Utenlov - thank you so much for your honest "trip report". Your observations are right on and I appreciate an non-novelised version of your trip to Negril. I actually took notes on some of your observations to comment upon! Here goes-
“The beach.. To me it felt like a stage, a scene put up where people play their parts. I did not fit in..”
Funny you say that. I’m a beach person – everywhere but in Negril. I’ve stayed on the cliffs for 30 years and used to go to the beach much more often. Now I go down there for the occasional dirty banana at White Sands and/or when friends are visiting.
One friend made the observation that the beach didn’t seem “Jamaican” to them. Aside from vendors and service people there was no local feel or culture in their opinion. I’d heard years ago already from another long-timer/part time resident that he felt the beach was like Las Vegas on sand.
If I want sand in my toes these days I head out to Half Moon Beach.
“I can say that I NEVER see that crap when I'm with boardies.” (Brasi)
I don’t hang with “boardies” – and I seldom see that crap. You know where I see it? In a few of the resident expats here. And yes, it is disgusting. The folks I hang with, not boardies - residents, expats, part-time residents and tourists who have been coming here a long time - never, EVER do I hear or see that (if I did I'd no longer hang with them, that's for sure). And I'll tell you something else - the Jamaicans are hardest on each other.
“It was my first time on a beach with security. I felt protected from something I didn't need protection against.”
I remember in my early years traveling to Negril and going to the beach there wasn’t as big a security or police presence there. That said, even WITH security it is not wise to leave stuff out while you go for a swim or a walk on a lounge chair (save a towel maybe). Most bartenders are happy to stash your SMALL bag or pack behind the bar.
“That made me think, do people actually jump into water if they can't swim?”
Yes they do. Drunk too. I've seen some seriously ugly results.
"So many places I went to didn't have a toilet so I figured everyone did as we do in Norway when toilet isn't an option. Pee in a bush.”
Oh, come now,lol. Where did you go in Negril where there was no toilet there or nearby? Negril is WAY too populated to have folks peeing in the bush, which, by the way, is not a “Norwegian” thing. I live most of the year in rural California. Nuff folks pee in the bush here. I take objection though when a tourist stops to pee on my shed when there’s a porta pottie just up the road. That poor man will never be able to pee outdoors again.
“Next time I'm thinking about staying on the other side of the road, and using the public area of the beach. It might be more me.”
Based on your report as whole, it is my opinion that you would be MUCH happier on the cliffs. It’s a much more chill and local vibe – you can get a truer feel for the culture there – and the drinks are less expensive, lol.
Thanks again....loved your report.
Originally Posted by Guirigay
