Marley and Ninja: Having Their Cake And Drinking It Too! Trip Report - April 2012

[marley9808]

Another thing YS Falls has is a zip line. Raul and I have been trying to do this zipline since the very first time we visited YS. The first time we were on a tour that had stops also at Appleton and Black River, so we were only allotted a short time at the falls and therefore we ran out of time and could not do the zipline. The next time we were here the zip line was closed. The last time we were here was after the storm and a big tree had fallen and knocked down the zipline and it had not yet been prepared…..every single time it was a no go. But this time…..this time when we arrived, I asked at the front when we were buying our tickets “Is the zip line open today?” and I was told yes! This was it, this was finally going to be our chance to do the zipline. So Raul went in the gift shop, paid the money and we both signed the waiver. Next thing you know we were heading off to the tree where the tour starts. We met our guides there and they started putting our harnesses on….what a fashion statement. We gave Raul’s good camera to Sandie as she offered to be our professional photographer for the event. We took my small point and shoot and gave it to our guide. We got all suited up, listened to the instructions which were pretty much “Don’t die” and posed for some photos for Sandie…..check out how cool we look!



Zipline fashion superstars!


Well there’s nothing left now but to head on up and get to zipping, so off we go




There are a total of 5 zip lines. The first one starts just above the highest part you can walk up to along the side of the falls and it goes across the falls. The next one goes parallel the falls on the other side (the side you cannot walk up along). The third zip is BY FAR the best of them all. It starts at the very top of the falls and goes all the way down the falls…..this is SO MUCH FUN!!! The 4th line is from the top of the tree (at the bottom of the falls where we first got our harnesses) and goes across the walkway into the trees and the very last zip is a vertical line that brings you back down to the ground and right out near the changing rooms. This was so much fun and totally worth the wait! I am so glad we finally got to do it. My only regret is that the guide took photos of us as we were ziplining with our camera…..of course it was the same camera I later lost so I never got any of those photos (so sad) but thanks to Sandie with Raul’s camera we at least got a few of us on the big zip line. Thanks Sandie! So I guess that just means we need to go back and do it again! Gladly!



This is me going down zip 3, the biggest and best


After the zipline all of the turtles looked like they were all pretty much ready to go, so we herded them all up, got on the tractor, and headed out to the front. Chicken was there waiting for us and so we got on the bus and headed back down the road. Thank goodness it was just a short ride back to Howies Cook shop because we had all worked up quite a hunger. Howies is a great place to stop for lunch. The food is excellent and the prices are even better. The cook shop is an open air area with a series of pots over wood. There is a menu but much like most places in Jamaica you just ask what they have that day. There are probably about 10 pots and they will tell you what each contains. Today’s menu included such items as fried chicken, curry goat, stew beef, oxtail, brown stew chicken, and several different soups (I know conch was one of them but there were several others) They also had rice and peas, callaloo and festival.



The turtles waiting to order


These next photos are courtesy of Sweetie Pie but they were some of the most amazing photos I have ever seen, truly captured the heart and soul of Howie’s—excellent SP!





Everyone placed their orders and we walked to the seating/eating area right next door and DEVOURED our food….oh my goodness was it good….and by the silence you could tell everyone was hungry and enjoying their lunch. There began then a discussion of the conch soup and just how delicious it was….probably the best ever, there were even talks of ordering more to go…but soon after we were all heading back to the bus. After all, it was midday or even early afternoon and we had an appointment with a little bar out in the middle of the ocean. So back on the bus we went! Oh but wait! I had told everyone earlier that we just HAD to stop at Middle Quarters and get some Pepper Shrimp (you can’t pass by Middle Quarters without stopping for pepper shrimp….that should be illegal!) So Chicken took us to his friends “The Sisters” and we got out and eyed the amazing shrimp.



Mmmmm Pepper Shrimp!


Markus quickly made friends as he normally does and bought some fruit



Markus and his new friend

Then the head sister in charge made the greatest move in her marketing ploy. She convinced Daisy to buy a cup of her pepper shrimp soup….I mean it’s only $1, who could resist? And with that, it was all over…..all it takes is one person to try it…then say “Oh my gosh, this is the best soup ever” She was a marketing genius because it worked…..next thing you know just about everyone on the bus had a cup of that soup…..and my only regret is that I didn’t buy 5 more cups….that is HANDS DOWN the BEST soup I have EVER had in my entire life….oh my gosh my mouth is watering now just thinking about it!



Me enjoying the World’s Best Soup! Yum!


As I sat there licking my lips and enjoying the world’s greatest soup, I looked back on everyone in the bus. The bus was full of smiles and happiness. I took a moment to just take it all in. Here I was in Jamaica, I had just FINALLY done the zipline at YS, my belly was full and happy…I was having the greatest day with some of the greatest people…..there was just one thing left to do……
Have a drink and toast to us all out in a bar in the middle of the ocean!!!! Pelican Bar or bust!

(Ninja's up next)