Sam I Am's Trip Report May 2011 (Part1)

[Sam I Am]

DAY TEN:
I woke up focused on improving my weak tan. I also noticed that while I had done well the first few days, I was officially bug bait! I counted 62 bites. As I was lounging around my room, I noticed the lamp shades shaking and felt my bed wobbling. It lasted about 10 seconds. As I sat there trying to figure out if I was imagining things (lingering effect of the pina coladas?), I decided it was an earthquake. I went out onto the balcony to see if anyone else was out and about and had noticed anything... no one around. Hmmm... maybe I was imagining it. I decided I would head to the beach/bar and see if anyone was talking about it.

Down to the beach and no one is discussing it, so I decide not to bring it up and end up being labeled the "crazy earthquake imagining lady". But I decide to keep my ears open for possible confirmation. I chill on the beach for a while and eventually decide to take the long walk down to Cosmos for lunch. I love making this walk every trip. I get to really check out all the properties and people watch. By the time I arrived, my feet were sore and I was pretty hot! I ordered the Stew Conch and a cup of red pea soup. Both were delicious, but I should have just gotten a large bowl of the soup...it was so good. I absolutely love the soups in JA! I finished my food, read for a bit and then made the long trek back down the beach.

After cleaning up at the room, I head back to the bar and chat with a few of the regular guests that I already knew. Another thing I love about White Sands and Negril in general is that if you go around the same time every year, you really get to know a lot of other people well. There are probably 10 guests at Whites Sands I see every year and have gotten to know well. Even when I travel to Negril alone, I always feel like there are lots of friends around. As I am chatting, I finally decide I can't take it any longer and I ask everyone if they felt the earthquake! No one had, but a few of the staff confirmed that there was indeed a quake that morning. I was so relieved to know I was not totally loosing it And I became a mini celebrity at the hotel for the rest of the day... someone who actually felt it!

I decided to call it a night after finishing by brown stew chicken from rainbow arch (next door to White Sands). As I was crossing the street, I decided to get a cup of conch soup from Jason. Jason has a stand on the road next door to White Sands (across the street from the entrance to Nirvana). Jason sells the obligatory jerk chicken, but also has roast fish, roast breadfruit, soups and lots of other stuff. I highly recommend him for late night takeout dinner. Back to room with my soup to read and fall asleep.