Brasi Trip Report: January 2012

[Jeremy Johnston]

Awesome trip report man!

[Marko]

great report and really enjoyed the pics......
thanks for sharing!

Cool Runnings, Marko

[brasi]

Brasi Trip Report January 2012 #17?
Parting iPhone Shots...the Best of the Rest

Here are some other cool shots of my trip...I'll be wrapping up my trip report soon. Thanks, all, for reading, and for those of you with a trip planned..ENJOY! Soon come.

[brasi]

And 10 more....

[brasi]

Brasi Trip Report January 2012
The End

Well all the planning, anticipation and DOING is over. It’s time to look back on the trip, and see what I learned…first, a few obvious Top 5 lists:

Memorable Times
1. Chilling in Belmond and remembering “Sarah”...and Obeah. F that. Done with that stuff.
2. Getting back to Negril and seeing familiar faces (as weird as it sounds)
3. Relaxing at Country Country and later, meeting T
4. Scooter Day (last day)
5. Jam Can, Night 3

Craziest Sights:
1. The mighty Californian, a warhorse and a cab. ‘Nuff said.
2. Mighty Californian throwing many $1000J bills onto the bar at the Jungle to the delight of perhaps 20 hookers, watchers, and passersby
3. Mighty Californian...add girls, rinse and repeat.
4. Rambo’s eyes at Seastar when I crashed my scooter (no damage).
5. A man recruited to be best man OFF OF Seastar Lane 10 minutes before a wedding LOL

Best Meals:
This list is so difficult. Not one meal I had was bad. But I just named the five most memorable without thinking about it too much.

1. Stewed Fish, Shades Cottages, Beldmond ($600 J)
2. Chicken Fingers (w. Francine’s amazing jerk sauce), Seastar Inn, West End
3. Curried Shrimp, Sunset on the Cliffs, West End
4. Saturday Night Buffet, Seastar Inn, Westend
5. (tie) Crab Cakes/Curry Goat Bentley’s Crab House, West End (amazing)
5. (tie) Ox Tail at Sips n Bites, West End

I learned that I have a Jamaican soul deep within me somewhere. I say with all due respect that I feel like the island is in my DNA. I used to believe that this was because I could party and be carefree there. But that’s only part of it. Maybe a private Facebook message I sent to a FB friend that I made here on Negril.com can sum it up best:

#
XXXX,

I am so depressed being back. I know I am a white middle class guy from NY. But I feel so at home in Jamaica. People think I am crazy for going alone, for going to Red Ground, Belmont etc. I think they are crazy for staying inside the 'safe' walls of a resort. I can tell you without a doubt that my heart is much happier when I am in Jamaica vs anywhere else.

I guess I love Jamaica because I don't feel judged. I don't feel chubby. I don't feel like I need to explain myself or pretend that I like something I do not. I dress as I wish. I can stop in almost any new place and make a friend. So much here in NY is based on how I look, what I do, my past, my status as a guy in a band...etc.

After nine trips I know the pitfalls, too. I know that "friends" in Jamaica almost always means a beneficial relationship of some kind...but I also know there are true friendships to be found.

I am trying to plan another trip in XXXXX, to stay sane…on this trip I realized that visiting is never going to be enough. Someday I will be at least a part-time Jamaican resident. My BEST times this trip were away from the tourist stuff…

It's a pleasure talking to you! Thanks for the chance to vent. LOL
#

This trip, I realized that my best friends…truth be told…are ones I’ve made through the love of Jamaica…through this common thread, a knowledge and awareness of the depth that such a magical place can create in all of us...uniting people from all over the world. Lots of that is thanks to Negril.com…and the community we’re lucky to have here.

So, my friends…that’s a wrap. Thanks for reading!

It’s time to start planning my NEXT reach.

Brasi

[Sweetness]

WOW Braz-eye.....you wet up my eyes (not hard to do lol). What a touching truthful recap. I feel ya.

[gerryg123]

great stuff Brasi .... I can relate to a lot of what you say .... Also, had a GREAT time hangin' with you my friend .... And don't be fooled everyone: Brazz is the one who brings out the CRAZINESS in ME, ha ha .... All the best my friend ...

[Maryann]

Excellent, Brasi! Loved your trip report! TOTALLY get your description about Jamaica being part of your soul. I feel that way too. I think going there to heal (twice) maybe had a profound impact on the way I feel, but no doubt it's also because of the wonderful people, vibe, music, food, and that beautiful blue water. Hope it was a healing experience for you and you were able to more come to terms with Sarah's passing. Blessings!

[Patty Sather]

Basi....you have one more thing to pull off.......your not done yet darling.. .... But ill be still..and let you work your magic........

[Lady Jane]

Brassi, thanks so much for sharing all your fun and festivities with us. I really enjoyed every bit of your report.
Can't wait for you to get back there! I will dip my toes in the sea for you in March