you witnessed. That is where we were married 3 years ago and we stayed in that exact same honeymoon suite. So it brought back a lot of great memories. Here are the pix of our wedding:

https://picasaweb.google.com/stephan...scarStephanie#

Here are some other pics of our CCLP stay:

https://picasaweb.google.com/stephan...er/CocoLapalm#

If at all interested, here's the link to my first trip report on this board that included the stay in your room at CCLP:

http://negril.com/forum/showthread.p...rd-Part-1-to-6

2nd Runaway Bay trip:

http://negril.com/forum/showthread.p...uperFun-Resort

Well, I wish you guys the best. Thank you for your efforts into your reporting, I look forward to the rest. I promise to write something up after our upcoming trip to Xtabi to pay it forward.

Oscar