Stories Of Negril and the Westend

[Emmie]

Love Love Love!!

[DubWise]

I have a story from our last trip that I've been wanting to share.

It was our last night and if you know how that feels, nuff said. I had gone out a couple of times during the week by myself because my partner would stay in with her 14 yr old daughter. I had a couple good nights out nothing crazy.. one at 'On The Rocks' and another more mellow night at Tyson's... but both were really fun... complete with sound systems and great music.

So for our last night.. I wanted to do something that I'd remember and that might pay tribute to the wonder that is Negril. Only our second time so far but we're the kind of people that go to Negril once and instantly want to move there forever...

So I swung down to Tyson's (all of this is on foot) and the owner recognized me from the night before. He didn't have music that night... so he suggested Roots Tamboo on the beach road. He had a ticket that was said 1000 J or something. So I thought... "eh... I don't really want to spend 1000 J to get in, a few hundred on a cabs, I'd only have money for like one beer... lots and lots of tourists.. not sure that's what I want tonight..."

I think he could sense that maybe that wasn't what I was looking for. So he tells me about another party all the way up in the west end, across from Rick's. He says it's not even AT a bar spot... and it's BYOB! So I'm thinking... yeah... that's what I'm talking about. So I set out on foot. I run into one of my "friends" that I had made that week, and he his boys laughed at me when I said I was going to walk all the way up to that party. They might have been laughing at my desire to even go given that it was a very local party, I don't know... but it's not like they were being mean about it. I didn't let it deter me.

So after a chat w/those boys... I keep trucking... on foot.... hit the L + M and grab some beers... stop at De Bar and Eddie who is so nice kicked me some ice... tried to refuse money but I gave him 100J or something anyway... keep on walking... all kinds of action on the west end road but I know my place and don't have any problems at all... it was actually a very fun walk... finally get all the way up to Rick's and I can hear the music... directly across... but the road it's coming from is dark all the way down... I say 'whatever' and down the road I go ... I get up to the spot and it's a house party... turntables right outside... local jam... I see one other (white) tourist besides myself but that's it... get plenty of looks but I continue to hang... and it's everyone from old ladies to little kids to guys you wouldn't want to cross... and people are getting down all over the place.

Well... I just had a blast. We love reggae and dancehall and have played out in the states many times with our own records and turntables... so going to JA is just such a treat every time... and to come across this jam was just bliss... they were playing such great music and the vibe was so sweet. I know the music and generally know how to handle myself no matter what so I think that helped.

Headed out around 1:00... grabbed a cab, some locals jumped in as well... back to the room and then home the next day. The most interesting thing I thought... was that NO ONE messed with me... what so ever. Not even a little bit.. not even once. I was way out in the west end late at night all by myself... and no worries mon. So don't believe the negative hype that's out there... it's mostly that.. just hype. This was last month.

That's my story, thanks for reading! Peace and love to Negril.