The Number Five - A Trip Report

[kaycee]

Your pics are beautiful! The water is sooo blue and clear.

[JandMinJA]

Your pics are beautiful! The water is sooo blue and clear.

I am a HORRIBLE photographer. Fortunately SH is pretty handy with a camera. But Jamaica makes a professional out of anyone. I don't think it's possible to take a photo there that is NOT beautiful.

[JandMinJA]

It was near 11:00 am when SharkChef arrived. SharkHunter was caught up at the moment, so I rushed to the lobby to meet our dear friend. Hugs and smiles and how-do-you-do’s. Just as I was making excuses for SH, he came into view on the twisting path canopied by palms and vines and flowers. I love walking that fragrant, lush path. I always feel as if I’m walking through a well-manicured jungle. More hugs and how-do-you-do’s and we’re through the gates and walking down the street.
Where to? Everyone without opinion, so we’re just walking, talking, and laughing. We’re passed by the occasional route taxi - beep-beep - but we’re having too much fun to really notice them. They get a friendly wave, none of us missing a beat on the conversation. The sun is beating down. Today is going to be a hot one! Hotter than usual I’m afraid. We’re thirsty already.

Pewee’s! We’re the first customers. Our barkeep is asleep in the hammock. SharkChef rouses him, and he opens shop for us. Red Stripes for SharkChef and I, juice for SharkHunter. Lightweight! A couple locals show up eventually. They speak to us, good mornings, hellos, a quick exchange in Patois with SharkChef, and then they go to the cliff for a jump and swim. After they each take a turn, they start hollering at a sunbather on the cliffs at the property next door. Does she want to see them jump? Does she want company? Should they come over? I giggle, glad their efforts are focused on someone else.

Even in the shade of the bar with a cold Red Stripe in my hand, I’m burning up. It’s so early and soooooo hot. There’s not much of a breeze which doesn’t help at all. After a couple of rounds, we’re all ready to move on. We pay our tab and throw in some extra for the kindness of opening [waking] just for us, and we’re on our way.
We get out to the street and we’re back where we started. Where to? No one has an opinion, again. Except SharkChef is burning up, and so are we, and we don’t feel like walking much anymore in the heat. We would get a cab, but we don’t have a destination. Hmmmm. SharkChef just wants us all to be able to chat. Maybe take a little swim. We feel the same. He’s carrying a backpack which just makes him hotter. We decide to walk back to Samsara to put his bag in our room. I stop at the desk. I explain our friend is here to visit. Lots of catching up to do. Can he spend the day with us? How much is a day pass? I’m sold. The price was cheap and it gave him all inclusive access - bar & meals for the day, up until 10:00p.m. It was inexpensive enough that even if we decided to leave again later that day, it would still be worth it.

I’ve read on here somewhere once before that Samsara wasn’t locals-friendly, so I was pleasantly surprised. I don’t know the specific situation that caused that comment, so all I can speak on is my own experience, but our dear friend the SharkChef was welcomed with open arms. We didn’t mention he’s the head chef at another resort.

Off to the bar we go. We order our first round, quickly empty our cups, and order another round. We decide we’re all mildly hungry so we head upstairs for a quick bite. Back down to the bar. More drinks. Time for some billiards. SharkHunter sits out the first game and lets me play. SharkChef says he’s only played once or twice. He smokes me. Once or twice my @$$! He insists. I rack the balls for a rematch. Smoked again. He stands by his story. If it’s true, then he’s a natural. Then it’s SharkHunter’s term. He puts SharkChef in his place quickly. SH is GOOD at pool. And poker. Don’t let him tell you otherwise and NEVER bet against him.

We make it through a few more drinks while we play pool. The sky darkens a shade or two. There’s rain far in the distance. The wind starts to blow a little. FINALLY A BREEZE! Still hot though. We walk along the cliffs, catching up on life’s events, how the family is, how work is going. We make jokes every chance we get. We were bonded to SharkChef by laughter from the very moment we met him. He is a dear friend to us both, a kindred spirit to SharkHunter, and a mentor to me. Deep eyes, a kind heart, contagious laughter, a sharp mind, and a passionate spirit. So glad our paths crossed. We will make sure they cross time and time again for the rest of our lives.

From down below the cliffs, the water pulls at us. From above, the sun pushes us. SH and SC are ready to take the plunge. I’m quite sure I don’t have permission to post the videos that were recorded over the next two hours. I’m glad I was on the cliffs shooting them. Had I been in the water watching the antics that followed, I surely would have laughed until I drowned! SC says, “You jump first.” SH says, “No, you!” SC tries to get SH to hold his hand and jump. I’m shouting, “Lovers leap!” We’re all laughing. And then SC bolts. Splash! SH is right behind him. Splash! They both surface laughing. Then they start trying to coax me in. Not today boys. Not today. I’ve had my years of cliff jumping. Now I’m old and fragile. I’ll keep watch for sharks from here. LOL

They climb the ladders and dive over and over again. I play gopher. I gopher drinks. I gopher the snorkeling gear from the room. I’m a professional gopher, so I’m up for the job. I laugh from the cliffs as the guys soak up some salt water. It’s a perfect day, and it’s just getting started...